5 Warning Signs Your Garage Door Springs Are About to Break (and Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Them)
You’re getting ready for work on a typical Las Vegas morning when you hear it—a sound like a gunshot echoing from your garage. Your heart races as you rush to investigate, only to find your garage door hanging at an odd angle, completely inoperable. What you’ve just experienced is one of the most common and potentially dangerous garage door failures: a broken spring.
Garage door springs are the unsung heroes of your home’s most frequently used entrance. These tightly wound coils of steel bear the entire weight of your garage door—typically 150 to 400 pounds—through thousands of opening and closing cycles. They work silently and reliably, day after day, until suddenly they don’t. When a spring breaks, it’s not just an inconvenience; it’s a safety hazard that can cause injury, property damage, and leave your home vulnerable.
The good news is that springs rarely fail without warning. Like many mechanical components, they give clear signals that they’re nearing the end of their lifespan. Learning to recognize these warning signs can help you schedule a proactive replacement before you’re faced with an emergency repair situation. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the five most common warning signs that your garage door springs are about to fail, explain why spring replacement should never be a DIY project, and help you understand what to expect when you call a professional.
Understanding Garage Door Springs: The Backbone of Your System
Before we dive into the warning signs, it’s important to understand what garage door springs do and why they’re so critical to your door’s operation. Your garage door is one of the largest and heaviest moving objects in your home. Without a counterbalance system, it would be nearly impossible to lift manually, and your garage door opener motor would burn out trying to lift the full weight.
The Two Types of Garage Door Springs
Torsion Springs are the most common type found in modern residential garage doors. These springs are mounted on a metal shaft directly above the garage door opening. When the door closes, the springs wind tighter, storing energy. When you open the door, the springs unwind, releasing that stored energy to help lift the door’s weight. A typical residential garage door uses one or two torsion springs, depending on the door’s size and weight.
Torsion springs are preferred for several reasons. They provide more balanced lifting power across the width of the door, resulting in smoother operation. They’re safer than extension springs because they’re contained on a shaft and less likely to cause injury if they break. They typically last longer, with quality springs rated for 15,000 to 30,000 cycles. They also take up less space in the garage, as they’re mounted above the door rather than alongside it.
Extension Springs are found on older garage door systems and some budget installations. These springs are mounted on either side of the door, running parallel to the horizontal tracks. As the door closes, the springs stretch and store energy. When the door opens, the springs contract, pulling the door upward through a system of cables and pulleys.
Extension springs are less common in modern installations because they’re more dangerous if they break, as the spring can whip violently. They provide less balanced lifting power, which can cause uneven door operation. They typically have a shorter lifespan than torsion springs. They also require safety cables running through the center of each spring to prevent injury if the spring breaks—a critical safety feature that’s sometimes missing on older installations.
How Long Do Garage Door Springs Last?
The lifespan of a garage door spring is measured in cycles, where one cycle equals one complete opening and closing of the door. Standard springs are typically rated for 10,000 cycles, which translates to approximately 7 to 10 years for a typical household that uses the garage door 3 to 5 times per day.
However, several factors can significantly affect spring lifespan. In Las Vegas, extreme heat causes metal fatigue and accelerates wear, potentially reducing spring life by 20-30%. The frequency of use matters greatly—a family that uses the garage door 10 times per day will wear out the springs much faster than one that uses it 2 times per day. The quality of the springs varies dramatically: economy springs last 10,000 cycles, while premium springs can last 30,000 cycles or more. Lack of maintenance, particularly insufficient lubrication, increases friction and shortens spring life. Finally, improper installation or incorrect spring sizing can put excessive stress on the springs, leading to premature failure.
At A Plus Garage Doors, we use only high-cycle torsion springs rated for 30,000 cycles—three times the industry standard. This means our spring replacements last significantly longer than budget alternatives, providing better value and fewer service calls over the life of your door.
Why Spring Failure Is Dangerous
Garage door springs are under tremendous tension—typically 200 to 400 pounds of force. When a spring breaks, that energy is released instantaneously and violently. The loud bang you hear is the sound of metal coils snapping and the sudden release of stored energy. If someone is near the door when a spring breaks, flying metal fragments can cause serious injury. A door with a broken spring can fall unexpectedly, potentially crushing anything or anyone beneath it. Attempting to operate a door with a broken spring can put enormous stress on the opener, potentially burning out the motor or damaging the drive mechanism.
This is why garage door spring replacement is consistently ranked among the most dangerous home repair tasks. Professional technicians use specialized tools and follow strict safety protocols to handle these high-tension components. The modest cost of professional service is insignificant compared to the risk of serious injury or death from attempting DIY spring replacement.
Warning Sign #1: Visible Gap in the Torsion Spring
The most obvious sign of a broken torsion spring is a visible gap or separation in the spring coils. When a torsion spring breaks, it typically fails at a single point, creating a gap of one to two inches in the tightly wound coil. This gap is usually easy to spot if you know where to look.
How to Check for a Gap
Stand inside your garage and look at the area directly above the garage door. If you have a torsion spring system, you’ll see one or two springs mounted on a horizontal shaft. The springs should appear as a continuous coil of tightly wound metal with no breaks or gaps. If you see a clear separation in the coil—a space where the metal has broken—the spring has failed.
Sometimes the gap is obvious, with the two broken ends of the spring separated by an inch or more. Other times, especially immediately after failure, the gap may be small and harder to spot. Look carefully along the entire length of each spring, paying particular attention to the center section where breaks most commonly occur.
What to Do If You Find a Gap
If you discover a gap in your torsion spring, do not attempt to operate the garage door. Even if the door is currently closed and you think you can open it “just once” to get your car out, resist the temptation. Operating a door with a broken spring is extremely dangerous for several reasons.
The door will be extremely heavy—the full 150 to 400 pounds—because there’s no counterbalance. Your garage door opener is not designed to lift this much weight and will likely fail, stall, or burn out if you attempt to use it. If you try to lift the door manually, you risk serious back injury or dropping the door on yourself or your vehicle. If the door is open when the spring breaks and you attempt to close it, the door can fall rapidly and uncontrollably, potentially causing severe injury or property damage.
The correct action is to leave the door in its current position and call a professional immediately. If the door is open and you need to secure your home, you can block the opening with your vehicle (parked inside) or wait for professional service. If the door is closed and you need to leave, exit through another door and make arrangements for transportation until the repair is complete.
Why Springs Break at a Specific Point
You might wonder why springs almost always break at a single point rather than gradually wear out. The answer lies in the physics of metal fatigue. Each time the spring cycles (winds and unwinds), microscopic cracks form in the metal. Over thousands of cycles, these cracks accumulate and grow. Eventually, one section of the spring—usually near the center where stress is highest—reaches its breaking point. The metal fails suddenly and catastrophically, creating the characteristic gap.
This is why spring replacement is not something you can postpone once you notice warning signs. Unlike a slowly deteriorating component that might limp along for months, a spring that’s showing signs of failure could break at any moment—often when you least expect it.
Warning Sign #2: The Door Feels Extremely Heavy
One of the earliest warning signs that your springs are losing tension is a door that feels unusually heavy when you try to lift it manually. This symptom often appears weeks or even months before the spring actually breaks, giving you valuable time to schedule a proactive replacement.
The Manual Lift Test
Every homeowner should periodically test their garage door’s balance by performing a simple manual lift test. Here’s how to do it safely:
First, ensure the door is fully closed. Pull the emergency release cord (usually a red handle hanging from the opener trolley) to disconnect the door from the opener. This allows you to operate the door manually. Carefully lift the door about halfway up—roughly three to four feet off the ground. Release the door and observe what happens.
A properly balanced door with functioning springs should stay in place or drift slightly in either direction. The springs are providing just enough counterbalance to offset the door’s weight, making it easy to lift and hold at any position. If the door falls rapidly toward the closed position, the springs have lost tension and are no longer providing adequate counterbalance. If the door shoots upward toward the open position, the springs may be over-tensioned (less common but also problematic).
Why This Happens
As springs age and cycle through thousands of open and closed cycles, the metal gradually loses its elasticity. The spring coils become slightly less tightly wound, reducing the amount of energy they can store and release. This gradual loss of tension is why you might not notice the change from day to day. However, if you compare how the door feels now to how it felt when the springs were new, the difference would be dramatic.
In Las Vegas, this process is accelerated by extreme heat. Metal expansion and contraction from temperature swings of 50-60 degrees between night and day put additional stress on the spring coils. The intense heat also breaks down the lubricant on the springs more quickly, increasing friction and wear.
What to Do
If your door fails the manual lift test—if it feels significantly heavier than it should or drops rapidly when released—it’s time to schedule spring replacement. While the springs haven’t failed completely yet, they’re no longer providing adequate support. Continuing to operate the door in this condition puts excessive strain on your garage door opener, which is designed to assist with lifting, not bear the full weight of the door.
Many homeowners make the mistake of thinking, “Well, the opener still works, so I’ll wait until it breaks.” This approach is penny-wise and pound-foolish. Operating your door with weak springs will dramatically shorten the life of your opener motor, potentially requiring a $300-600 opener replacement in addition to the spring repair. It’s far more cost-effective to replace the springs proactively while they’re still functioning, albeit poorly.
Warning Sign #3: The Door Closes Too Fast or Slams Shut
A garage door should close smoothly and controllably, coming to a gentle stop at the floor. If your door is closing faster than usual or slamming shut with a loud bang, it’s a clear indication that your springs are losing their ability to control the door’s descent.
Understanding Controlled Descent
When your garage door springs are functioning properly, they don’t just help lift the door—they also control its descent when closing. As the door moves downward, the springs wind tighter, storing energy and providing resistance that slows the door’s fall. This creates a smooth, controlled closing motion that takes several seconds from fully open to fully closed.
When springs lose tension or begin to fail, they can no longer provide this resistance. Gravity takes over, and the door accelerates as it falls. In extreme cases, the door can slam shut with enough force to shake the entire structure, potentially damaging the door panels, weather seal, and floor.
The Safety Implications
A door that closes too quickly is more than just annoying—it’s a serious safety hazard. A rapidly closing door doesn’t give people or pets time to clear the opening if they’re in the path. While modern garage doors have safety sensors that should reverse the door if something breaks the beam, these sensors are only about six inches off the ground. A child, pet, or object taller than six inches could be struck by the door before the sensors detect the obstruction.
Additionally, the force of a slamming door can damage the safety sensors, knocking them out of alignment or breaking their mounting brackets. This creates a cascading safety problem where the door is both falling too fast and the safety systems designed to prevent injury are compromised.
What You’ll Notice
The change in closing speed often happens gradually, so you might not notice it at first. However, family members who haven’t used the door in a while—such as college students home for the holidays—often comment that the door seems to be closing faster than they remember. Other signs include a loud bang or thud when the door reaches the closed position, the door bouncing slightly after closing due to the impact, visible damage to the weather seal at the bottom of the door from repeated slamming, and cracks or dents in the bottom panel from the force of impact.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s time to have your springs inspected. The problem will only get worse over time, and the risk of injury or property damage increases with each door operation.
Temporary Safety Measures
If you’ve noticed that your door is closing too quickly but you can’t get immediate service, there are some temporary safety measures you can take. Never stand or walk under a closing door—always wait until it’s fully closed before entering or exiting. Keep children and pets well clear of the door when it’s in operation. Consider disconnecting the opener and operating the door manually (carefully) until repairs can be made. If the problem is severe, leave the door closed and use another entrance until professional service is available.
These are temporary measures only. A door that’s closing too fast needs professional attention as soon as possible to prevent injury and further damage.
Warning Sign #4: The Door Hangs Crooked or Uneven
When you look at your garage door from the front, it should appear level and even across its width. If one side of the door hangs lower than the other, creating a noticeable slant, it’s often a sign of uneven spring tension—and a warning that one or both springs may be failing.
Why Doors Become Uneven
Most garage doors use two springs (one on each side for extension springs, or two springs on the same shaft for torsion springs) to distribute the lifting force evenly across the width of the door. When both springs are functioning properly and have equal tension, they lift both sides of the door simultaneously, keeping it level.
However, springs don’t always age at the same rate. One spring may have a manufacturing defect that causes it to fail prematurely. One side of the door may be heavier due to window placement or panel damage, which may put more stress on that spring. Environmental factors like sun exposure may affect one spring more than the other if they’re not equally shielded. Previous repairs may have resulted in springs of different ages being installed.
When one spring loses tension faster than the other, it can no longer lift its share of the door’s weight. The side with the weaker spring hangs lower, creating the characteristic crooked appearance.
How to Check for Unevenness
Stand back from your garage door and look at it straight on. Pay attention to the top edge of the door and the gaps between the door and the frame on each side. The top of the door should be perfectly horizontal, parallel to the ground. The gaps between the door and the frame should be equal on both sides. The bottom of the door should sit evenly on the ground with no gaps under one side.
If the door appears crooked, measure the gap between the top of the door and the header (the horizontal frame piece above the door) on each side. A difference of more than half an inch indicates a significant imbalance that needs professional attention.
The Dangers of Operating an Uneven Door
Operating a garage door that hangs crooked puts enormous stress on the entire system. The side with the weaker spring forces the other spring to work harder, accelerating its wear. The door can bind in the tracks, causing jerky operation and potential derailment. Uneven weight distribution stresses the opener trolley and can damage the drive mechanism. The door may become stuck partway through its travel, creating a security risk.
Most critically, an uneven door is unpredictable. It may suddenly shift or bind, potentially causing injury to anyone nearby. If one spring breaks while the door is in operation, the door can twist violently and come off the tracks entirely—a dangerous situation that can cause serious property damage and injury.
What to Do
If you notice your door hanging unevenly, stop using it immediately and call a professional. Do not attempt to adjust spring tension yourself—this requires specialized tools and training. Even if the door still operates, continuing to use it will cause additional damage and increase the risk of complete failure.
A professional technician will inspect both springs, measure their tension, and determine whether one or both need replacement. In most cases, both springs should be replaced, even if only one has failed, because the remaining spring is the same age and has the same wear and will likely fail soon. Replacing both springs ensures balanced operation and prevents another service call in the near future.
Warning Sign #5: Loud Noises During Operation
Garage doors are never completely silent, but they shouldn’t sound like a freight train either. If your garage door has become noticeably louder over time, producing squeaking, grinding, popping, or other unusual noises, it’s often a sign that components are wearing out—and springs are frequently the culprit.
Decoding Garage Door Noises
Different sounds indicate different problems, and learning to distinguish between them can help you identify issues early.
Squeaking or Squealing: High-pitched squeaking noises typically indicate a lack of lubrication on moving parts. Springs, rollers, and hinges all need regular lubrication to operate smoothly. In the Las Vegas heat, lubricant breaks down and evaporates more quickly than in milder climates, requiring more frequent application. While squeaking doesn’t necessarily mean your springs are failing, it does indicate increased friction, which accelerates wear.
Grinding or Scraping: A grinding sound usually indicates metal-on-metal contact without adequate lubrication. This could be worn rollers in the tracks, but it can also be springs rubbing against the mounting bracket or shaft. Grinding noises should never be ignored, as they indicate active wear that will lead to component failure.
Popping or Cracking: Sharp popping or cracking sounds during operation are particularly concerning. These noises often indicate that spring coils are beginning to fail. As microscopic cracks in the metal grow larger, the spring can make popping sounds as the damaged areas flex under load. This is often one of the last warning signs before complete spring failure.
Loud Bang: If you hear a sound like a gunshot coming from your garage, a spring has broken. This is not a warning sign—it’s a complete failure. Do not attempt to operate the door and call for professional service immediately.
Why Springs Get Louder Over Time
New garage door springs operate relatively quietly, with only a slight creak as they wind and unwind. As springs age, several factors contribute to increased noise. The protective coating on the springs wears away, allowing metal-to-metal contact. Lubricant breaks down and accumulates dust and debris, creating a grinding paste. The spring coils may begin to rub against each other or the mounting hardware as tension decreases. Microscopic cracks in the metal create stress points that flex and pop under load.
In Las Vegas, extreme heat accelerates all of these processes. The intense temperatures cause lubricant to evaporate quickly, and dust from our frequent windstorms accumulates on springs and other moving parts.
What to Do About Noisy Springs
If your garage door has become noticeably louder, start with basic maintenance. Clean the springs and other moving parts with a dry cloth to remove dust and old lubricant. Apply a silicone-based spray lubricant specifically designed for garage doors (avoid WD-40, which attracts dust). Lubricate the springs, rollers, hinges, and tracks. Operate the door several times to distribute the lubricant.
If lubrication doesn’t significantly reduce the noise, or if you hear popping or cracking sounds, it’s time to call a professional. These sounds indicate that the springs are nearing the end of their lifespan and should be replaced before they fail completely.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that noise is just a cosmetic issue. A loud operation is your garage door’s way of telling you that something is wrong. Addressing the problem early—before complete failure—allows you to schedule service at your convenience rather than dealing with an emergency repair.
Why You Should Never Attempt DIY Spring Replacement
The internet is full of DIY tutorials for garage door spring replacement, often making it seem like a straightforward weekend project. The reality is that garage door spring replacement is one of the most dangerous home repair tasks, responsible for thousands of injuries and several deaths each year. Here’s why this job should always be left to professionals.
The Physics of Danger
Garage door springs store an enormous amount of energy. A typical torsion spring for a two-car garage door is under 200-400 pounds of tension. To put this in perspective, that’s equivalent to the weight of two to four adult humans compressed into a coil of steel just a few inches long. When you attempt to wind or unwind a spring, you’re working with this tremendous force using nothing more than a pair of winding bars and your own strength.
If the winding bar slips—which happens easily if you’re not using professional-grade tools or don’t have the proper technique—the spring can unwind violently. The winding bar becomes a projectile, capable of breaking bones, causing severe lacerations, or even killing someone if it strikes them in the head or chest. The spring itself can whip around, causing serious injury. Your hands and fingers are just inches from components under extreme tension, putting them at risk of crushing injuries.
The Complexity of Proper Installation
Even if you could somehow handle the springs safely, proper installation requires knowledge and skills that most homeowners don’t possess. You need to determine the correct spring size, weight rating, and wire diameter for your specific door. Springs that are too weak won’t adequately counterbalance the door. Springs that are too strong can cause the door to shoot upward dangerously. You must wind the springs to precisely the correct tension—too little and the door won’t operate properly; too much and you create a dangerous over-tensioned system. For doors with two springs, both must be tensioned equally to ensure balanced operation.
Professional technicians use specialized tools designed for spring installation, including proper winding bars of the correct diameter and length, spring tension gauges to ensure accurate winding, safety equipment such as gloves and eye protection, and lifts or supports to safely handle the door during installation. Most homeowners don’t have access to these tools, and attempting to improvise with standard tools dramatically increases the risk of injury.
The Statistics Are Sobering
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, garage doors are responsible for approximately 20,000 to 30,000 injuries each year, with a significant portion involving spring-related accidents. Professional garage door technicians undergo extensive training and still treat spring replacement with extreme caution and respect. The idea that a homeowner with no training, improper tools, and limited experience can safely perform this task is simply unrealistic.
The Cost-Benefit Analysis
From a purely financial perspective, DIY spring replacement makes no sense. Professional spring replacement typically costs $200-350, including both springs, professional installation, and warranty coverage. The springs themselves cost $50-100 if purchased retail. Proper winding bars and tools cost another $50-100. So you might save $100-150 by doing it yourself—if everything goes perfectly.
Now consider the risks. A trip to the emergency room for a broken bone or laceration will cost thousands of dollars and may not be fully covered by insurance. Time off work for recovery could cost hundreds or thousands more. Permanent injury or disability could affect your earning potential for life. Property damage from a falling door or improper installation could cost thousands to repair. The potential to harm or kill yourself or a family member is, of course, priceless.
When you frame it this way, the decision becomes obvious. Saving $100-150 is not worth risking serious injury or death. Professional spring replacement is one of the best values in home repair—you’re not just paying for the parts and labor, you’re paying for expertise, proper tools, safety protocols, and peace of mind.
The Professional Spring Replacement Process
Understanding what to expect when you call a professional for spring replacement can help you feel more confident about the process and ensure you’re getting quality service.
Initial Inspection and Assessment
When a professional technician arrives, they’ll begin with a thorough inspection of your garage door system. They’ll examine the broken or failing springs to determine the size, weight rating, and type. They’ll check the condition of other components, including cables, rollers, hinges, and tracks. They’ll assess the door’s balance and operation. They’ll inspect the opener to ensure it hasn’t been damaged by operating with weak or broken springs.
Based on this inspection, the technician will provide a detailed explanation of the problem, recommend whether one or both springs need replacement, explain the options for spring quality and cycle rating, and provide transparent pricing for the work.
The Replacement Process
Professional spring replacement typically takes 1 to 2 hours and follows strict safety protocols. The technician will disconnect the garage door opener to prevent accidental operation. They’ll secure the door in place using clamps or other safety devices. For torsion springs, they’ll carefully release the tension from the old springs using proper winding bars and technique. They’ll remove the old springs from the shaft. They’ll install new springs of the correct size and rating. They’ll wind the new springs to the precise tension specified for your door’s weight. They’ll test the door’s balance and make fine adjustments as needed. They’ll reconnect the opener and test the complete system. They’ll lubricate all moving parts and perform a final safety inspection.
Throughout this process, the technician will use proper safety equipment and follow established protocols to minimize risk. This is why professional service is so much safer than DIY attempts—the technician has the training, tools, and experience to handle these dangerous components safely.
Spring Quality and Warranties
Not all garage door springs are created equal, and the quality of the springs used in your replacement will significantly affect how long they last. Standard springs are rated for 10,000 cycles (approximately 7-10 years). Mid-grade springs are rated for 20,000 cycles (approximately 14-20 years). Premium springs are rated for 30,000 cycles or more (approximately 20-30 years).
At A Plus Garage Doors, we use only premium springs rated for 30,000 cycles—three times the industry standard. While these springs cost slightly more than economy alternatives, they last three times longer, providing significantly better value over the life of your door. We back our spring replacements with comprehensive warranties covering both parts and labor, giving you peace of mind that your investment is protected.
Post-Replacement Maintenance
After your springs are replaced, proper maintenance will help them achieve their full rated lifespan. Your technician will provide guidance on the lubrication schedule (typically every 3-6 months), visual inspection points to check periodically, signs of problems to watch for, and when to schedule your next professional tune-up.
Following these maintenance recommendations can help your new springs last for decades, providing reliable, safe operation throughout their lifespan.
Conclusion: Don’t Wait for Complete Failure
Garage door springs are critical safety components that require respect and proper maintenance. While they’re designed to last for years, they will eventually wear out and need to be replaced. The key is recognizing the warning signs early and scheduling proactive replacement before you’re faced with an emergency situation.
If you’ve noticed any of the five warning signs we’ve discussed—a visible gap in the spring, a door that feels extremely heavy, rapid or slamming closure, uneven hanging, or unusual noises—don’t wait. These are your garage door’s way of telling you that the springs are nearing the end of their lifespan. Scheduling replacement now, on your timeline, is far better than dealing with a broken spring at 6 AM when you’re trying to get to work or at 11 PM when you’re coming home.
At A Plus Garage Doors, we’ve been serving the Las Vegas Valley for 19 years, and we’ve replaced thousands of garage door springs. We understand the unique challenges that our desert climate presents, and we use only the highest-quality springs backed by comprehensive warranties. Our experienced technicians follow strict safety protocols and can typically complete spring replacement in just one to two hours, getting your door back in safe, reliable operation quickly.
Don’t let a broken spring leave you stranded or put your family at risk. If you’ve noticed any warning signs, schedule a professional inspection today. We offer same-day service throughout the Las Vegas Valley and can often accommodate emergency situations. Take advantage of our $75 off spring replacement special and ensure your garage door is operating safely and reliably.
Call A Plus Garage Doors at (702) 297-7811 or book online now. Your safety and satisfaction are our top priorities, and we’re here to help 24/7.
