How Do I Know If My Garage Door Spring Is Broken?
Five unmistakable signs of a broken torsion spring and why you should never try to lift the door yourself.
A broken torsion spring is the single most common Garage Door Repair we perform in Youngsville, NC. Here's how to identify one before you damage your opener trying to force the door open.
1. A loud bang from the garage. Springs are wound under enormous tension; when they fail, it sounds like a gunshot.
2. A visible gap. Look at the spring above the door — a 1-2 inch gap means the coil has snapped.
3. The door feels extremely heavy. A balanced double door weighs ~150 lbs without spring assist. You won't be able to lift it.
4. The opener strains, then stops. Modern openers detect overload and shut off — exactly what you want.
5. The door opens 6 inches and stops. Many openers will lift the door slightly before reversing.
Never try to replace a torsion spring yourself. The stored energy is enough to break a wrist or worse. Call a licensed Garage Door Repair company in Youngsville, NC and have it done in under an hour.