One of those house emergency problems that needs to be announced dramatically is the broken garage door spring. You click the opener button, and immediately there is a loud booming sound and then your garage door doesn’t move. Maybe the door moves out of position and doesn’t shut properly, or opens up at a weird angle, or something else happens that you just know is seriously wrong. Most homeowners, regardless of the warning indicator, will want to investigate and solve the issue they’re facing on their own.

This is a case where instinct can actually pose real dangers. Garage door springs are one of the most heavily-loaded parts of the house. Knowing when to seek professional help, and what to steer clear of when a spring fails, could prevent you from getting hurt and spending a lot of money. 

Why Garage Door Springs Are More Dangerous Than They Appear

In order to understand the risk, it’s important to know what these components do. The garage door is supported by all of its weight, usually from 130 to 350 pounds, depending on material and size, with a counterbalance mechanism consisting of garage door springs. They accumulate a huge amount of mechanical tension, which means the opener motor only has to apply a small amount to smoothly raise and lower the door.

In household systems there are actually two major types. Torsion springs are installed horizontally over the door frame, at the bottom they wind tightly around a metal post. Extension springs are on the horizontal tracks on both sides and extend under tension. Both act with extreme force. If the spring snaps — it will at some time after thousands of open and close cycles — then that energy is let go all at once and with a satisfying violence.

Failing spring is not only worn out. A loaded component, whose tension has broken at some point in an unpredictable manner, where the person treats it as if it were part of the playground, injuries occur. 

Never Attempt to Manually Lift the Door Alone

A broken torsion or extension spring means that now your heavy garage door can’t be moved with a counterbalance system in place. The entire weight of the door is now supported by the tracks, top rollers, and door opener — all of which are not built to carry the weight alone.

Homeowners who attempt to raise a door that has broken a spring are trying to raise hundreds of pounds with no mechanical help and this is a bad idea. The door may swing open unexpectedly if the grip slips or some other part moves. A falling garage door can cause very serious crush injuries and be fatal. Even if you manage to lift it partway, holding it in position while trying to inspect anything underneath is an extraordinarily dangerous situation to put yourself in. 

Do Not Operate the Automatic Opener After a Spring Failure

This is one of the most common mistakes made after spring breaks. When used with a properly functioning opener, the automatic opener is designed to open the door. When the spring fails, the door has to lift when the motor engages without any support from the spring.

Opening under these conditions will not only destroy the motor, but may also damage the drive gear, bend door panels, break the trolley carriage and put undue strain throughout the entire lift system. Opener units aren’t designed to be used as the only mechanism for a full-weight door. Failing to stop using it after a spring failure can often lead to additional and costly repair actions.

Unplug the opener and make sure the door is in the normal position until a competent professional is there. 

Never Wind or Replace Springs Without Professional Training

However, some homeowners may be at ease with doing their own repairs and might think they could get on with the task without professional assistance if they seek out replacement springs and try it themselves. Here, the most critical injuries are likely to happen. The process of winding the torsion spring needs a set of winding bars, understanding the correct tension size of the door according to the weight of the door, and having experience to deal with the unstable and imprecise operation phenomenon of the loaded torsion spring.

Improvised tools like a screwdriver, pliers, or another rod are not built for the task, and can cause greatly increased risk of the spring slipping. A sudden release of a torsion spring while winding can crush bones and indeed lead to serious cuts and injuries. The same risks can occur when extension springs are being removed, unless the door is being secured properly.

The benefits of an in-house spring replacement are not worth the chance of getting a sore back to handle. This is a repair that requires professional tools, work experience, and training. 

Avoid Forcing the Door Open or Closed

However, when the spring fails during part of the door’s open position, the urge can be to either completely lift the door or to close it. Both are not recommended without knowledge of the state of each connected component. A door that is partially open, and has a broken, weak, or missing spring is structurally unstable. The force applied is affected by the amount of tension in the cables, the status of the second spring if it is still in place and the location of the rollers when the force is applied.

The safest option is to keep the door as it is and to avoid people and vehicles entering the area. For those that need vehicle access immediately, be sure to reach out to a garage door repair man for an emergency and not risk causing an uncontrolled movement. 

Do Not Ignore Warning Signs Before a Full Break

Garage door springs usually give aggravating signs before they break. It’s a warning sign that failure is on the horizon if a door opens more slowly than usual, is harder than usual to open by hand, makes grinding or squeaking noises when it’s open, or if there are gaps in the spring coil. Frayed cables, a door that hangs unequally, or coils that are stretched from their normal shape, are all should be taken seriously.

Prevention of spring wear prior to failure is safer than an on the spot diagnosis, and is likely to be cost effective. The average number of cycles for the torsion springs is about 10,000 — which is about 7 to 9 years for most homes. If you know the age of your springs and make sure to have them checked by professionals regularly, you will always be prepared when they fail. 

What You Should Actually Do When a Spring Breaks

Always turn the power off to the opener when it is not being used to avoid any accidental opening. Avoid letting children and pets in the garage. Please do not park any vehicles under or near the entrance until repairs are finished. Call a licensed garage door repair company that can give you a complete inspection of the entire system as a failure of the spring can sometimes be a sign of problems with cables, drums, and hardware, which should also be addressed.

A quality technician will replace the missing spring with the spring that matches in weight with your specific door and can adjust the spring to the proper tension for balanced and safe operation for the future. 

Conclusion

A broken garage door spring is not a repair to improvise or put off. The forces at play are not to be taken lightly, the damage can come in expensive prices, and the outcomes of getting it wrong from expensive to life-altering injury. The best advice for anyone facing a failed spring is to get back positive, secure the area and immediately contact a professional who can do the job safely.

From emergency garage door spring repair to garage door system inspections, garage door opener repair and replacement, we do it all at Garage Door Repair VIP. Our technicians will be prepared to test, repair and restore your door to a safe working condition, promptly and accurately.

Call Garage Door Repair VIP today and let our knowledgeable personnel get the job done and you don’t have to take any chances.