Your garage door springs do more than you might think—they support the entire weight of your garage door every time you open or close it. Whether you’re using an automatic opener or opening the door manually, the springs are under tremendous tension. Over time, they wear out and may need replacement.
Knowing when your garage door spring needs replacing can save you from major breakdowns or even injuries. Let’s break down the top 5 signs that it’s time to call a professional.
1. Your Garage Door Won’t Open (or Closes Too Fast)
A Major Red Flag: Sudden Door Imbalance
One of the most obvious signs of a broken garage door spring is a door that refuses to open or slams shut unexpectedly. Springs are responsible for lifting the door’s weight. If a spring is broken, your opener might struggle or fail entirely, and the door may come crashing down with alarming speed.
Tip: Never attempt to force the door open. This can damage the opener or cause injury.
2. You Hear a Loud Bang from the Garage
The Sound of a Spring Snapping
If you hear a loud bang like a gunshot coming from your garage, there’s a good chance a torsion spring just snapped. Springs are under extreme tension, and when they break, they release that energy with a sudden, loud noise.
Even if the door seems operational afterward, a broken spring is a hazard that needs immediate repair.
3. The Garage Door Looks Crooked or Jerky When Moving
Visual Clues and Strange Motion
Does your garage door appear uneven when opening or closing? Maybe it moves in a jerky, shaky way instead of smoothly gliding? These are clear signs of spring failure—especially if one side is moving faster than the other.
This issue can also indicate a problem with the cables or rollers, but a faulty spring is usually the primary culprit
4. You Notice Gaps or Separation in the Spring
Physical Inspection: What to Look For
If you visually inspect the spring and notice a visible gap in the torsion spring or find that the spring looks stretched out, it’s no longer functioning as it should.
These gaps occur when the tightly wound coil breaks and unravels. At this point, it’s beyond repair—it must be replaced by a trained technician.
5. The Door Feels Too Heavy to Lift Manually
Lost Tension Means More Weight
Try disconnecting the opener and lifting the garage door manually. If it feels extremely heavy or impossible to lift, that’s a sign the springs aren’t counterbalancing the weight properly. Garage doors are designed to feel almost weightless when springs are functioning.
This is one of the clearest signs that your garage door spring needs replacing immediately.
Why You Should Never Replace Garage Door Springs Yourself
Garage door springs are under high tension and can cause serious injury if handled improperly. Always hire a licensed and insured professional like Sunrise Garage Doors LLC in Las Vegas to ensure your safety and the long-term functionality of your garage door system.
Serving Las Vegas and Surrounding Areas
Sunrise Garage Doors LLC provides fast, reliable spring replacement services in:
Whether you have a torsion spring or extension spring system, we have the experience to fix it right the first time.
Related Services:
- Garage Door Spring Repair
- Garage Door Opener Repair
- Garage Door Off-Track Repair
- Cable & Roller Replacement
- 24/7 Emergency Garage Door Services
Schedule Your Spring Inspection Today
Don’t wait for a complete garage door failure. If you’ve noticed any of these warning signs, contact Sunrise Garage Doors LLC today at (725) 300-8930 or visit https://sunrisegaragedoorsllc.com to schedule a service call.
