Signs of a Broken Garage Door Spring

On average, a garage door opens and closes about 1,500 times per year in the United States. Because garage doors get a lot of use, they’re susceptible to wear and tear just like anything else. One of the main components to inspect regularly on a garage door is its spring, which functions to counteract the pull of gravity on the door.

A garage door spring works to make your door light enough for you to be able to lift it easily — whether that be manually or with a garage door opener. There are two main types of garage door springs: extension springs and torsion springs. While extension springs are usually located above the pulley system, torsion springs can be found on the wall above the garage door.

How Long Do Garage Door Springs Last?

The average life of a garage door spring is anywhere from seven to nine years, assuming four cycles a day for a total of 10,000 cycles. However, with the garage door being used as the front door more and more — increasing its daily cycles — garage door springs may last only four to six years.

Signs of a Broken Spring

Knowing when a garage door spring is broken will help you take action quickly and effectively. The most obvious way to check the condition of your garage door springs is to inspect them. Is there a loss of tension, visible wear and tear or any separation in the springs? At idc-Automatic, we recommend scrutinizing your garage door springs at least once a month for the following signs that they may be faulty or broken:

• The door refuses to open or is “jerky” going up and down.
• It falls fast when going down.
• The door cannot be lifted even when you pull the emergency release rope.
• Your garage door is very heavy.
• The cable and pulley are hanging down.
• You heard a loud “bang” in the garage.
• The garage door goes up six inches and stops.
• You see a two-inch gap in your torsion spring.
• The top section of the garage door bent when you tried to open it.
• Your garage door is crooked when it goes up and down.

Another way to tell if your garage door spring is broken is to perform a force setting test. Wait until the garage door is open and then use either the garage door wall button or the door opener to close the door automatically. As the door closes, outstretch your hands and try holding the bottom of the door.

The door’s safety reversing mechanism should immediately stop it from closing and cause it to go in the reverse direction. If your garage door has trouble reversing itself, remove your hands from underneath quickly — there’s likely an issue with the springs or safety mechanism.

Schedule a Service for Your Broken Garage Door Spring

Because replacing garage door springs can be dangerous if you’re not equipped with the proper tools or training, you should never attempt to repair them on your own. If you notice a broken or faulty garage door spring, contact a repair technician as soon as possible. You can also schedule a service or repair today, and one of our service professionals at idc-Automatic will be more than happy to help.