Is Your Garage Door Unsafe? 5 Signs You Need Spring Repair

Your garage door is one of the largest and heaviest moving objects in your home. You probably use it every day without giving it much thought. But when the springs that help it open and close start to fail, it can quickly become a major inconvenience and a serious safety hazard. At Local Garage Door Repair Boca Raton FL, we want to ensure your home is safe and functional.

Recognizing the early warning signs of a failing garage door spring can save you from a complete system breakdown, costly emergency repairs, and potential accidents. This guide will walk you through the key indicators that your garage door springs need immediate attention.

1. The Garage Door Feels Extremely Heavy

Have you ever tried to lift your garage door manually and found it nearly impossible? That’s a classic sign of a broken or worn-out spring. Garage door springs are designed to counterbalance the door’s weight, making it light enough to lift with just one hand.

If you disengage the automatic opener and the door feels incredibly heavy or slams shut when you let go, it’s a sign you need garage door spring repair. The springs are no longer doing their job, which puts immense strain on the garage door opener and creates a dangerous situation where the door could fall unexpectedly.

2. You See a Gap in the Spring

A visual inspection is one of the easiest ways to check the health of your garage door springs. Most residential garage doors use one of two types of springs:

Torsion Springs: These are large springs mounted on a metal rod above the garage door. A healthy torsion spring is a single, continuous coil. If you see a gap of a few inches in the middle of the spring, it means it has snapped.
Extension Springs: These are smaller springs located on either side of the door, running parallel to the overhead tracks. When one of these breaks, you might see it dangling or notice that the door looks crooked and uneven.

A broken spring is a clear sign you need a professional repair right away.

3. The Door Opens Crooked or Jerky

When your garage door opens, it should move smoothly and evenly along its tracks. If you notice it looks lopsided, shakes, or makes jerky movements, a failing spring could be the culprit.

This often happens with extension spring systems when one of the two springs breaks. The side with the functioning spring still has tension, while the other side does not. This imbalance causes the door to lift unevenly, putting significant stress on the tracks, cables, and opener. Continuing to operate the door in this condition can lead to more extensive and expensive damage.

4. You Hear a Loud Bang from the Garage

Did you hear a sudden, loud noise from your garage that sounded like a firecracker or a gunshot? Many homeowners are startled by this sound, and its source is often a broken torsion spring.

The springs are under extreme tension, and when one finally snaps, it releases its stored energy with a powerful, loud bang. If you hear this noise, do not attempt to open your garage door. Instead, inspect the springs from a safe distance to see if one has broken.

5. The Garage Door Won't Open

If you press the button on your remote or wall opener and the door only lifts a few inches before stopping, a broken spring is the most likely cause. The garage door opener has a safety mechanism that detects when the door is too heavy to lift.

When a spring breaks, the opener recognizes the excessive weight and stops operating to prevent burning out its motor. You might hear the opener motor straining, but the door itself will barely move. This is a definitive sign that the spring system has failed.

Your Next Steps

Ignoring signs of a failing garage door spring is not worth the risk. A malfunctioning door can cause serious injury or damage to your property. If you’ve noticed any of the issues described above, it’s time to call in the experts.

Attempting to replace garage door springs yourself is extremely dangerous due to the high tension they hold. For safe, reliable, and professional service, contact Local Garage Door Repair Boca Raton FL today. Our experienced technicians can quickly diagnose the problem and get your garage door operating safely again.

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Signs Your Garage Door Needs Spring Repair ASAP