Broken Garage Door Spring: Signs, Safety Steps and What Affects Cost

Signs a garage door spring has broken

• A loud bang from the garage, sometimes while the door is closed.
• The door will not lift, or the opener hums and the door barely moves.
• The door feels extremely heavy if you lift it by hand.
• A visible gap in the spring above the door, or the door looks crooked.
• Cables hanging loose or the door rising unevenly.

Safety first

• Do not use the opener to force the door up. The spring carries the door's weight, and forcing it can strain the opener and the door.
• Keep people and pets clear of the door while it is stuck.
• Do not adjust or remove the spring or its brackets. The parts are under high tension and repairs are best left to a trained technician.
• If the door is stuck open, keep it clear of people and avoid leaving the home unsecured.

Torsion and extension springs

Torsion springs sit on a bar above the door; extension springs run along the sides of the tracks. The type your door uses affects the repair, so tell the provider what you see and, if you can safely do so from the ground, share photos. Do not climb or reach near the springs.

Why quotes differ and what to ask

Published cost figures vary widely, so HomeCallPro does not quote prices. What changes the price is more useful to know:

• The spring type, how many springs the door has and their rating for your door's weight
• Whether cables, rollers or hinges are also worn
• Whether one spring or a pair is replaced
• How the provider itemizes the service call, parts and labor

Ask whether the quote includes both springs, a warranty on parts and labor and a safety-sensor test after the repair.

HomeCallPro is a free referral directory and does not perform the work or set prices. See the Garage door services page for more.

Torsion versus extension springs

Why springs are not a DIY job

Garage door springs hold a great deal of stored energy. A mistake while adjusting or removing one can cause serious injury. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission publishes garage door safety information, and most guidance is the same: leave spring and cable work to a trained technician.

If the door is stuck open, keep people and pets clear of its path and think about security until it is repaired. If it is stuck closed, avoid forcing it.

What affects the repair quote

• The spring type and whether one or both springs are replaced
• Door weight and size, which determine the spring needed
• Whether cables, rollers or other worn parts also need replacing
• The warranty on parts and labor
• After-hours or emergency service

Ask for an itemized written quote, and ask whether replacing both springs at the same time is recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions