CAN I OPEN MY GARAGE DOOR WITH A BROKEN SPRING?

01

CAN YOU OPEN A GARAGE DOOR WITH A BROKEN SPRING?

The safest answer is that you should not attempt to open it yourself.

When a spring breaks, the full weight of the garage door may be left for the homeowner or garage door operator to lift. Without proper training, equipment, and experience, that weight can create a serious risk of injury and property damage.

Even when someone is physically capable of moving the door, the door can become crooked, bind in the tracks, or drop unexpectedly. A professional can control the door while protecting the people, vehicles, and property around it.

02

THE SPRING DOES THE HEAVY LIFTING

Many homeowners assume the garage door operator lifts the entire weight of the door. In reality, the spring system counterbalances most of that weight.

The operator is designed to guide a properly balanced door through its opening and closing cycles. When the spring breaks, the operator may suddenly be asked to move far more weight than it was designed to handle.

03

SIGNS YOUR GARAGE DOOR SPRING MAY BE BROKEN

Common signs of a broken or failing garage door spring include:

• A LOUD BANG

  A spring can release stored tension with a sudden and extremely loud noise.

• THE DOOR OPENS ONLY A FEW INCHES

  The operator may not be able to lift the full weight without spring assistance.

• A VISIBLE GAP IN THE SPRING

  A separated section in a torsion spring is a common visual sign of failure.

• THE DOOR FEELS EXTREMELY HEAVY

  Without spring assistance, the full weight of the door may be resting in your hands.

• THE DOOR MOVES UNEVENLY

  The door may become crooked, bind in the tracks, or rise higher on one side.

Stop operating the garage door when you notice these warning signs. Continuing to use it can turn a spring replacement into a more complicated and expensive repair.

04

SHOULD YOU PULL THE EMERGENCY RELEASE?

The red emergency release cord disconnects the garage door from the operator. It may be used when the door is fully closed and the spring system is believed to be in good working condition, such as during a power outage or when diagnosing an operator problem.

If the homeowner notices the broken spring before assessing the rest of the garage door, UpDown Garage Doors recommends leaving the system alone and having a professional repair the spring and diagnose the complete door.

05

CONTINUING TO USE THE OPERATOR CAN CREATE MORE DAMAGE

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is repeatedly pressing the wall button or remote after the spring has broken.

The operator may continue trying to lift the door even though the spring is no longer supporting its weight. This can leave the door partially open, place people and property at risk, and damage the operating system.

Continued operation can damage:

• The operator motor
• Internal gears and drive components
• The rail and trolley
• The operator arm
• Door panels and supporting hardware
• Cables, drums, rollers, and tracks

06

WHAT IF YOUR VEHICLE IS TRAPPED INSIDE?

The best option is to call a garage door professional who can safely open the door and help remove the vehicle without causing additional damage.

Emergency situations vary. Homeowners should have a backup plan in case a garage entrance becomes blocked or otherwise unusable.

If the operator is not working because of a power outage and all garage door components are in good working condition, the emergency release may be used with the door fully closed so the door can be lifted manually.

This guidance does not apply to a known broken spring. If the spring is broken or suspected to be broken, do not attempt to lift the door manually. Call a professional.

07

THE HEAVIER THE DOOR THE GREATER THE HAZARD

Every garage door is different. Door weight varies according to size, material, insulation, reinforcement, windows, and other design features.

Double garage doors, insulated doors, custom doors, and solid wood doors may be especially difficult to control when a spring breaks.

08

A BROKEN SPRING CAN AFFECT THE CABLES AND DRUMS

The spring does more than help lift the garage door. It also helps keep the lifting cables properly tensioned during opening and closing cycles.

When a spring breaks, the cables may loosen and slip off the garage door drums. The door can become difficult to keep level, bind in the tracks, or become hard to return safely to the closed position.

What could have been a straightforward spring replacement can turn into a more involved service requiring cable, drum, track, or hardware work.

1. 01

   THE SPRING BREAKS

   The system loses the tension that counterbalances the weight of the garage door.

2. 02

   THE CABLES MAY LOOSEN

   Reduced spring tension can allow cables to lose their proper position on the drums.

3. 03

   THE DOOR CAN BIND OR BECOME CROOKED

   Uneven cable movement can make the door difficult to control and increase the scope and cost of the repair.

09

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CAN PREVENT MORE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS

Well-maintained garage doors generally require smaller repairs and fewer major corrections.

For many North American households, the garage door is one of the primary entrances into the home. It may operate several times every day, making it one of the most frequently used systems on the property.

Ignoring small issues can allow wear to spread through the system. Rollers, weather stripping, seals, hinges, hardware, cables, springs, bearings, and operator components should be inspected and serviced as needed.

Learn how UpDown Garage Doors engineers replacement springs based on the actual door weight in our guide: How Much Does Garage Door Spring Replacement Cost in Colorado Springs?