When a garage door spring breaks, the energy stored by the garage door spring comes undone and can cause damage to your door, property stored within your garage and even your body. It's essential to never walk directly under a broken garage door since a malfunctioning spring can cause it to fall unexpectedly.
Since a broken spring will not help lift the heavy door, using your opener could burn out the motor. Safety Note: It's crucial to exercise caution and prioritize safety when attempting to open a garage door with a broken spring.
As professionals in the industry, we advise you do not attempt to open your garage door if the spring is broken.
Signs of a faulty garage door spring include difficulty lifting the door, uneven movement, or a loud snapping noise. Avoid attempting to fix it yourself, as springs are under high tension and require professional replacement for safety.
There can be several reasons for a garage door to fall off its tracks, but the most common culprit is a damaged or loose garage door roller. Garage door rollers play a crucial role in keeping the door aligned and smoothly moving along the tracks.
Poor installation: Improperly installed garage door springs or tracks can cause sagging and unevenness. For instance, if one side of the door isn't properly balanced or tensioned, it can cause the other side to become sagging and uneven.
The most common causes of slamming garage doors are broken, malfunctioning and faulty springs. Springs hold your overhead door's weight and create enough tension to lower it in a controlled manner. However, that tension only comes from strong, well-maintained parts.
The door will become crooked when attempting to raise. The garage door could fall quickly. Most of the time you'll notice a bend at the top of the door. Attempting to open the door with the operator will cause more damage.
According to Angi, garage door spring replacement can cost between $150 and $350, including materials and labor. If additional repairs are required, you may spend up to $500. A double door generally costs an extra $15 to $30 per spring.
Standard manufacturer garage door springs have an average lifecycle of about 10,000 cycles, equivalent to approximately 48 months when used daily. Oil-tempered garage door springs show improved endurance, lasting for about 15,000 cycles, which translates roughly to a 10-year lifespan with regular use.
Replacing a garage door spring yourself isn't impossible, but it does require special knowledge about the springs and how a garage door works.
On average, a professional technician can complete the replacement in about one to two hours. However, DIY replacements may take longer due to safety precautions and lack of experience.
Make sure you always replace both springs when they snap, regardless of which side snapped first. A broken spring without a repaired or replaced second spring can be problematic – as the garage door will now be subject to extra pressure on only one side.
We recommend not attempting to open your garage door if it has a broken spring. Follow these safety tips if you must open the door to get a car out: Keep yourself safe by protecting your back, keeping your fingers away from pinch points and ensuring your feet aren't under the door.
Signs of a Broken Garage Door Spring
This sound was most likely made by a sudden unwinding spring; when they break, it can create a loud crashing sound even if nothing fell.
Size, material, and options like glass and insulation all affect the weight. An 8′ x 7′ non-insulated or single-layer steel garage door from Amarr can weigh as little as 83 lbs. An Amarr triple-layer, insulated garage door with steel backing in the same size can weigh up to 143 lbs.
The cost to install a garage door opener is $378 on average, but it can cost between $218 and $539—or more if you splurge on extras. On average, garage door opener installation costs $378 and will give you 10 to 15 years of smooth opening and closing with proper maintenance.
Some homeowners may attempt DIY repairs on their garage doors, including repairing or replacing broken springs themselves. However, this is not recommended and can lead to more problems than solutions. Not only is it unsafe, but it can also cause more damage to your garage door system if not done properly.
We have a full range of garage door parts, such as brackets, locks, springs and cables, available at Lowe's.
While the most common reason garage doors springs break is general wear and tear, on average, garage door springs typically last between 7 to 9 years or approximately 10,000 cycles (one cycle is a full open and close of the door).
Many things can damage a garage door, such as natural disasters, car hits, garage track problems, and fragile foundations. Wind can cause garage doors to bend, twist, shake, become unbalanced, or open completely.
Safety Sensor Issues
They're safety sensors that stop your door from closing on obstacles. When misaligned, they'll make your door reverse. Look for: Door reverses immediately after touching floor.