Garage doors with broken springs should not be opened. Doors in this condition can be difficult to lift because the garage door opener loses the support springs provide in lifting and lowering the door.
As professionals in the industry, we advise you do not attempt to open your garage door if the spring is broken.
It is strongly advised that you do not attempt to open your garage door if the spring is broken. Because garage doors are typically made out of materials like metal or wood, they can sometimes weigh upwards of 500 pounds. If one of the springs is broken, you will be left lifting all of that weight on your own.
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.
Technically, a garage door can open and close without springs, but it poses significant challenges and risks. Operating a garage door without springs can lead to: Increased Physical Effort: The absence of springs makes the door extremely heavy, requiring more force to move.
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.
Heavy Use and Overloading: The frequent use of a garage door can place extra strain on the springs, causing them to wear out faster. According to industry experts, the average lifespan of garage door springs is between 7-9 years with average use (3-4 times daily).
Replacing a garage door spring yourself isn't impossible, but it does require special knowledge about the springs and how a garage door works.
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.
Stand on the ladder and place vice grips or locking pliers on the track just above the bottom roller on the broken cable side. Gently lift the door by pulling up on the vice grips or pliers. If you have an assistant, they can help lift the door evenly on the opposite side.
Replacing garage door springs takes 30 minutes to 1 hour. New garage door springs last 7 to 14 years, or between 10,000 and 20,000 up-and-down cycles. It is important to hire a professional to help, because changing a garage door spring can be dangerous.
Our answer is always no. You shouldn't even weld near your springs, let alone on them. Springs don't stand well to heat, since heat causes springs steel to de-carbonize and lose tensile strength, making the area around the weld brittle like a cheap pencil.
A Door That Falls Off Its Tracks – Whether your new springs are too strong, too weak or just not the right type, one possible consequence is that they could derail your door, i.e. cause it to fall off its tracks. In such an event, anybody standing in the garage or just outside could be in very serious danger.
A garage door can still open if the spring is broken, but it will take some manual effort. Using your garage door opener could burn out the motor since the broken spring makes the garage door heavier. We recommend not attempting to open your garage door if it has a broken spring.
We have a full range of garage door parts, such as brackets, locks, springs and cables, available at Lowe's.
When properly installed, your springs can last approximately 10,000 cycles. One cycle includes both the opening and closing of the door. Technically speaking, your springs should last between 7 to 10 years. However, this depends on how often you use your garage door.
A broken spring can render your heavy garage door almost useless. However, don't try to lift the door manually. It may crash down or close unexpectedly, and this can be dangerous. Garage doors can be dangerous if not handled by a professional.
As their names imply, torsion springs use torque, while extension springs use the build-up of energy in their springs to lift the garage door. Garage doors operate on a counterbalance system, meaning they utilize the energy in their mechanisms to pull the garage door open and close it again.
Its a bit tricky the torsion springs are wound under considerable tension. If you slip you can have a serious gash from the tool. I always leave it to a professional since this is a once every 10–20 year repair and can be very dangerous if you don't do it just right.
Your garage door consists of many different parts, with the springs being some of the most important. Many modern garage doors use a torsion spring, lasting about 10,000 open and closing cycles.
Your garage door can work without power— you simply have to open it by hand.