Your garage door gets used every day, often without much thought, until something suddenly stops working. One of the most common reasons for garage door failure is a broken spring. While it might seem like a minor part, the spring is what allows your door to open and close with ease. When it breaks, the entire system can become dangerous or unusable.
The tricky part is that spring problems don’t always look obvious right away. Some signs can be subtle, like strange noises or uneven movement. Others might be more alarming, such as the door refusing to open or slamming shut. Knowing how to spot these signs early can help you avoid costly damage and potential injury.
In this blog, we’ll explain how garage door springs work, how to tell when they’re broken, and what steps to take next. If you’ve noticed something off about your garage door lately, this guide will help you get answers and point you toward reliable help from the team at Precision Door Bakersfield.
Why Garage Door Springs Are So Important
Garage door springs carry most of the door’s weight. They are tightly wound coils that stretch and contract to support the door’s movement. Without them, your opener would struggle to lift even a lightweight door. Springs work behind the scenes, but they are essential to the entire system.
There are two main types of springs: torsion and extension. Torsion springs are mounted above the garage door and twist to create tension. Extension springs are mounted on either side of the door and stretch as the door closes. Both types can break over time due to wear, rust, or improper adjustment. When one goes, the balance of your door is thrown off, making operation difficult or dangerous.
A broken spring puts more stress on your opener, cables, and rollers. It can cause the door to jerk, fall suddenly, or refuse to move at all. That’s why early detection is so important. Addressing the issue quickly can prevent further damage and keep your system running safely. In Section 2, we’ll cover the most common signs that your garage door springs might be broken.
Signs Your Garage Door Springs May Be Broken
A garage door spring doesn’t always snap with a dramatic bang. Sometimes, the signs start small and grow more obvious over time. Being able to recognize those signs can help you prevent additional wear or sudden system failure. Below are some of the most common indicators that your garage door springs may be damaged or completely broken.
Your Door Won’t Open Normally
If your garage door refuses to open or feels extremely heavy when you try to lift it manually, a broken spring is likely to blame. Springs are what offset the weight of the door. Without that counterbalance, the door becomes difficult or impossible to lift. In some cases, your automatic opener may still try to operate, but the motor will struggle, or the door may only rise a few inches before reversing.
Another clear sign is if your door suddenly slams shut instead of closing gently. This happens because the spring can no longer support the door’s weight. It can create a serious safety risk for anyone near the door. If this happens, stop using the door immediately and schedule garage door spring repair before using it again.
Visual and Audible Warning Signs
Sometimes you can see the problem. A torsion spring that has snapped will often show a visible gap between the coils. Extension springs may look stretched out or have frayed cables nearby. You might also notice the door sitting crooked or uneven when partially open. These are signs that the tension on one side has been lost, which means the system is out of balance.
Strange sounds can also be a clue. A loud pop or bang coming from the garage could be a spring snapping. Ongoing squeaking or grinding noises may signal a spring under strain. If you hear unusual sounds every time you operate the door, it’s worth having it inspected. Visit our noisy door service page to learn more about what your garage door is trying to tell you.
If you notice any of these signs, do not attempt to fix the problem yourself. In Section 3, we’ll explain why spring repair should always be handled by trained professionals—and how Precision Door Bakersfield can help.
What to Do Next (And What Not to Do)
A broken spring might seem like a simple issue, but trying to repair it yourself can quickly become dangerous. These tightly wound coils store a large amount of tension. If released improperly, they can snap back with enough force to cause serious injury. That’s why spring repairs should always be left to trained technicians who have the right tools and experience.
Working with professionals not only protects your safety but also ensures the rest of your garage door system stays intact. A rushed or improper fix can strain the opener, damage cables, or cause misalignment. Precision Door Bakersfield provides fast, reliable service backed by proper diagnostics and quality replacement parts.
Leave Spring Repairs to the Experts
Even if you’re handy, garage door springs are not a DIY project. The process of safely unwinding or replacing a torsion spring requires specialized equipment and step-by-step precision. Without that, you risk stripped parts, failed installation, or worse—injury. A single mistake can cause the door to drop suddenly or knock components out of alignment.
By calling a professional, you get more than just a repair. You get peace of mind knowing the spring was selected based on your door’s weight and dimensions, installed correctly, and tested thoroughly. That’s the kind of service Precision is known for. You can explore our broken springs and parts and accessories pages for more details on what’s included.
How Precision Door Bakersfield Can Help
When you call our team, you’ll get same-day service, clear pricing, and no surprises. We’ll inspect your entire system, not just the spring, to make sure everything works together smoothly. If other parts like rollers and cables need adjustment or replacement, we’ll handle that on the spot.
Our trained technicians bring all necessary tools and parts with them. Most spring repairs are completed during the first visit. That means you can get back to your routine quickly and safely, with a garage door you can count on.
Conclusion
Garage door springs might be out of sight, but they should never be out of mind. If your door is acting strange, feels too heavy, or makes loud noises, a broken spring may be to blame. Knowing the warning signs can save you from bigger problems down the road.
Never attempt to repair a garage door spring on your own. The risks simply aren’t worth it. A professional can safely restore your door’s balance, protect your opener, and make sure your system works the way it should.
If you think your spring might be broken, don’t wait. Contact Precision Door Bakersfield today for fast, expert service and safe, lasting repairs.
