It can be incredibly frustrating if your garage door isn’t opening or closing properly. One of the most common causes of garage door malfunction is a broken garage door spring. If you’re the type of person who likes to fix things themselves, take extreme caution — garage door springs are under high tension, and if they’re damaged or broken, you could be severely injured if you attempt to fix them on your own.
So don’t hurt yourself — if you don’t already know how to fix a broken garage door spring, we recommend that you hire a professional. Garage door spring repair requires specialized knowledge to be performed safely. However, you may be able to save the repair man some time if you can diagnose the problem yourself.
7 Signs your garage door springs are broken
There are several signs that can help you determine whether your garage door spring is broken. If your garage door shows one or more of these signs, it may be time to call a professional garage door repair company. Your door system could be broken or on the verge of breaking.
1. Garage door opener won’t work automatically
Torsion springs are the primary driver of your garage door opening system, so if they’re broken, your automatic opener likely won’t work when you press the button on your remote or wall. Oftentimes, a built-in safety mechanism will stop the door from opening after the springs break.
2. Garage door won’t open (even manually) more than a foot or two
After you’ve tried and failed to open the garage door with its remote control, you may also attempt to open the door manually. A door with a broken spring usually won’t open more than a foot or two. You may need someone with you to help lift the door. The door will feel very heavy as you lift.
3. Garage door slams shut after lifting it open
Because of the high tension from the broken spring system, the door will slam shut once you let go of the door. It may make a loud noise once it hits the garage floor.
4. There’s a visible gap between the individual rings of your torsion spring
If your garage door spring breaks all the way through, you should be able to see a sizable gap between some of the individual rings. If this is the case, you’ll want to call a professional immediately to fix it.
5. Garage door makes an extremely loud popping noise (whether in use or not)
Since your garage door torsion springs are under such high tension, you’ll be able to hear it when they break. When garage door springs snap, they make an extremely loud noise — you’ll hear a pop so loud that you may mistake it for a gunshot. Springs can snap while you’re opening or closing your door, or when it’s at rest.
6. Torsion Springs look rusted or worn out
If your garage door springs have not yet snapped, you may want to check them for rust or wear. Rusty, stretched-out springs are liable to snap. You may see the oxidation on the individual rings of the springs, or they may look more stretched out than usual. If this is the case, you may want to have them replaced before they snap.
7. Garage door is crooked or misaligned as it moves along its track
Your door can become crooked if your garage door uses extension springs rather than typical torsion springs. Extension springs are on either side of the door, running perpendicular to the ground. If one of your extension springs is broken, then one side of your garage door will open quicker than the other. This causes the door to appear crooked or misaligned as it opens.
Need Your Garage Door Springs Replaced? Call PNG Garage Doors of Denver, CO
If you’re worried that your garage door springs may be broken, do not try to fix the problem yourself. Broken or worn-out garage door springs are dangerous, and it takes a professional to replace them safely.
PNG Garage Doors has years of experience installing and servicing garage doors across the Denver Metro area. We fix and replace broken springs regularly. Our professional garage door technicians will have your door working again in no time.
Call today for a free service quote. We’re ready to get to work!
