Are Broken Garage Door Springs Dangerous?

Garage door springs are necessary for your system to function. Like all equipment, garage doors and their components will wear down over time. When the springs break down, you should not continue to use your garage door. This can be dangerous, and any repairs should be left to the professionals.

What Do Garage Door Springs Do, and How Do They Stop Working?

The purpose of these parts in a garage door system is to move the door up and down smoothly. A well-functioning system with good springs will function for about seven to nine years before they begin to break down.

Fatigue is the main reason garage door springs fail. The constant stress from winding and unwinding will weaken them until they become dangerous to use. Corrosion and rust due to a lack of maintenance can also cause these parts to break down. Some signs that you have broken garage door springs include the door coming down too fast, the cables breaking, and the door itself bending.

9 Signs You Have Broken Garage Door Springs:

1. The Garage Door Cables are Broken

Homeowners often mistake an issue with the springs for the cables because when a spring breaks, the cables become unwound. They might end up splayed all over the garage. However, there is nothing wrong with the cables most of the time. It is rare for them to break due to an issue with the springs.

2. The Garage Door Goes Up About Half a Foot and Stops

A common issue occurs when the garage door goes up slowly but fails to pick up speed, stops, and goes back down. This could happen because there is a problem with the opener’s motor. It could also be a sign that the springs are not operational. To test if it is the springs, close the garage door and pull the emergency release rope. Then, try to lift the door on your own. If it is really heavy, that is a strong indicator that you have broken garage door springs.

3. The Garage Door Comes Down Too Fast

You’re probably accustomed to your garage door closing at a certain speed, so anything that exceeds that is unusual. The cables and springs are not designed to accommodate the full weight of the door. They rely on the springs. So, if it is falling faster than usual, that could be an indication that you have broken garage door springs.

4. The Door is Crooked When Raised or Lowered

Another issue that indicates a broken garage door spring problem is that the door raises and lowers unevenly. Again, the springs are responsible for countering the force of gravity. So, when they don’t work, the opener is unable to open and close the door easily.

5. The Garage Door Starts and Stops

If the door moves in a stop-and-start motion, that could be a sign that one of the springs in a two-spring system is not operational. Some garage openers cannot lift doors with only one spring. So, the jerking motion could be an indication that the opener is struggling. It could also be a simple lubricant problem. Try adding lubricant to the pulleys, hinges, and rollers. If this does not fix the issue, a garage door repair company can help.

6. There Was a Loud Bang When Using the Door

When a garage door spring breaks, an enormous amount of energy is released, which can result in a loud noise. The spring unwinds in under a second, causing a loud noise due to the coils spinning on top of the shelf. Homeowners often mistake this loud bang for a break-in or other issue and don’t notice the broken garage door springs until they try to leave the following morning.

7. There is a two-inch Gap in the Broken Garage Door Spring

Another common indicator of broken garage door spring issues is gaps in the spring. When the spring is wound, it grows about two inches in length. Once the spring is wound up, the winding cone clamps down on the shaft so that the drums can wind the cables that pull the door up. When the spring breaks, the gap remains.

8. The Top Part of the Door is Bent

Modern garage doors are divided into sections called panels. Broken garage door springs could result in the top panel being bent by the cables. This problem can often be fixed by replacing the struts that bend the section back into place without a panel replacement.

9. The Emergency Release Rope Won’t Work

The emergency rope utilizes the springs to enable you to lift the garage door easily. But, if you pull the rope and it won’t budge or is heavy, then the counterbalancing spring is a broken garage door spring.

Why You Should Get Regular Garage Door Maintenance

Not taking care of your garage door springs can result in some serious issues. These parts serve a vital purpose in the way the whole system functions. Because the springs hold tension, when they wear down, they could break at random times when using the door. Also, if both break, the door will not work at all. Getting regular maintenance for this system can help you catch broken garage door spring issues early before they become a safety hazard.

How Broken Garage Door Springs are Dangerous

Older garage doors are somewhat more dangerous when it comes to replacing springs. They were not installed with safety cables like more modern systems, so when one snaps, it could shoot out at high speed. It could cause property damage and even serious physical harm. This is why broken garage door spring replacement should be done by a professional.

Garage Door Safety Tips to Remember

When it comes to your broken garage door springs, there are some steps you can take to keep yourself and your family safe.

1. Always call an expert for maintenance and repairs. This will ensure that all work is done safely and effectively.
2. Keep an eye on the cables. Make sure there is no fraying, excess wear, rust, or other issues.
3. Grease up the springs. Squeaky springs will happen over time, but they are only annoying. However, hearing a squeak can indicate that rust may be forming. Lubrication can help prevent this from happening.
4. Keep safety cables in good shape. These will stop the springs from damaging anything if they snap. If your garage door does not have safety cables, speak with a professional.
5. Replace springs at the same time. Even if one spring is broken, the other will break down at some point.

Opening Your Garage Door When You Have Broken Garage Door Springs

Although some garage doors are equipped with openers that can move the door up and down, you should not use them if you have broken garage door springs. If you do, it could damage the operator and panels. Here are some examples of what can happen in this situation.

• The opener can break or burn out gears.
• The chain, belt, or trolley may break.
• The panels on the door can collapse.
• The opener J arm bracket can tear off its screws.
• The opener rail can bend.
• In extreme cases, the motor may fall off.
• If the door is moving and something breaks, it could fall.

If you MUST open the garage door, do it manually.

It is not recommended that you open your garage when you have broken garage door springs. But, if you need to, there are steps you can take to do so manually. Before you do this, keep a few things in mind. You should always have at least one other person to help you; most garage doors are quite heavy, and you will need some tools to assist you.

1. First, make sure you have someone to help you, or more than one person. Garage doors can weigh hundreds of pounds. Your safety is more important than getting the door open.
2. You and the other person will need to put a six-foot ladder on each side of the garage door.
3. You will each need a crowbar for this step. Position the crowbars on each side of the bottom of the door. This allows you to lift up and get under the seal.
4. Lift the door at the same time, making sure that each side is even until you get to the very top. Then, you will each need to use a vice grip under the sides of the track, right under the bottom rollers.
5. Next, remove the grips and place each step ladder under the door, carefully lowering it until it is secure. Place the vice grips back under the bottom wheels when you are done.
6. Finally, get everything out of the garage that you need to. You can reverse the steps to close the door, but this is not recommended.

How to Handle Broken Garage Door Springs

You probably use your garage door more frequently than your front door. It is the primary method of entrance for many people. Have you ever thought about what it takes to lift and drop your garage door? It weighs hundreds of pounds, endures the elements, and moves multiple times in a day. It is a simple contraption, but it needs to work thousands of times without failure.

The key to lifting and dropping your garage door is the springs. These vital components reduce the gravitational pull on the door, allowing the motor and you to move it. If the springs are damaged, the garage door cannot open or close correctly.

Types of Springs

There are three basic types of springs: extension, torsion, and TorqueMaster. Extension springs are the most common variant. They are found on older, more economical garage doors. You can tell if you have these because they run parallel to your garage door tracks. These will stretch when the door is lowered and contract when it is raised.

Torsion springs are used on many modern garage doors. These coil around a shaft and tighten as the door is dropped, then release energy as the door is raised back up. You can tell you have torsion springs if you see a horizontal bar attached to the wall. If the garage door is open, you can’t see the bar.

TorqueMaster springs are a registered brand and are an advanced version of the torsion spring. TorqueMaster springs are enclosed and have a centralized spring.

What Causes Broken Garage Door Springs?

Garage door springs are, on average, rated to last 10,000 cycles (with each lift and drop counting as a cycle). So, they are good for about seven years, assuming you use the garage door four times a day (morning and evening commute). However, garage door springs don’t always break or snap. Sometimes, they get stretched out. You can see the broken garage door springs getting stretched if there is a gap. If you see any gaps, these components will have to be replaced.

Cold Weather Effects on Garage Door Springs

Cold weather causes springs to contract and to become more brittle. When it is extremely cold, these parts could even snap, causing broken garage door springs. Repeated exposure to hot and cold weather alters the tension in the springs, which could cause damage. For example, if your garage is heated, every time you open the garage door, your springs are buffeted by cold air. This can also happen from the exhaust from your car. Another major issue that comes up is condensation. The constant flow of hot and cold air can create condensation, which results in rust.

Repairing or Extending the Life of Your Springs

You can’t really extend the life cycle of your garage door springs unless they are the torsion type, to which you can apply lubricant. It is best to consult with garage door experts to explore your options when it comes to taking care of your garage door and its components.

You should never attempt to maintain or repair your garage door springs on your own, especially if they are near the end of their life cycle. They can snap or break apart at this time. The springs are under so much tension that if this happens, they can cause physical harm to you and damage your property. You should check to make sure that the safety cables are present and in good shape, which should prevent any damage.