How to Tell If a Garage Door Spring Is Broken: Signs & Safety Tips
Published Date: Sep 25, 2025
Garage door problems can catch you off guard, especially when everything seemed fine the day before. One of the most common reasons? A broken spring. It’s not always obvious at first, but when a spring fails, it can throw off the entire system. If you’re unsure what’s going on or thinking it might be the spring, this guide will help you figure it out. Up & Down Garage Doors explains how to tell if a garage door spring is broken, what to watch and listen for, and what steps to take next.
Why Garage Door Springs Break and Why It Matters
Garage door springs — whether torsion or extension — handle a heavy workload. Most are rated for about 10,000 open-and-close cycles, but wear adds up over time. Without regular maintenance, or in places with big temperature swings, that lifespan can shrink fast. When a spring breaks, the tension disappears in an instant, and the door may slam shut without warning. It’s not just inconvenient — it can be unsafe. For a deeper look at the causes, check out our guide on why the spring might break.
Signs & Symptoms: How to Tell If a Garage Door Spring Is Broken
So, what should you watch for? Here’s how to tell if a garage door spring is broken — even without taking the whole system apart:
- Loud snap or bang from the garage: When a spring breaks, it often releases with a sharp noise, even if the door isn’t in use. It can sound like something fell or broke inside the garage.
- Door won’t open fully or evenly: One side might rise while the other lags behind, or the door may stop short halfway.
- The garage door feels extra heavy when trying to lift it manually: Springs do most of the lifting. Without one, it may feel nearly impossible to raise.
- The door slams shut or closes too fast: A sign that the spring is no longer holding tension to control the descent.
- Cables look loose or hanging: When a spring fails, support cables can unspool or dangle loosely from their brackets.
If any of these sound familiar, stop using the door and avoid forcing it open or closed. Let a professional take a look before it leads to damage or injury.
What Do Broken Garage Door Springs Look Like?
The signs vary depending on the type of spring, but broken garage door springs usually show visible and mechanical signs of failure.
- Torsion springs, mounted above the garage door, often have a clean gap in the middle. Instead of a solid coil, you’ll see a break or separation between the pieces.
- Extension springs, found along the sides of the door, may look stretched out, slack, or hanging from one side. In some cases, one spring might fully detach.
- In both cases, other clues include:
- Rust or fraying along the coil: This weakens the spring and often leads to breakage, especially in humid or coastal areas.
- Twisted or uneven spring shape: Warped or bent coils are a red flag, even if they haven’t snapped yet.
- One spring looks longer than the other: On systems with two springs, imbalance is a sign that one has failed or is close to it.
So, what does a broken garage door spring look like? In short: anything that looks loose, off-center, stretched, or damaged is worth having checked. It’s better to be safe than stuck with a door that won’t move — or worse, falls unexpectedly.
Repair or Replace? Ask Up & Down Garage Doors
Now that you know the answer to “what do broken garage door springs look like?”, the next step is deciding whether repair or full replacement makes more sense. Light rust or wear might just need servicing, but a broken spring usually means it’s time for a full swap.
Most importantly, spring work is not a safe DIY task. Springs are under high tension, and handling them without the right tools can be dangerous. That’s why homeowners trust Up & Down Garage Doors for safe, reliable spring repair and replacement. Once you’ve spotted the signs — or just want a second opinion — reach out to our team to talk through your options.
