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Close view of a coiled torsion spring and cable drum mounted above a garage door

Garage door spring repair in Grand Junction, CO: A loud bang, then a heavy door

That pattern usually means a broken spring. The springs carry most of the door's weight, so without one the door is very heavy and can drop. DASMA TDS-167 says not to operate the door until the spring is replaced.

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How to tell

Signs of a broken spring

Look at the spring on the bar above the door from the floor. A broken torsion spring shows a clear gap in the coil. Do not climb up to it or touch it.

  • A gap of an inch or more in the coil above the door
  • The opener strains, or lifts the door a few inches and stops
  • The door feels far heavier than usual when lifted by hand
  • Cables hanging loose beside the door
  • The door slams down faster than normal
Torsion spring, bracket and cable drum above a white garage door

Two kinds

Torsion springs and extension springs

Most newer doors use torsion springs on a bar above the door. Older and lighter doors often use extension springs that stretch along the tracks on each side. Both hold a lot of stored energy.

Torsion springs

  • Mounted on a bar above the door
  • Wound to a set tension during install
  • Often in pairs on double doors

Extension springs

  • Run alongside the horizontal tracks
  • Stretch as the door closes
  • Need safety cables through the middle

Cycle life. Springs are rated for a number of open and close cycles. DASMA TDS-190 notes that spring cycle life may not match the life of the door, so ask what rating a replacement spring has.

The job

What a spring replacement should include

A good spring job ends with a balanced door, not just a new spring. Ask the technician to walk you through these.

  1. 01

    Matched springs

    Springs sized for your door weight and height. On a two-spring door, ask whether both should be replaced together.

  2. 02

    Cables and drums checked

    Frayed cables or worn drums are often replaced on the same visit.

  3. 03

    Balance test

    The door should stay put partway up with the opener released. DASMA TDS-174 explains the test.

  4. 04

    Reverse test

    The opener should reverse when the door meets an obstruction, and the photo eyes should stop it.

Safety first. Never loosen, adjust or remove springs, lift cables, bottom brackets or anything bolted to them. They hold the weight of the door under high tension. DASMA TDS-151 reserves that work for trained door technicians.

Short answers

Spring repair questions, answered first

What people ask when a spring breaks.

Can I replace a garage door spring myself?

We do not recommend it. DASMA TDS-151 says spring components are under extreme tension and points homeowners to a trained door systems technician.

Can I open the door with a broken spring?

Leave it closed if you can. Running the opener can strain it, and lifting by hand is heavy and risky. If the door is stuck open, keep people and cars out from under it and mark the request as urgent.

Should both springs be replaced?

Often, on a two-spring door, but ask. Springs installed together have seen the same number of cycles. The technician can tell you whether replacing both makes sense for your door.

Other garage door services

Guides and tools: Garage door troubleshooter, Opener fit estimator, Repair or replace helper, Wind, cold and weather alerts.

Towns we serve

Send a request from any Grand Valley community on this list.

Send the details

Get a spring replacement quote

Send a photo of the spring from the floor if you can take one safely.

What happens next

  1. 1 Send the details What the door is doing, your town, and a photo or two if you have them.
  2. 2 We follow up You hear back the way you asked, with next steps.
  3. 3 Price in writing You see it before any work starts, and the yes or no stays with you.

What helps us price it

  • A photo of the whole door from inside, and one of the problem
  • Door width and height, roughly (most are 8 or 16 ft wide)
  • The opener brand and model, from the label on the motor
  • Whether the door is single or double, steel or wood, insulated or not
  • Whether it is stuck open, stuck shut or still working

If anyone is trapped or hurt, call 911 first. Do not try to free a door by loosening springs or cables.

Tell us about the door

We read every request and reply with next steps.

Price first: you get a written price before any work starts, and nothing starts until you say yes.

A phone number, an email, or both. Up to 3 photos: JPEG, PNG or WebP, 8 MB each, 20 MB total. We remove location data.

    We use your details only to answer this request and to share it with the garage door professional who quotes it. Privacy. If someone is trapped or hurt, call 911 first.