What to Do When a Garage Door Spring Breaks and Is It Dangerous

If you have ever heard a loud bang from the garage and thought, what on earth was that, you are not imagining things. In a lot of homes, that sound is a garage door spring breaking.

And the frustrating part is this. The door might look totally normal. No smoke. No dramatic damage. But suddenly it will not open, or it tries to open and quits, or it feels insanely heavy if you try to lift it.

So let’s talk about what a broken garage door spring really means, what you should do first, what you should absolutely not do, and when it is time to call The Garage Door Doctor here in Lakeville.

The short answer: yes, a broken spring can be dangerous

A garage door is one of the heaviest moving parts in your home. Springs are what make that weight manageable.

When a spring breaks, the system loses its counterbalance. That is why the door suddenly feels like it weighs a ton, because it kind of does. A typical garage door can weigh hundreds of pounds, and without spring support, it becomes unpredictable.

That does not mean you should panic. It just means you should treat it like a safety issue, not a minor inconvenience.

How to tell if your garage door spring is broken

Sometimes it is obvious. Sometimes it is not. Here are the signs Lakeville homeowners usually notice first.

You heard a loud bang in the garage

This is the classic sign. It can sound like something fell off a shelf or like a firecracker pop. Many people hear it at night when everything is quiet, then discover the door will not open the next morning.

The opener runs but the door does not move

You press the button, the opener sounds like it is trying, maybe the chain or belt moves, but the door stays put or barely lifts.

The door opens a few inches and stops

This happens when the opener senses too much resistance and stops to protect itself. It is basically saying, this door is too heavy.

The door feels extremely heavy when lifted manually

If you pull the emergency release and try to lift the door, it should feel reasonably balanced. If it feels heavy and hard to control, stop. That is a major spring related red flag.

You see a visible gap in the spring

If you have a torsion spring above the door, look for a gap in the coil. A broken torsion spring usually separates and you can literally see the break.

What to do immediately after a spring breaks

This is the part most competitors skip. They explain springs, but they do not clearly tell you what to do right now in the moment.

Step 1: Stop using the opener

If the spring is broken, continuing to run the opener can burn out the motor or damage internal gears. Even if the opener does not break, it is not designed to lift a dead weight door.

Step 2: Keep people and pets away from the door

If the door is partially open, treat it like something that could move suddenly. Do not walk under it. Do not let kids play near it. This is not about fear. It is just smart.

Step 3: Look for obvious cable issues

Sometimes when a spring breaks, the lift cable can come off the drum or get slack. If you see a cable hanging or looking loose, do not touch it. That is a professional repair situation.

Step 4: Decide if you truly need the door open today

If your car is trapped, you might be tempted to force it. This is where most injuries and extra damage happen.

If you absolutely need the door opened, you will want a technician to handle it safely. That is exactly when an Emergency Garage Door Repair call makes sense.

Is it safe to open a garage door with a broken spring

Most of the time, no. Not the normal way.

Here is the honest truth: a broken spring means the door is no longer properly balanced. That affects everything. The opener strains. The door can slam. The cables and rollers are under stress. And if you try to lift it, it can get away from you quickly.

The risk is not just the door being heavy

The risk is losing control of the door’s movement. A heavy door moving unexpectedly is how people get hurt, and how panels get bent, tracks get warped, and openers get destroyed.

So the safest approach is to keep the door closed until it is repaired, unless a professional is there to manage it.

Why springs break more often than people think in Minnesota

In Lakeville, we see spring issues show up hard in winter. Not because winter magically breaks good springs, but because cold weather exposes wear.

Here are the main reasons springs fail.

Springs have a cycle life

Garage door springs are rated for a certain number of cycles. One cycle is one open and one close. Over years of daily use, springs eventually wear out.

Cold weather increases stress

Metal becomes less forgiving in extreme cold. Add in the extra resistance from stiff rollers or thickened lubricant, and the system works harder. That extra load can push a worn spring over the edge.

Rust and corrosion speed up wear

Moisture and road salt residue can contribute to corrosion over time. Rust does not always look dramatic, but it weakens metal.

Common mistakes homeowners make after a spring breaks

I say this with love because people are just trying to get to work. But these are the moves that usually turn a spring repair into a much bigger bill.

Repeatedly pressing the opener button

This can burn out the opener or strip gears. You might also cause the door to jerk unevenly, which can knock cables off or bend the track.

Trying to lift the door alone

Even if you are strong, it is not just about strength. It is about control. A heavy door can slip, and once it starts dropping, you cannot out muscle gravity.

Watching one quick video and trying to replace the spring

Spring replacement is not like swapping a battery. Torsion springs are under significant tension. Incorrect handling can cause serious injury.

A good industry safety resource for homeowners is DASMA, which explains garage door system safety and why certain repairs should be handled by trained technicians.

Repair vs replacement: do you need both springs replaced

This is a question homeowners ask all the time, and it is a fair one.

If you have two torsion springs

Many doors use a two spring setup. If one breaks, the other is usually not far behind because they have the same age and usage. Replacing both can help restore proper balance and reduce the chance of another failure soon after.

If your door uses one spring

Then you are replacing the broken spring, but you still want the full system inspected. Spring failure often reveals other wear like rollers, bearings, cables, or track alignment issues.

Either way, the goal is not just getting the door moving again. The goal is getting it moving safely and smoothly.

What a professional spring repair visit usually includes

Homeowners sometimes worry they will call and someone will just swap one part and leave. A proper spring repair should include checks that prevent repeat issues.

A spring repair visit commonly includes:

Door balance and lift test

A technician verifies the door is properly counterbalanced and not putting extra strain on the opener.

Hardware inspection

Rollers, hinges, bearings, drums, and cables are checked for wear and safety.

Opener strain check

If the opener has been trying to lift a door with a broken spring, it may have taken a beating. A quick check can prevent surprise opener failure later.

Safety and smooth operation test

This is where you get that satisfying quiet and smooth movement back.

If you are already planning service, this is a great time to connect the repair to a Garage Door Maintenance and Tune Up, especially if the door has been noisy or jerky for a while.

When to call for emergency help in Lakeville

Not every broken spring is an emergency, but some situations really are.

Call for Emergency Garage Door Repair if:

1. Your door is stuck open and you cannot secure the garage

2. Your car is trapped and you need access urgently

3. The door is crooked or looks like it might come off track

4. You see a cable hanging or slack

5. The door slammed or moved unpredictably and you are concerned about safety

In winter, a door stuck open is not just inconvenient. It is a security and heat loss problem too.

How to reduce the chance of spring failure in the future

You cannot stop time, but you can catch warning signs early.

Pay attention to new noises

A loud pop, a sudden bang, or a door that starts sounding strained is your door asking for help.

Watch for uneven movement

If one side lifts faster or the door looks tilted, that can point to cable or spring imbalance.

Schedule a tune up before winter

A fall tune up is one of the best ways to avoid winter breakdowns. It is like checking your tires before snow season. You want to catch the wear before it becomes a morning emergency.

Ready to get your door safe and working again

If your garage door spring broke in Lakeville, the safest move is to get it repaired properly so you are not wrestling a heavy door or risking damage to your opener.

When you are ready, book service through The Garage Door Doctor. If you are dealing with a stuck door right now, start with Emergency Garage Door Repair. If the spring is clearly broken, go straight to Garage Door Spring Repair and Replacement. If the door has been loud or sluggish for a while, ask about a Garage Door Maintenance and Tune Up while we are there.

FAQ: Broken garage door springs

Can I drive with the garage door stuck closed

Yes, but your car might be trapped. If you need the door opened, do not force it. Call a technician to open it safely and repair the spring.

Will my opener be damaged if I tried to open it with a broken spring

It can be. Many openers have protection that stops the motor, but repeated

attempts can still wear gears and stress the motor.

How long does spring replacement take

In many cases, spring repair can be completed in a single visit, depending on the setup and any additional wear found during inspection.

Is one broken spring a sign I need a new garage door

Not automatically. Many doors are perfectly fine and just need spring replacement and a tune up. A technician can tell you if the door itself is in good shape.