Garage door springs have a finite life — typically around 10,000 open/close cycles, or 7 to 10 years of normal use. When one fails, the symptoms are distinctive. Here's how to recognize a broken or failing spring, and the safe steps to take.
1. A loud bang from the garage
The classic sign. A torsion spring snapping releases all its stored energy at once, producing a bang like a firecracker or gunshot. If you heard it and the door now won't open, the spring is the prime suspect.
2. The door won't open — or only opens a few inches
Springs counterbalance the door's full weight. Without them, the opener can't lift 150+ pounds of dead weight. The door may jerk upward an inch or two and stop, or not move at all.
3. The door feels extremely heavy
With the opener disconnected (pull the red emergency cord only if the door is fully closed), try lifting manually. A healthy door lifts smoothly with one hand. If it feels like lifting a car, the springs aren't doing their job.
4. A visible gap in the spring coil
Look at the torsion spring bar above the door opening. A broken torsion spring shows a clear 1-2 inch gap where the coil separated. This is definitive — no further diagnosis needed.
5. The opener strains, hums, or clicks
If the motor runs but the door doesn't move, or the opener hums and gives up, it's fighting a door with no spring assistance. Stop running it — you'll burn out the motor or strip the gears.
6. Loose or dangling cables
When a spring breaks, cable tension goes slack. Cables hanging loose or off their drums almost always accompany a spring failure.
7. The door closes too fast or slams
A weakening (not yet broken) spring can't control the door's descent. If your door has started dropping the last foot with a thud, the springs are near the end — schedule replacement before they snap.
What professional replacement costs
Expect roughly $150-$350 for a single spring or $200-$450 for a pair, varying by door size and market. Most jobs take one to two hours. See our 2026 cost guide for full price ranges.