A garage door that suddenly feels heavier, hangs at an odd angle or triggers a loud crack in the middle of the night is almost always crying out for help. The most common culprit is a broken spring, the component that does the hard work of counterbalancing the door’s weight so that even a small motor or a single adult can lift hundreds of kilograms with ease. Recognising the early warning signs of spring failure protects your car, your belongings and most importantly the safety of everyone who walks under that massive panel of steel or timber. The following guide explains why springs matter, how to spot trouble and what to do next if you think yours has snapped.
Why Garage Door Springs Matter
Every modern sectional or tilt-up garage door relies on one of two types of springs to counteract gravity. Without the stored energy inside these tightly wound coils the average door, which can weigh between one hundred and four hundred kilograms, would be practically impossible to lift. The opener motor is designed to guide and control rather than hoist that full load. When a spring breaks, all the strain shifts instantly to the opener, the lift cables and the door panels. This imbalance often causes additional parts to warp or fail, turning a single repair into a much more expensive rebuild. Furthermore, a broken spring robs the opener of its safety margin, increasing the chance of the door crashing down unexpectedly if the motor gives out or the power cuts out.
Common Types of Garage Door Springs
Australian homes most commonly use either torsion or extension springs, though a few older tilt doors still rely on a less common style known as a jamb spring. Understanding which style your door uses helps you identify failure points and estimate repair costs.
| Feature | Torsion Spring | Extension Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Mounted on a metal shaft above the door opening | Mounted parallel to the horizontal tracks on each side |
| Appearance | One or two long, thick coils wound tightly around the shaft | Two lighter coils that stretch when the door is closed |
| Lifespan in cycles | Roughly fifteen to twenty thousand | Roughly ten thousand |
| Typical replacement cost in Australia | Two hundred and fifty to four hundred fifty dollars | One hundred and fifty to three hundred fifty dollars |
| Safety profile | Breaks usually stay on the shaft thanks to a containment tube | Can whip free if safety cables are missing or worn |
Torsion springs dominate new installations because they last longer, move the door more smoothly and pose a lower risk of flying debris if they fracture. Extension springs remain in service on many older roller doors and budget-focused projects. Regardless of the type, both styles store enough energy to cause serious injury if handled without proper tools and training.
How Springs Fail
Metal fatigue is the prime cause. Each time you open or close the door the steel fibre inside the coil stretches and contracts. Over thousands of cycles microscopic cracks appear, grow and eventually cause a sudden fracture. Corrosion from salty coastal air or chemical exposure speeds up that process. Poor lubrication also adds friction between the coils, building extra heat and stress. Off-balance doors, for instance those with a dented panel or misaligned track, shift undue load to one side and make one spring work harder than the other. When the breaking point arrives the steel snaps in a fraction of a second, releasing a loud bang that can echo like a rifle shot through the garage.
Sign One The Door Feels Heavy
You may first notice something is wrong when you try to lift the door during a power outage. A healthy spring system lets most adults raise the door with one hand. If the door suddenly feels like dead weight even when the opener is disconnected the spring has likely lost its counterbalance. Testing weight should be done with care. Disconnect the opener, raise the door about one metre and see if it holds position. A balanced door will stay put or drift slightly. If it slams shut, that extra heft confirms the spring is no longer sharing the load.
Sign Two The Automatic Opener Struggles or Stops
Modern openers include force sensors that cut power if they detect excessive resistance, a vital safety feature for pets and children. When a spring breaks the opener senses the full load and often stalls or reverses. Homeowners sometimes misinterpret this symptom as a motor fault. Before ordering a new opener, inspect the springs above the door. A fresh crack, a gap in the coil or a dangling cable often explains why the motor quit.
Sign Three A Loud Bang Echoed Through the Garage
Because torsion and extension springs store significant kinetic energy the break itself sounds dramatic. Many owners describe it as a firecracker or gunshot. If you hear such a noise and later find no sign of intrusion, check the springs. Even if the door appears closed and intact, the bang can signal an internal fracture that will reveal itself the next time you operate the door.
Sign Four Visible Gap or Separation
A torsion spring usually splits cleanly leaving a gap of several centimetres between the two halves on the shaft. That space is clear evidence of failure. Extension springs may not show a gap but often hang lower than normal or display uneven spacing between coils. Frayed, loose or unwound cables beside the spring are another giveaway. Never try to push the coils back together. The broken metal edges are razor sharp and any stored tension could snap the fragments inward.
Sign Five The Door Opens Crooked or Jerky
When one side of a double spring system fails the remaining spring still exerts some lift, but only on its own side. The weaker side sags, causing the door to rise on an uneven diagonal. You may see daylight on one corner while the opposite corner drags on the ground. This crooked movement strains the tracks and rollers, sometimes bending the top panel or popping rollers out entirely. Continuing to operate the door in this state can ruin panels that cost far more than a new spring.
Sign Six Cables Are Loose or Hanging
Lift cables wrap around drums on either side of the torsion shaft. If the spring breaks, tension on the cable disappears and the line can unwind, leaving it slack or completely detached. In extension spring setups the safety cable threaded through the spring may fall outward. A loose cable prevents the door from rising evenly and risks the cable snagging on a vehicle or binding in the drum when the motor tries to pull.
Sign Seven The Door Stops a Few Centimetres Off the Ground
Occasionally the opener manages to raise the door but cannot complete the final section of travel. The door stalls just before the fully open position then reverses or sits there humming. The missing lift force from the spring becomes most apparent near the top where the mechanical advantage declines. That stall zone signals the opener has hit its force threshold. Forcing it past that limit can burn out gears or strip plastic sprockets inside the motor housing.
Why Ignoring a Broken Spring Is Dangerous
A failed spring removes the primary safety feature that keeps hundreds of kilograms under control. A slipping cable or a fatigued motor could let the door free-fall. Even a short drop can crush a bonnet, shatter windscreens or break bones. In addition, continuing to cycle the door strains every hinge, roller and bearing. What starts as a simple spring swap can escalate to bent tracks, cracked panels and a fried opener gear set. Insurance claims often refuse cover for gradual damage caused by ignoring maintenance, leaving the homeowner to shoulder the full repair cost.
Immediate Steps to Take When You Suspect a Broken Spring
First, stop operating the door. Every additional open and close risks more damage. If the door is open, place a sturdy prop such as a length of timber under the centre of the door to prevent unplanned descent. Disconnect the opener using the manual release cord so the motor is not under tension. Keep children and pets away from the area. Contact a qualified garage door technician who carries the right winding bars, safety clamps and calibrated springs for your door’s weight and size. Attempting a do-it-yourself torsion spring replacement without training can lead to severe hand or head injuries. Experienced fitters typically complete the task in under two hours and include a warranty on parts and labour.
How Professionals Replace Springs Safely
A licensed technician begins by measuring the door weight, height and drum radius to select a spring with the correct wire gauge, coil length and wind count. They lock the door in the closed position with vice grips, unload any remaining tension from the old spring using solid steel winding bars then remove the set screws holding the spring to the shaft. After installing the new coil they wind it to a specific number of quarter turns based on manufacturer charts. Precise winding ensures the door remains balanced throughout its travel. The fitter then lubricates the coils with a lithium-based grease, checks cable tension and tests the opener force settings. Finally, the technician provides a written record of the spring model and the date of installation so future service can verify cycle life.
Preventive Maintenance Tips
You can reduce the chance of sudden spring failure with a simple seasonal routine. Apply a light spray of garage door lubricant to the coils every three months. A well-oiled spring slides quietly and spreads stress evenly across the metal. Conduct a balance test twice a year by lifting the door halfway and releasing it gently. If it drifts more than ten centimetres in either direction call for an adjustment. Watch for rust or pitting on the spring surface, especially in coastal regions where salt air accelerates corrosion. Keep the tracks clean of debris so the door runs smoothly, avoiding jerks that jolt the spring. Finally, limit opener cycles by combining errands when possible. Each open and close counts toward the cycle rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do garage door springs last in Australia
Most torsion springs installed on residential doors are rated for fifteen to twenty thousand cycles. If you open and close the door four times a day that equates to roughly ten to fourteen years. Extension springs usually reach about seven to ten years under the same usage.
Can I open the door manually when the spring is broken
You can, but only with extreme caution. The door will feel much heavier. Enlist a helper, lift evenly from the bottom and prop the door securely before driving a vehicle out. Never rely on the opener motor to lift a door with a failed spring.
Are both springs replaced even if only one is broken
Yes, reputable technicians always replace springs in pairs. The unbroken spring has already experienced the same number of cycles and will likely fail soon. Installing a matched pair keeps balance perfect and avoids an extra service call.
Does homeowners insurance cover spring replacement
Most policies classify springs as a wear item similar to brake pads on a car. Normal wear and tear is excluded. Damage to vehicles or property caused by a sudden door fall may be covered, but the spring itself is usually not. Check the fine print of your policy or speak with your insurer.
What is the cost difference between standard and high-cycle springs
High-cycle versions use thicker wire or longer coils to reach thirty thousand cycles or more. Expect to pay about thirty to forty percent more than a standard spring, a worthwhile investment for homes where the door sees heavy daily use.
Conclusion
A garage door spring rarely gives more than a handful of subtle hints before it fails completely. Heavier lifting effort, strange noises and uneven movement all point toward a coil that has reached the end of its service life. Acting quickly not only protects the door and opener from cascading damage but also ensures the safety of everyone who passes under that moving wall each day. Regular lubrication, periodic balance tests and prompt professional replacement keep your door gliding effortlessly, day after day, cycle after cycle.
