Garage Door Springs: What They Do and Why They Break
Your garage door springs do the heavy lifting—literally. They’re responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the garage door, making it easy to open and close, whether you’re using a remote or lifting it by hand.
What Do Garage Door Springs Do?
Garage doors typically use either torsion springs (mounted above the door) or extension springs (located on the sides). These springs store mechanical energy that offsets the weight of the door—often 150–300 lbs. Without them, your opener would strain, and manual lifting would be dangerous or impossible.
Why Do Springs Break?
Like any hardworking part, springs wear down over time. Most are rated for about 10,000 cycles (a cycle = one open and one close).
Common reasons for failure include:
Wear and tear from daily use
Rust or corrosion
Lack of maintenance
Improper spring type or tension
Warning Signs of a Failing Spring
The door slams shut or is hard to lift
It opens unevenly or feels heavy
You hear a loud bang from the garage
The spring is visibly stretched or broken
Don’t DIY a Spring Replacement
Broken springs are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury if handled improperly. If yours snap or wear out, call a pro.
Let 614 Garage Door handle it safely and fast. Call us at 614-362-3667 to schedule your spring inspection or repair today.
