This is what a broken spring looks like. Notice the clear gap in the coils where the metal has fractured — that's the moment the spring stopped holding the weight of your door.
A broken torsion spring is one of the most common — and most disruptive — garage door failures. You may hear a sharp snap or bang, or find the door suddenly too heavy to lift. Springs are what counterbalance the full weight of your door — often more than 200 pounds.
Standard factory springs are typically rated for about 10,000 cycles (one open + close = one cycle). For many families, that's five to seven years of daily use before fatigue sets in. Annual maintenance can extend that life by catching early fatigue, but every spring eventually reaches the end of its safe cycle count.
When a spring fails, the door becomes unsafe to lift, the opener strains or cannot move the door, cables and rollers may wear prematurely, and the system becomes unsafe to operate.
This is not a repair to force or "get by" with. It requires careful measurement, the right tools, and precision. For the full background on spring types, lifespan, and warning signs, see our complete guide to garage door springs.
