Table of Contents
- How do I know if my garage door has a broken spring?
- Can I use my opener remote to open my garage door?
- Is is safe to open a garage door with a broken spring?
- Repair your broken garage door spring
Is your garage door spring broken? Whether you have a torsion spring or extension springs, your garage door spring plays a vital role in the operation of your garage door. Opening and closing your garage door with a broken torsion spring is not possible and could be hazardous. Attempting to open it could damage to your garage door or cause personal injury. Garage door springs require professional attention, as springs are under high tension and require specialized tools for repair or replacement. If you’re experiencing a broken spring on your garage door, contact AAA garage door for prompt service and repairs.
If you have a broken torsion or extension spring on your garage door, this helpful guide will point you in the right direction.
How Do I Know if My Garage Door Has a Broken Spring?
Your garage door spring is a vital part of a fully functioning garage door. Your garage door spring is also called a coil or torsion spring, and it is the part that bears the weight of your garage door when it is opening and closing. There are a few tell-tale signs that your garage door spring has broken.
Here’s what happens when a garage door spring breaks:
- The door will not open
- You hear a loud snap, like a firecracker
- Your garage door slams shut when you close it
- The door is misaligned on the rails
- After opening a few inches, your garage door’s safety mechanism stops it
- The door opens very slowly
- The top of your garage door is bent
- You notice a gap between the rings on your torsion or extension spring
- The door is extremely heavy when you try to open it manually
These are just a few of the warning signs that your garage door spring is either broken or about to go out. Many times, your garage door spring will break when you try to open it. While it can happen quite suddenly, sometimes you can tell your spring is wearing out.
You might hear a loud squeaking sound when the door is opening or closing, or the door could seem slightly misaligned. When this happens, you’ll want to stop using your garage door, park your cars outside and call a licensed garage door repair professional immediately.
Can I Use My Opener Remote to Open My Garage Door?
If your garage door spring is broken, then your automatic garage door opener will not work. You will not be able to use your opener remote to open your garage door. For safety, you’ll need to disengage your automatic garage door opener by pulling the string with the red handle located at the top of your garage door system.
To disengage the opener, pull the red handle attached to your opener motor. Next, cut the power to the motor by unplugging it. This way, if you do happen to press the button on your opener remote, the automatic garage door opener will not activate. This measure ensures your own safety and protects your door from further damage.
Is It Safe to Open a Garage Door With a Broken Spring?
A broken garage spring is a potential safety hazard for your family. The springs on your garage door balance the weight of the door while it is opening and closing. When your garage door’s torsion or extension spring breaks, the door becomes extremely difficult to lift. Because of this, a garage door will not always open with a broken spring. And we do not recommend homeowners attempt to open the door themselves.
Garage doors can weigh several hundred pounds, and lifting that much weight over your head can be strenuous and potentially hazardous. The spring itself may also snap if you attempt to lift or close the door. Use extreme caution around a garage door with a broken spring, and if at all possible, call a garage door specialist right away so you can get your door back in operation in the safest way possible.
How to Open a Garage Door With a Broken Torsion Spring
If your garage has a large spring that’s centered just above the door, you have a torsion spring. When your garage door’s torsion spring breaks, your door will not open and you will have to manually lift your door to open it. If at all possible, you’ll want to contact a professional garage door repair company to properly diagnose your issue before you try to open it on your own. Of course, that’s not always possible and you may not have a choice but to try opening your broken garage door manually.
If your garage door’s torsion spring breaks as you’re trying to leave for work or school and you absolutely must get it open, follow these steps:
- Find another person to help you: It will take two people at least to lift the weight of your garage door.
- Inspect your door and surroundings: If your door is bent or off the rails, then you should not try to open it. Be sure to look around for any other potential hazards, wear solid sole non-slip shoes and inspect the rails before you try to open your garage door manually.
- Disengage the door from the automatic opener: As we discussed earlier, you’ll want to disengage the automatic garage door opener by pulling the red handle hanging from the opener’s box on the ceiling of your garage.
- Lift the door: Working alongside your partner, carefully attempt to lift your garage door. If your door is too heavy, then stop immediately and call a professional repair company. Do not risk hurting yourself or someone else, and contact a professional as soon as you realize your garage door is too heavy.
It’s best to leave the garage door untouched until you can get it repaired. But if your torsion spring breaks when the door is open, you might need to know how to close a garage door with a broken spring to keep your home and belongings secure. Be sure to grab your partner and disconnect the opener, then carefully pull your garage door down, ensuring it doesn’t slam or fall shut.
How to Open a Garage Door With a Broken Extension Spring
Garage doors with extension springs feature one spring on either side of the door. If you have a broken extension spring, then your door may come off its track while opening, causing an imbalance.
The safest way to get the door open is to call in a professional repair company right away. If you must open your garage door with a broken extension spring, then you can follow a similar procedure as opening a door with a broken extension spring. You’ll also want to work with a partner, inspect your surroundings and disconnect the automatic opener before you begin. Then, you can:
- Use tools to start lifting the door up: You can slide two crowbars under your garage door to wedge it open and start lifting it up. Instead of trying to lift your heavy door off the ground with only your fingers, using something to pry the door open will give you a little leverage.
- Start lifting: Slowly and carefully lift your garage door up evenly along the horizontal rails. If your door is too heavy to lift, stop and contact a professional repair company right away.
- Place clamps on the rails: Once you have the door lifted high enough, prop the door open using two pairs of heavy-duty vice clamps on both sides of your garage door. Attach the vice clamps to the rails under your door to hold it open.
- Slide ladders under the door to hold the door open: The pairs of heavy-duty vice clamps should temporarily hold the door open long enough for you to prop up the door for a longer period using ladders. You can use two six-foot ladders placed under either side of your garage door’s opening to help hold your door up until a technician arrives for repairs.
Contact AAA Garage Door to Repair Your Broken Garage Door Spring
If your garage door coil is broken, contact the professionals at AAA Garage Door for all of your garage door repair and maintenance needs. Manually opening your garage door with a broken spring is extremely dangerous and should not be attempted. A professional can come quickly, get your garage door working again and ensure the safety of everyone in your household.
With over 25 years of experience serving the homes and businesses of Omaha and eastern Nebraska, AAA Garage Door is your go-to company for emergency service and repair. At AAA Garage Door, we’re committed to providing quality products and services to meet all your garage door needs.
Call AAA Garage Door at 402-707-0789 to learn more about our services or schedule your garage door repair online today!