Broken Garage Door Spring? What to Do (and What Not to Do)

Springs · November 4, 2026 · 3 min read · By the Experts Garage Doors team

A broken garage door spring is one of the most common calls we get in Wilmington and across New Castle County. It often happens without warning, usually when you are about to leave for work. The good news is that it is a very fixable problem. The important thing is to handle it safely.

How to tell if a spring is broken

Garage door springs do the heavy lifting. The opener only guides the door, so when a spring breaks, the door suddenly becomes far too heavy. Common signs include:

• A loud bang from the garage, like a firecracker, even when nobody was using the door
• A visible gap in the coiled spring above the door
• The door opens only a few inches and then stops
• The door feels extremely heavy when you try to lift it by hand
• A lift cable hanging loose at the side of the door
• The door slams down instead of lowering slowly

What to do right away

1. Stop using the opener. Running the opener with a broken spring can strip its gears and damage the door.
2. Leave the door where it is if it is closed. If it is stuck open, keep people, pets and cars away from underneath it.
3. Don't pull the red emergency release cord while the door is open. Without a working spring, the door can drop very fast.
4. Move your car out only if the door is fully open and stable. If you're not sure, wait for a technician.
5. Call a garage door professional. We offer 24/7 emergency service in New Castle County, so you don't have to wait until Monday.

Why you shouldn't fix it yourself

Online videos can make spring replacement look simple, but this is one of the most dangerous jobs around a home. Torsion springs are wound under very high tension. Releasing or winding them without the right tools and training can cause serious injuries.

Springs also have to match your door. The right spring depends on the door's weight, height and how the hardware is set up. A spring that is too strong or too weak makes the door unbalanced, which wears out the opener and the rest of the hardware much faster.

What a technician does

When we replace a spring, we:

• Inspect the door, cables, drums, rollers and bearings for other worn parts
• Install springs sized for your door
• Balance the door so it stays in place when lifted halfway by hand
• Test the opener, safety sensors and auto-reverse

We explain what we found and the price before any work starts. If your door has two springs and one has broken, we will usually recommend replacing both, because they wear out at about the same rate.

How to make springs last longer

Springs wear out over time, mostly from the number of times the door opens and closes. You can help them last by keeping the door balanced, lubricating the springs lightly a few times a year, and booking a yearly tune-up. Our winter garage door checklist covers the basics.

Get your door working again

If you think a spring has broken, call Experts Garage Doors. We are a family-run business serving Wilmington and all of New Castle County since 1995. Learn more about our garage door spring repair, or check if we serve your town on our Newark and Middletown pages.