Why garage door springs break

Garage door springs break because they are worked hard on every trip the door makes, and metal fatigue builds with each one. Several things speed that up. This guide explains them in plain terms and what you can do about each one safely.

Your springs counterbalance the weight of the door. Without them, the opener would lift the full weight of the door each time. Manufacturers rate springs in cycles, and one cycle is one full open and close. Every cycle flexes the spring wire a little, and that repeated flexing is what eventually wears the metal out.

DASMA, the door manufacturers' association, says plainly that springs wear out and that injury can result when they break. Breakage is not a defect in most cases. It is the end of the spring's working life. For how long that life tends to be, see how long garage door springs last.

Sources agree on a short list of factors that shorten spring life:

• Heavy use. More cycles per day means the rated cycle count is reached sooner. A household that uses the garage as its main entrance wears springs faster than one that opens the door once a day.
• Rust and corrosion. DASMA says rust reduces wire strength and can create pits where fatigue cracks start. Overhead Door says rust increases friction between coil windings as they flex.
• Corrosive chemicals and moisture. DASMA notes that doors left open for long periods expose springs to more temperature, moisture and air quality variation, and that some chemicals cause corrosion and early failure.
• The wrong spring for the door. DASMA says that not knowing whether a spring meets the door's counterbalance requirement can shorten cycle life. Added paint, a new window insert or other extra weight can push a door beyond its spring's design.
• An unbalanced door. An out-of-balance door puts extra strain on the springs, according to Clopay, and leads to early wear.
• Dirt and debris in the tracks. One service company says debris forces the springs to work harder.
• Cold weather. Overhead Door says cold makes metal more brittle. That is a manufacturer-side statement, not a measured figure.

Extension springs are generally described as more prone to snapping than torsion springs, and torsion springs generally last longer. See torsion vs extension springs if you are not sure which you have.

These checks are visual. You do not need tools, and you do not need to move the door.

• Look at the springs from the floor for rust, a coil gap, or a coil that looks stretched.
• Look at the lift cables at the bottom corners for fraying or slack.
• Notice whether the door looks level when closed, with no sag on one side.
• Keep the tracks clear of dirt and debris at floor level, where you can reach it without touching the door's moving parts.
• Remember the weight rule. If you add a heavy coat of paint, a window kit or other weight to the door, tell your technician. The spring was sized for the original door.

Lubrication helps with friction and noise. Clopay recommends a thin coat of silicone-based lubricant and says to avoid WD-40. For where to apply it and what to leave alone, see what to lubricate on a garage door. Do not spray or reach near a spring while the door is moving, and do not touch brackets or fittings that hold spring tension.

Bring in a technician if you notice any of these:

• A bang from the garage, a door that feels heavy, or a door that will not lift. Do not operate the door to check. See signs a spring is broken.
• A visible gap in a coil, rust that has pitted the wire, or a stretched or bent spring.
• A door that will not stay open halfway or slams shut.
• Anything that suggests the door is out of balance. Read how a door stays balanced.
• A door that has been painted, insulated or fitted with windows since the springs were installed.

We replace springs. Our technicians inspect the door first, measure it, and confirm the cause before we replace anything. See spring replacement and maintenance and tune-ups.

A replacement spring has to match your door's weight and height. A spring that is too weak lets the door drop. One that is wrong for the door shortens its own life and strains the opener. DASMA says installers should confirm spring identification and parameters against the door manufacturer's instructions, and that a trained technician can measure door weight with a scale once the counterbalance is disabled.

If your door has two springs and one broke, the other has done the same amount of work. DASMA advises replacing both. See can you replace just one spring.

• Garage Door Spring Replacement
• Garage Door Maintenance and Tune-Ups

• DASMA: Garage door safety
• DASMA Technical Data Sheet 190: Factors affecting spring cycle life
• Clopay: Understanding garage door springs
• Overhead Door: Why garage door springs break
• A1 Garage Door Service: Understanding garage door springs