Broken Garage Door Spring — What It Means & What to Do
A loud bang from the garage followed by a door that suddenly weighs 80+ kg is almost always a broken torsion spring. It's the most common urgent garage door call we get. Here's exactly what's happened, what it costs to fix, and why DIY is genuinely dangerous.
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Quick Answer: What to Do Right Now
✓ Try these safe checks first:
- Stop using the door immediately — do not try to lift it manually
- If the door is open, leave it open and call us; if closed, leave it closed
- Visually check both springs from a distance — a broken spring usually has a visible gap
- Disconnect the opener (pull the red emergency cord) so it doesn't try to drive the door
- Keep children and pets away from the door area
⚠ Call a professional immediately if:
- You heard a loud bang or snap from the garage
- Door is suddenly very heavy to lift manually
- Visible gap in the spring above the door
- Opener strains but the door barely moves
- Cables hang loose alongside the door
How to Tell if Your Spring Is the Problem
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Safe DIY Check | Call a Tech If... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loud bang, then door won't open | Torsion spring snapped under tension | Look up — visible gap in the spring confirms it | Always. This is high-tension hardware. |
| Door very heavy when manually lifted | Spring lost most/all tension | Test lift with two hands — if heavier than ~10 kg, spring is failing | Always. |
| Opener strains, door creeps up slowly | Spring partially broken or losing tension | Disconnect opener (pull red cord) and try manual lift | Same-day — opener will burn out otherwise |
| Door drops fast when manually released | Spring tension way below correct value | Do not test this — risk of injury | Immediately — door is a safety hazard |
| Gap of 1–3 cm visible in spring coils | Spring has fully broken at that point | Visual only — never touch | Same-day |
| Both cables hanging loose | Cables released after spring failure | Visual confirmation | Same-day — full spring + cable service |
Loud bang, then door won't open
Door very heavy when manually lifted
Opener strains, door creeps up slowly
Door drops fast when manually released
Gap of 1–3 cm visible in spring coils
Both cables hanging loose
Why Springs Snap (and What Makes It Worse)
Every spring eventually fails — it's not "if" but "when". The two factors that accelerate failure are heat (Perth, Darwin, Adelaide summers are hard on springs) and door cycles (heavily used doors, like for households where the garage is the main entrance, hit the 15,000-cycle limit faster). Coastal salt air also corrodes spring coils, shortening life another 20–30%.
For the full picture see our spring replacement guide or our national cost guide for 2026. If your door also has snapped cables or won't open at all, those are usually related symptoms of the same spring failure.
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If you're seeing crooked movement, loose cables, or a heavy door, it's safer to stop using it. Call us for garage door spring replacement in Sydney or request a callback in 2 minutes.