The 7 warning signs your garage door spring is about to break are: visible gaps in coils, loud squeaking/grinding noises, door falls too fast, difficulty opening manually, door appears crooked, rust and corrosion on springs, and age over 7-10 years. If you notice any of these signs, schedule professional inspection within 24-48 hours to prevent complete failure.
A broken garage door spring always seems to happen at the worst possible time - when you're late for work or have groceries to unload. But springs rarely fail without warning. Learning to recognize these 7 warning signs can help you schedule repairs on your terms rather than dealing with an emergency. As a technician who's seen thousands of failed springs, I can tell you that most showed clear symptoms days or even weeks before they snapped.
The 7 Warning Signs to Watch For
Visible Gaps in Spring Coils
The most critical warning sign is seeing gaps or stretching in your torsion spring coils. A healthy spring has coils that are tightly wound and touching. When you see separation between coils - even a quarter inch - the spring has already partially failed.
Critical - Immediate Action RequiredLoud Squeaking or Grinding Noises
While some operational noise is normal, sudden changes in sound indicate problems. Loud squeaking suggests the spring needs lubrication and is wearing unevenly. Grinding or popping sounds often mean coils are rubbing or the spring is about to fail.
High - Service Within 48 HoursDoor Falls Too Fast When Closing
Springs counterbalance the weight of your door. When a spring weakens, it can no longer hold the door's weight properly, causing it to close faster than normal. If your door seems to "drop" the last few inches instead of closing smoothly, the spring is losing tension.
High - Service Within 1 WeekDifficulty Opening Manually
Your garage door should be easy to lift manually - a properly balanced door requires only about 10-15 pounds of force to open. If you're struggling to lift the door or it feels significantly heavier than before, the spring has lost tension and can't assist the opening.
High - Service Within 1 WeekDoor Appears Crooked or Uneven
If one side of your door hangs lower than the other, it often indicates one spring has weakened more than its partner (on two-spring systems) or cable/spring issues. This puts uneven stress on the tracks and opener, accelerating wear on multiple components.
Moderate - Service Within 2 WeeksRust and Corrosion on Springs
Rust weakens the steel and causes friction that increases wear every time the door operates. Surface rust can be addressed with lubrication and cleaning, but deep corrosion or pitting means the spring has lost structural integrity.
Moderate - Monitor CloselySpring Age Over 7-10 Years
Standard springs are rated for 10,000 cycles (about 7-10 years for average households). Even if your spring looks fine, metal fatigue accumulates invisibly. If your springs are nearing or past their expected lifespan, proactive replacement prevents unexpected failure.
Moderate - Plan for ReplacementHow Quickly Should You Act?
Loud bang heard
Door very heavy
Manual lift difficult
Rust/corrosion
The Balance Test: Check Your Springs in 60 Seconds
For detailed instructions with photos, see our complete garage door balance test guide.
DIY Spring Health Check
Disconnect the Opener
Pull the emergency release cord (red handle) to disconnect the door from the opener motor.
Manually Lift the Door Halfway
Lift the door to about waist height (3-4 feet from the ground).
Let Go and Observe
A properly balanced door should stay in place or move no more than a few inches in either direction.
Interpret the Results
Door stays put: Springs are healthy. Door drifts up: Springs are over-tensioned. Door falls down: Springs are worn and need replacement soon.
🚨 Never Ignore These Signs
- You heard a loud bang from the garage - the spring may have already broken
- The door won't open at all - operating with broken springs damages the opener
- You see the spring in two pieces - do not attempt to open the door manually
- Cables are loose or hanging - this indicates the spring is no longer providing tension
Important: Never attempt to repair or adjust springs yourself. They hold extreme tension that can cause serious injury or death if released improperly.
Why Springs Fail
Understanding why springs fail helps you prevent premature failure:
- Natural wear: Every open/close cycle weakens the metal slightly. After 10,000 cycles, the spring has reached its design limit.
- Rust and corrosion: Moisture weakens the steel and causes friction. Garages without climate control are especially susceptible.
- Temperature extremes: Cold makes metal brittle; heat can weaken it. Canadian winters are particularly hard on springs.
- Lack of maintenance: Unlubricated springs wear faster and rust more easily.
- Improper installation: Over or under-tensioned springs fail prematurely.
Toronto Winter: Peak Season for Spring Failures
If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, winter is when your garage door springs are most vulnerable. Our service calls for broken springs increase by nearly 50% between December and February. Here's why Toronto winters are so hard on garage door springs:
Cold Makes Metal Brittle
Steel becomes more brittle as temperatures drop below freezing. A spring that's been weakening gradually may snap suddenly when temperatures plunge to -15°C or colder. The stress of that first bitter cold morning is often the final straw for an aging spring.
Thermal Contraction Adds Stress
Metal contracts in the cold, and this contraction increases the internal stress on spring coils. Your spring was installed at a specific tension - cold weather effectively increases that tension beyond safe limits, especially on springs that are already near their cycle limit.
Frozen Lubricant Increases Friction
The lubricant on your springs thickens or freezes in extreme cold, increasing friction and wear with every cycle. This is why fall maintenance is so critical - applying fresh silicone-based lubricant before winter helps the spring operate smoothly even in freezing temperatures.
Pre-Winter Inspection Saves Money
We recommend having your springs inspected each fall, before the cold weather arrives. Catching warning signs in October means scheduling repair on your terms rather than dealing with a frozen morning emergency in January. A $100 inspection is far better than being stranded with a broken spring on the coldest day of the year.
Spring Replacement Cost
Address warning signs early before complete failure. Here's what spring replacement costs in the GTA:
| Service | Price Range (+ tax) | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Single Torsion Spring | $160 - $220 | Spring, installation, balancing, safety check |
| Double Spring Setup | $280 - $400 | Both springs, matching, balancing, warranty |
| Maintenance Tune-Up | $100 - $120 | Inspection, lubrication, balance check, safety test |
| High-Cycle Upgrade | $350 - $500 | 50,000+ cycle springs, extended warranty |
Notice Warning Signs?
Don't wait for complete failure. Our technicians can inspect your springs and provide honest recommendations - no pressure sales.
Call 437-265-9995