Can You Open a Garage Door with a Broken Spring?
It’s possible to open a garage door with a broken spring, but we don’t recommend it. Trying to lift a broken door with your garage door opener can damage the motor, and a manual lift can put you, bystanders, vehicles and pets in danger.
The Function of a Garage Door Spring
Garage door springs are essential to the operation of a garage door. These critical garage door parts:
Counterbalance the Door’s Weight
Garage door springs offer a counterbalance to the door’s weight, making it lighter to lift. For systems with an electric opener, garage door springs reduce strain and stress on the opener’s motor by helping to carry the door’s weight.
Help Control Operation
Springs help control the lifting and lowering process by ensuring smooth operation and helping roll-up doors to close softly. They also keep open doors securely in place, preventing them from crashing down on vehicles or operators.
Why You Shouldn’t Open a Garage Door With a Broken Spring
If you need to leave your property or access your garage urgently, you might be tempted to open a garage door with a broken spring. Opening the door on your own can have serious consequences. Here are three reasons you shouldn’t attempt to open a broken door.
1. A Broken Door Can Crash Down
When a garage door’s spring is broken, it leaves the weight unbalanced. When you try to open the door, it can suddenly shift without warning and fall, putting everyone nearby at risk of injury.
While you may be able to open a door with a broken spring, keeping it open would present yet another challenge. If you open a broken door, you’ll need to secure it, and few things are capable of supporting such immense weight without the risk of letting the door fall.
2. A Broken Door Is Heavy
Even single garage doors can weigh hundreds of pounds, and double garage doors or insulated models are even heavier. Garage door manufacturers ensure their products have appropriate springs that can bear the weight of a door. Lifting a garage door without functioning springs means you would have to lift and support significant weight, which could lead to serious injuries.
3. A Broken Door Can Cause Damage
If you try to open a door without a functioning counterbalance system, you can damage the door, the tracks and the automatic door opener. These issues can result in costly repairs, especially if you damage your opener.
We don’t advise trying to lift a broken door with your opener. If you do, you might:
- Strain to the opener: A garage door opener should not carry the entire weight of a door. Without the support of springs, the opener will have to work much harder to lift a door, which can shorten its life span or cause the motor to overheat and burn out.
- Lift the door unevenly: A garage door spring that is broken on one side can cause the opener to lift the door unevenly. This misalignment puts additional strain on your opener and can warp or bend your door.
How to Know If a Garage Door Spring Is Broken
To find out if your garage door springs are not functioning as they should, look for these signs:
- A gap in torsion springs: If your garage door operates on torsion springs — these springs run above your door — you might notice a break in the middle of the spring.
- Operational difficulties: Your door might only open a few inches or might lift unevenly.
- Problems using your garage door opener: If you hear your opener trying to lift your door but not succeeding, it might be due to a broken spring.
- A heavier door: A door with a broken spring will be much heavier to lift, and you might struggle to open it manually.
- A loud noise: When a spring breaks, you might hear a loud bang due to the release of tension.
Rely on Professionals for Garage Door Spring Replacement
Ben Druck Door has served customers since 1967. As a seasoned company, we offer a range of garage door services to homeowners and businesses, including quality garage door repairs.
Our technicians can diagnose and repair your door during one visit. If you have a broken garage door spring, you can confidently rely on us to replace it. To mitigate spring problems down the line, you can also rely on our thorough commercial and residential maintenance services.
Contact Ben Druck Door Today
Ben Druck Door is an efficient turnkey garage door company. We’re also a family-owned business — taking the time to build long-lasting relationships with our clients. If your garage door has a broken spring, request a service today or contact us online to find out more about our garage door offerings.