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What Causes a Broken Garage Door Spring? (And What to Do Next)

A broken garage door spring is one of the most frustrating and common reasons homeowners need emergency garage door repair. It almost always happens without warning…leaving your car trapped or your garage wide open to the elements.

Hear a loud bang from your garage? Promotional graphic from Lloyd Copelan Garage Doors warning homeowners about a broken spring.

Why Do Garage Door Springs Break?

Your springs are the unsung heroes of your garage system, directly responsible for supporting the heavy weight of the door. Every time your door opens and closes, the springs go through a cycle.

  • The Cycle Limit: Most residential springs are engineered for a specific number of cycles. If your garage is your primary household entrance, you’ll cycle through those limits much faster, bringing you to the end of the spring’s lifespan sooner.

  • The “Loud Bang”: When a spring finally snaps, homeowners often report hearing a shockingly loud sound coming from the garage. This is simply the massive tension stored in the spring being released instantly.

  • The Inland Empire Climate: Temperature changes play a big role, too. In areas like Yucaipa, Redlands, Calimesa, and Beaumont, seasonal temperature swings cause metal to expand and contract, accelerating normal wear and tear over time.

Can You Still Open Your Garage Door with a Broken Spring?

It’s the number one question people ask when a spring fails: Can I manually lift my door?

Technically, yes, but it is important not to attempt to operate or force a garage door with a broken spring. Without the spring’s support, a standard garage door weighs hundreds of pounds. Forcing it open will often burn out your garage door opener or snap additional components, turning a simple spring swap into a costly multi-part fix.

Leave It to the Professionals

If you suspect a broken spring, safety comes first. Garage door torsion springs are under extreme, dangerous tension and require specialized professional tools to replace safely.

Local Broken Spring Repair You Can Trust

If you live in Redlands, Yucaipa, Beaumont, Calimesa, or the surrounding Inland Empire communities, Lloyd Copelan Garage Doors is here to help. Whether you need a transparent estimate on garage door spring replacement cost or immediate expert service, don’t wait.

Make your appointment today at (909)797-8046 and let our trained professionals get your door back on track safely and quickly.

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Lloyd Copelan
Expert Garage Door Repair & Service. We specialize in residential & commercial garage door and opener maintenance, repairs, installation, spring replacement. Trusted and local since 1972.

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