The Snap You Don’t Want to Hear
It’s loud. It’s sudden. It usually happens when you’re nowhere near the garage. And it sounds like something just exploded.
Chances are one of your garage door springs just gave up the ghost.
Springs are the heavy lifters of your garage door they take the weight, the tension and all the grunt work. But like all hardworking heroes, they eventually wear out.
Here’s how to spot the signs before your spring calls it quits and what to do when it does.
First, why springs matter
Your garage door looks heavy because it is. Most doors weigh between 100kg and 150kg, depending on the style.
Springs are what make that beast feel feather light. They counterbalance the weight so your motor (or your biceps) can lift it with ease.
Two main types:
- Torsion springs – (sectional lift and roller doors) Sectional doors usually have torsion springs mounted above the door opening but in low-headroom setups, they can be rear-mounted. Roller doors use torsion springs too, these are cleverly built into the drum assembly at the top of the door.
- Extension springs – (tilt doors) run along the sides of the tracks and stretch when the door moves.
If either goes, your door becomes an uncooperative dead weight.
Signs your spring is on the way out
- Loud bang from the garage sounds like someone dropped a barbell from the ceiling? That’s the classic snap of a torsion spring.
- Door feels heavy or won’t lift If your motor sounds like it's giving its last breath or you suddenly need two hands and a prayer to lift the door – it’s not you, it’s the spring.
- Door opens a bit, then stops it starts to lift then gives up like a hungover tradie. The opener’s likely sensing too much weight – broken spring alert.
- Visible gap in the spring, have a look above the door. If you see a clean break or a gap in the coil – that spring's cactus. Don’t touch it. High tension = high danger.
- Door slams shut or lifts unevenly. A busted spring throws off the balance. It might drop like a guillotine or lift wonky. Both are safety risks, especially around pets and kids.
Bonus sign: it’s been a while
Most springs last around 7–12 years, depending on use, weather, and maintenance. If yours are older than a Year 7 student and have never been changed – it might be time for a pre-emptive swap before they choose chaos on a Monday morning.
What to do (and what not to do)
Do:
- Stop using the door if you suspect a broken spring.
- Leave it closed if possible.
- Call a professional who knows what they’re doing.
- Mention any symptoms (noises, heaviness, jerky movement) when you book.
Don’t:
- Try lifting the door manually, unless you want a bad back or a wrecked garage motor.
- Attempt a DIY fix, unless you're after a starring role in a hospital reality show.
How Garage Hub handles it
When your spring snaps or is sending out distress signals, our team will:
- Inspect your entire lifting system
- Replace torsion or extension springs with quality parts
- Realign cables, tracks, and pulleys
- Test and rebalance your door
- Make sure it’s all safe, smooth, and good to go.
We service homes across Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast with fast, friendly, fully-insured professionals (no random subbies or vanishing tradies).
