It sounded like a gunshot in the garage
Broken garage door spring
A bang like a firework followed by a door that won't lift is almost always a snapped torsion spring. It's the most common garage door failure there is.
Call 214-733-2371Don't try to force it open
With the spring gone, the door weighs 150–300 lb and nothing is counterbalancing it. Lifting it by hand risks it slamming down, and running the opener will burn out the motor or snap the cables. Leave it closed and call us.
Likely causes
What’s probably wrong
- 1
Snapped torsion spring
The spring above the door carries the door's entire weight. When it breaks it releases that energy all at once — hence the bang — and the door becomes far too heavy for the opener to lift.
- 2
Broken extension spring
Older doors use springs running along the horizontal tracks instead. Same failure, same symptom, slightly different repair.
- 3
Spring at end of cycle life
Springs are rated in cycles, not years. A standard spring is good for roughly seven to ten thousand open-and-close cycles, which for most families is around seven years.
Start here
Not quite it?
These are the other five failures we get called out for most.
- It sounded like a gunshot in the garageLoud bang, now it won't openWhat this means
- The door is hanging crooked or jammed in the openingIt came off the trackWhat this means
- It goes down a foot and reverses back upIt closes, then opens againWhat this means
- One side is higher than the otherIt's hanging crookedWhat this means
- Motor runs, door stays putThe opener hums but nothing movesWhat this means
- Daylight, water, or leaves getting inThere's a gap along the bottomWhat this means
Not on the list? That’s what the phone is for — describe it and we’ll tell you what we think before we come out.
Get started
Get help with a broken garage door spring
Tell us what's happening and where, and we'll call you back. If the door is stuck or a car is trapped, phone us — that's always faster.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Shop
- 1912 University Business Dr Suite 403, McKinney, Texas 75071
- Response time
- Same-day service on most repair calls placed before noon
Request service
Four quick questions. We’ll ask the rest when we call.