How much force is stored in a garage door spring?
A torsion spring counterbalances the full weight of your garage door, which on a double door can be 150 pounds or more. To do that, the spring is wound under enormous tension, storing hundreds of pounds of force in a tightly coiled steel bar mounted above the door. That energy does not go away when the spring breaks. It is still there, waiting to release, which is exactly what makes the repair dangerous.
What goes wrong in a DIY spring replacement?
The danger is in the winding. Technicians use two steel winding bars to add tension in careful, controlled steps. If a bar slips, is the wrong size, or the spring is not held correctly, that stored energy releases all at once. The bar becomes a projectile, and hands and faces are in its path. Every year emergency rooms see injuries from exactly this. The other common mistake is using the wrong spring size, which leaves the door unbalanced and strains the opener even if nothing breaks during the install.
What tools and training does a professional use?
A trained technician brings correctly sized winding bars, the right wire size and length of spring for your specific door, and the experience to read the door's balance. They release the old spring's tension safely, install the new spring, and wind it to the exact turn count the door needs. Then they cycle-test and balance the door so the opener is not left straining. Our spring repair service handles all of that the same day, with springs stocked on the truck.
How can you tell the spring is the problem, not the opener?
A broken spring has a few clear signs. You often hear a loud bang when it snaps. After that, the door will not lift, or it feels far too heavy to raise by hand. You may see a two-inch gap in the coil of the spring above the door. If the opener hums but the door does not move, that points more to the opener than the spring, and our opener repair page covers that case. When in doubt, do not force the door.
When should you call a pro in Dunwoody?
Call as soon as you suspect a broken spring, and in the meantime leave the door down. Do not try to open it with the opener or by hand, because an unbalanced door can fall. A professional replacement is fast, and it is far cheaper than an emergency room visit or a damaged door. If you want to understand the springs on your own door before you call, our guide to torsion versus extension springs explains which type you likely have and why it matters. The bottom line is simple: spring tension is not a place to learn by trial and error, and the savings from doing it yourself are not worth the risk.
Broken spring in Dunwoody? Call (470) 558-1427 for same-day, safe spring replacement.