What Happens When You Don’t Replace Your Broken Garage Door Spring?
Garage doors are finely tuned systems designed to easily lift and lower heavy doors. A key component that allows them to function optimally is the garage door spring, and when it breaks, you should not ignore it.
Many homeowners don’t immediately realize the impact of a broken spring, especially if the door still looks intact. However, continuing to use your garage door with a broken spring can pose safety hazards, property damage, and even increase your repair costs.
What Do Garage Door Springs Actually Do?
The spring system is what makes lifting the heavy garage door feel effortless. The springs store and release energy that assists the opener, or your hand, to raise and lower the door. Keep in mind these types of garage door springs, which are critical to ensure the entire system works:
- Torsion springs
- Extension springs
What Happens When the Spring Breaks?
One day, you found out that your garage door springs just broke. Here’s what you will likely notice as you use the door:
- The Door Becomes Very Heavy
What used to be an easy door to lift has suddenly become very heavy. A garage door opener is designed to work with properly functioning springs. Without them, the motor has to lift the full weight of the door, which it’s not meant to do. Lifting the door manually may seem impossible. This poses a safety risk for anyone using the door and can cause serious injuries.
- The opener Motor Strains and May Burn Out
Suppose you continue to use your garage door opener with a broken spring. In that case, it will likely try to operate the door as usual. But since it’s suddenly responsible for lifting much more weight, this can strain the motor. Over time, this will lead to:
- Overheating
- Premature motor failure
- Extensive opener replacement
What might have been a simple service for replacing garage door springs can quickly become a costly mechanical repair. It’s best to not ignore the problem and refrain from using your garage door too much with broken springs.
- The Door Could Suddenly Fall
Ignoring a broken garage door spring can quickly escalate into a sudden-free fall hazard. The spring helps hold the door in place during operation. Without that counterbalance, the door may crash unexpectedly, injuring someone or damaging a car beneath it.
- Unbalanced Door Can Damage Tracks and Rollers
A garage door with one broken spring is no longer properly balanced. It can tilt to one side, causing excessive pressure on the tracks, rollers, and brackets. Over time, this can lead to bent tracks, popped rollers, or warped panels. Misalignment can also make future repairs more complex.
- Void Warranties and Insurance Coverage
Most garage door manufacturers and service companies offer warranties that may be voided if you knowingly operate the door with a broken spring or fail to get timely repairs. Suppose your door falls and damages your car, property, or another person. In that case, insurance claims may also be denied if negligence is found.
- You May Get Locked Out or Locked In
When the garage door stops working due to a broken spring, you risk getting locked out of your garage. Worse, if your garage only has one way in and out and the door falls while you’re inside, you might find yourself trapped with no easy way out.
- Delayed Repairs Can Raise Costs
Many homeowners try to tough it out with a malfunctioning garage door, thinking they’ll get to it eventually. But the longer you wait, the more damage can occur. That means higher repair bills. What might have started as a $200 to $400 service for replacing garage door springs could now be a $700 to $1,000 repair as other components get damaged due to continued use.
What You Should Do Instead
Responding quickly as soon as you discover the damage will always be the smartest choice for you to make. If you find out that your garage door spring is broken, do the following:
- Stop using the door immediately to prevent further damage.
- Do not attempt to fix it yourself. Springs have high tension and can seriously injure someone if mishandled.
- Call a licensed technician for an inspection and replacement.
- Consider replacing both springs if one broke.
Conclusion
Garage door springs may be out of sight, but they should never be out of mind. They are critical to your garage door’s safe and smooth operation. Ignoring a broken spring can result in injury, costly repairs, or major inconvenience. Get it inspected and repaired by a professional right away.