Guide
Garage door springsafety
Don't adjust, loosen or replace a garage door spring yourself. Springs are wound or stretched tight to carry the door's weight, and if one slips or breaks, that force can seriously hurt you.
Safe to do, and not safe
Safe to do
- Look at springs and cables from the floor, with the door closed.
- Listen to the door as it runs, and note any groaning or banging.
- With the door fully down, pull the release handle and lift it halfway. It should stay.
- Keep children and pets away when the door is moving.
Leave alone
- Don't loosen, tighten or remove springs, cables, winding cones or bottom brackets.
- Don't put a screwdriver or a pipe on a winding cone.
- Don't buy parts to replace a broken spring yourself.
- Don't stand under a raised door that's out of balance.
How to know the door is out of balance
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says a door in good order stays put when stopped partway up. One badly out of balance could crash to the floor and strike someone, and it says a door that's out of balance, binds or sticks should be serviced by a professional. It suggests the hand check above every 30 days.
If a spring breaks
Leave the door where it is, keep people clear and don't run the opener. Call the number on this page and say what you heard and saw. What a loud bang means lists the signs.
Ready to talk to a contractor?
Your call goes to an independent contractor who works in this area. Say what the door is doing, ask what the price covers, and ask for license details before you agree to anything.