Garage door stuck or broken spring

Quick answer

Keep people, pets and cars out from under the door, because an unbalanced door can drop suddenly. Do not touch the springs, cables or bottom brackets, which are under high tension. Call a trained garage door technician to make the repair.

Safety first: Garage door springs and the parts attached to them are under high tension and can cause serious injury; leave them to a trained technician. Keep everyone out from under a door that is stuck open or not moving normally.

What to do now

  1. Keep everyone out from under the door. A severely unbalanced garage door could crash to the floor unexpectedly and strike someone under it. Keep children and pets away. Source: Non-Reversing Automatic Garage Door Openers Are a Hazard - CPSC
  2. Do not touch the springs, cables or bottom brackets. Springs are the most dangerous part of a garage door and should be repaired only by trained professionals. The cables and bottom brackets connected to them are under extreme tension too. Source: Garage Doors Safety Tips - DASMA
  3. Do not force it with the opener. Openers are designed to move properly balanced doors. If the door feels heavy or needs two hands to lift, it is probably out of balance and needs a trained technician. Source: Garage Door Openers Safety Tips - DASMA
  4. Have a professional service a door that binds or sticks. If a door is not balanced, or if it binds or sticks, it should be serviced by a professional. Source: Non-Reversing Automatic Garage Door Openers Are a Hazard - CPSC
  5. Test the auto-reverse after the repair. Place a 2x4 flat on the floor in the door's path. If the door does not reverse when it hits the board, disconnect the opener until it is adjusted, repaired or replaced. Source: Non-Reversing Automatic Garage Door Openers Are a Hazard - CPSC
  6. Keep controls away from children. Mount the wall button high, keep remotes away from children, and watch the door until it closes completely. Source: Garage Door Openers Safety Tips - DASMA

When to call a professional

Call a garage door company with trained technicians for any broken spring, snapped cable or door that is off its track. Tell them whether the door is stuck open or closed and what you heard, and ask them to check the door's balance and the opener's reversing function when they finish.

Find garage door companies (444 listed)

Pick your state and city on the directory page, or use the location search at the top of this page, then call a local company directly.

Frequently asked questions

Can I replace a garage door spring myself?

It is not recommended. The door industry's safety association says spring systems are dangerous and should be repaired only by trained professionals, and the cables and bottom brackets attached to them are also under extreme tension.

Why won't the opener lift the door?

Openers are designed to lift balanced doors. A door that feels heavy or needs two hands to lift is probably out of balance, often from a spring problem, and needs a technician.

How do I know the door is safe after a repair?

CPSC recommends testing the reverse function by placing a 2x4 on the floor in the door's path and making sure the door reverses when it hits the board, and inspecting the door and opener every 30 days.

General safety information, not professional advice. In an emergency, call 911. More guides: home emergencies: what to do first.