How to Open a Garage Door If the Spring Is Broken: Safe DIY Steps

Published Date: Oct 9, 2025

When your garage door refuses to budge and you see a broken garage door spring hanging loose, it can be incredibly frustrating. Your first thought might be: “How can I get my car out?” or “How can I get into my garage?” A broken spring means the door has lost its counterbalance and is now extremely heavy. Still, there are ways to lift it carefully. In this article, 24H Garage Doors explains how to open a garage door if the spring is broken, the safest way to do it manually, and the steps to avoid injury or damage. Remember, caution is paramount when dealing with such heavy components.

Can You Open a Garage Door with a Broken Spring?

Let’s address the core question: can you open a garage door with a broken spring? Technically, yes — but it comes with a serious warning. Without spring support, the door’s full weight falls on you. You’ll be lifting it without the usual counterbalance, which makes it much harder and more dangerous.

Never attempt to use your automatic opener in this situation. Doing so can burn out the motor or strip the gears. Understanding the risk is the first step before attempting to open it manually.

Essential Safety Precautions Before You Lift

Before attempting to lift a door with a broken spring, safety is everything. This is not a task you should try alone. Make sure:

You have a strong helper to share the load.
The area around the door is clear.
The garage door opener is fully disconnected — pull the red emergency release cord and unplug it from power.
You’re wearing work gloves and eye protection.

Also, take a minute to inspect the door for any obvious signs of further damage beyond the spring itself, such as misaligned tracks or frayed cables.

If you’re unfamiliar with the process or dealing with additional issues like a power outage, a dead remote, or a broken opener, you may find our step-by-step manual opening guide helpful before moving forward.

How to Open a Garage Door Manually with a Broken Spring

Now, for the practical steps on how to lift a garage door with a broken spring. With your helper, position yourselves on either side of the garage door, gripping the bottom edge or the sturdy lifting handle if available. Coordinate your lift, raising the door slowly and steadily. The key is controlled movement; avoid jerky motions. As you lift, one person should guide the door into the tracks to keep it aligned, while the other applies consistent upward force. Once the door is fully open, immediately secure it in place using C-clamps or locking pliers on the vertical tracks just below the rollers. This prevents the door from falling back down unexpectedly.

Next Steps After Opening Your Garage Door

Once your garage door is safely open and secured, it’s important to remember that the core problem remains: the garage door spring is broken. Do not attempt to use the door repeatedly or to close it and reopen it without professional repair. Trying to do so could lead to further damage to the door itself, the tracks, or the garage door opener. It also creates a severe safety hazard. The safest next step is to schedule professional garage door spring repair to get your system back in safe working order.

Summing Up

Knowing how to open a garage door if the spring is broken can be helpful in an emergency, but it requires extreme caution, a helper, and a clear understanding of the risks. Remember, this is a temporary solution to access your garage, not a fix for the underlying problem. For safe, reliable garage door spring repair or replacement, the team at 24H Garage Doors is here whenever you need us.

Even a garage door that worked fine yesterday can suddenly stall halfway or start making strange noises. If that’s the case, one of the most likely causes is the garage door springs. When they’re off balance, the door can become hard to lift or stop working properly. If you’re wondering how to adjust a garage door spring, this guide from 24H Garage Doors covers everything you need to know — from how to check tension to when it’s safe to make minor changes and why some repairs are best left to the professionals.

How to Prevent Garage Door Springs from Breaking

For something we use every single day, the garage door doesn’t usually get much attention – at least until something goes wrong. When it does, broken springs are the most common issue. These components handle a lot of weight, opening and closing our doors thousands of times a year. Like any other mechanism, they do not last forever. Whether it’s wear and tear, weather impact, or a lack of maintenance, springs are bound to fail eventually. Here’s the good news! Most spring problems are preventable. With a little maintenance and care, you can keep your garage door springs working smoothly and avoid unexpected breakdowns. Let’s start by examining what causes garage door springs to break and then explore some simple strategies to keep them working longer.

Pro Tips to Maintain Your Garage Door Springs and Extend Their Lifespan

Maintaining garage door springs isn’t an easy task for homeowners. Knowing how hazardous this part of the garage door can be, many people prefer to leave it alone. However, understanding what you can do and what to avoid when taking care of your garage door is the key to a long-lasting mechanism. In this article, we will give you tips on maintaining your garage door springs so that you can go without costly repairs or replacements for years to come. 24H Garage Doors is your local garage door company, always ready to assist you with any issues related to your garage door and its parts, whether on-site or through our blog, where we publish articles based on our technicians' expertise.