The Mistake Most Homeowners Make First
Most people check their garage door springs the same way: they wait until the door won't open, or until they hear a bang like a gunshot from the garage. Before that, the assumption is simple — if the door still opens and closes, the springs must be fine. It's a tempting logic, because springs aren't something you think about until they stop working, and honestly, they look the same on day one and on the day before they fail. The coils don't usually announce themselves. But a spring under constant tension behaves differently as it wears, and if you know what to look for, you can catch the warning signs weeks or months before a full failure.
Here's a walk-through you can do yourself, in about ten minutes, without touching or releasing any tension on the springs.
Step-by-Step: What to Look For in Your Garage
1. Find out which type you have
Torsion springs sit on a metal bar directly above the closed door, usually one or two thick coiled springs. Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on either side of the door, stretching and contracting as the door moves. The checklist below covers both, but a couple of items apply to one type only — noted as you go.
2. Look for gaps in the coils (torsion springs)
A torsion spring that has already cracked internally will often show a visible gap between coils, even while the door still technically operates. This happens because the broken spring is no longer pulling evenly. If you see a gap: the spring has likely already fractured and is being held in place by the shaft alone. Don't operate the door — the other spring (if there are two) is now doing all the work and can fail suddenly.
3. Check for rust and pitting
Run your eyes (not your hand) along the coils. Surface rust, flaking, or small pits in the metal weaken a spring's structure over time. Oklahoma summers bring heavy humidity swings along with dust kicked up by wind and storms, and that combination speeds up corrosion on exposed metal. If you see heavy rust or pitting: the spring has lost tensile strength and is more likely to snap under normal load, even if it looks intact.
4. Do a balance test
With the opener disconnected (pull the red release cord) and the door closed, lift it manually about waist height and let go. A door with healthy springs stays roughly in place. If it drops or slowly sinks, the springs are no longer supplying enough counterweight — a sign they're wearing out even without visible damage.
5. Listen to the opener
If your opener motor seems to strain more than it used to, runs longer to lift the door, or the door jerks instead of moving smoothly, the opener is compensating for springs that aren't pulling their weight. If this is new behavior, it's often the springs, not the opener, losing strength first.
6. Check for uneven closing
Watch the top corners of the door as it closes. If one side reaches the floor before the other, or the door appears to tilt slightly, one torsion spring may be weaker than its pair. If you see a tilt, replace both springs together, even if only one looks worse — mismatched tension puts extra strain on the new spring and the opener.
7. Inspect extension spring cables
On extension spring systems, check the safety cables running through the center of each spring and the cables at the bottom brackets for fraying, kinks, or visible stretching. If cables are frayed, a spring failure could send parts flying rather than dropping safely — this is a priority fix.
8. Count the cycles, not just the years
Most residential springs are rated for around 10,000 cycles (one cycle = open and close once), which works out to roughly 7–12 years of normal household use. A door opened multiple times a day, or one that's been cycled more often to beat sudden storms or wind, will wear through that lifespan faster. If your springs are original and your door is a decade old or more, treat any of the above symptoms as a stronger signal, not a coincidence.
When to Call Oklahoma City Door & Opener
If you spot a gap in the coils, heavy rust, a door that won't hold its balance, or frayed cables, it's time to get it looked at rather than wait. Our Spring Replacement service includes checking both springs and the cable system so you're not back in the garage fixing the same problem twice. If you're not sure what you're seeing, our Garage Door Maintenance visits cover a full spring and hardware inspection so small wear gets caught before it becomes a dropped door or a damaged opener.
If any of these signs sound familiar, give Oklahoma City Door & Opener a call. We serve homeowners across Oklahoma City, Edmond, Yukon, Bethany, Warr Acres, The Village, Nichols Hills, and Mustang, and we'd rather replace a worn spring on a Tuesday than respond to a failed one on a Saturday night.