Most Likely: Broken Torsion Spring
That loud bang is one of the most recognizable sounds in the garage door industry — a torsion spring releasing under tension. Look above the door at the horizontal spring on the shaft. If you see a gap in the coil, that's your answer. A broken spring means the counterbalance is gone — your 200–400 lb door is essentially deadweight. Most spring replacements take 60–90 minutes start to finish.
⚠ Not Safe To Operate
Do this: Leave the door down. Do not force it up. If your car is inside, call us — we'll walk you through the manual release safely over the phone.
Most Likely: Worn Roller, Cable Failure, or Impact
Every button press after the roller jumps makes it worse — bending the vertical track further. A $150 roller repair becomes a $400+ track replacement in just three or four operations. Stop operating the door immediately and call us.
⚠ Not Safe — Stop Immediately
Do this: Do not press the opener button again. If the door is stuck partially open, wedge something sturdy underneath it to prevent further dropping. Call us now.
Most Likely: Sensor Misalignment, Limit Switch, or Spring Issue
A door that won't close is a home security emergency. The most common causes are misaligned safety sensors, a limit switch issue on the opener, a track obstruction, or a broken spring. Check the sensor LEDs at the bottom of the door frame — if one is blinking, the beam is broken.
Try closing manually first
Do this: Check sensor LEDs — solid means aligned, blinking means problem. Clear any objects from door path. Try closing manually with emergency release cord. If it still won't close, call us — we prioritize this for after-hours dispatch.
Most Likely: Spring, Cable, or Opener Failure
Check if the opener motor runs when you press the button — if it runs but the door doesn't move, it's almost certainly a broken spring. If nothing happens at all, it's the opener or power supply. Call us and we'll diagnose it over the phone while we dispatch a tech.
⚠ Not Until Diagnosed
Do this: Check if opener motor runs — this tells us the cause before we arrive. Check your breaker. If you need your car out urgently, call us — we'll walk you through the red emergency release cord.
Most Likely: Snapped Lift Cable or Cable Off Drum
A 300+ lb door without full cable support can fall without warning. Cable failures are often secondary to spring failures — when a torsion spring breaks, the sudden loss of tension causes the cable to unspool from the drum. We inspect both systems on every cable repair call.
⚠ Drop Hazard — Do Not Operate
Do this: Do not operate the door. If it's open, prop it with something secure. Keep people and vehicles clear. This is our most urgent dispatch priority.
Most Likely: Vehicle Impact, Wind, Hail, or Ice
Even a slow-speed backup can bend the bottom panel, warp the track, and damage the spring system from the sudden shock load. What looks like a cosmetic dent often has structural and mechanical damage underneath. We can also provide written damage assessments for insurance claims.
⚠ Not Until Assessed
Do this: Document damage with photos before operating. If the door is stuck open, call us for priority dispatch. Ask about our written damage assessments for insurance claims.
