Garage extension springs are easy to miss until something goes wrong. They sit along the horizontal tracks on each side of the door, stretching and contracting every time the door moves. When one breaks, the door can hang unevenly, feel suddenly heavy, or stop moving altogether.
These springs are still common on older homes around North Mississippi and Memphis. DeSoto Door, a family-owned company in Hernando since 2008, repairs them, but this is not a weekend DIY job.
How to recognize garage extension springs
Stand inside the garage and look along the tracks that run back from the top of the door opening. Extension springs are the long coils that sit above or beside those tracks, one on each side. That is the opposite layout of a torsion spring, which sits on a shaft above the door opening. For a comparison of the two setups, see our article on torsion versus extension garage door springs.
How garage extension springs lift the door
Extension springs counterbalance the door by stretching, not by twisting. As the door closes, the springs extend and store energy. As the door opens, they contract and help lift the weight. Pulleys and cables usually connect each spring to the door so both sides travel together.
If one spring is weaker or already broken, that side of the door may lag, bind, or drop, and the opener has to fight an unbalanced load. Extension springs are often rated around 10,000 cycles, meaning about 10,000 opens and closes under typical conditions. Those figures are general industry ratings, not a promise of how long every door will last.
Why safety cables matter
A contained extension spring should have a safety cable running through the center of the coil, anchored at both ends. If the spring breaks, that cable is meant to help keep the broken spring from flying loose across the garage.
Not every older installation has safety cables, or the cables may be worn or missing. An uncontained spring is under high tension, and a break can be a hazard. Do not try to thread a cable through a spring yourself. If a cable is missing or frayed, keep clear and call for a professional inspection.
Signs an extension spring is failing
Warning signs include a loud snap from one side of the garage, a spring that looks stretched out or hanging off the track hardware, a door that sits or moves unevenly, a door that feels very heavy or will not open fully, an opener that strains or stops mid-travel, and frayed cables or a missing safety cable.
If the door also will not close, stop testing it. Our guide to why a garage door will not close, and safe next steps covers other causes, but it is not a reason to keep running a door with a broken spring.
Why you should not repair extension springs yourself
Garage extension springs are under high tension even when they look like they are only stretched. Please do not pull on, hook, or cut an extension spring, and do not try to stretch a new one into place with a broom handle, clamp, or rope.
Leave the door down if you can do so safely, keep people and pets away from the opening, and call a professional. Our broken garage door spring repair service includes extension spring repair and replacement, along with a check of the related hardware.
Repair, replacement, and when a conversion comes up
In many cases, the repair is to replace the worn or broken springs with springs that match the door, and to address safety cables, pulleys, and lift cables as needed. If one spring has failed, the other has often seen the same use, so both sides should be inspected.
On some doors, a conversion to a torsion spring system may be worth discussing, depending on the door and the space above the opening. It is not automatically the right choice for every door. We do not use commission sales, so that conversation should stay focused on fit and safety. For the full range of work we handle, see our residential and commercial garage door services.
Extension spring service in Olive Branch and nearby towns
DeSoto Door serves homes and businesses in Olive Branch, Hernando, Southaven, Horn Lake, Memphis, and the surrounding area from our shop at 3400 McCracken Rd, Suite 8, in Hernando. If you need garage door repair in Olive Branch, or you are elsewhere in DeSoto County, call 901-438-8401.
Do not try to lift a door with a suspected broken spring to get a car out.
faq
How can I tell garage extension springs from torsion springs?
Extension springs stretch along the horizontal tracks on each side of the door. Torsion springs sit on a shaft above the door opening.
What is a safety cable on a garage extension spring?
It is a cable that runs through the center of the spring and is anchored at both ends. If the spring breaks, the cable is meant to help keep the broken spring from flying loose.
If one garage extension spring breaks, should both be replaced?
Often both springs have similar age and use, so a technician should inspect both sides and explain the recommendation for your door.
Can extension springs be converted to a torsion system?
Sometimes, if the door and the space above the opening can support it. Conversion is not the right answer for every door.
Need help with garage extension springs?
If you heard a snap from one side of the garage, see a damaged spring, or the door is hanging unevenly, stop using the opener and keep clear of the door. DeSoto Door has helped North Mississippi and Memphis homeowners with spring repairs since 2008.
Call 901-438-8401 or contact DeSoto Door to talk through an inspection. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 and Saturday from 8 to 1. We are closed Sunday.