DID YOU KNOW? All of our technicians are employees of Overhead Door. We never use subcontractors!

DID YOU KNOW? All of our technicians are employees of Overhead Door. We never use subcontractors!

Mid-Atlantic Door Group Inc. Distributors of Overhead Door Corp.

What Causes a Garage Door Spring to Break?

There’s a reason why your garage door can open and close whenever you need it to, and it comes down to your garage door springs! Your trusty garage door springs ensure that you can comfortably leave your garage whenever you need to. So when your garage door suddenly comes to a halt, you might be able to pinpoint the culprit to a broken garage door spring. But that might’ve left you wondering how your garage door springs ended up breaking, and what do they even do, anyway? Is it an easy fix or will it cost thousands of dollars to get moving again? At Garage Door Repair, we can answer your questions before you end up late to work.

garage door springs

The Purpose of Your Garage Door Springs

There are two garage door springs that serve as a “push back” against your garage door so that your door can open or close. When your garage door is closed, it sits at the base of your garage floor. Upon opening, it is retracted and rests against your garage door springs. There are two types of residential garage door springs that most homeowners will typically have within their garage, and all garage door springs serve the same purpose. 

Types of Garage Door Springs

Do you know what kind of garage door springs you have? The two main types of garage door springs include extension springs and torsion springs, which differ from one another despite serving the same purpose. The most tension that will be placed upon your garage door springs is when your garage door is closing, which is why garage doors commonly break when the door is closed. By knowing that type of garage door spring you have, you can easily get it repaired or replaced. Extension springs are typically mounted between each side of your garage door track while torsion springs are located above the garage door.

Reasons Your Garage Door Springs Might Break

There are many reasons why your garage door springs might break. Over time, if you haven’t kept up with regular maintenance to your garage door, it might’ve accumulated rust. As rust increases friction, it can result in your garage door springs snapping or wearing out over time. Another main culprit for your garage door springs failing? Simple wear and tear as your garage door opens and closes throughout the years. Through regular maintenance, you can potentially increase the lifespan of your garage door springs, which can last for approximately 10,000 cycles of opening and closing. 

Commercial and Residential Garage Doors, Parts, and Maintenance From Mid-Atlantic Door Group 

Mid-Atlantic Door Group carries a wide collection of garage doors, parts, and offers maintenance. If you need assistance figuring out what to do with your garage door, the Mid-Atlantic Door Group team is here to help. Contact one of our eight locations across the region to get started.

About The Author | Justin White


Justin White is the VP of Marketing for Mid-Atlantic Door Group, Inc. The company opened in 1973 and now consists of (3) official Overhead Door™ Distributors and (8) warehouse locations throughout Maryland, DC, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Justin was born into the door industry, ultimately following in his father's footsteps and joining the family owned business in 2011. After spending time in the field with fellow mechanics, Justin found his niche in marketing, along with a specialty in residential garage door sales, installation, and service.

Garage Door Services

Since 1973, Mid-Atlantic Door Group, Inc. has been providing Washington DC, Suburban MD, Frederick MD, Southern MD, Northern VA, Fredericksburg VA, Richmond VA, Harrisburg PA, Hanover-York PA, and the surrounding areas with the most reliable and trusted garage door services. These services include new door sales, professional installation, and 24/7 garage door repair services on all makes and models.

We are the region's only Authorized Overhead Door™ Distributors. All of our products enjoy the garage door industry's best warranty.

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