As part of your garage door's system, the torsion springs are responsible for safely holding the weight of the door as it opens and closes. When these springs become worn or loose, however, you will find that the door struggles to move properly and may shift when kept open.

When you keep using the garage door while the springs are damaged, the extra strain and pressure will cause them to eventually break. Below are a couple of warning signs that you should keep watch for indicating that the torsion springs are in danger of breaking and need to be replaced as soon as possible. 

1. You May Hear a Loud, Repetitive Popping Sound as the Door Closes

One warning sign that should alert you that one or both of the torsion springs for your garage door are getting ready to break is a loud, repetitive popping sound as the door closes. You may also notice a noise that you may describe as metal struggling to move.

If the springs are already worn out or damaged, the extra weight placed on them as the door closes will increase the strain and pressure that they are under. As the coils move, they are pushed together, creating popping noises. If you are hearing these noises, there is a good chance that the strain of being fully extended will break the already damaged and worn springs if they are not replaced. 

2. You Are Unable to Keep the Door Halfway Open Without It Falling

Another sign that should serve as a warning that your garage door's springs are in danger of breaking is when the door will not stay halfway open. When you open the door part of the way, it will start to slide down because the damaged springs are unable to hold the weight.

If the springs cannot hold the door halfway open, they are at risk of breaking soon while they are moving and carrying the door's weight. You need to have them replaced by a professional as soon as possible to keep them from causing the door to come crashing down when they do break.

If your garage door is showing warning signs that one or both of its springs are about to break, do not try to replace them yourself. The amount of tension the springs are under makes it dangerous to do without the proper tools and skills. 

Contact a local emergency garage door repair service to learn more.