Loud Bang, Door Won't Lift
The classic broken torsion spring: a gunshot-like bang from the garage, then a door that's suddenly extremely heavy.
Broken springs →
Start with the symptom
What Is Your Door Doing?
Garage doors fail in predictable ways. Find your symptom below — each link explains the likely cause, the fix, and what it's safe to check yourself.
Door Crooked or Jammed
Rollers out of the rail, door leaning to one side, or stuck mid-travel. Stop using it — movement makes it worse.
Off-track repair →Cable Hanging Loose or Frayed
Slack, frayed or snapped lift cables — often one side droops and the door lifts unevenly.
Cable repair →Grinding, Sticking Travel
Worn, cracked or seized rollers make a door shudder, screech and drag in the tracks.
Roller replacement →Dented or Cracked Panel
Backed into the door, or hail and sun damage? A single section can often be replaced.
Panel replacement →Door Reverses Before Closing
Starts down then pops back up while the opener light blinks — almost always the photo-eye sensors.
Sensor repair →Squealing, Rattling, Popping
Noise is the door telling you which part is wearing out. Match the sound to the cause.
Noisy door repair →Stuck Open / Car Trapped
Security or schedule emergency? We prioritize doors that won't close and cars that can't get out.
Emergency repair →Nothing Broken — Yet
A seasonal tune-up catches failing springs, dry bearings and safety issues before they strand you.
Tune-up →Also see: opener not responding · maintenance plans · doors that won't open usually mean springs or opener; doors that won't close usually mean sensors; doors stuck halfway or uneven usually mean track or cable trouble.
Know your door
Garage Door Parts, Explained
It's easier to talk to a technician (and spot a dishonest one) when you know what each part does. This is the system installed in most Las Vegas homes.
- Torsion spring — the wound steel spring above the door that does almost all the lifting. The #1 failure item. More →
- Extension springs — older alternative: a spring stretched along each horizontal track instead of one shaft above the door.
- Lift cables — steel cables that transfer spring force to the bottom corners of the door. More →
- Cable drums — grooved wheels on the torsion shaft that wind the cables evenly as the door rises.
- Rollers — wheels that guide each section through the track. More →
- Tracks — vertical and horizontal rails the rollers travel in. Bent track = off-track door.
- Hinges — connect the sections and let the door bend around the track curve.
- Panels (sections) — the door's visible horizontal sections. More →
- Bottom seal — rubber strip that keeps out water, dust and desert critters.
- Safety sensors — photo eyes near the floor that reverse a closing door if the beam is broken. More →
- Opener — the motor unit; it moves the door, but the springs carry the weight. More →
- Rail — the track the opener's trolley rides along the ceiling.
- Emergency release — the red cord that disconnects the door from the opener for manual operation.
- Weatherstripping — perimeter seals on the jambs and header that block drafts and dust.
What to expect
How a ProTech Repair Visit Works
- Describe the symptom
Call (725) 237-6688 or send a request. Tell us what the door does — we'll often tell you the likely cause on the phone.
- On-site diagnosis
The technician inspects the full system — springs, cables, rollers, tracks, opener — not just the obvious failure, and shows you what they find.
- Written quote, your approval
You get the price in writing and approve it before any work begins. No approval, no work, no pressure.
- Repair & safety test
We complete the repair, balance the door, test the safety reverse and cycle the door with you watching.
Honest guidance
Repair or Replace? The Short Version
Repair is usually right when one component failed on a structurally sound door. Replacement earns consideration when damage is structural, parts are obsolete, or repair bills keep repeating. Our full repair vs. replace guide covers cost logic, age, safety and insulation in detail.
| Situation | Usually Repair | Consider Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Springs, cables, rollers worn | ✔ Normal wear items — replace the part | — |
| One damaged panel | ✔ If the model is still made | If panels are discontinued |
| Multiple panels / bent frame | — | ✔ Structural damage rarely repairs well |
| Door 20+ years old, repeated calls | — | ✔ Repair money is buying borrowed time |
| Rust-through, delaminating sections | — | ✔ Safety and appearance both suffer |
| Want quieter / insulated / smart | Partial upgrades possible | ✔ New door solves all three at once |
Common questions
Garage Door Repair FAQs
Can I use my garage door with a broken spring?
No — and please don't try. The spring does the lifting; without it, the opener strains against the door's full weight and can burn out, cables can whip loose, and the door can fall. Keep the door closed and call for a spring replacement.
How long does a typical repair take?
Most single-component repairs — springs, cables, rollers, sensors — take under two hours once the technician is on site, because our vehicles carry common parts for Las Vegas door sizes. Off-track doors and panel replacements vary with the damage.
Do you repair all door brands and ages?
Yes. Sectional doors share the same core hardware regardless of badge, and we stock parts compatible with Amarr, Clopay, C.H.I., Wayne Dalton and most other doors installed in the valley — including older doors whose original manufacturer no longer exists.
Will you try to sell me a new door instead of fixing mine?
Only if repair genuinely doesn't make sense — for example, multiple crushed panels on a discontinued model. Our default is repair. When replacement is worth considering, we'll show you the math on both options, and the decision stays yours. See our repair vs. replace guide.
What should I do before the technician arrives?
Keep people, pets and cars clear of the door, don't keep pressing the opener button, and don't pull the red release cord while the door is open — if a spring is broken, the door can slam down. If the door is closed, leave it closed.