Can you open a garage door without a spring?

Yes, you can open a garage door without a spring or with broken spring that normally counterbalances door weight, but it is difficult, heavy, and potentially dangerous, requiring manual lifting and assistance, so it should only be done temporarily to get car out or in emergency. Garage door springs, either torsion springs above door or extension springs along sides, counterbalance door weight so door can be lifted easily by hand or opener, and without spring, door weight is not counterbalanced and can weigh 150 to 300 pounds depending on door size and material, making it very heavy to lift. To open without spring, you need to disconnect opener by pulling emergency release cord, usually red cord hanging from trolley, to allow manual operation, then lift door manually with help of at least two strong people, lifting evenly from bottom and using legs not back to avoid injury. Once open, you must prop door open securely with ladder, clamp, or locking pliers on track to prevent it from falling down rapidly, as without spring door will not stay open on its own and can slam down causing injury. Do not use automatic opener to open door without spring, as opener is not designed to lift full weight and will strain motor, strip gear, or fail. Opening without spring should be temporary until professional replaces spring costing 200 to 400 dollars for single and 300 to 600 dollars for pair, as continued operation without spring is unsafe and can cause door to go off-track or cables to break.