What to Do If My Garage Door Cable Breaks

If you have an automatic garage door, you likely know it relies on cables on both sides to lower and lift the door. You may also wonder what you should do if your garage door cable breaks. These cables transmit energy from garage door springs to the door, making them crucial to proper functionality.

However, if a cable snaps or falls out of a drum, your garage door may cease to function and, worse, may drop unexpectedly. We’ll discuss what to do if your garage door cable breaks, whether you can still use the door, and whether you should try to replace a garage door cable yourself or hire a licensed contractor.

Should I Try to Open a Garage Door with a Broken Cable?

Under no circumstances should you try to open a garage door with a broken or loose cable. The remaining wires are under excess tension, increasing the chances that they will snap, causing the door to fall on whatever or whomever is underneath it.

If your garage door gets stuck open due to a faulty cable, immediately call garage door repair specialists and await their arrival. If you cannot leave your home exposed, you may have to cut the remaining cable to close the entrance. In such instances, it is critical to get at least three or four other people to hold the door and carefully lower it to the ground when the cable is severed.

Signs of Broken Garage Door Cables

Before proceeding with any repairs, it's essential to identify signs of damaged or broken garage door cables. Look for the following:

• The door is crooked and unbalanced.
• The door is shaking, squeaking, or operating unusually.
• The door crashed to the floor unexpectedly.
• The door is stuck in place and won't go up or down.

If you notice any of these signs, you must address the issue promptly.

How to Fix Your Garage Door Cable

• First, make sure the door is wide open and securely locked in place. You can do this by using vice grips on the metal track just below the door's bottom wheel or by placing a ladder or scaffold under the door to keep it steady.

• Once the door is safe and steady, remove the old, broken cable looped around a peg at the bottom of the garage door and remove it from the drum (the round part it's wrapped around).

• Now, follow the instructions from the cable manufacturer to attach the new cable to the drum. Wrap the cable around the drum as directed.

• After that, loop the other end of the new cable around the peg at the bottom of the door.

• The new cable might not be exactly the same length as the old one. To ensure everything is even, replacing both cables is a good idea. You can also adjust the length of either cable, but be careful if you need to work with the torsion spring, as it can be tricky.

Garage door cable repair is not a DIY task unless you have been trained and have first-hand experience in garage door repair. Fixing the cables yourself poses significant risks and may lead to injuries. Many emergency room visits result from people attempting spring or cable repairs without the proper knowledge and tools. That’s why we recommend, instead of doing it yourself, calling the professionals of Door Dcotor.

Finding Expert Garage Door Cable Repair Service

Look no further than Door Doctor if you need timely and dependable emergency garage door repair professionals to fix your garage door cables. We offer complete garage door repair, installation, and maintenance services.