The average garage door depends on a complex series of cables, springs, and tracks, all to perform the simple task of raising or lowering a door panel. If a garage door cable snapped, what would you do? One snapped cable in the garage could jeopardize your ability to come and go and compromise your safety, so it’s worth brainstorming solutions here.
Action Garage Door Inc. has a lot of experience with such scenarios because of the Louisville garage door repair services we provide. Let’s discuss what those cables do and how to respond should one snap.
Exercise caution; if mishandled, this garage door malfunction can cause injuries.
What Do Garage Door Cables Actually Do?
Before we look at the function itself, let’s explore the types of cables.
Most garage door models depend on lift and retaining cables, which help to raise and then hold the door panel in place. We’ll discuss their mechanical workings further.
Lift Cables
If you have a garage door with torsion springs, then it probably contains lift cables. A torsion spring looks a bit like a barb on barbed wire. It stores tension when the door closes and releases tension when it opens again, enabling the door to operate smoothly.
The lift cables connect to the torsion spring from the bottom of the interior panel. These cables are more common than their counterparts – retaining cables.
Retaining Cables
While garage door retaining cables work similarly to torsion types, they operate differently. Retaining cables look like long, metal tubes with the last loop jutting upward (think of a slinky that doesn’t slink).
The door’s retaining cables run through the extension springs, connecting to each side of the interior garage door panel. The cables keep the spring in place should it ever extend too far and snap.
Why Might Your Cables Snap?
A garage door cable fraying and snapping might occur for one of the following reasons:
- Typical wear and tear: Most components become weaker with use. Your cables might break because of rust or the gradual weakening from the constant strain.
- Poor cable sizing: If a garage door cable snapped soon after a repair or replacement, the component might be too small to support the panel weight. Each garage door system needs cables robust enough to securely hold the full weight of the door.
- Broken springs: The cable may loosen or become tangled if the torsion or extension springs snap. Added stress may then break the cable.
- Rough pulleys: The pulleys should have a smooth surface for the cable to glide. If a pulley incurs damage and becomes rough where it pulls the cable, it might create excess friction that gradually frays it.
- Track misalignment: Uneven garage door alignment is a big problem for garage doors. You might notice one side hangs lower than the other, which places more weight on one of the cables.
Sometimes, your garage simply faces a freak accident it couldn’t avoid. Other times, poor installation or a lack of routine maintenance can cause or worsen the above issues.
What To Do When Your Garage Door Cable Snaps
No matter the reason, would you know what to do if a garage door cable snapped on your property?
Ideally, you leave the door alone. Broken cables can mean big trouble. In particular, steer clear of the threshold and door if the following symptoms manifest:
- Your door makes piercing shrieking noises during an opening or closing cycle.
- You notice the door moves jarringly fast.
- You can see that one side seems crooked or hangs lower than the other.
A cable has likely already snapped or is weak enough to break at any moment.
If the Door Is Closed…
Typically, a broken cable results in a closed door that won’t budge. You might try to lift the panel with some help, but if the door stays stubbornly shut, don’t force it to open!
It’s dangerous when the system lacks the support of one of the cables. That means all the tension rests on a single cable, now under double the pressure it was made to support. Let the door stay closed and contact professional repair services, like Action Overhead Door Inc.
If the Door Is Still Open…
Has a garage door cable snapped while the panels were up? Any property owner would feel distressed about their belongings and the building’s vulnerability. However, at this point, pulling the door down isn’t safe, either.
If you can’t reach an emergency service provider immediately, these requirements for covering an open garage door may be particularly helpful, especially for commercial property owners who adhere to strict codes. Homeowners might also find them useful for ideas on how to protect their home’s interior.
If you must fashion a makeshift cover, use extreme caution. Other components could break at a moment’s notice with any added pressure on the door system.
How To Prevent This Scenario at Your Home or Business
Folks can avoid many garage door problems, including snapped cables, by simply scheduling annual maintenance services. The following basic checks also help catch issues:
- Thorough visual inspections: Give your garage door a complete once-over. Look for damaged components, listen for odd noises, and note misalignment.
- Safety evaluations: Test the safety features. For example, do the sensors detect potential obstacles and reverse the garage door?
- Consistent lubrication: Lubricate chains, pulleys, and other components for smooth, friction-free movements and less stress during the lifting and lowering operations.
- Dusting and vacuuming: If debris clogs pulleys, chains, or cables, it can gradually wear away the surfaces. Gently wipe away dust. Use a vacuum with a long hose to access hard-to-reach spaces.
You can go through this checklist every three to six months as needed. However, you should always contact garage door repair experts as soon as you notice something amiss. Strange sounds or unbalanced garage door movements can threaten your safety.
Action Overhead Door Inc. Can Help at Any Time!
If your garage door cable snapped, you would want Action Overhead Door Inc. to handle it. We offer garage door tuneup and emergency repair services in Louisville, Kentucky. Call 502-955-7725 to reach our skilled technicians.
