How to Identify a Broken Garage Door Cable
- COMMERCIAL GARAGE DOOR REPAIR
- GARAGE DOOR OPENER INSTALLATION
- GARAGE DOOR SPRING REPAIR
- SAME-DAY GARAGE DOOR REPAIR
- CUSTOM GARAGE DOOR
- GARAGE DOOR OPENER REPAIR
- GARAGE DOOR TRACK REPAIR
- GARAGE DOOR CABLE REPAIR
- GARAGE DOOR PANEL REPAIR
- LOCAL GARAGE DOOR REPAIR
- GARAGE DOOR REPLACEMENT
- NOISY GARAGE DOOR FIX
- GATE REPAIR
- GARAGE DOOR INSTALLATION
- GARAGE DOOR SECTION REPLACEMENT
- OVERHEAD GARAGE DOOR REPAIR
Is Your Garage Door Cables Broken? Here’s How to Tell
Your garage door cables is a small but essential part of your door’s overall functionality. It bears the weight of the door and ensures smooth movement when opening or closing. However, like all mechanical parts, it can wear out over time. Knowing how to identify a damaged cable can save you from unexpected inconvenience and costly garage door cable repair.
This guide will walk you through the key signs of a broken garage door cable and what to do if you suspect yours needs attention.
Key Signs of a Damaged Garage Door Cables
Visual Inspection
Start by visually inspecting your garage door cables regularly. A healthy garage door cable should look clean, taut, and free of damage. Here’s what to watch for if it’s not functioning as it should:
- Fraying: Look for small splits or fraying on the cable strands. These are early warning signs of wear.
- Rust or Corrosion: Over time, exposure to moisture can lead to rusted cables. Rust weakens the cable and increases the risk of it snapping.
- Breakage: The clearest sign is a completely snapped cable. If you see one dangling or entirely loose, that’s a red flag.
Uneven Door Movement
A broken garage door cable can cause your door to open or close unevenly. You might notice that one side of the door moves faster than the other. This uneven motion can make the door tilt or jerk as it moves.
Pay special attention if this issue persists, as uneven movement is nearly always connected to faulty cables or springs. Left unchecked, this problem can cause more damage to the entire system.
Door Won’t Open or Close
When a garage door cable snaps completely, the door often won’t open or close at all. The cables work together with the springs to lift the heavy weight of the door. Without an intact cable, the mechanism loses its balance and power.
If the door seems stuck in place despite your efforts, check the cables immediately.
What to Do If You Suspect a Broken Cable
Safety First
If you suspect that the garage door cable is broken, put safety at the top of your priority list. Avoid trying to open or close the door, as forcing it could worsen the damage. Keep family members, pets, and belongings clear of the area to reduce the risk of injury.
Call a Professional
Fixing a garage door cable is NOT a do-it-yourself job. Replacing or repairing it involves handling heavy and tightly wound components, which can be dangerous if done incorrectly.
Hiring a garage door technician ensures the work is done properly and safely. A professional will have the know-how, tools, and experience to restore your garage door’s performance without complications.
Stay Safe, Act Quickly
Spotting the signs of a broken garage door cable early can save you time, stress, and expense. By keeping an eye out for issues like frayed strands, uneven movement, or a completely stuck door, you’ll know when it’s time to act.
When in doubt, always call in a professional. Mariner Garage Door Repair’s trained experts can get your garage door back in perfect working order in no time.
