A well-functioning garage door is all you want, don’t you? Hold on! The cables, one of the most important elements of your garage door, may get snapped, frayed, broken, or loose.
When a cable snaps, the door becomes unbalanced and dangerous; forcing it to open can lead to sudden drops, injuries, or further damage.
Need immediate action? Yes! Just think, what if the door drops unexpectedly? So, discussing how to fix a garage door cable makes sense, right?
Want to fix the problem yourself and save on repair costs? Great! Today, we’ll walk you through a simple step-by-step guide to get it done quickly and safely.
When Should You Think of Replacing a Garage Door Cable?
First, you might see something that signals to you that the garage door is not functioning properly.
Here’s what you might discover if there is something wrong with the garage door cables:
- Visible wear (frayed, snapped, loosened, rust, and corrosion on the wires)
- Slack or dropping cables.
- Loud noise while opening and closing the door.
- Uneven or misaligned door
- Sudden drop.
- The door takes a long time to open and close.
Tools Required for Fixing a Garage Door Cable
Don’t attempt to fix the garage door cable that snapped or any other issue related to the component without tools. One, you can fix it properly. And the second one is dangerous—you may end up hurting yourself physically.
So, you need
- Locking clamps.
- Winding bars.
- Screwdrivers.
- Protective gloves and safety goggles.
- Adjustable wrench.
- Stepladder.
How to Fix a Garage Door Cable
This is the most common problem owners face with their garage doors. The garage door cable can often come off due to wear and tear, improper tension, or a misaligned track.
No matter what causes the problem, you should react immediately. Here’s what you should do.
Note: Following the same steps below, you can replace or tighten the cable based on its condition.
Step 1: Disconnect the Power to the Garage Door Opener
You must disconnect the power to ensure the garage door doesn’t function when you work with the cables. Garage door openers operate on high-voltage electricity, and accidental activation while working on cables could lead to serious injury or further damage.
Once you remove the power cord, disconnect the door from the opener by pulling the manual release cord (usually a red handle hanging from the opener track)
Step 2: Raise the Garage Door Manually
As you disconnect the power to the garage door opener, you need to raise it manually and carefully.
But remember,
You are dealing with a door cable that comes off. This means the garage door is supposed to be imbalanced, right? Even if it is not that much, you need to raise the door from the side when the cable is loose.
And also, never attempt to lift the door alone if the springs/cables are compromised.
Step 3: Put a Clamp on the Door Track
Once you raise the door, you need to put a locking clamp on it and secure it perfectly on the track just below the lowest roller. A raised garage door with loose/detached cables can collapse if not properly secured.
Locking clamps prevent dangerous movement while you work. Here you need a stepladder.
Step 4: Release the Spring Tension
When you open the door, the springs are compressed. Now, you have to release them from the lifting cable. You’ll find an ‘s’ hook, which is hooked into the door frame. All you need to do is mark the position and remove the hook. Here, you need to use pliers to carefully unhook them from the door bracket.
Wear safety gloves and goggles, as a sudden release of tension can cause cables or springs to whip dangerously.
Step 5: Loosen Cable Drum and Brackets
The garage door is connected to the set screw on the cable drum and bottom bracket of the door. In order to remove the cable from the drum, you need to loosen the cable drum and bracket carefully.
But how do you make that happen, right?
First, you need to remove the cable hooked to the garage’s bottom fixture. If you can do it with your hand, then you’re good. If it’s tight or stubborn, use vise-grip pliers to clamp the cable before loosening the bracket bolt.
Next, you need to locate the cable end. You will find it wrapped around the cable drum.
Step 6: Rewind the Cable
This is the step where you need to inspect the condition of the door cable carefully. You may encounter a situation where a garage door cable comes off one side or snaps.
Whatever went wrong, it is important to rewind the cable first. Don’t rush the process; in this case, wear safety gloves.
Step 7: Install the New Cable
As we mentioned, you need to take steps based on the condition of the cable. If you find it too loose, you can tighten it, especially if the garage door cable comes off both sides.
But if the cable is snapped, frayed, or damaged, you must replace it.
Infographics
While replacing the cable, choose one that suits your garage door. You can find it at both online and offline automotive shops.
Once you unwind the old cable, thread it through the bottom bracket first, then wrap it around the drum. Don’t forget to secure the cable to the drum’s set screw hole and the other end to the bottom fixture.
Also, double-check that the cable is fully engaged in the bottom bracket.
Step 8: Re-tension the Springs
Winding bars are essential for safe and precise adjustments when re-tensioning garage door torsion springs. These specialized steel tools allow you to carefully turn the spring’s winding cone in controlled quarter-turn increments while maintaining firm control.
Always use two winding bars simultaneously – insert the first bar to begin the turn, then place the second bar in the next hole to hold tension before repositioning the first bar for the next turn. And Express Garage Door Parts has shown this clearly.
Step 9: Test the Door
Now, you need to reconnect the door opener by unplugging the cord. Once you follow all the steps, you are supposed to have a well-functioning garage door.
Carefully observe the door movement and check whether you hear any further noise from the cable drum. If properly adjusted, you’ll notice improved alignment, with even gaps along the door’s edges and balanced movement.
How to Fix a Snapped Garage Door Cable: DIY vs Professional Help
You should know when to DIY the task and when to ask for professional help, considering the pros and cons of each. If you have experience with home repairs and feel confident in your abilities, you may choose to tackle the garage door cable repair yourself.
However, if you are unsure about the process, lack the necessary tools, or feel uncomfortable working with heavy machinery, it is advisable to call a professional.
Final Words
Now you have a clear idea of how to fix a garage door cable. If you think your garage door is malfunctioning, check the cables and other components. If a cable is snapped, frayed, or broken, replace it as soon as possible.
Do you think you have the tools and expertise to get the job done? Contact us now to get your garage door cable fixed in no time. Because Upstate Doors is available 24/7 at your service.
FAQs
How to Open a Garage Door When a Cable Snaps?
When your garage door cable snaps and you still need to open it, lift it manually. But there’s always a chance of dropping the door suddenly. Here, the best solution is to raise the door and put a clamp on the track. This prevents the door from falling unevenly while fixing the cables.
Why Did the Garage Door Cable Come Off?
The cable on your garage door might come off for several reasons. Often, issues like wear and tear on the cable cause the problem. It may also happen that the garage door cable is coming off because of improper tension or balance of the spring. Misalignment of the track can be another reason.
How to Fix the Cables on the Garage Door?
Depending on the condition of the cables, you need to repair or replace them to have a properly functioning garage door. This involves key steps like disconnecting the door opening, raising the door manually, clamping the tracks, loosening the cables, and installing a new one or tightening the existing one.
Is It Safe to Open a Garage Door With a Broken Cable?
No, it isn’t. If the cable on your garage door is broken, you need to fix it as soon as possible rather than operate it. Operating a garage door with a snapped cable is extremely dangerous and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. You may never want to get seriously injured, do you?
