Garage Door Cable Snapped? Here’s What You Need to Know

Garage Door Cable Snapped? Here’s What You Need to Know

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What to Know About a Snapped Garage Door Cable

When it comes to inconvenience, a snapped garage door cable can bring your daily routine to a shrieking halt. But you might not be aware of what can cause a broken garage door cable. Several causes can be behind a garage door cable snapping, and we at Dodds Doors are going to outline those causes. Plus, we’ll look at what you can do to prevent a garage door cable from snapping in the future.

Garage Door Cable Snapped? The Most Common Causes

Your garage door cable plays an important role in opening your garage door. After all, it’s responsible for raising and lowering the heavy door panels that make up your garage door. It’s also a fairly common reason that people make the call for garage door repairs. But these cables, like any other mechanical part in your garage door, experience wear and tear with time; this can lead to cable snaps or a broken garage door cable that not only causes you inconvenience but poses a potential safety hazard. Let’s look at some of the most common causes of a garage door cable snapping.

Wear and Tear

The biggest reason for a broken garage door cable is everyday wear and tear. With time, the constant stress that the cables are put under while raising and lowering the garage door can lead to them beginning to weaken and even fray. And if you haven’t been performing regular garage door maintenance, then that can exacerbate the problem—and that includes making sure that the cables are properly lubricated.

Lack of Maintenance

As an example, if you use your garage door every day over several years and don’t perform any regular maintenance, then the lack of proper lubrication and the damage incurred will cause the cables to weaken and, eventually, you’re left dealing with a completely broken garage door cable.

Rust

Now, let’s look at another factor that contributes to a garage door cable snapping: rust and corrosion. In a humid climate, the metal parts of the cable begin to corrode. The rust that forms then begins to weaken the structural integrity of the cable, making it more prone to snapping under pressure.

However, just because rust and corrosion play a role in snapped garage door cables, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all rusted, unbroken cables will snap. Cable breaks can and do happen, but cables can still function with a small amount of rust. Still, rust increases the chances that the lifting cable will snap, and you should address the problem with either replacement cables or other cable repairs.

Cable Tension

Another factor to consider is whether there is what’s known as improper cable tension. If your garage door cable snaps, it’s probably due to loose cables or cables that are too tight, then your cables will be under excessive stress when you use your garage door opener to open or close your garage. When there’s not enough tension, then the cables will be too loose, and the chances that they’ll become entangled or misaligned within your garage’s pulley system increase. Similarly, if the cables are too tight, it places extra strain on the system, which results in a garage door cable snapping.

Lack of Professional Inspection

Lastly, you need to consider maintenance and regular inspections and how that can contribute to a broken garage door cable. If you notice any signs of cable wear—like a fraying cable or other signs of visible damage or additional strain—you need to make the call for professional garage door cable repair. That’s because these signs can indicate or even contribute to a catastrophic failure of your garage door, requiring further expensive garage door repair services. If you’re looking to avert any problems that a broken cable can cause, it’s important to have an expert garage door technician regularly inspect and address any problems before they escalate.

Garage Door Cable Snapped? Tips on Proper Cable Maintenance

When it comes down to preventing a snapped garage door cable, regular maintenance is essential. That’s because you want to avoid the potential of an emergency room visit should a cable snap or your garage door come crashing down. Here are a couple of steps that you can take to keep yourself from dealing with a garage door cable snapping:

  1. Lubrication: Take the time to regularly lubricate all the moving parts within your garage door—and that includes the cables! Proper lubrication helps to reduce friction and wear, thereby extending your garage door’s lifespan.
  2. Inspection: Take the time every month or so to perform a visual inspection of your garage door and garage door opener. Check the cables for any signs of fraying, rust, or other signs of damage. If you spot anything that indicates that the cables have been compromised, it’s time for a cable repair or a garage door cable replacement.
  3. Tension Adjustment: Take extreme caution with this step and entrust it only to expert technicians who have experience with garage door systems. Remember that keeping the cables under the proper amount of tension is crucial and that improper tension puts your system under an undue amount of stress, which can lead to a garage door cable snapping.
  4. Proper Maintenance: When it comes to regular maintenance, you should consider scheduling with professional garage door repair technicians. With that, you can rest a bit easier knowing that they’ll be able to spot a problem with your garage door and perform preventative garage door services on an as-needed basis.

It’s important not to ignore that, much like any other part of your home, your garage door requires regular maintenance. Garage doors can be costly to replace, but also pose a potential safety hazard if not maintained properly. If you take the time to maintain and service it properly, then it’ll operate efficiently for many years.

Regular Inspection and Timely Repairs Can Save You on the Costs of Replacing a Broken Garage Door Cable

When it comes to keeping your garage door functional, regular inspection and timely repairs are essential. These will also improve the longevity of the heavy cables that support your garage door and are crucial to its continued smooth operation. If you incorporate the above steps into your regular home maintenance routine, then you can easily identify potential issues early, preventing them from escalating into larger problems that will be incredibly costly to repair.

At Dodds Doors, our expert technicians recommend that you take the time to visually inspect your garage door and its cables, at minimum, once every six months. You’ll want to start by inspecting the lift cables for any signs of visible damage, including signs of a bad cable or a faulty cable. Pay special attention to where the cables come into contact with the pulleys or hinges of your garage, as it’s at these points where the cable is most susceptible to potential damage. Be on the lookout for any loose or broken strands, which weaken the strength of the cable and can cause a snapped garage door cable in the future.

If you’re looking to avoid the situation of a broken garage door cable, then you need to promptly address any problems found during an inspection. And, if you’re not sure what to be on the lookout for, you can call your local garage door professional to come take a look. They can properly assess the situation, making recommendations on any needed repairs or replacements.

Garage Door Cable Snapped? Don’t DIY It—Contact the Professionals at Dodds

Although you might find it tempting to try and undertake repairs or replacements as a DIY project, if you’re attempting it without the correct tools or first-hand experience, you’re likely only putting yourself in danger of personal injury. And having to hand out more money for more costly repairs. Given the extreme amount of tension that the cables are under, you could be putting yourself in danger if you don’t handle them properly. That’s why it’s best to leave such tasks as replacing a broken garage door cable in the hands of a professional technician who has the knowledge and skills needed to handle such repairs safely.

Enlisting the right maintenance services is key when it comes to repairing or replacing a broken garage door cable. That’s because you’re safeguarding your own well-being, but also making sure that the repair costs aren’t astronomical. Hiring a licensed contractor means that you’re getting access to in-depth knowledge about garage doors and their systems. But also the right tools needed to get the job done right, without causing extensive damage to your garage doors.

Getting the right garage door people in for a garage door cable snapping is key. Given the strain that the cables are under, you don’t want to add additional strain to them, lest they snap completely and cause harm to you or a loved one. The last thing you want is for your expensive, heavy doors to come crashing down. That’s why you need the professional team at Dodds Doors. When you need help with a professional repair of a snapped garage door cable, call us today or get in touch with us online.