Garage Door Cable Malfunction: All You Need to Know

Most people choose a garage door purely focusing on the aesthetic alone. They choose the design and never pay too much attention to all the other moving parts that allow the garage door to function properly. As a result, one of the most common problems people face is garage door cable malfunction.

After a while, cables can wear out, or corrode, and snap. Or they may get twisted into the rollers and get the whole garage door stuck. Of course, the best thing to do in that situation is to look for a local company that provides garage door cable replacement services in San Diego. Or, you can look up garage door cable replacement instructions, and try and replace them yourself, although that may not be such a great idea. 

Either way, read on to find out why garage door cables break and what you can do to fix them. 

Can I open a garage door with a broken cable?

A broken garage door cable causes extra tension to be transferred to the other intact cable, placing tremendous strain on it. This can make the garage door lift unevenly, causing it to become crooked and unbalanced. Therefore, if your garage door is squeaking, shaking or operating strangely, this could mean that a cable has snapped. Refrain from using the door again until a professional can take a look.

If your garage door is stuck open with a broken cable, this leaves your home exposed. To prevent this, you need to cut the unbroken cable so the door will lower, securing your home until a professional can take a look. 

Hiring a professional to perform garage door cable repair is highly recommended. If you don’t have knowledge or experience with this type of work, don’t put yourself in a situation with a high chance of injury. Besides repairing the door, the technician will inspect the garage door’s overall performance. If problems that could lead to excessive cable wear and tear are found, adjustments can be made to prolong their lifespan.

What causes garage door cables to break?

To ensure proper functionality and installation quality, all garage door repairs should be done by a licensed contractor. By hiring a licensed professional you also ensure that all the safety standards are met. But, even if everything is done properly, the individual pieces that make up the garage door mechanism do wear out over time, especially cables. 

Some of the most common reasons as to why garage door cables break, include:

Twisted cables 

Some cables get twisted and end up winding around the drum incorrectly, causing the door to jam. The door may droop on one side, and it will stick when it is lowered. Cables may unwind improperly and will need to be connected again. 

Worn out cables

A garage door cable may break simply because it’s old. Cables experience wear and tear just like anything else, but they may get worn out faster if they weren’t properly installed or if they are scraping against something they shouldn’t be.

Rust

Rust can also affect cables, making them deteriorate more quickly. Essentially, rust can lead to corrosion that can eat through the cable. If this goes unnoticed, it may very quickly cause the garage door cable to snap at the newly formed weak point. 

Cable fraying

Fraying is another problem that can cause a cable to snap. Much like ropes, garage door cables are made from smaller cables. They are wound up and put together to make one larger and robust cable. If one smaller cable breaks, it will affect all other cables, creating a weak point, ultimately causing the garage door cable to snap completely.

Need a reliable garage door cable replacement service in San Diego? Contact us!

RockStar Garage Door Services is here to offer tailored garage door solutions. We’re a local company known for client-focused services and the best customer support in all of the San Diego area.

Whether you’re located in Kearny Mesa or any other neighboring communities, you have full access to all of our specialized services. Our team of highly experienced technicians will make sure that your garage door works like it’s brand new. So, make sure to contact us or visit our website today!