They open by themselves. They keep you in when you need to get out. Sometimes the noises they make are worse than fingernails on a blackboard.
Oh, the drama caused by garage doors!
In today’s post, we talk about a common issue faced by garage door owners. It’s a story about what happened when a garage door wire snapped. Take a minute and learn what to do in case you experience something similar.
Signs of a Bad Garage Door Cable
We all know at least one or two people—let’s call them Bob and Sue— who called off from work because they couldn’t get out of their garage. While their story probably sounded like the ones you’ve told about the dog eating your homework, consider giving them the benefit of the doubt.
Garage door systems have multiple moving parts and any one of them can break. Broken cables are a thing! However, your coworker didn’t just wake up one morning with a wire hanging down near the door.
Before they fail, cables often give a warning. A routine check of the garage door system can reveal signs of deterioration such as:
- Rust
- Corrosion
- Fraying
Another symptom of a door with a worn cable is excessive shaking or squeaking when it moves. Bob or Sue might have also noticed the door struggling to open and close.
Warning signs like these shouldn’t go without attention because eventually the cable will break and leave you like them, with your vehicle stuck—on one side or the other.
The Day the Garage Door Wire Snapped
Since we don’t know exactly what type of door Bob and Sue have, we’re not sure which cable broke.
Doors with torsion springs use lift cables. Lift cables attach to the bottom of the door at each corner. Lift cables route to the torsion springs above the door.
Doors with extension springs use retaining cables. Located inside the springs, retaining cables prevent a broken spring from turning into a projectile if it breaks. Extension springs and their retaining cables run down each side of the garage door.
The day the garage door cable broke was a frustrating day for Bob and Sue.
A broken cable causes extra tension to transfer to the other cable, placing a tremendous burden on it. The extra tension could have caused the door to lift unevenly resulting in a lopsided and unbalanced garage door. The reason your colleagues couldn’t get to work was more likely because the door wouldn’t open at all.
In the worst-case scenario, the cable breaks and the door abruptly falls down. Now, that would make quite the story for Bob and Sue!
Call for Help When a Garage Door Wire Snaps
Tinkering with a garage door cable or other repair issue isn’t your typical DIY project. Certainly, you can handle routine checks on your own, but if you notice the signs of wear mentioned earlier, it’s better to call for assistance.
Whether your garage door wire snapped or a spring broke, you shouldn’t attempt repairs on your own! Instead, contact us. We’re available 24/7 for all of your garage door repair needs.