Modern automatic garage doors use cables to help lift the doors. Along with the garage door springs, these components can handle a lot of wear and tear—but when they break, you’ll need to get them repaired right away.
If you’re dealing with a broken garage door cable in McDonough, GA, read on to learn more about what they do, why they broke and how Affordable Dock & Door can help.
Cables, springs and your garage door
The type of cables you have depends on what kind of spring your garage door uses. If you’re using extension springs, your garage door has retaining cables. This type of cable is run inside the spring, which helps prevent the spring from flying off and hurting someone if it breaks. The cables and springs are located on the left and right sides of your garage door.
Torsion springs use lift cables, which are attached to the bottom left and right corners of your garage door. The lift cables connect to the torsion springs, which are located above the door, and help lift your door that way.
Every so often, you should check your garage door cables in McDonough, GA for visible signs of wear and tear, rust and corrosion. Cables are designed to last a long time, but eventually all machine components will break down. Catching problems before they completely wear out will help you prevent getting stuck in or out of your garage.
Common ways garage door cables break
Wondering how your garage door cable broke, or looking to prevent this from happening? Here are some factors to watch for:
- Normal wear and tear: The most common reason cables break is simply because they’ve undergone a substantial amount of wear and tear. After all, they help pull heavy doors up, usually over a system of pulleys and tracks. If you see fraying on your cable, it may be a matter of aging cables versus wear and tear.
- Moisture: Moisture is another way that garage door cables can get damaged. Look for signs of rust and corrosion on your cables, and call a professional as soon as possible if you notice anything amiss.
- Unbalanced door: An unbalanced door can also put too much weight on one side of your cables, causing damage like fraying.
What to do if your cables break
Have your garage door cables given up the ghost? The first thing you should do is call a professional to schedule a repair and replacement. Never try to replace your own cables or springs, as it’s a dangerous job that can seriously hurt or even kill untrained people.
Second, make sure you stop using the door right away. The more you try to manipulate a door with broken cables, the more likely it will suffer damage and potentially cause a safety hazard.
When you need affordable and professional garage door repair, Affordable Dock & Door is here to help. Whether it’s a broken garage door cable or an entire new door installation in McDonough, GA, we can help—call us today to get started.