Your garage door is an important part of how your home works. If there are any problems, you need to take care of them as soon as possible. A broken garage door cable is a common issue for homeowners. This blog provides important tips for garage door cable replacement, focusing on safety measures and a step-by-step plan.
Why Replacing Garage Door Cables Is Important?
Garage door cables bear the door’s weight, which may exceed several hundred pounds. A broken garage door cable can throw off the door’s balance, making it hard to open and close. More importantly, it is a big safety risk because the door could fall suddenly, hurt someone, or damage something.
Safety Measures for Garage Door Cable Replacement
When working on your garage door, safety should be your top concern. Always keep these safety measures in mind:
Power Off: Before you start, turn off the garage door opener so it does not accidentally open while you are working.
Use Protective Gear: For your safety, wear safety glasses, gloves, and a hard hat.
Secure the Door: Use clamps or locking tools to lock the garage door when it is all the way shut.
How to Tell if Garage Door Cable Replacement Is Needed
Before you replace your garage door cable, make sure it does need to be replaced. Look out for these common signs:
Door wobbles all of a sudden
If a door gets harder to open or feels heavier on one side, it could be because of a cable problem, which could stress other parts.
Visible damage to the cables
Check the cables for clear signs of damage, such as fraying, kinks, or broken strands. If you find any signs of damage, you must change them as soon as possible.
Strange noises during operations
Cable issues could cause strange noises like grinding or scraping when opening or closing the garage door.
Uneven or slow door movement
If your garage door moves slowly, jerks, or acts strangely, it could be because of a cable problem. Fix these problems quickly to keep them from getting worse.
Needed Tools and Materials
Get all the tools and materials you will need before you replace the cables to make sure everything goes smoothly:
List of Tools You Need
- Adjustable wrench
- Vise grips
- Clamps
- Cordless drill
- Winding bars
- Cable cutters
- Locking pliers
- Tape measure
- Level
- Socket and ratchet set
Safety Tips for Garage Door Cable Replacement
Choose high-quality replacement cables made for your garage door type and size. When choosing the right cables, talk to the company that made your door or a professional.
Safety Gear and Essentials
Safety gear should be your top priority. It includes safety glasses, work gloves, a hard hat, and other safety gear.
Get Everything Ready
Before starting the repair process, you need to take important steps to make sure it goes smoothly and safely:
Cut off the Power and Lock the Door
Stop the garage door opener from being activated by mistake by cutting off the power. Also, use clamps or closing pliers to lock the garage door all the way down.
Check the Garage Door Parts
Check the entire garage door system, including the springs, tracks, and rollers, to see if any other problems need fixing. Fix any problems right before you start the garage door cable replacement.
Look for the Broken Cable
Identify the cable that needs to be replaced. If there is only one broken cable, replacing both is not compulsory. On the other hand, if you are unsure if both cables show signs of wear, it might be better to replace both.
How to Change Broken Garage Door Cables
For garage cable replacement, follow this simplified step-by-step guide:
Release the Tension on the Old Cable
Before replacing the cable, release the strain from the springs. Use the winding bars to loosen the tension in the torsion springs slowly. During this step, be extra cautious. Keep your face and body away from the springs.
Once the tension is gone, use locking pliers to keep the cable from unwinding further. Then, disconnect the cable from the pulleys on each side of the door.
Take the Old Cable Out
Remove the old cable after releasing the tension and disconnecting the cable from the pulleys.
Turn the cable opposite to the drum’s rotation to unwind it from the drum slowly. Hold on tight to keep the rope from unwinding quickly.
Unwind the cable completely, then remove it from the garage door’s bottom bracket.
Put the New Cable in Place
Position the new cable to replace the old one. Securely hook the new cable to the bottom bracket of the garage door.
Slowly wind the new cable on the drum in the same way as the old cable. Use winding bars to keep tension and make sure the wrapping is even.
Re-Tension the Springs
Re-tension the springs to ensure proper balance. Use winding bars to slowly tighten the springs opposite from when you loosened the tension.
Check whether both springs have the same amount of force to keep the right balance and avoid problems in the future.
Check for the Right Cable Tension
Ensure the new cable’s tension is tight but not too tight. If you are in doubt about the right tension, talk to a garage door expert.
Ensuring Safety and Smooth Operation
Garage door cable replacement is part of your routine maintenance to ensure your door works without a hitch. Use this simplified guide and take safety steps to replace broken cables and keep your garage door in good shape.
Safety should always be your top concern. If you are unsure or uncomfortable with any part of the process, it is best to call a licensed garage door technician for help. Also, do regular repairs to keep your garage door functional and avoid issues down the line. As a result, your garage door can continue to work efficiently for years with proper care.
Garage Door Cable Replacement Near Me
Are your garage door cables broken? Do not take chances or unnecessary risks by fixing them yourself. Replacing the cables and springs the wrong way can lead to other problems and cost more to fix. With Titan Garage Doors NE, you will get great service, industry knowledge, and a low garage door spring cost on material and labor. These and more to make sure your garage door works perfectly. Our team of experts is skilled in various top-quality garage door services, such as fixing problems if your garage door cable broke, garage torsion spring replacement, and dealing with other torsion cable issues.
So, if you need a garage door cable replacement, trust Titan Garage Doors NE to get the job done right. Your safety and peace of mind are our top priorities. Call us today for a free quote and learn more about how we can help you.
