Along with the springs, your garage door cables are what creates the tension that makes lifting a hundred plus pound door so easy. These cables can fray or break, which can cause your garage door to become stuck.
The Danger
The important thing to understand about garage door cable repair is it is not a DIY job unless you are sure you know what you are doing. It’s a dangerous job. The door could come crashing down on you. In the case of safety cables, causing them to disconnect could also disconnect the spring, which could result in bodily injury or death.
Proceed at Your Own Risk
If you do decide to repair your garage door cables yourself, do so at your own risk.
Unplug the automatic opener. Use vice grips to block the door open on the track. Use a vice grip on the shaft, tightening just enough to loosen the cable. Be careful the other cable doesn’t come off. Otherwise, you’ll spend a frustrating afternoon putting both cables back on.
Pry the cable end off the using a screwdriver. Slowly loosen the cable and unwind off the roller, being careful not to scratch the door itself. Remove the cable.
Use a vice grip to pinch the end of the new cable. Filing it down will eliminate the clicking sound, which can be annoying.
Put the other end into the cable slot downward and then upward towards yourself, holding the cable with at all times while wrapping it around the slot. Wrap the cable until it is 3 to 4 inches short of reaching the place where the loop hooks onto the garage door.
Have You Inspected Your Cables Lately?
It is a good idea to visually inspect your cables every few months, at least once per season. It’s a job that literally takes 2 minutes but is critical to the safety and longevity of your garage door. Take a small flashlight and trace along the cable. Get up on a ladder for a closer view. Look for any signs of rust, fraying, kinking or other signs of brittleness. If the cable is kinked, this is a sign your garage door had a malfunction while operating. You’ll want to get this inspected by a garage door repair professional.
If you notice any sign of concern, call us right away. We offer emergency garage door repair services to the Elk Grove, California area. We’ll get it fixed right away!
Need Help? Call Us
If at any time you are not completely confident in what you are doing, give us a call. We offer same day and emergency service to Rancho Cordova area. We’d be happy to help.