Understanding what to know about garage doors is part of the routine for many homeowners. Many homeowners are familiar with the basic functions and components of their garage door. On the other hand, a garage door cable is a part of the overall mechanism that might leave some homeowners baffled.
Cables are a crucial part of an overhead garage door mechanism. They have a direct impact on the operation and safety of your garage door. While you may not know how garage door cables work, they can cause problems that require maintenance. Here are some things you need to know about garage door cables.
What is a Garage Door Cable?
Garage door cables are the strings of twisted steel cable made of aircraft aluminum or stainless steel attached to brackets on both sides of your door that help lift it. Garage doors usually have two cables on each side to prevent the cable from placing too much strain on the overall garage door structure.
Garage door cables are available in various lengths, thicknesses, and strand counts. Most garage door systems employ two types of cables—the lifting cables that raise the door and the safety cables that prevent a garage door from causing damage in the event of a spring failure.
Lifting Cables
Technically, the effortless way the garage door raises into the garage ceiling is because of the garage door springs. These springs are not directly connected to the door but are attached to pulleys or drums, which are connected to cables that transfer the springs' energy to lift the door. A garage door typically has one lifting cable on either side.
Lifting cables come in two configurations, depending on the type of spring used in the door. If your door uses torsion springs, you would see the cables looped around drums at both ends of an axle or spring shaft. These cables either extend to lower the door or coil around the drum to lift the door when the spring shaft turns.
Safety Cables
Safety cables are installed through an extension spring and anchored on both ends. They resemble lifting cables, only lighter in weight. Their purpose is to contain the extension spring in case it breaks while under tension. They also prevent the door from falling instantaneously in case of a power outage or a mechanical failure. Safety cables help extend the life of extension and torsion springs by maintaining proper tension.
How do you know if the lifting cable has snapped?
There are indications that the lifting cable has snapped and needs to be replaced that you must pay attention to.
The door has trouble opening
The garage door will be difficult to open and close if one or both cables are broken. If your door struggles, shakes, or squeaks as it moves, check if there is a cable dropping near the door.
The door stops moving
When a cable snaps in some garage door systems, a safety mechanism kicks in and prevents the garage door from moving.
The door moves too fast
The cables and springs are responsible for the full weight of the door. If your door closes faster than usual, the cables or springs have likely snapped.
What should you do when a cable breaks?
First and foremost, you must avoid operating the door and immediately call for emergency garage door repair. A qualified technician should inspect the door system and, if necessary, replace the cables. Cable replacements are not that complicated, but a cable failure may have an underlying reason in some cases.
Are you looking for experts in garage door maintenance? Look no further than Titan Garage Doors NE. We serve the greater Omaha area and Council Bluffs Iowa, and we are your best choice for fast, affordable, and reliable garage door repair services.