Shanon R. Jenkins
A garage door cable snapped usually makes itself known with a loud bang, followed by a door that hangs crooked or won’t move at all. It’s startling, and it can be dangerous, because the steel cables at each side of the door carry the lifting force from the springs. When one breaks, the door loses its balance on that side and can shift or drop.
When a garage door cable snapped, the first step is to stop using the opener. Pressing the button again can pull the door further out of line, bend the track, or strain the motor. If the door is partly open, it should not be forced down by hand. It can drop or twist without warning.
Next, keep people and pets away from the door. If a car is parked outside, it should stay there, and if a car is inside while the door is stuck closed, it’s safer to wait for help than to try to free it.
Homeowners can look from a safe distance for a few clues. A cable hanging loose near the bottom corner, a door tilted to one side, or a spring with a visible gap all help a technician plan the repair. Photos taken from a few feet away are useful.
Cables near the floor wear fastest, since they’re exposed to moisture and road salt. A snapped cable is often a sign the other cable is worn too. Replacing both at once is common practice.
Fixing a garage door cable snapped at the drum or bracket is not a DIY job, because the parts around it hold a great deal of stored energy. The bottom brackets connect to parts under heavy spring tension, and the wrong move can cause injury.
1 Stop Garage Doors, a Naperville garage door company serving Aurora, Bolingbrook and much of Chicagoland, handles snapped cables, springs and off-track doors. Homeowners can call (630) 520-5088 or text a photo for a free quote.
