What Happens When Garage Door Cable Breaks? (How to Fix)

Published on: November 1, 2022
Written by Eric Devin / Fact-checked by David Rowan

A garage door is one of the largest moving parts in a home, and its cables are under a lot of tension. When they break, it can be very dangerous. The cables are what help to lift the heavy door, so when they snap, the door can come crashing down.

This can cause serious injuries or even death. If you are in your garage when the cables break, make sure to get out of the way as quickly as possible.

If you’ve ever had your garage door get stuck, you know how frustrating it can be. But what do you do when your garage door cable breaks? First, don’t panic.

A broken garage door cable is not a serious problem and can usually be fixed fairly easily. If you have a standard torsion spring system, the cables are easy to replace. If you have an extension spring system, the cables may be a little more difficult to replace but it’s still doable.

Here are the steps to take when your garage door cable breaks:

First	Check to see if the other side of the door is still working. If so, then you only need to replace one cable.
Next	Disconnect the opener from the power source so that there’s no risk of electric shock while you’re working on the door.
Then	Remove the bottom bracket that holds the cables in place (this will vary depending on your type of garage door).

Once the bottom bracket is removed, carefully pull out the old cables and put in new ones making sure they’re routed in the same way as the old ones were.

You may need help holding up one end of the new cables while someone else puts them in The brackets at the top should hold them securely in place once they’re all threaded through. Test everything by opening and closing The doors manually before reconnecting The opener to its power supply.

How to Lower Garage Door With Broken Cable?

If your garage door is equipped with a broken cable, there are a few things you can do to lower the door.

1	Try disconnecting the door from the opener. This will allow you to manually operate the door.
2	If the door is too heavy to lift, you can try using a come-along or ratchet strap to assist in lifting the door.
3	Once the door is disconnected, you should be able to lower it slowly and carefully.
4	If you cannot disconnect the door from the opener, or if the door is too heavy to lift, you may need to call a professional for assistance.

The garage Door Cable Snapped Can’t Open the Door

If you’ve ever had your garage door cable snap, you know it’s not a fun experience. Not only can it be frustrating trying to open your door, but it can also be dangerous. A snapped garage door cable can cause the door to fall suddenly, which could injure anyone nearby.

There are a few things that can cause your garage door cable to snap.

Simply Age and Wear and Tear

One is simply age and wear and tear. Over time, the cables can become frayed or weakened, making them more susceptible to snapping.

Rusting or Corrosion

Another common cause is rusting or corrosion, which can weaken the cables and lead to snapping. If your garage door cable has snapped, don’t try to open the door yourself. It’s best to call a professional for help.

They will be able to safely repair or replace the damaged cable so that you can get your door back up and running again quickly and safely.

How to Fix Garage Door Cable?

If your garage door is raising and lowering unevenly, or not moving at all, it’s likely that the problem lies with your garage door cables. These cables are responsible for lifting your heavy garage door, so if they’re damaged or out of alignment, your door won’t work properly. Luckily, adjusting or replacing your garage door cables is a relatively easy fix that you can do yourself.

First, take a look at your garage door to see if the cables are visibly damaged. If they are frayed or broken, you’ll need to replace them entirely. If the damage isn’t too bad, you may be able to repair them with some wire ties or electrical tape.

Once you’ve determined that the cables need to be replaced or repaired, follow these steps:

1. Disconnect the power to your garage door opener so that you can work on the door safely.

2. Lift up on your garage door until it’s fully open.

This will give you enough slack in the cables to work with them.

Garage Door Repair

It’s no secret that garage doors can be finicky. One day they’re working perfectly fine and the next they’re giving you trouble. When your garage door starts acting up, it’s important to take action quickly to avoid any further damage.

The good news is, there are plenty of things you can do to fix a broken garage door yourself. If your garage door won’t open or close, the first thing you should check is the tracks. Make sure there is nothing blocking them and that they are properly aligned.

If the tracks look fine, then the problem may be with the opener itself. Try resetting it or replacing the batteries to see if that does the trick. If your garage door seems to be coming off its tracks, this is usually due to loose hardware.

Tighten all bolts and screws to see if that fixes the issue. If not, you may need to replace worn out rollers or hinges. Replacing these parts is relatively easy and can be done without professional help.

Sometimes, a noisy garage door is just in need of some lubrication. Apply WD-40 or silicone spray to moving parts like hinges and rollers. This will help keep them running smoothly and quietly for years to come!

How to Lift Garage Door With Broken Cable?

If your garage door has a broken cable, you may be wondering how to lift it. While it is possible to lift a garage door with a broken cable, it is not recommended. This is because lifting a garage door with a broken cable can be dangerous and could cause further damage to your door.

If you must lift your garage door with a broken cable, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

First	Make sure that the springs are disconnected before attempting to lift the door.
Second	Use two people to lift the door – one person on each side.
Finally	Be careful not to let the door fall suddenly as this could cause serious injury.

If your garage door has a broken cable, it is best to call a professional for help. Attempting to repair or replace a garage door cable can be difficult and dangerous for those who are not experienced in working with them.

A professional will have the tools and experience necessary to safely repair or replace your garage door cable so that you can get back to using your garage safely and without worry.

How Long Do Garage Door Cables Last?

If you have a garage door, chances are you’ve had to replace your cables at least once. But how often should you be doing this? And how can you tell when it’s time?

Here’s a quick rundown on garage door cables: how they work, how long they last, and what signs to look for that indicate it’s time for a replacement. How Garage Door Cables Work Your garage door is lifted by two metal cables that run from the bottom brackets on either side of the door all the way to the top.

These cables are under a lot of tension, and they help counterbalance the weight of the door so that it can be opened and closed with ease. Over time, these cables can stretch or become frayed, which can cause them to break. When this happens, your garage door will no longer be able to function properly.

Both Garage Door Cables Snapped

If you come home to find that both of your garage door cables have snapped, it’s important to take action right away. Otherwise, your garage door could come crashing down, causing serious damage or injury. There are a few things you can do to fix the problem:

1. Try to Wind the Cables Back Onto the Drums by Hand

This is only possible if the cables haven’t completely unwound. If you can’t get them back on by hand, proceed to step 2.

2. Use a Vice Grip or Pliers to Hold Onto One End of Each Cable

Use a vice grip or pliers to hold onto one end of each cable while you wind it back onto the drum with a drill. Be sure to go slowly and frequently stop so you don’t overheat the drill bit or strip the threads on the drum.

3. Reattach Them to the Brackets

Once both cables are wound back onto their drums, reattach them to the brackets at either end of the door using new hardware (screws or bolts).

Make sure everything is tight and secure before testing out your repair job!

Can You Open the Garage Door If the Cable is Broken?

If your garage door cables have snapped, it is possible to open the door manually. However, this is not recommended as it can be dangerous and may cause further damage to your garage door. If you choose to open the door manually, make sure to disconnect the opener from the power source first.

Then, lift the door slowly and evenly until it is fully open. Once the door is open, do not attempt to close it again as this could cause further damage.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Broken Cable on a Garage Door?

If you have a garage door with a broken cable, the cost to repair it will vary depending on the type of door, the size and weight of the door, and whether or not you need to replace the entire cable. For example, a small one-car garage door might cost around $100 to fix, while a large two-car garage door could cost up to $300.

What Causes Cable to Break on Garage Door?

One of the most common reasons that garage door cables break is because they are old and have become frayed. If your garage door cables are more than a few years old, it is definitely time to replace them. Another reason that garage door cables might break is that they were not installed correctly in the first place.

This can happen if the springs are not properly tensioned, which puts extra strain on the cables. Also, if the cables are not routed correctly around the pulleys, they can become kinked or tangled, which also causes them to break.

How Do You Fix a Broken Cable on a Garage Door?

If your garage door cable has snapped, don’t panic! This is a relatively easy repair that you can do yourself with just a few tools. First, you’ll need to gather the following supplies:

– A new garage door cable (you can purchase this at your local hardware store)

– A drill – Wire cutters

– A screwdriver

– Pliers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LykX6kQXPGo

Last Point

If your garage door cables break, don’t panic! While it’s not an ideal situation, it is something that can be fixed relatively easily. The first thing you’ll want to do is call a professional to come and take a look.

They will be able to tell you what needs to be done in order to fix the problem. In most cases, they will simply need to replace the cables. However, if the damage is more severe, they may need to replace other parts of the door as well.