Being a homeowner comes with a number of routine maintenance jobs that keep your home in good condition. Your garage door is one that can easily be overlooked.
Here are five signs your garage door cables need to be repaired.
About Garage Door Cables
Most garage doors use a large tensioned spring and pulley system to lift the heavy garage door up and down. The garage door cables are what attaches the door and the pulley drums so the tension energy created by the spring can raise and lower the door. They engage and move every time you move your garage door.
This means they are one of the most common parts that need to be repaired. Luckily there are some signs to look for that can help you determine if garage door cable repair is needed.
1. Defective Bearings
Sometimes the bearings that the garage door cables travel through can become defective. If that happens, it causes excessive wear and tear on your cables. There are several ways to notice this.
You may hear grinding or squeaking in the bearings when the door is moving. You may also notice marks or visible wear on the cables themselves. There may even be a slight burning smell. These are all symptoms of a defective bearing.
2. Door Alignment
If your door alignment is off, this can be a sign that there is an issue with the cables. You should be able to see the alignment of if the door is off and it may have difficulty raising and lowering.
The door may lurch instead of moving smoothly. You may also hear scrapping if the door is hitting other material if it’s off track.
3. Loud Bang
If you hear a loud BANG coming from your garage and after investigation, you don’t immediately know the cause, it might be your garage door. The spring that is attached to the garage door cables is under extreme pressure.
If there is a problem with the spring or cables, this can cause an explosive sound. If you hear a sound like that and are unsure of the origin, you should call someone who specializes in garage door cable repair.
4. Cables Falling
If you see your cables falling down around the door or notice that the tension is loose, this means there is a malfunction with the cables. They should not be loose or falling.
You can see if they are still attached to the drums they wind around. If they have fallen off, do not try to move your garage door! You need to call a professional for garage door repair.
5. Garage Door Malfunction
If your garage door is not able to move or it moves irregularly, this is a sign that the cables need to be replaced. Sometimes your garage door will move too quickly or slow down significantly. Those are both signs of repairs needed.
If you notice an issue with your garage door, stop using it immediately. It may be dangerous to continue using it while it is malfunctioning.
In Need of Garage Door Repair?
If your garage door exhibits any of these signs, you may need to repair your garage door cables. Don’t know how to repair your garage door? Due to the nature of how these doors work and the danger of the high tension spring, its a good idea to contact a professional.
We would be glad to help with any garage door needs you may have. Visit us here.
