Signs Your Garage Door Cable Is Damaged

Garage door cables rarely get attention until something goes wrong. They run from a bracket at each bottom corner of the door, up past the sides of the door to a drum or pulley, and they work with the springs to hold the door's weight. When one is damaged, the door can hang crooked, jam or fall.

Here is a checklist you can follow from the floor, with the door closed. Do not touch the cables or brackets while you check. Look only.

First, look for fraying. A cable is made of twisted strands. If you see strands splitting away, a bulge or a rusty patch, the cable is wearing out. Humid air can speed up corrosion on metal parts, so check the lower few inches of each cable where moisture and dirt gather.

Second, look for slack. A cable that sags or hangs loose beside the door has probably slipped off its drum or come away from its bracket. Compare the two sides. They should look the same.

Third, watch how the door moves. If one side rises higher than the other, if the door stops partway or if it looks twisted, a cable may be failing. Stop using the door as soon as you notice this. Running it can bend the panels or make the door come off its track.

Fourth, listen. A snapping or a popping sound from one side, or a rattle that was not there before, can mean a cable is loose or a drum has shifted.

If you see any of these, do not try to put the cable back, tape it or loosen the bracket. Cables are under tension and the brackets are connected to it. Keep people clear of the door and call. Your call is connected to an independent local service provider. Our Garage Door Cable Repair page lists what to tell the provider and questions to ask before work starts.