The efficiency and functionality of your garage door aren’t something that you will always keep in mind, especially when you’re in a rush to get in your car and be on your way to work.
Garage doors are usually operated through the use of a pulley system and a large spring in order to lift the heavy weight of the door up and down. They are usually attached to the bottom bracket, over the pulley, and run through the garage door spring. This is what keeps the spring from bouncing across the room if a malfunction should happen. Garage door cables are also high tension because of the amount of weight they are lifting so it’s best to call in a professional to fix it because they can be dangerous to mess with if you are untrained to repair them.
You should always make sure that your garage door is functioning properly because they are extremely heavy and can cause major injury to a person or your vehicle if a malfunction occurs. There are ways to tell if your garage door cables need to be repaired or replaced.
Door Alignment is Off
You should be able to tell visually if the door alignment is off. This usually indicates that there is a problem with the cables. Your garage door may be difficult to raise and lower smoothly. There may even be sounds of it scraping against other materials when it is off its track.
Loud Noises from the Garage
If you have noticed loud bangs coming from your garage but don’t immediately notice anything out of place when you are done investigating, it may be because of your garage door not functioning properly. The springs and cables of the garage door are under a lot of tension and may be the cause of the sound.
Loose Cables
Your garage door cables should be taut instead of loose. If the cables seem loose or if they are not attached well, then they should be fixed immediately. If a cable has fallen off, you should not even try to move your garage door as it may not be able to be held up by the mechanism. Instead, immediately call a professional garage door repair service to rectify the problem safely.
Defective Bearings
Bearings allow the garage door cables to move smoothly. When these bearings are worn out, it may cause damage to your cables. These defective bearings can be heard through loud grinding or squeaking noises while the door is moving and there may be some visible sign of marks or damage on your cables. You may also notice a burnt smell in that area.
Garage Door Malfunction
If you notice that your garage door is not moving smoothly and even stops or jerks, then it may be because your cables need to be replaced. Whether it moves too fast or slow, this can be an issue.
If you notice any of these signs, you should call in a professional to repair your garage door cables as quickly as possible. Garage doors are extremely heavy and when the mechanisms that move them aren’t functioning as they should, it could cause a major accident.