Garage door cables can break from a myriad of mechanical causes. In this blog entry, the broken garage door cable repair experts here at Garage Door Repair Chicago will detail the various forms of issues that can crop up with garage door pulley issues.
Pulleys Causing Friction Damage
Garage door cables can break due to friction damage caused by pulleys. Cables are made of metallic strands woven in a braid. The more metallic strands, the stronger the cable is. Teacher garage door cables need bigger drums to help accommodate tension loads. If a pulley gets damaged, the cables experience more friction and more easily snap. This depends on what type of garage door you have, but can very easily cause damage and injuries. Sometimes, faulty bearings can cause strain to the pulley system. Cables can get wound around pulley drums and need to get unwound and reconnected in order to properly operate. When this happens your door can become stuck or tilted on one side, and may need to get temporarily removed by a garage door repair professional for repairs.
Shoddy Garage Door Spring Installation
Lift cables are often found on garage doors that have torsion springs attached to their bottom. Torsion springs counterbalance the weight of the garage system if the cables break. On the other hand, retaining cables are vertically installed on garage doors with extension springs. These extension springs are blocked from falling off if the cables snap or break. Garage door springs are necessary to balance tension within the garage door. When springs are not properly installed, garage door cables can easily jump off the track and break, causing it to stick or open unevenly. Springs can also – very dangerously – snap and shoot out under pressure. Ensure that your garage door is installed and maintained by an expert garage door professional and that cables and springs are regularly lubricated.
Misaligned Garage Door Tracks
Sometimes garage doors shift as they are regularly used. This can easily damage garage door cables and springs. When not immediately repaired, this can cause damage to bolts and hinges. Garage doors should be inspected by a professional twice a year for any signs of rust, wear, fraying or damage, and so that all garage door parts can be cleaned and lubricated to make your garage door system function longer.
