What to do if your garage door cable breaks?

If your garage door cable breaks, you should immediately stop operating the door and secure the area for safety, because a broken cable leaves the door unbalanced and prone to falling. Garage door cables work together with springs, either wrapping around drums on a torsion system above the door or running through extension springs along the side tracks, to lift the door evenly. When one breaks, you will usually see the door hanging crooked, one side lower than the other, or the cable dangling loose by the track. First, do not use the automatic opener, as it will try to lift the uneven door and can cause the door to go off track, bend panels, or strip the opener gear, so pull the red emergency release cord to disconnect the opener. Keep people, pets, and cars away from the door, especially underneath it, as the door can fall. Do not try to force the door open or closed repeatedly. If the door is open and stuck, securely clamp locking pliers onto both tracks below the rollers to prevent it from falling, and place a ladder underneath for extra support. Do not attempt to replace the cable yourself unless you have experience with high-tension springs, because you must release spring tension safely. Call a professional garage door repair company promptly. Cable replacement typically costs 150 to 300 dollars for a pair and takes about an hour, and the technician will also check springs, drums, and rollers.