Symptoms
- Steel strands sticking out of the lift cable
- Cable off the drum above the top corner of the door
- Door sits lower on one side
- Pop or snap, then the door racks in the opening
- Cable hanging down the jamb
Cables lift the door as the springs unwind. Dust and heat in Washington County dry the strands. A broken spring dumps extra load onto the remaining cable, they often fail as a set. Heard a bang too? See signs of a broken spring.
What the cables actually do
Lift cables are thin steel cables that run from the bottom corners of the door up to the spring system. On a torsion door, each cable wraps around a drum at the end of the spring bar above the door. As the spring unwinds, the drums turn and the cables lift the door. On an extension spring door, the cables run through pulleys near the springs along the side tracks. Either way, the cables carry the full weight of the door while it moves. That is why a frayed cable is a real hazard and not a cosmetic problem.
Signs a cable is about to go
- Small broken strands, rust, or flat spots near the bottom bracket, where dust and water sit
- A cable that looks loose or slack when the door is closed
- Cable wraps on the drum that are uneven or overlapping
- The door starts to lift crooked, with one side rising first
If you see any of these, run the door as little as possible and call. A cable that lets go while the door is moving can drop one side and throw the door off its track. Then it becomes an off-track repair as well.
The fix
Red-rock dust from Snow Canyon, Kayenta, and the Hurricane Cliffs packs into cable wraps and drums. Combined with summer heat, that wears cables faster than the same door in a wetter climate. A snapped spring is the other usual cause, the cable takes the shock. If you see rust-colored grit packed on the drum, say so when you call.
Replace the cables as a pair, seat them on the drums, confirm the drums are not cracked, and re-tension with the springs. If a spring is already broken, that gets replaced first. Then a balance test.
Related: broken spring repair · off-track door
Safety
A frayed cable can finish snapping while the door is moving. Do not pull the red release and try to lift a lopsided door by hand. Leave it and call 435-773-8856. Cable work is on our list of 6 garage door repairs you should not DIY.
How we quote (no prices online)
What changes the number: one cable vs both, drum damage, torsion vs extension setup, whether springs need a matched pair, and after-hours vs normal hours. We do not publish a price list. Details: service fees. Call 435-773-8856.
What we check on a cable call
A cable rarely fails alone, so we look at the whole lift system. Both cables, both drums, the bottom brackets, the spring or springs, the center and end bearings, and the rollers. We check that the cables sit in the drum grooves and wind evenly. After the new cables are on, we test the balance with the opener disconnected, then run the door with the opener and check the safety reverse. You get told what we found before any extra part goes on.
Cable repair across Washington County
Around St. George, cables mostly wear from dust, heat, and use, not from freezing. The bottom few inches of a cable sit right where wind blown sand and grit collect against the door. Homes near Sand Hollow and the Hurricane Cliffs see more blowing sand. Older homes in Santa Clara and downtown Hurricane often still have extension springs, and those need safety cables run through them so a broken spring cannot whip across the garage. If yours are missing, say so when you call. Cable work is part of our garage door repair in St. George, along with springs, openers and off-track doors.
Cities
Primary: St. George. Also Washington, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane. Same-day when a tech and cable stock are available. After-hours is a request: emergency.
FAQ
Why did my garage door cable break?
Age, rust, grit, a spring failure, or a door that was forced. We look at cables, drums, and springs together.
Can I replace a garage door cable myself?
No. Cables are under spring tension. That is technician work.
Do you replace both cables?
Often yes when both show wear. We tell you what we see before we start.
My door is crooked. Is that a cable?
Often. It can also be a spring, roller, or track issue. Call 435-773-8856 and describe what you see.
How fast can you come?
Same-day is the goal during normal hours when we have stock. We say so on the call.
Do you list cable repair prices online?
No. Call for a quote. No price bands on this site.
Can a garage door cable come off without breaking?
Yes. A cable can jump off its drum when a spring breaks, the door hits something, or the door is pulled down hard. It still needs a technician, because the cable is under spring tension. Call 435-773-8856.
What are safety cables on extension springs?
A safety cable runs through the middle of each extension spring along the side tracks. If the spring breaks, the safety cable keeps it from flying across the garage. If yours are missing, we add them.
Related
- Broken spring repair
- Off-track
- Emergency
- Opener repair
- Service fees
- Home
- Contact
- Hurricane | Washington City
- Same-day garage door repair or can it wait?
- Garage door repair guides for St. George homeowners
Call 435-773-8856 for a quote. No published prices.
Also: service areas · FAQ
What happens when you call
- Call 435-773-8856 or text 435-773-8856. Tell us your city or neighborhood.
- Describe what the door is doing. Up, down, or stuck partway. A bang, a loose cable, a dead remote. If a car is stuck inside or the house is open, say so.
- Get a free estimate and a time. We tell you what it sounds like, how the job is quoted, and the soonest a technician can come. If that is not today, we say so.
Call or text for a free estimate
Tap to call or text and tell us what the door is doing.