A homeowner from San Francisco, CA, called Palms Garage Doors because of a problem with their garage door. They had noticed that their garage door always felt heavy whenever they opened or closed it. Other times, the garage door would not open fully or close completely. Our technicians inspected the garage door and found that an over-tightening of the lifting cables was to blame. After adjusting the length of the cables, making sure that tension was correct on both sides of the door, and giving the garage door a test run, we could make sure it worked properly again. The homeowner thanked us for our quick and reliable garage door cable adjustment service.
As automatic garage doors have evolved, so have their safety standards. However, homeowners must regularly inspect their openers, doors, and garage door parts to ensure everything is in working order. If you are having trouble opening or closing your garage door, it could be due to a broken garage door cable. Cables are sometimes improperly installed, which causes them to be either too short, too lengthy, or out of balance.
How Do You Fix the Tension on a Garage Door Cable?
Proper maintenance is essential for extending the life of your garage door and avoiding accidents or damages. The garage door cables are one component that will require regular maintenance. Adjusting the cable length passing through the cable bracket will allow you to provide the appropriate amount of tension on both sides of your garage door. The cable bracket is located where the cable connects to the track. You can help keep your garage door in good working order by learning how to adjust it.
Step 1:
First, disconnect the garage door opener so you can manually open the door. After you have disengaged the garage door opener and opened the door, secure it with two vice grips. Keep the garage door in place by placing one set of vice grips on each track, just below the bottom section. The last thing you need is for the door to come crashing down while you are making the adjustment. While you work, these vice grips will hold the door in place. If you have an automatic garage door, you should also turn it off to avoid any electrical accidents.
Step 2:
Next, inspect the track’s bracket. Garage door cables are attached to the bracket on one end and the bottom of the garage door on the other. The cable end hooked up to the bracket is adjustable, allowing you to adjust the cable’s tension. The garage door cable is attached to the bracket via a hook. It makes removing the cable easy.
Step 3:
A bracket with numerous entry points for a garage door cable is found on many garage door tracks. You may be able to adjust the tension on your garage door cable by reattaching it to a different entry point than the original. If this is possible, locate an entry point with minimal slack in the garage door cable.
The garage door cable end that connects to the track also has an adjustable bracket for fine-tuning. If you cannot achieve optimal tension using the alternate bracket holes described in the previous step, you can adjust the tension using the bracket.
Loosen the screws on the bracket until the cable can be slid through, then feed the cable through the bracket until you have reached the desired tension. Next, tighten the screws and replace the cable bracket on the garage door track. Ensure that the tension on both sides of the garage door is the same. Otherwise, the door will not open or close properly.
Step 4:
Double-check that both cables are properly aligned and have not unraveled on either side. If everything appears in order, remove the vice grips and manually lower your garage door. Then, reconnect power to the opener so you can test the door.
Garage Door Repair near Me
If your garage door is not working as it should, it may be time for a garage door cable adjustment. Palms Garage Doors is a leading provider of garage door repair services, and we can help get your door back on track. Our highly trained and experienced technicians are experts in garage door services, including adjusting cables. We will inspect your door and make necessary adjustments to ensure its functioning correctly. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
