A garage door without the safety cable is a time fuse, especially when it helps to keep the broken garage door spring intact without letting the garage door fly across to penetrate your ⅝” wallboard or even hurt you! A garage door transfers its weight through the cables in springs connected to the door system. If your garage door doesn’t have the cable, it can easily wear out your garage door’s torsion or extension springs. In this blog, we will help you step-by-step on how to install safety cables on garage door springs.
Can you install a safety cable on garage door springs by yourself?
Installing a safety cable on garage door springs by yourself is unsafe. We always recommend calling a professional who can easily repair your garage door’s safety cables without damaging your door/moving parts. Similarly, the safety cable installation costs range from $140 to $200.
Moreover, safety cables are relatively inexpensive. The wires are strong, so if you make any mistake during installation, you can injure yourself and damage the door and walls, which will effectively cause other inconveniences for you. So, take our word as a disclaimer and never install a safety cable for garage door springs yourself.
Tools and materials required to install safety cables to garage door springs
Review this list of tools and materials that you need before starting to install safety cables to your garage door springs–
- Hammer
- Clamps
- Protective gear, such as safety goggles and leather gloves
- Wrench set (adjustable wrench)
- Drill
- Locking pliers
- Winding bars
- Ratchet and socket set
- Lift cables
- Torsion springs
- Bottom brackets
Step-By-Step Process To Install Safety Cables on Garage Door Springs
Installing safety cables for garage door springs is a complex process, so read these steps thoroughly before starting.
Step 1: Prepare garage door
Before starting the installation process, the first step you need to do is to check if your garage door is working properly or not. Then, inspect for any signs of wear and tear in the garage door, including cracks, dents, and rust.
Observe if the components of the garage doors are aligned. These components include–
- Springs
- Bolts
- Brackets
Step 2: How to release the tension on garage door springs
Releasing the tension on garage door springs is essential to avoid accidental injuries. Follow these steps to do it–
- Disconnect the opener from the door mechanism and manually lower the garage door onto a sturdy surface.
- Use a pair of vice grips and clamp the torsion springs to the center rod. Now, see if they are secured tightly.
- Loosen the set screws on the springs and unwind them gradually until they are free.
Step 3: How to thread the safety cables through the strings and secure them
After releasing the tension, wear safety gloves and thread the safety cables through the springs.
Here’s how to do it–
- Feed one end of the cable to the spring’s center and pull it through the bracket on the side of the garage door.
- Pull the cable through the bracket on the other side, then thread it through the spring center on the other end.
- Once both cables get fed through their respective brackets, secure them firmly using a cable clamp.
- Make the wires taut and parallel to the garage door.
Step 4: How to test if the safety cables are properly secured
Finally, it’s time to test if they are secure. Here’s how to do it–
- Lift the garage door slowly, and ensure the safety cables keep the springs in place.
- Again, reach up and tug each cable carefully.
Scenario 1: If they are firmly anchored and do not move, you have correctly installed the safety cables.
Scenario 2:If the cables wiggle, they are not tightly secured, and you need to re-adjust them.
Common mistakes to avoid when installing safety cables on garage door springs
Once you’ve known the process of installing a safety cable on garage door springs, here’s our quick overview of the common mistakes that you can avoid while installing it–
Mistake 1: You might assume that installing a safety cable on just one side is sufficient
Know that the cable needs to get installed on both sides of the door to ensure maximum safety (in case of spring breakage). If you do it, your line can effectively hold the spring in place, prohibiting it from causing damage.
Mistake 2: You might install a safety cable that is too loose or too tight
If you install the cable too loose, it won’t be able to provide the necessary support to the spring, potentially resulting in a dangerous situation.
Similarly, suppose you install the cable too tightly. In that case, it may cause unnecessary tension on the spring, which could lead to it breaking more easily.
So always remember to tighten the cable enough to keep the spring in place yet not so tight that it places unnecessary stress on the spring.
Mistake 3: You can overlook the inspection of safety cables
You should always look for signs of damage/wear/tear in safety cables. We ask you to do it because cables can get worn out, rust, or fray, making them less effective in holding the springs.
Here’s a tip– Inspect the cables periodically and replace them (as needed).
Conclusion
We hope we have successfully answered your “How to install safety cables on garage door springs?” query. Always remember the above steps to install safety cables on garage door springs; if you cannot do it on your own, contact a professional. And please don’t wait until it’s too late; take time to install safety cables and seek professional advice to protect yourself and your family from garage door hazards! If you are looking to repair your garage door springs, you can check our informative blogs for more.
AAA Garage Door Services provide services for garage door springs. We also provide comprehensive garage door repairs ranging from garage door installation, replacement, and custom garage door services.
