When you look at the moving parts in overhead doors, whether here in Arvada or anywhere else in the world, the first components that catch your eye will probably be the powerful springs. Depending on the make and model of the door, you will either see torsion or extension springs, both of which are designed to store the energy required to lift the door whenever you wish to get in or out of your garage. Important as these springs are, they are not the only part of the opening mechanism that needs to be maintained carefully if you wish to enjoy trouble-free operation for years to come. The cables that are incorporated into the design of your door's opening mechanism also need to be looked after well and are the topic of today's article.

Different Types of Cables for Overhead Doors

There are only two main types of cables that you are likely to see on a modern garage door installation: lifting cables and safety cables. If your door uses torsion cables, you should be able to see two lifting cables, one on each side of the door, just under the ceiling. In an extension spring system, you will be able to see two cables on each side of the door: in addition to the lifting cables, you should also see one safety cable (sometimes referred to as containment cables) on each side. These safety cables should pass through the middle of the extension springs and be securely tied to the frame at each end.

So to summarize: in a torsion spring system, you only have to be concerned with lifting cables. In an extension spring system, you need to make sure both your safety cables and lifting cables are properly installed and in good working order.

Garage Door Cable Maintenance Tips from Our Overhead Door Service Team

As with any moving part of your garage door, we do not recommend DIY maintenance unless you are 100% confident in your abilities and have plenty of experience with garage door repair and maintenance work. Even then, we would suggest calling in a professional unless you really want to do the work yourself. The reason for our caution is not because we want more local residents to rely on our repair services (although if you live nearby you are, of course, always welcome to contact us should you need any help), it is because of the dangers involved. With that said, here are our top maintenance and care tips for lifting and safety cables.

• Always Take Adequate Precautions – Garage door cables themselves are unlikely to hurt you, but the springs designed to store the energy required to lift the door up are a different matter altogether and will naturally be in close proximity should you decide to do any repair work on the cables. Use appropriate PPE and clothing, inspect the springs closely before you start any work on the cables, and stay alert at all times. And, as we mentioned above, if you have any doubts about your ability to complete the work safely, please contact your local garage door repair specialists and ask for assistance.
• Perform Regular Visual Inspections – Manufacturers tend to recommend annual cable inspections but we prefer to perform a monthly check ourselves. All you need to do, each time that you perform an inspection, is to take a close look at the full, visible length of each cable, making sure there are no obvious signs of wear or damage. The lifting cables will be wound around the drums on either side of the door so you can inspect much of their length in one place.
• Lubricate Points of Friction – Although there is no need to lubricate the cables themselves, you can extend their useful lifespan by making sure that your springs are well lubricated, along with any points of contact between the lifting cables and other opening mechanism components, such as the drums on each side. By doing so, you will ensure a smoother opening and closing action and prevent sudden jerks from causing premature wear on all moving components, including the all-important lifting cables.
• Invest in High-Quality Replacement Cables – In the event that you need to replace a lifting or safety cable because of damage or wear and tear, we urge you to invest in the best quality cables you can find. While it may sometimes be tempting to economize when buying spare parts for overhead doors, we don't recommend doing so when purchasing new cables. Both lifting and containment cables have a vital part to play in the safe operation of your garage door so it would be risky to install cheap, inferior parts.
• Install New Cables Properly – We have mentioned this point at least twice already but it's so important it really does bear repetition: if you are not sure what you are doing or you have any doubts whatsoever in your abilities, please hire a garage door repair expert to install your new cables instead of trying to install them yourself. The main priority is to make sure that the cables are installed correctly, without putting yourself or any other member of your household at risk. If this means paying a local professional rather than going the DIY route, so be it. It will be money well spent if it ensures the continued safe operation of your garage door.
• Replace Lifting Cables in Pairs – To ensure equal length and tension on either side, we recommend that you always replace your lifting cables in pairs. Even if one side still looks like it is in excellent condition, you can save yourself time, money, and future hassles by replacing both cables at the same time.

If you follow all of the above tips from our Arvada garage door installation and repair specialists, you should enjoy many years of trouble-free service from your garage door cables. And if you need any professional assistance in the Arvada area, please don't hesitate to contact us.