Broken spring
When a spring breaks, cables can lose tension and unwind.
Springs and balance
Garage Door Cable Hanging Loose
A loose cable beside the door means one side may no longer be supported properly. The door can tilt, jam or fall, so it is important to stop using it and book a technician.
Short answer
Keep the door still, unplug the opener and avoid touching the cable. Loose cables usually follow a broken spring, a door that hit an obstacle or worn drums and brackets. A technician will secure the door, replace the cables and rebalance the system.
Likely causes
Obstruction
A door that hit something can throw a cable off its drum.
Worn cable or drum
Frayed cables and damaged drums slip.
Bottom bracket issue
A loose bottom bracket can release the cable. See cable repair.
Cables often come off after something interrupts the door's travel, such as a bin left in the opening or a car bumper touching the door. The opener keeps pushing, the cable goes slack and it unwinds from the drum. Describing what happened just before you noticed the loose cable helps the technician spot related damage. Leave the door closed if it is closed, and if it is open, keep vehicles out from under it until the technician has secured it.
Safe checks you can make
- Note whether the door is level
- Look for a broken spring
- Check whether the door hit something
Stop and call a technician if
- Any loose cable
- A crooked door
- A broken spring
What a technician may inspect
- Cables and drums
- Springs
- Bottom brackets
- Door balance and level
Describe what the door is doing when you call. A provider may ask follow-up questions, but a reliable price normally needs an on-site look rather than a phone-only quote.
Services that address this problem
Garage Door Cable Repair
On a torsion system, cables wind around drums at each end of the shaft.
Garage Door Spring Replacement
Most homes have torsion springs on a shaft above the door or extension springs that run along the horizontal tracks.
Garage Door Off-Track Repair
Doors usually come off track after a vehicle bump, a broken cable, a worn roller or a misaligned track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common causes include a broken spring, the door hitting an obstacle, worn cables or drums and loose bottom brackets.
Yes. The door may not be supported evenly and could fall, twist or jam in the opening. Keep people and vehicles clear until the door is secured.
No. Cables are connected to high-tension springs and should only be handled by a technician.
It may move unevenly, bind or jam partway. Running it can bend tracks and damage the opener, so stop using it until the cable is replaced.
Usually yes. Cables wear at a similar rate, and matching new cables keeps the door level and reduces the chance of the other one failing soon.
Describe whether the door is open or closed, whether it is level and whether you heard a bang.
Get your garage door working safely again
Call to schedule a technician visit with an independent provider who serves your area.