Garage Door Cable Repair in Charlotte, NC

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Door Hanging Crooked? A Cable Probably Came Off the Drum

Stop using the door until it's fixed

Garage door cables run from the bottom corners of the door up to two drums on the spring bar above it. When the door opens, the cables wind onto those drums. When it closes, they unwind. It’s a simple system, and it works great until one side gets slack.

When that happens, the cable jumps off its drum. One side of the door drops lower than the other, the door jams in the tracks, and sometimes you’ll see a loose cable hanging down the side. It looks bad, but in a lot of cases the cable itself is fine. It just needs to be put back on the drum, tensioned, and the door leveled.

That’s what this page is about: getting cables back where they belong and figuring out why they came off. If your cable is frayed or snapped, see our page on cable replacement.

What to do right now

Don’t run the opener. A door that’s crooked in the tracks can bind, bend panels or come out of the tracks completely.
Don’t try to rewind the cable yourself. The cable is connected to springs under a lot of tension. Loosening the wrong part can spin the drum and the bar violently.
If the door is partly open, leave it. Keep people and pets out from under it and call us.

Why it happens

Why Garage Door Cables Come Off the Drum

A cable comes off the drum when it loses tension on one side. Something gave it slack. Putting it back on without finding that something is how you end up calling us again next month. These are the usual causes:

The door hit something on the way down. A trash can, a bike or a car bumper stops one side while the other keeps going, and the cable on the stopped side goes slack.
A spring broke or lost tension. When the spring can’t hold the cable tight, it unwinds and slips. This is one of the most common reasons.
Worn rollers or bent tracks. If the door binds on the way down, one side can hang up while the opener keeps pushing.
Loose or worn drums and bottom brackets. A set screw backs out, a drum slips on the shaft, or a bracket wears through.
The cable is stretched or frayed. Then putting it back on isn’t enough, and it needs replacing.

We look at all of it, and we’ll show you what caused yours.

Clients Served

5000 +

5 Star Reviews

160 +

Years Of Experience

35 +

Repair or replace

Can the Cable Be Saved?

Door hanging crooked? Please don't run the opener.

Call us and we’ll get the cable back on, the door level, and find out why it came off.

Our Services

Cable Problems We Fix

Cable Off the Drum

The most common cable call. We take the tension off safely, re-spool the cable, set both sides evenly and level the door.

Door Hanging Crooked

One side lower than the other almost always means a cable problem. We fix the cable and check the tracks for damage.

Door Off Track

When a cable slips, the door can twist out of the tracks. We get it back in, replace bent hardware and test the travel.

Loose or Slack Cables

A cable that sags when the door is closed is a warning. We find the cause before it comes off the drum.

Same-Day Help When We Can

A lot of cable calls get handled the same day, especially if the door is stuck open. Call us first.

Drum and Bracket Repair

Slipping drums, loose set screws and worn bottom brackets let cables come off. We tighten or replace them.

Our checklist

What We Check on Every Cable Repair

Putting the cable back on takes a few minutes. Making sure it stays on takes the rest of the visit. Before we leave, we:

Inspect both cables end to end for fraying, kinks and rust, especially near the bottom brackets.
Check that both drums are tight on the shaft and set at the same position.
Look at the springs for wear and check that they’re the right size for the door.
Check the rollers, hinges and tracks for whatever made the door bind.
Balance the door so it holds halfway up when you let go, then test the opener and the safety reverse.

“Arrived within 30 minutes of calling after 6 pm on a freezing evening and rewound cables, adjusted springs and balanced the door.”
Debbie P., Google review

Good to know

Torsion Doors and Extension Spring Doors Use Cables Differently

On most newer homes, the springs sit on a bar above the door and the cables wind onto drums at each end of that bar. That’s the setup we’ve described on this page, and it’s the one we see most around Charlotte.

Older doors with extension springs work differently. The springs stretch along the side tracks, and the lift cables run through pulleys to the bottom of the door. Those doors should also have a separate safety cable running through the middle of each spring. If a pulley is worn or a lift cable jumps a pulley, the door hangs crooked the same way.

We repair both setups. If your extension springs are missing their safety cables, we’ll point it out, because a snapped extension spring without one can fly across the garage.

Step By Step Process

How a Cable Repair Visit Works

Testimonials

Why Charlotte Homeowners Call Rise Up for Cable Repair

Adam Piana started Rise Up in 2016 after his own mother got taken advantage of during a garage door spring replacement. He’d spent decades in home services before that, including years as a locksmith, and he built the company on telling people the truth about their door.

A cable off the drum is often a simple fix, and we’ll treat it like one. We’re licensed, bonded and insured in North Carolina, BBB A+ rated, LiftMaster Certified, and a Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 169 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Jody Craig 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Showed up the day we scheduled. Finished job for the price he quoted. Very professional. I would highly recommend them.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Melissa B 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It was a pleasure working with Rise up. They were very professional and had quick response time. Reliable, trustworthy!, all the positive things!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sharelle Daniels 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Rise up was quick to respond and prompt with service. From the start Adam was kind, explained everything to me thoroughly, and was upfront about the pricing. I accidentally ran into my garage door and cracked the frame. He reinforced it in less than 30 mins and had it working like it was brand new! I am so thankful to him! They are very affordable as well and I will recommend them to all. Very happy with my service!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ryan Steele 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. They came out and fixed my garage door spring and motor, and everything is working flawlessly!  Quick response and great quality work!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Karl Beil 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Adam was very responsive when I asked him to come to my home to give me an estimate. Once I decided to go with him, her was able to do the work with in a week. Repaired/finished the install on an old Genie opener that had been under for 15 year. Installed a new Liftmaster opener on the 2nd door. Replaced all the wheels on both doors. Excellent work. Reasonable prices.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Alaina Novinc 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently had the pleasure of working with Rise Up Garage Doors, and I couldn't be more satisfied with their service and the quality of the motor that was installed. From start to finish, the entire process was seamless and efficient. Adam was incredibly responsive, and quick to tend to our issue. He was punctual, professional and well prepared. He assessed the issue with my garage door swiftly and provided a clear explanation of the necessary repairs. We ended up needing a new motor as our was about 20+ years old and in bad shape to where our door wasn't opening any longer. He made sure we were fully informed about the work being done and the costs involved, which were very reasonable. The new motor is wonderful, we can barely hear the door open/close with all the key updates we needed.

Overall, I highly recommend Rise Up Garage Doors for anyone in need of garage door services. Their fast, efficient, and professional approach sets them apart from the rest.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Blake Gilley 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I called Rise Up on Friday morning at 8:30, Adam was here by 9:30. The job was done by noon. Great experience with Rise Up. I would highly recommend them to anyone in need of garage door repair.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Alyssa Roth 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience from Rise-Up. The process was well explained and simple. He was very professional and helpful. Would recommend!!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Debi S. 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great prompt service and very helpful!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Lauren Corriher 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Adam was wonderful! He came out to repair our garage door the day after I called, showed up on time, and quickly fixed the problem. He was polite and great to chat with. The service was very reasonably priced. I'd definitely recommend giving him a call!
  
 
  
  
 
     Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

More help

Related Repairs and Where We Work

We fix cables all over Charlotte and nearby towns.

Towns We Serve

Not sure which one you need?

Call and tell us what the door is doing. We’ll point you in the right direction.

FAQs

Garage Door Cable Repair FAQs

How do I know if my garage door cable came off?

The door hangs crooked, with one side lower than the other. You may see a loose cable hanging down the side of the door, or the door may be stuck partway open.

Can I still use my garage door with a loose cable?

No. Running the opener can jam the door in the tracks, bend panels, or pull the door out of the tracks entirely. Leave it where it is and call us.

Can I put the cable back on the drum myself?

We don’t recommend it. The cable and drum are connected to springs under heavy tension. If the drum slips while you’re working on it, the bar can spin hard enough to cause serious injury.

Why did my garage door cable come off?

Something gave it slack: the door hit an object on the way down, a spring weakened or broke, a roller or track made the door bind, or a drum slipped. We find the cause so it doesn’t happen again.

Does a cable that came off need to be replaced?

Not always. If it’s smooth and undamaged, we can usually re-spool it. If it’s frayed, kinked or rusted, it should be replaced. See cable replacement.

Do you fix cables on the same day?

A lot of cable calls get handled the same day, especially when the door is stuck open. We’re open Monday through Friday 8 to 5 and Saturday 9 to 2.

Get Your Garage Door Back on Track

We’ll re-spool the cable, level the door, find out what caused it, and give you the price before we start.

Call (980) 240-2447 for your free estimate