As summer begins to wind down and we move into fall routines, like back to school, storm prep, and busier home activity, now is the time to give your garage door system a thorough once-over. At the top of your list? Garage door cables.

While most homeowners focus on springs or openers when something goes wrong, it’s actually your cables that carry much of the door’s weight and play a critical role in the safe operation of the system. If your garage door cables are fraying, rusting, or loosening, your door is a ticking time bomb.

We’ve serviced thousands of garage door systems in Houston, Austin, Cypress, and across Central and Coastal Texas, and late summer is one of the highest-risk times for cable failure.

Why Cables Fail More Often in Late Summer

Garage door cables are wound steel strands that run along either side of the door, responsible for lifting and lowering the panels in conjunction with the torsion or extension springs. When they break or become slack, you may experience anything from jerky movement to complete door collapse. And in Texas, summer weather accelerates wear and tear.

Here’s why late summer is a perfect storm:

• Excessive usage: August and early September are high-use months for garage doors; vacation returns, last-minute home improvement projects, and back-to-school morning chaos.
• Heat fatigue: Cable tension changes with heat expansion, especially on older systems. As temperatures fluctuate between 100°F days and 70°F nights, metal components undergo stress cycling.
• Humidity and corrosion: Particularly in coastal Houston or humid areas like The Woodlands, high moisture levels and salt in the air corrode metal cables over time, even galvanized ones.
• Storm exposure: Quick-moving Texas storms can flood garage thresholds or introduce moisture to unsealed components, worsening rust on cable drums and pulleys.

Visible Warning Signs Your Garage Door Cables Need Immediate Attention

As experts in garage door cable repair, we recommend keeping an eye out for the following indicators that your cables may be at the end of their life:

• Fraying or unraveling steel threads along the cable
• Visible rust spots or pitting near the bottom bracket or drum
• Slack cables when the door is closed, should always remain taut
• Uneven lifting or one side of the door dragging
• Sudden jerky movement or loud “pops” during operation
• Cable spooling off the drum improperly

If your garage door seems out of balance, stops halfway up, or pulls harder on one side, it’s not just an inconvenience, it’s a safety hazard.

What Happens When a Cable Snaps?

If a garage door cable snaps, especially under tension, the result can be catastrophic. The door may drop violently, damaging panels or breaking the opener system. Worse, loose cables can whip around and cause personal injury or vehicle damage.

And if one cable breaks, the entire load shifts to the other side, often throwing the door out of track, leading to a more expensive, complex repair.

Pro Tips to Extend the Life of Your Garage Door Cables

As Texas garage door specialists, here are our best preventative maintenance tips to protect your system before fall:

1. Schedule a Late-Summer Garage Door Inspection

Don’t wait for something to go wrong. A trained technician can spot early wear, tension issues, or corrosion before it becomes a major problem. We perform full inspections in both Austin and Houston, tailored to each area’s climate risks.

2. Keep the Area Clean and Dry

Sweep out pooled rainwater, mud, and lawn debris from the base of your garage door. Moisture and grit at the base are one of the main contributors to cable corrosion.

3. Listen to Your Garage Door

Strange noises, such as grinding, scraping, or thumping, are often cable-related. If the door no longer opens smoothly or begins jerking, call us for a garage door cable replacement.

4. Don’t attempt cable adjustments yourself

Garage door cables are under tremendous spring-assisted tension. DIY repairs often lead to injury or system misalignment. Our certified team uses proper tools and techniques to adjust or replace cables safely.

Texas Garage Door Repairs You Can Trust

At LGA Garage Door Service, we’ve built our reputation on responsive service, honest advice, and long-lasting repairs. Whether you need garage door cable repair in Houston, garage door cable replacement in Austin, or simply a seasonal tune-up, we’re here to help.

• Emergency cable replacement
• Full system tune-ups
•  Coastal corrosion protection for Houston homes
• High-cycle cable upgrades for busy families
•  Honest pricing and friendly service

Contact us today to schedule your late-summer inspection. Your garage door works hard year-round, let’s make sure it stays strong, balanced, and safe heading into the fall.