Why both cables get replaced together
Like springs, the two cables on your door were installed the same day, run the same cycle count, and live in the same humidity. When one frays or snaps, the second is usually within months of the same failure mode. Replacing only the broken cable saves $20 in parts and costs you a second service request a free quote.
We replace both cables, inspect the drums for wear grooves, and verify cable spacing on the drum so the cable winds tight and even. A misaligned drum is the most common cause of repeat cable failures.
Why you should not operate the door
With a snapped cable, the spring is still wound and trying to lift the door, but only one side is connected. Hitting the opener button puts uneven force across the door, twists the panels, and frequently throws the door off the tracks. Now you have a panel-replacement and a track-realignment job on top of the cable.
If the door is currently down, leave it down. If the door is currently up and held by the opener trolley, do not try to close it — request a free quote and we'll secure the door before doing anything else.
What we use
We replace cables with 7x19 galvanized aircraft-grade wire rope sized correctly for your door's weight (usually 1/8-inch for residential doors up to 18 feet wide, 5/32-inch for heavier doors and 8-foot-tall doors). Stock cables that came with the door are often the correct gauge but lower-quality wire rope; the upgrade adds $15 in cost and significant lifespan.
Pricing
Standard cable replacement runs $150–$250 installed for both cables on a residential door. If we find the drums are worn (grooves visible from cable wear), drum replacement adds $50–$80 per drum but is rare on residential doors under 15 years old.