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Installing Safety Cables On
Your
Garage Door Springs
What are safety cables and why do I need them?
Safety cables keep a broken garage door spring from sailing around the garage! They are similar to the garage door cables, though usually lighter weight. They are attached to the garage door track or wall near the stationary pulleys, lace through the garage door springs, and connect to the same support that the spring does.
Safety cables are easy to install (less than an hour for a pair) and come in a kit form with all necessary fasteners. To be sure, look at your garage door track setup before you shop, you can make a list of what parts you may need... eyebolts, s-hooks, etc. Then, see what the kit offers, and buy separately what the kit doesn't have. As with most kits, the manufacturer can't take every possible circumstance into account... that's your job!!
Why do you need them?
Do you have any idea how much is costs to replace an auto windshield... $400 dollars and up! If a garage door spring breaks (and they do... Murphy's Law again), it can fly across the garage with such force that it can penetrate a double layer of 5/8" wallboard! Or put a serious hurt on you if you're unlucky enough to be nearby!
About the only difficult thing about this installation, next to being steady on a ladder, is lacing them through the garage door spring. Be sure to check the free movement of all door parts and proper function on one side before installing the second side. And don't pull the cable too tight... that in and of itself may cause problems... just slightly slack is fine.