How to Program a Universal Garage Door Opener

The universal garage door opener is a modern miracle that has saved the fortunes of countless families who have lost the remote control that came with their garage door opener. It also comes in handy when you need to get a new garage door opener but prefer to customize the shape of the buttons and, in some cases, their function. Universal garage door openers also come in handy when you have to manage multiple garage doors, like the one at your home and the one at your beach chateau.

Programming a universal garage door opener is simple. When you buy the device, there will be a list of codes associated with the brands and models of common garage door openers. Some brands claim to open and close 80 percent of garage door openers on the market. That means that you shouldn't waste time hunting for the one that handles your garage door or garage doors-unless you bought your model from Eastern Europe or on the grey market.

Find the code that corresponds to the brand and model of your garage door opener or openers. Program that code into the universal garage door opener, press enter and test. Your garage door should open and close with ease.

You aren't done yet. Never throw away the code manual for your universal garage door opener. Without it, you will not be able to reprogram the device when you have to replace the batteries. Keeping the manual will also come in handy if you need to add a new garage door opener to your remote.

By: Jackson Tremont

Got New Garage Doors? Here's the Most Important Thing to Remember

So, you have beautiful new garage doors. Congratulations!! Now, here the MOST important thing to remember..Do yourself a hug favor and mark your calendar for an annual maintenance, tune-up - 1 year from now.

Go ahead, I'll wait... You see.. that garage door is the largest moving part in your home and it needs a little TLC - just like your car needs oil. Remember, in many cases; your warranty may depend on this detail.

Now relax and enjoy the smooth quite operation of that new door. Your technician will see you in a year for a quick check-up.

Replace your old garage door springs

The springs on your garage door are the most important part of your door. They can also be the most dangerous. Most garage door springs are rated for 10,000 cycles. If you do the math, you probably open and close your garage door about 4-5 times a day. This means your springs will typically last about 5-7 years under normal use. If your door has two springs, replace both, even if one is not broken. Why? Both springs were originally rated for the same number of cycles, when one breaks it puts more pressure on the other and, because they were rated similarly, it is due to break soon. Replacing both springs during your garage door repair will not only prevent any damage caused by the breaking of the second spring, but also keep your door working efficiently.

When replacing your springs look for high cycle rating springs Precision springs are rated at 33,000 + cycles and therefore will last about 3-4 times as long as "standard" springs. It is always a good idea to have your garage door spring system inspected at least once a year by a professional overhead garage door technician.

Slide Show of Over 40 Different Garage Doors

This great Slide Show of Over 40 Different Garage Doors provides you a chance to see many different garage door styles and designs quickly and easily. Slides can be forwarded manually or as a slide show. Enjoy!

Amarr Launches Garage Door Design Contest

Repost from Professioanl Door Dealer - Winston-Salem, N.C.

Whether you are a seasoned designer or just like to doodle on the back of napkin, Amarr Garage Doors has a contest for you. Amarr, one of the world’s leading designers, manufacturers and distributors of garage doors, is seeking ideas for the next generation of garage doors in its Great Garage Door Design Competition.
Amarr welcomes exterior garage door designs from architects, draftsmen, graphic artists and other professionals, but you don’t have to be a pro to enter the contest. Entries can be detailed sketches or simple drawings but must be submitted in a pdf format via e-mail to DoorDesign@Amarr.com in order to be considered in the competition. Students 18 and over also are encouraged to enter the contest.
“This is an opportunity for both professionals and budding designers to let their minds run free as they come up with garage door designs,” Amarr Chief Executive Officer Richard Brenner says. “Those who enter the contest should feel free to include details about materials or construction along with their design but it is not a requirement of the contest.”
Brenner added that entries do not have to be designed to reflect a particular type of architecture or home style. “The doors also do not necessarily have to be for a garage,” he adds. “There are lots of other uses for garage doors besides garages. Think out of the box and outside the garage!”
Amarr will accept contest entries until December 31, 2010. Each contestant may submit up to three door designs. A panel of judges from Amarr will evaluate the entries and announce the winner(s) on February 28, 2011. Amarr may select multiple winners. The winner(s) will receive a $500 cash prize, a certificate of achievement and will earn royalties based on sales if Amarr decides to manufacture and sell the winning design. Amarr is under no obligation to manufacture any winning design. More information and contest rules for the Great Garage Door Design Competition are available at http://www.amarr.com/content/doordesign.html.

4 Things to Know about Your Garage Door Springs

The safety of a garage door is directly attributed to the system components working together.

1) Torsion Springs (located above the door) are now the most common type of garage door springs.

2) Most doors require two springs that work in tandum to make your door system work smoothly. Spring pairs should be replaced together, since the mate is likely to fail soon after the first, and any possible savings in parts isn’t worth the extra effort to repeat the work later.

3) Correct spring size is determined by factors such as the weight and height of the door. For example, garage door springs are designed to accommodate the original intended weight of the door. If additional weight is added to the door sections after the original door installation, the door could become unbalanced such that operation is not smooth, possibly even resulting in damaged or broken springs.

4. If your garage door is out of balance or has a broken spring it will adversely affect your garage door opener motor as it could become overworked or cease functioning.

Your garage door's smooth operation depends on having the right springs working properly. These are NOT good DIY projects. If you have an out of balance door or broken spring - Call a Professional.