We hear this question/comment a lot: "Our garage door opener was working fine, but all of a sudden we have to hold the wall button down to get the door to close. How do we get the door opener to start working again?
This is often a photo eye issue. The photo- eye safety beams may be blocked, misaligned, or malfunctioning.
Start by moving any objects that may be interfering with the signal and verify that the photo-cell LED lights are illuminated as per the manufacturer's instructions. If one or both lights are on but blinking, try realigning them till the blinking stops. Note: photo-cells can not be permanently removed from garage door openers that were built after 1973. If the infrared beams are not blocked and the photo-cells are aligned, it's time to call a pro. Contact your local garage door opener repairman to diagnose and repair the problem.
You will not be able to close the door with the remote control transmitter until the photo-cells are in proper working order.
Garage Doors for Every Taste
April 19, 2013
April 9, 2013
Three Year Old Killed - Pinned by Garage Door
OMG! -
Please Please Please!!! This should never happen and yet it does time and again.
Another senseless tragedy. A life cut short because people don't respect the dangers of an old out of date garage door system. Three things happened here that cost a life...
Seattle, Salt Lake, Spokane, San Diego
Please Please Please!!! This should never happen and yet it does time and again.
Another senseless tragedy. A life cut short because people don't respect the dangers of an old out of date garage door system. Three things happened here that cost a life...
- Garage door "buttons" are to be set at a minimum of 5 feet off the ground - precisely because little kids can reach them if lower
- Since 1993 - garage door openers are required to have "sensor eyes" placed ~ 6 inches above the ground. These are there to detect objects like tools, pets and kids that are in the way of the garage door and reverse the door. Far too many people don't have them, don't have them checked and/or remove them. They are there to save lives!!
- The child involved played the dangerous game of "Race the Door".. pushing the button and then running out of the garage. We've all done it before - and probably never thought about how dangerous it was.
Seattle, Salt Lake, Spokane, San Diego
April 5, 2013
Garage Doors are a lot like people - the Top Reasons Garage Door Springs Break
Garage Doors are a lot like people. Age catches up to us all - Rust can make movement difficult and
cold affects us as we get older.
Age:
In todays' modern garage doors Torsion springs provide over 90% of the lift needed to raise a garage door so they are critical to your doors' operation and just like my body; torsion springs simply wear out over time. The question is, how much time?
How long a garage door spring will last depends on how often the door is used and the cycle rating of the springs. One cycle equals your garage door being opened and then closed. For most the magic number is ten thousand. That’s the number of cycles the average non-coated garage door spring should last under perfect conditions.
The average garage doors open and close 3-5 times a day, 300+ days a year - at 10,000 cycles they should last between 6 and 10 years. But, if your “significant other” works or runs errands during the day, or if you have kids in and out of the garage for school or to get their bikes and sporting equipment – you’re going to burn through ten thousand cycles a lot faster. An active family could easily use up ten thousand cycles in as little as a year.
Rust:
Rust is another common cause of garage door spring failure, particularly in wetter climates. A buildup of rust increases coil friction on the moving spring. Combine that with the corrosive damage of the rust itself, and you have everything you need for early torsion spring failure. A little quick and easy preventive maintenance on your part can keep rust at bay and increase the life of your garage door springs. Every three months or so, spray the spring coil with a light silicone spray. This keeps the spring lubricated and prevents harmful rust buildup. NOTE: NEVER use WD-40 (it will drip all over your car’s paint job!
Cold:
When the weather gets cold many of us feel it in our bones… we get stiff and move slower. Guess what so does steel. Now consider the garage door torsion spring. It’s steel, coiled under great pressure, sitting quietly overnight in your cold garage. Yep… that load bang you heard is your spring or springs breaking!
What can you do?
At Precision Door we’ve addressed these issues with superior design and construction. Our heavy-duty, high-cycle springs are rated at a minimum of 33,000 cycles to ensure up to 4 times the life expectancy of standard springs. Then we have our springs powder coated to eliminate rust and minimize the need for lubrication.
This means you’ll save on the hassle and inconvenience of having to replace your worn out springs more often, as well as the cost of more frequent service calls by your garage door contractor. Yes, these springs cost a little more – but last so much longer that they’re more than worth it!
How can you tell if your springs are Getting Old?
Here’s a tip… they’ll tell you! It sounds crazy but it’s true – if you know what to look for. This is a great preventive maintenance item to add to your spring cleaning to-do list.
To test the balance of your garage door, pull the red-handled emergency release cord. This disconnects the door from the opener, allowing you to open your door by hand. While raising and lowering the door a few times, listen carefully for any squeaking noises. This is the sound of hinges that need to be lubricated. Your garage door hinges will generally need to be lubricated once a year (remember to use silicone).
The next step is to lower your door all the way down, then raise it to about two-three feet off the ground and let go. Did your door stay in place with little or no downward slide? If yes, your springs are still working fine. But if the door feels heavy and sags, your springs are showing their age and starting to wear. Contact your garage door contractor for a thorough inspection.
Seattle - Salt Lake – Spokane – San Diego
cold affects us as we get older.
Age:
In todays' modern garage doors Torsion springs provide over 90% of the lift needed to raise a garage door so they are critical to your doors' operation and just like my body; torsion springs simply wear out over time. The question is, how much time?
How long a garage door spring will last depends on how often the door is used and the cycle rating of the springs. One cycle equals your garage door being opened and then closed. For most the magic number is ten thousand. That’s the number of cycles the average non-coated garage door spring should last under perfect conditions.
The average garage doors open and close 3-5 times a day, 300+ days a year - at 10,000 cycles they should last between 6 and 10 years. But, if your “significant other” works or runs errands during the day, or if you have kids in and out of the garage for school or to get their bikes and sporting equipment – you’re going to burn through ten thousand cycles a lot faster. An active family could easily use up ten thousand cycles in as little as a year.
Rust:
Rust is another common cause of garage door spring failure, particularly in wetter climates. A buildup of rust increases coil friction on the moving spring. Combine that with the corrosive damage of the rust itself, and you have everything you need for early torsion spring failure. A little quick and easy preventive maintenance on your part can keep rust at bay and increase the life of your garage door springs. Every three months or so, spray the spring coil with a light silicone spray. This keeps the spring lubricated and prevents harmful rust buildup. NOTE: NEVER use WD-40 (it will drip all over your car’s paint job!
Cold:
When the weather gets cold many of us feel it in our bones… we get stiff and move slower. Guess what so does steel. Now consider the garage door torsion spring. It’s steel, coiled under great pressure, sitting quietly overnight in your cold garage. Yep… that load bang you heard is your spring or springs breaking!
What can you do?
At Precision Door we’ve addressed these issues with superior design and construction. Our heavy-duty, high-cycle springs are rated at a minimum of 33,000 cycles to ensure up to 4 times the life expectancy of standard springs. Then we have our springs powder coated to eliminate rust and minimize the need for lubrication.
This means you’ll save on the hassle and inconvenience of having to replace your worn out springs more often, as well as the cost of more frequent service calls by your garage door contractor. Yes, these springs cost a little more – but last so much longer that they’re more than worth it!
How can you tell if your springs are Getting Old?
Here’s a tip… they’ll tell you! It sounds crazy but it’s true – if you know what to look for. This is a great preventive maintenance item to add to your spring cleaning to-do list.
To test the balance of your garage door, pull the red-handled emergency release cord. This disconnects the door from the opener, allowing you to open your door by hand. While raising and lowering the door a few times, listen carefully for any squeaking noises. This is the sound of hinges that need to be lubricated. Your garage door hinges will generally need to be lubricated once a year (remember to use silicone).
The next step is to lower your door all the way down, then raise it to about two-three feet off the ground and let go. Did your door stay in place with little or no downward slide? If yes, your springs are still working fine. But if the door feels heavy and sags, your springs are showing their age and starting to wear. Contact your garage door contractor for a thorough inspection.
Seattle - Salt Lake – Spokane – San Diego
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