The Garage Door Parts Most Likely to Fail

Garage door systems have many moving parts and all are susceptible to wear, tear and failure. However, three of these components are the most common to experience a problem.

Springs
Springs, especially torsion springs, frequently fail and are also the most expensive. Many manufacturers and service companies use un-coated springs rated at about 10,000 cycles. (A cycle is one Open/Close). This type of spring is expected to fail 3-5 years. Precision Door uses powder-coated commercial grade springs that resist rust and have cycle ratings of 30,000 or higher, meaning a much longer lifecycle. Always ask about the cycle ratings on all springs when considering replacement.

Rollers
Rollers help guide the door up and down the track. Most companies use a plastic or nylon tire on a steel shaft. These will generally show significant wear within 18 months of normal use. Rollers with bearings are typically better; Ask about the cycle and weight ratings on the rollers your technician recommends.

BearingsBearings are the third most frequent component to fail. A typical garage door should have three sets situated in the middle and both ends of the door. Many doors come with only two bearing sets and one plastic bushing.

Being aware of the garage door components most likely to fail will enable you to make a more informed decision when buying, maintaining or repairing your door system. The result is a longer lasting and smoother operating door.

Precision Garage Door Service is proud to serve you in Washington, Idaho, Utah, Arizona & New Mexico

How to Do General Maintenance On Your Garage Door

If Life is like a box of chocolates... Your garage door is like a toaster. Every time you make toast on it, crumbs and oils fall to the bottom of the machine and onto the wires as well. The more you use the toaster without cleaning it the more the crumbs pile up. As time passes, these crumbs and the oil react with the metal and cause rusting. To avoid rust and prolong the life of your toaster you need to clean it regularly.

Just like your toaster; your garage door needs regular maintenance. Daily use can wear out the springs, loosen screws, cause misalignments or dents on the tracks, and cause the paint to chip. Here are a few maintenance tips you can do to make sure your garage door works perfectly and lasts for a good many years.

Check the tracks for dents and if there are any, pound them back into place (gently) with a hammer.Realign misaligned tracks both sides should be level with each other and slanting slightly towards the back of your garage. Clean the tracks and remove any debris. You can use a paintbrush to brush away the debris and a mild detergent to remove dirt and grease. Check and tighten any loose nuts, bolts, and fasteners. Use a screwdriver to screw them back into place. Lubricate the tracks, pulleys, and rollers. A lubricant spray specially formulated for garage doors will help to make sure that they operate smoothly.

Check the door’s spring tension by opening and closing it manually. Make sure it does so fully. If it feels too heavy to lift, or if you bring it to a halfway open position and it opens or closes, you may have a problem with the springs. The springs will probably have to be adjusted. This is dangerous and many people get hurt each year trying this.. so.... call a garage door professional to do it for you.

Do a safety reverse test by placing a piece of 2x4 tall side up below the door and see if the door reverses on sensing it. Adjust the force limits if necessary. (not sure how.. call us).
Give your garage door a fresh coat of paint every few years. Chipped off paint will expose the door to the elements so it is necessary to make sure that the paint on your door isn’t cracked or chipping off. If the wear and tear is only on a few small spots, you can do spot painting on those areas. Before you do a complete paint job, check your door’s manual for the correct materials to use on your door.

If you need garage door repairs Precision Garage Door of Seattle provides 24-hour emergency service and our certified technicians know their profession.

What Should I use to Lubricate my Garage Door

To maintain your warranty, lubricate your garage door at least once a year with Precision Door Lube. This specially formulated lubricant can be purchased from the Precision Door Service in your area. Apply the Door Lube to each of the following areas of the door: hinges, rollers (bearings and shafts), springs and end bearings (located at each end of the spring shaft). Once the application is completed, open and close the door to distribute the lubricant.

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.

What is the Most Complicated Part of your Garage Door?

The most complicated part of a garage door is the opener and its hardware. That includes the opener (motor), the springs, the tracks and brackets. All these parts combine to make your garage door work smoothly over and over and over again.

One of the most important parts are the actual springs themselves. These powerful springs are under very high tension and that’s what gives them the strength to lift the weight of the door. If you look at your garage door, you’ll most often see a spring running across the top above the door.
The springs mounted to the header, just above the top of the door are called Torsion springs. Torsion springs are a wound spring, which means it winds up into a coil, and they can be extremely dangerous if not handled properly. Torsion springs wind up as the door closes, creating a great deal tension. Working on this type of spring is for professionals only. This is not a DIY project.

The remaining hardware of your opening system includes bottom brackets, cable drums, the door tracks with their hangers, plus various hingles plates and rollers. All this hardware is designed to work together to create the smooth operation of your garage door. So make sure you keep it maintained. Just like your car, this system needs at least annual maintenance to insure it works smoothly and lasts longer.

The "opener" is a motor that guides the door up and down. These typically will be one of three types – chain drive, screw drive or belt drive. The most popular today is the belt drive. While these are more expensive, it’s smooth and quiet operation is a big benefit. The most affordable option is the chain drive system, while the screw drive is powerful but slow-moving. When you schedule your annual garage door maintenance, make sure to have the opener serviced as well.

How to Select a Garage Door Company

You have a wide range of choices when it comes to selecting a garage door company to work with. Choices range from huge home supply stores to the local handyman and each has its advantages and drawbacks.

Consider the following questions when selecting your Garage door company

Selection:
• Do they have a wide selection of door styles and openers to fit your needs?
Experience:
• Are they specialists? Are Garage door installations and repair all they do?
Professionalism:
• Who will do the work? Are the technicians trained and certified? Are they Company employees or do they hire sub-contractors? Are they members of industry associations like IDA?
Scheduling:
• Are they available when you need them or do you adjust to their schedule? Do they work evening and weekends? Do they offer 24/7 emergency services? Will they need multiple trips or just one visit?
Pricing:
• Do they charge extra for emergencies or for evening or weekends appointments? Do they provide multiple options?
Warranties:
• What is the warranty on the Door? Do they offer warranties on parts and labor too? For how long?
Reputation:
• Are they local, licensed, bonded and insured? What is their rating with the BBB?
Quality:
• Do they offer a variety of brand name products? How environmentally sensitive are they?
Parts:
• What is the quality of the parts they use?
– What is the “cycle rating” of their springs (quality springs should last 30,000 cycles or more)
– Are Springs powder coated to eliminate rust?
– Are rollers made with ball-bearings or are they plastic?

Garage Door Repair - Assessing the Problem

Home Improvement Expert Andrew Stratton says... It can be quite easy to take your garage door for granted. Each day, as if by magic, this massive, metal contraption opens and closes at the push of a button, providing security, storage, and peace of mind. But what happens when the magic stops? This article, outlines the steps necessary in order to assess issues of garage door repair.

If you find yourself in a situation where the door fails to work, it's worth-while to first, cover the basics.

1. Check the see that the power is one in the house. If you find that there is, in fact, power running to the opener, it's time to further evaluate the situation.
2. Establish what type of spring system your door uses. There are two types of systems: The first is the extension spring. This type can be quickly and easily identified through the location of the long extension springs which run parallel with the tracks. There are a variety of dangers to consider when it comes to handling high pressure springs, however, by following the manufacturer's instructions and paying close attention to your surroundings, home owners can successfully work on these types.
   If your door is operated through the use of a large mounted above the door, it is recommended the repair be left to a trained professional. This type of spring is called a torsion spring. This device is wound very tightly before being bolted into place. Fixing these springs through DIY methods is very dangerous and should not be attempted by inexperienced handymen.

In the event that you are unable to fix the problem, there is a method which will enable entry. If you've ever looked around your garage, chances are you've noticed that little red cord hanging from the ceiling. This is your ticket out... or in, depending on your desired use. Pulling this cable essentially disconnect the door from the opening system. With the door disconnected you should be able to open and shut the door.

If you believe that the issue lies more with a structural problem with the unit or tracks, try your best to figure out who the manufacturer is. You may simply be able to order the pieces which require replacement.

As a general rule, it is recommended to consult the advice of a professional in any cases which appear to be beyond your comprehension level.

If you are looking for garage door repair in the Seattle area, local experts can provide you with excellent and dependable service and also give a warranty on the work done. To know more, visit GarageDoorSeattle.com

Photoelectric Eyes – Key to Garage Door Safety

Photoelectric "eyes" or sensors are a critical part of your garage door safety system and a key to your personal safety as well. Here are two simple tests to determine if the electronic eyes are installed and functioning properly.

The non contact reversal test:
Begin with your door fully open. Standing just outside the path of the door and using the transmitter, push the button to close the door. Wave an object across the path of the photoelectric eye beam as the door is closing. The door MUST reverse and return to the fully open position to pass this test.

Proper Location test:
Checking for proper location of the photoelectric eyes is perhaps the simplest test. If present, photoelectric “eyes” must be mounted at a maximum of 6 inches above the floor to detect an obstruction in the path of the door. Using a tape measure, confirm the device is no higher than 6 inches above the floor or make adjustments if needed. Additionally, the wall mounted control should be positioned at a minimum height of 5 feet.

A properly maintained garage will not only provide you with years of service, but will also ensure your safety. Schedule your annual maintenance with a professional garage door technician.

3 Steps to Garage Door Safety

30,000 people annually are injured by faulty garage door systems

Your garage door is essentially a movable wall and when combined with an automatic garage door opener, it is the largest and perhaps the most dangerous moving object in your home. Reports from the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission indicate that over 30,000 people are injured by faulty garage door systems every year. It’s also important to note that these statistics count only those injuries that required medical attention while many other injuries go unreported.

The proper installation, maintenance and testing of these two pieces of equipment are necessary to provide you with safe, trouble-free operation. An improperly adjusted garage door or automatic opener can exert deadly force when the door closes. This could lead to serious injury or death from being hit by a closing garage door or from being trapped under the door.

Take a few minutes to inspect and test your garage door system and make that inspection and testing a part of your regular routine. Garage Door Safety is everyone's business. If anything is suspected to be unsafe or in need of attention, contact a garage door professional ASAP.

Testing and maintaining your garage door.
Review your garage door owner's manual. It will provide you with important information on your doors’ specific needs. If you do not have a manual, look for the manufacturer's name and model number on the back of the door or the lock handle. Request a manual from the manufacturer. You should perform routine maintenance steps once a month.

Visual Inspection
Look at the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys and other door hardware for signs of wear. If you suspect any problems contact your garage door service professional.
Garage door springs and cables are under very high tension. If handled improperly, they can cause serious injury and death. Only a certified technician should adjust them. Do not attempt to repair or adjust springs yourself.

A safety cable should be installed on all extension springs (the springs mounted above the track) to help contain a spring if it breaks.

Never remove, adjust or loosen the screws on the bottom brackets of the door. These brackets are connected to the spring system by the lift cable and are under extreme tension.

Lubrication
· Like all mechanical systems, garage doors need regular lubrication. Lubricate the moving parts of the door with a silicon based spray only. However, do not lubricate plastic rollers and plastic bearings. Consult the garage door owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations

Door Balance
· Periodically test the balance of your garage door.
o Start with the door closed
o If you have a garage door opener, use the release mechanism so you can operate the door by hand when doing this test.
o You should be able to lift the door smoothly and with little resistance. It should stay open around three or four feet above the floor. If it does not, it is out of adjustment. Have it adjusted by a certified technician.

Precision Garage Door Service is proud to serve you in western Washington, Salt Lake, Tucson, Spokane and Albuquerque. Contact us at 888-822-4691

How Long Will Your New Garage Doors Last?

Before installing a new garage door it is worth stopping to consider likely maintenance issues and at what point repairs might become necessary.

There is more to caring for doors than just looking after the surface finish – in particular the opening mechanism will need to be maintained in good working order.
It’s easy to overlook the fact that the door panel itself, because it is the largest and most obvious part, is just one of many parts. Garage door opening mechanisms hold quite a few parts (springs, rollers, etc.) that need to all function smoothly together - otherwise the door will cease to open and close correctly.

When it comes down to it, a garage door system is only as strong as its’ weakest part and even if a small, apparently trivial, component breaks then the functioning of the whole door can be at stake. So how long then is it reasonable to expect your own garage door parts to last?

The longevity of garage door parts is rated in “cycles” where a cycle is a single opening and closing action. The number of cycles that might occur each day will clearly vary since some folk seldom use their garage door while others might use extensively, especially if it serves as an alternative main entrance.

A reasonable approximate average is 3 cycles per day which equates to about 1,100 cycles each year. Cheaper garage door components are typically rated to last 5,000 cycles which provides you an average limit of five years before repairs will be required.

Thus you can very easily figure out the length of time, depending on your own particular usage patterns, before you might need to start hunting for a reputable garage door repair company.

But it doesn’t have to be like this. By simply insisting on having only parts tested for a higher number of cycles you should expect that your new garage door will operate flawlessly for literally a lifetime. Precision Garage Door uses only commercial grade

parts

with high cycle ratings.
Find out more here.