Garage Door sound like a "Beast"?

Do you hear horrible sounds coming from your garage every time someone uses the garage door? Does your garage door wake you up when used?

Whatever is causing your garage door to sound like a beast, it’s best to figure out the cause and put a stop to it before you end up the least popular house on the block – or before something goes wrong and someone gets hurt.

What’s making all that noise?

No garage door or opener runs absolutely silently, but there is a difference between normal function and a beast. As with any machine with gears and moving parts, there are a number of things that can be causing a particular type of noise or malfunction. Depending on the model and how it’s installed, even some brand-new garage doors and garage door openers can make a surprising amount of noise.

One of the most common causes of garage door noise is friction. As garage door opener mechanisms age, their parts can lose their lubrication and noisily grind against each other. Bolts and screws can loosen, and parts may wear out and need replacement. Any of these normal elements of wear and tear will cause your garage door opener to get a little louder. Same with the hinges and rollers on the garage door itself. While this doesn’t necessarily signal a particular problem, it can be annoying and inconvenience. But some causes of garage door noise, especially in older models or those that have sustained damage, will need attention quickly before they become a safety concern.

Can I fix it myself?

In many cases you can simply apply a lubricant to the moving parts. Lubricants specially made for garage door openers are available, but any good silicone based lubricant will work. (Note: Please don’t use WD-40! While it will help silence the beast – it tends to attract additional dirt and can drip on your car). Then, double check that all the nuts and bolts are secure and tighten any in need.

When should I call a professional?

You should contact a professional garage door company if you’re in doubt about proceeding, or if the parts to your garage door or opener need replacement. If your garage door opener is older than 1993 and is starting to act up, it’s best to have it replaced. Modern garage door openers run quieter, and are built to higher standards than those constructed before that time.

Contact us in Seattle, Salt Lake, San Diego and Spokane

Properly Lubricating a Noisy Door

Our technicians do tune-ups thousands of times a year.. but you can do it too and perhaps prevent a problem. There are several things that must be considered when lubricating the garage door. 

First, it is not advisable to lubricate the parts of a squeaking garage door with WD40 lubricant. A good silicone spray is recommended when lubricating the garage door parts like the top part of the chain rail, stems, and hinges, metal rollers that come with ball bearings, the arm bar, and the lock. While there are components of the garage door that require lubrication, there are also parts that should not be sprayed with any lubricant like the bottom part of the chain rail, the chain, the garage door track, and the spring.

It's amazing what a little bit of preventative maintenance can do

Get Your Garage Door Inspected and Tuned-up For Summer!

As spring turns to summer and we toast Dads and Grads etc. let's not forget that June is also "Garage Door Safety Month" and it's a good time to remind everyone that Garage doors can be Dangerous!

Seriously, the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission indicates that every year 30,000 people are injured by faulty garage door systems; and that's just those injuries that required medical attention while many other injuries surely go unreported.

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. Consider that a garage door can weigh over 400 pounds, and can be potentially lethal.  That's not a fair fight, especially when kids are involved.

An improperly adjusted garage door or automatic opener can exert deadly force when the door closes. This can and has (all too often) led to serious injury or death from being hit by a closing garage door or from being trapped under the door.

So, what can you do? The proper installation, maintenance and testing of these two pieces of equipment are necessary to provide responsible homeowners with safe, trouble-free operation. Take a few minutes to inspect and test your garage door system and make that inspection and testing a part of your regular routine. Safety is everyone's business.

Not comfortable doing it yourself or if you suspect that something isn't quite right?  Contact your Precision Garage Door Service professional ASAP for an inspection and tune-up in San Diego, Seattle, Salt Lake, or Spokane!

How to Purchase New Torsion Springs

Perhaps the most common garage door problem they average homeowner faces is a broken spring. If you've had it happen you either heard a loud bang one day or tried to open the door and nothing happened. 

So... How should you go about replacing your garage door torsion springs?

First, some basics. DO NOT attempt to replace them yourself!

• Yes you can find springs on-line and give it a try.. just remember this... 30,000 people end up in the emergency room every year attempting this repair. 
• HIRE A PROFESSIONAL!

OK.. so what do you need to know and ask when you call a professional garage door repair company. 

Again some basics will help:

How many cycles the springs are rated for?

• Garage door Springs are 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 seldom use their garage door while others might use extensively, especially if it serves as an alternative main entrance. 
• A reasonable approximate average is 3-4 cycles per day which equates to about 1,100 -1,500 cycles each year. The standard cycle life in the garage door industry is 10,000 cycles. Which means your springs should have an average lifespan of about 5-9 years before repairs will be required..
• Note: Cheaper Springs (rated under 10,000 cycles) are considered overstressed and are not recommended for use.
• 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 springs rated at a minimum of 33,000 cycles. 

 What else should you ask?

• Are the springs powder coated? - Powder coating costs a bit more.. but the springs will be virtually rust free their entire life cycle and rust is a major cause of breaking springs. 
• Are the Springs New? Yes, there are companies that recycle springs - Never buy a used spring!
• Should I replace both Springs if only one is broken?
• Any reputable professional will recommend replacing both springs. Both springs have the same life-cycle and if one breaks the other is close behind. Replace them both!

How much should Springs cost?

• New torsion springs will typically fall in a range of between $100 and $200 per spring. 
• No one can properly price a spring over the phone... sizing the proper spring for your door requires a full inspection and weighing of the door. 
• Ask if that price includes Installation?

OK - you're armed and ready... now call a professional - get high cycle, powder coated springs - replace both of them and make sure the cost includes installation.  Problem solved!

How Long Should My Garage Door Springs Last?

How long a garage door spring will last depends on how often the door is used and the cycle rating of the springs. 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 broken springs are one of the most common garage door repairs needed.

Most garage doors open and close 3-5 times a day, 300+ days a year. Multiply that by by 10 years. The reason they use 10 years is because that’s the average life of a garage door, though many last much longer. The standard non-coated springs are rated at 10,000 cycles meaning they should last between 7 and 10 years.

Precision Garage Door Springs are heavy-duty, powder-coated to resist rust, and rated at a minimum 33,000 cycles to ensure a longer life expectancy for the entire garage door system. That means they will last three to four times as long before you'll need to worry about them.

Safety Tips for the largest moving object in your home/

By: Jonathan Zalkin/Krull & Associates

The garage door’s role in the home has changed dramatically over the last 30 years and most people don’t realize it. Consider this: garage door openers have been installed in 35 million homes across the United States, making them one of the most widely used appliances. In fact, more than 70 percent of today’s homeowners use their attached garage as their main entrance to their home. Making it "Your other Front Door".

While the garage door is one of the most convenient aspects of your home, it is also the largest, heaviest moving object in your home. This means homeowners need to ensure it is working safely. Industry professionals estimate that one out of 15 garage door openers lack the latest safety features.

Here are some safety tips you can follow to make sure your garage door is safe.

• Safety checks. In 1993, Congress passed legislation that required all new garage door openers sold in the U.S. to come with a set of photo-eyes. These sensors, located near the floor along the sides of the garage door opening, alert the system if anything crosses their path and stops the door from descending further. It’s easy to determine if your system is operating properly with a quick 3-Step Safety Check.

1. First, make sure the photo-eyes have been installed no higher than 6 inches above the garage floor.
2. Second, block one of the eyes with an object over 6 inches tall and try to close the door. The garage door should not close.
3. Third, lay an object at least 1.5 inches in height across the door’s path and press the button to close the door. The door should reverse upon sensing the object.

If your garage door opener fails these safety tests, it may be an ideal time to reach out to a Garage door professional.

• Keep your garage door in tip-top shape. Garage doors, much like cars and other machines, require maintenance in order to run their best. You can keep your garage door running safely and smoothly by making sure all the moving parts are clean and lubricated especially hinges and rollers.

• Find the right balance. Ensuring your garage door is properly balanced will lead to safer use. To check the balance, close the door and pull the opener release mechanism, allowing you to maneuver the door by hand. A properly balanced door should lift with minimal effort and stay open 3 to 4 feet above the floor.

The 7 Questions to ask when hiring a Garage Door Company

You have a wide range of choices when it comes to purchasing a garage door. Choices range from huge home supply stores to the local handyman. Consider the following questions when selecting your garage door company: 

1.     Selection
a.      Do they have a wide selection of products to fit your needs?

2.     Experience
a.      Are they specialists?  Is Garage door installation and repair all they do?

3.     Professionalism
a.      Who will do the work? Are they employees or sub-contractors?
b.     Are they trained, certified professional installers and technicians?  

4.     Flexibility
a.      Are they there when you need them? Do they offer 24/7 emergency service and appointments that meet your schedule?

5.     Warranty
a.      Do they stand behind their work with a Warranty on parts and labor?

6.     Reputation
a.      Are they a reputable company that is local, licensed, bonded and insured with a track record of providing the best in products and customer service?

7.     Quality
a.      What is the quality of their work and materials?


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