Why is my garage door so heavy?

We are all creatures of habit. We get used to the way something feels or acts and then tend to ignore it until, for some reason it feels different.

One of these is your garage door and we often get calls asking "Why is my garage door so heavy?"

Let's start with the basics - Garage doors are usually the largest moving object in your home, with an average size of 8′ wide and 7′ high for a single door. Regardless of the type of material used, that means they will be heavy. That’s why there are springs and a counter balance system to take all that weight, and make it easy for you or your Garage Door Openers to handle easily. However, springs do break and/or relax over time, making the doors feel heavier. But, most of us are using an automatic garage door opener and don't "feel" the difference. What we do notice is the door opening slower or the opener making different noises.

One common problem caused by "heavy doors" is stripped  gears in the opener. It’s a good idea to have some maintenance done about once a year and during that maintenance your garage door professional will check for proper spring tension, and adjust or replace them if needed.

Replace Old Garage Door Springs

Your garage door springs are easily the most important and most dangerous part of your garage door and springs do wear out and break. When they do break, injuries are not an uncommon result. (Each year 30,000 people end up in the hospital as a result of trying to repair garage door springs by themselves) If you have an older garage door, especially one that seems to be opening with some difficulty...have your springs inspected by a trained and certified technician and replaced if needed. If your door has two springs, have both replaced even if one is not broken. (Remember, the second spring has been operating the same length of time as the broken one.) This will not only prevent any damage caused by the breaking of the second spring, but also keep your door working efficiently.

Remember, replacing old springs will help ensure your garage door lasts longer and be more trouble free. If you're experiencing a garage door problem - Give us a Call.

Ever Push Your Garage Door Remote and Nothing Happens?

It happens all too often and we always get a call. Sometimes it is a serious issue - bad garage door opener - broken springs etc. BUT... sometimes it's just your remote... and even simpler... how far away from the door you are when you hit the button.

Here's a note on the range of your remote control. The distance at which your remote control is effective can change from day to day. Its' current battery level, radio interference, and believe it or not, even the weather, can contribute to how far away you need to be from your garage door opener before the remote will work.

Try getting out of your vehicle with the remote and get as close to the door as you can while pressing the button. If the problem turns out to be a simple range issue, try again tomorrow, things may change. If the problem doesn’t go away, it may mean your battery is low or needs replacing. Most garage door remotes now use batteries like you'd find in a watch... Just pop open the remote and take the battery to the store. It's a fast and easy fix and much less expensive than having us come out.

If the battery doesn't solve the problem... give us a call - we'll be there to help.

How do I know what size garage door I have or need?

It's a common question - What size is my garage door?


First, some basics... a typical single car garage door is 8 feet wide and 7 feet high. Likewise a standard two car garage door is most often 16 feet wide and 7 feet high. This information will get you about 80% of the way there...
However, not every garage door is or was framed exactly the same. Double check by measuring the width of the actual finished opening and then the height. Garage door sizes are always shown and listed as the width first and then the height.

Now, call your Garage Door Service technician they will measure the opening for you while they are at your home or project site to determine the proper size, show you a wide variety of style and design options that meet both your style and needs and provide a FREE estimate.

Garage Door Care & Maintenance

By Amarr Garage Doors

Given the fact that your garage door is the largest opening on your home and, most likely, the largest piece of equipment in your home, it’s important to make sure that your garage door is properly maintained and kept in good, working order. Above all else, you want to ensure the safety of your family by protecting your home and car from theft and the outside elements. Below are some tips and tests that will help you monitor the condition of your garage door.

Take a few minutes to inspect and test your complete garage door system. Make monthly inspection and testing a part of your regular routine. Safety is everyone's business. Make garage door and garage door opener safety automatic in your home.

Consult owner's manuals for additional recommended maintenance for your models of door and opener.

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

Garage Door Opener Tests:

Reversal Test, Force Setting

Test, Additional Safety Devices

Garage Door Visual Inspection:

Springs, Rollers, Pulleys, Cables and Track Lubrication, Door Balance.


GARAGE DOOR OPENER MAINTENANCE TIPS

There are routine safety and maintenance steps that you should follow once a month. Review your owner's manual for the door opener. If you don't have the owner's manual, look for the opener model number on the back of the power unit and request a manual from the manufacturer.

Garage Door Opener Reversal Test

Make sure your opener has a reversing feature. If a reversing feature is not present, it should be replaced. Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 are required by federal law to have advanced safety features which comply with the latest U.L. 325 standards. Contact your manufacturer or installer for additional information.

Test the reversing feature every month.

First, test the balance of the door (see "Testing and Maintaining The Garage Door"). If the door is properly balanced, then proceed.

With the door fully open, place a 1-1/2" thick piece of wood (a 2"x 4" laid flat) on the floor in the center of the door.

Push the transmitter or wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when it strikes the wood. (Note that the bottom part of "one piece doors" must be rigid so that the door will not close without reversing.)

If the door does not reverse, have it repaired or replaced. Have a qualified individual adjust, repair or replace the opener or door.

Garage Door Opener Force Setting Test

Test the force setting of your garage door opener by holding the bottom of the door as it closes. If the door does not reverse readily, the force may be excessive and need adjusting. See your owner's manual for details on how to make the adjustment. Test the reversing feature after any adjustment.

Additional Safety Devices for Garage Door Openers

Many garage door openers can be equipped with additional safety devices. Consider adding a photo eye or edge sensor as an extra measure of safety to protect against entrapment. Keep in mind that adding more safety devices will not make an old opener meet the current U.L. standards.

Make sure the additional safety devices, such as photo eyes or edge sensors, are properly installed and adjusted (see owners' manual).

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

GARAGE DOOR MAINTENANCE TIPS

Perform routine maintenance steps once a month. Review your owner's manual for the garage door. If you don't have a manual, look for the model number on the back of the door, or check the lock handle, hinges, or other hardware for the manufacturer's name and request a manual from the manufacturer.

Visual Inspection

Look at the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys, and other door hardware for signs of wear. If you suspect problems, have a qualified person make repairs.

Lubrication

Regularly lubricate the moving parts of the door. However, do not lubricate plastic parts such as plastic rollers and plastic idler bearings. Consult the door owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendation.

WARNING - Springs are under high tension. Only qualified persons should adjust them.

Garage door springs, cables, brackets and other hardware attached to the springs, are under very high tension and, if handled improperly, can cause serious injury. Only a qualified professional or a mechanically experienced person carefully following the manufacturer's instructions should adjust them. The torsion springs (the springs above the door) should only be adjusted by a professional. Do not attempt to repair or adjust torsion springs yourself.

A restraining cable or other device should be installed on the extension spring (the spring along the side of the door) to help contain the spring if it breaks.

Door Balance

Periodically test the balance of your door.

Start with the door closed.If you have a garage door opener, use the release mechanism so you can operate the door by hand when doing this test.

You should be able to lift the door smoothly and with little resistance. It should stay open around three to four feet above the floor. If it does not, it is out of adjustment. Have it adjusted by a qualified service person.

To learn more about garage door safety, visit your Garage Door Professionals