Simple Steps that will Save Money On Garage Door Repairs

Garage doors and automatic openers are something most people don’t think about until they stop working. Keeping your car or other equipment in the garage helps to prevent theft while keeping your items in a clean and convenient location. However, when your garage door won’t open and you don’t have time to call a repair man to come and look at your garage door, here are a few steps to take when you need to leave and your car is stuck in the garage.


First
Most garage doors use spring tension (torsion springs) to operate. This means that there are springs attached to the metal frame of the garage door that expand when the door is opening, and compress when the door is closing. These systems are fairly simple to repair when the problem is minor, however if these few steps aren’t effective you will need the assistance of a garage door professional. The first thing to look at when your garage door isn’t working properly is to examine the metal tracks the door slides on. Sometimes, these tracks become loose and need to be tightened in order to work. Look for any areas where the frame may be loose and tighten the bolts where the door is hinged together. If tightening the frame doesn’t solve your problem, then proceed to step two.

Second

Many garage door problems are related to the tracks. When these tracks are loose or off center, they can cause problems opening or closing the door. Once you have checked the tracks for any loose bolts, make sure the tracks are properly aligned. The tracks lining both sides of the wall should begin and end at basically the same spot. If the tracks are not aligned correctly, repair them by tapping the tracks carefully back into their original positions. Most garage doors have several hinges, screws, and bolts that can also become loose- make sure they are all tightened as well.
Third

Garage door openers rely heavily on the tracks and springs for proper use. If no part of the tracks are loose or unaligned then there might be buildup of dirt or grease within the tracks. Sometimes dirt and grease can form deposits on garage doors that cause the rollers to get stuck and prevent the door from opening or closing properly.  Using a general household cleaner, clean the rollers thoroughly and then cleanse the tracks, focusing on any areas that look like dirt or grease has built up on. (Note on Grease: Do NOT use WD40! It acts like a dirt magnet and can drip onto your car - ruining the paint job!).

Fourth
If you were unable to fix your garage door by tightening, cleaning, or aligning the frame, you may need to hire the services of a garage door specialist in your area.

Home Break-Ins Rise in the Summer - One Way to Avoid Them

Yes, unfortunately it happens every summer - good folks take off for a much needed vacation. Only to return to an unwanted mess, missing items or worse. All across the country there are increased reports of burglars using garage doors to enter homes. Some are simply left standing open... many more are not locked!!

Want to avoid a possible break in? Close and Lock your garage door - especially when going on vacation!
It only takes a minute, but will save you time and money in the long run.

Now.... go enjoy the beach!

Is there a Monster in your Garage?

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? Or do you worry that the sound is annoying your neighbors whenever you push the remote button?

Whatever is causing your garage door to sound like a monster, 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 monster. 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 monster – 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.

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Garage Door Safety - A simple Visual Inspection

A simple visual inspection of your garage door system can save you time, money and possible heartache.

At least once a year, you should take a few minutes to make sure that one of they largest pieces of equipment most people own is in proper working order. June is garage door safety month - so take a moment.


• Look at the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys and other door hardware for signs of wear. Call a garage door professional today, if you suspect any problems.

• A safety cable should be installed on all extension springs (the springs mounted above the track) to help contain a spring if it breaks. Call a garage door professional today, if the cables are fraying or broken.


• 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. It's OK to tighten them if they're a little loose.

• 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.

Garage Door Safety - Know How to Test the Reveral Features

Garage door safety has come a long way over the years, and one key feature of all modern garage doors is the automatic reversing feature.     

First, make sure your opener has a reversing feature. It's easy to know... from the inside of the garage with the door closed you should notice two sensor "eyes" located about 6 inches above the ground on each side of the door jamb. (note: these usually have a visable red or green light)  Those sensors detect objects under the door and MUST be there and MUST be in working order.

Any garage door openers without this feature needs to 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.I. 325 standards.

Here's how to test the Reversal feature. (note - it's a good idea to do this every month or so).

1. With the door fully open, place a full roll of paper towels on the floor in the center of the door.
2. Push the remote control or wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when it strikes the roll of paper towels. (Note that the bottom part of 'one piece doors' must be rigid so that the door will not close without reversing).
3. If the door does not reverse, have a certified technician adjust, repair or replace the sensors, the opener or the door.

 

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