Prepare Your Home and Family for Power Outages

I first posted this over two years ago - and thought it was still relevant and timely...
Happy New Year!!
A recent study conducted by Zoomerang found that 93 percent of homeowners reported having experienced a power outage this year alone, with some outages lasting hours or even days. Every family should prepare an emergency kit for storms and power outages and keep it in a central location. The kit should include:

• Flashlights, extra batteries, matches and candles

• A battery-operated weather radio

• A fully charged cell phone battery

• First aid supplies

• Bottled water and nonperishable packaged or canned foods and snacks

• Blankets, towels and pillows

Don’t Forget the Garage

Today, more than half of homeowners (55 percent) use the garage door as the primary entrance to their home, relying on an automatic garage door opener to gain access. However, during a power outage, homeowners are faced with having to manually lift the garage door, creating security, safety and convenience concerns. Make sure you have backup options when the power goes out.

• Know how to manually open and close your garage door during a power failure. Test your ability to ensure you can physically lift your garage door, your home’s heaviest and largest moving object.

• To avoid being blocked from entering and exiting your garage during an outage, check out a garage door opener with a battery backup system that continues to supply power to open and close your garage door for up to two days when the power has failed. These are available on selected Chamberlain and professionally installed LiftMaster garage door openers.

Precision Garage Door Service can provide you professional guidance for all your Garage Door needs. Seattle - Salt Lake - Spokane - San Diego

Why You Should Replace You Old Tilt-Up Garage Door

For years the standard of quality in garage doors was the wooden one-piece tilt-up door. These doors were particularly popular on homes built in the 1960's and 70's and, while many continue to operate well, they should be replaced with a modern sectional door.

Here are some things to consider.

Space: Old tilt up doors swing outward away from the door frame and reduce space and/or can hit objects (like your car) in the driveway. Sectional garage doors roll straight up.

Springs: Tilt-up garage doors typically use two very large springs mounted on the sides of the door frame. This type of spring can be very dangerous when they become worn. Modern sectional doors utilize safe torsion spring systems mounted above the door.

Safety: Tilt-up doors are most often wood and can weigh upwards of 300 lbs each. If/when springs fail that weight will swing down and damage objects or injure you or your children if in the way. Modern sectional doors are most often light weight insulated steel construction and weight between 1& 2 hundred pounds.

Insulation: Wooden tilt-up doors have no additional insulating features. Modern sectional doors can be ordered with various types of built in insulation up to R-19 Value.

Connection to the track: Tilt up doors typically have just 2 connection points and rollers - while modern sectional doors have 8-10 connection points. Modern rollers also are ball bearing and are much quieter.

Weather: Because of the tilt up/out design older doors make it difficult to create a good weather barrier/seal. Modern sectional doors are designed to seal out weather much more efficiently.

Security: Older tilt-up doors are significantly easier to break into when compared with modern sectional doors.

Curb appeal: When you consider that the garage door my be the most dominant curbside feature people see when approaching your home - a modern stylish garage door will add curb appeal to any home.

Maintenance: Older tilt-up wooden doors weather and require painting to keep in top condition. Modern sectional doors are most often a backed enamel finish on steel and require no painting.

Repairs: Many garage door companies no longer service these older style doors.

So, bottom line - the modern sectional garage door made from steel are easier to maintain - are safer, work better in weather, provide better insulation - last longer - and because they look great, will increase your curb appeal.  If you have an older tilt-up door - consider upgrading soon.

Seattle, Salt Lake, Spokane, San Diego

10 Garage Door Safety and Security Tips

Garages are great for a whole range of reasons—storage, home projects, play—but, for all of those reasons, they can also pose safety and security challenges. Through the International Door Association (IDA) and the Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA), the Overhead Door Corporation has prepared this list of tips for keeping everyone and everything safe and secure.

1. Make sure the garage door opener control button is out of the reach of small children. It should be located 4-5ft above the ground.

2. Do not let children play with garage door remote controls. Hundreds of injuries each year can be avoided.

3. Consult the owner’s manual and learn how to use the garage door’s emergency release feature. (It's usually a red cord and handle).

4. Visually inspect the garage door each month. Look at springs, cables, rollers and pulleys for signs of wear. Do not attempt to remove, adjust or repair these parts or anything attached to them. A trained door repairman must make adjustments to these parts, which are under high tension.

5. Test the garage door opener’s reversing mechanism monthly by placing a 2 x 4 board or a roll of paper towels in the door’s path. If the door does not reverse after contacting the object, call a qualified garage door professional for repair. If the opener has not been replaced since 1993, seriously consider a new one with auto-reverse as a standard feature.

6. Never place fingers between door sections and explain the dangers to children. If you have small children, consider a door with panels that can’t pinch.

7. Do not leave the garage door partially open. When activated again, it may travel downward and come in contact with an object in its path. This also impacts your home’s security as well.

8. While on vacation, unplug the garage door opener unit or use a vacation lock console security switch, which renders remotes unusable and is an optional accessory to most openers.

9. If the opener does not have rolling-code technology, which changes the access codes each time the opener is used to prevent code grabbing, be sure to change the manufacturer’s standard access codes on the opener and remote control, or consider investing in a newer model with more safety and security features that are now standard.

10. A new trend in home invasion is gaining access to the home by stealing the opener or car. Never leave the remote control in the car or with a parking attendant. Consider using a key chain remote and always lock the entry to the inside of your home – especially if your opener is programmed to your vehicle. It is a small inconvenience for safety and security.

Precision Door of San Diego is a Proud member of IDA

Happy Thanksgiving

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving has passed... It always seems so far away and then it's gone, lost in a blur of Christmas sales.

I for one love the day and wish I could savor it a bit longer. What's not to like about great food, friends and family and pie!

So, Thank you for those who've read and responded - it's been a fun year and I'm looking forward to another great one.

Be careful out there and take care of your garage doors!

Seattle, Salt Lake, Spokane, San Diego

Garage Doors are Just like your Car

You know when your car is due for a tune up and oil change, but what about your garage door? Just like your car, garage doors need tune ups and inspections, and for many of the same reasons.
You've heard the phrase "Pay me now or pay me later" when it comes to car repairs... the same can be true about your garage door.

You probably don't think much about your garage door until it won't open. Garage doors can weigh hundreds of pounds and are used almost daily, meaning parts eventually wear out. A routine inspection can help keep it running smoothly, and more importantly, safely.

Typically a tun up and inspection costs around $100 and may well save hundreds more by catching those small problems before they become big ones.

If you have children and/or pets, you especially need to make time for regular maintenance. A garage door inspections should be done regularly. It will include things like checking the springs, lubricating the door and also checking the little sensors that send the door back up if something is in the way. This is really important if you have children or pets.

What about Do-It-Yourself  Maintenance?  There are some things you can do to keep your garage door operating smoothly on your own between inspections. Try lubricating the tracks with a small amount a silicone spray (never WD40). If you live in a very cold climate - adding a lubricant like petroleum jelly to the bottom of the rubber door seal can help keep it from sticking to the ground when the temperatures drop below freezing.  Caution: avoid contact with springs and cables and never take bolts out or hardware off your door. Because of the high tension involved with garage doors, serious injuries can occur if handled improperly. When in doubt, call out a qualified professional.

Don't forget: A well-running and good-looking garage door also adds curb appeal and the value of your home.

Time for your garage door tune-up???

Seattle, Salt Lake, Spokane, Tucson, San Diego

Selecting a New Garage Door Opener

Today's garage door openers are not inexpensive. Many cost upwards of $400 and have some fairly sophisticated electronics included. So, a garage door opener is not a product you want to buy without doing some research.

There is great variety in openers and there are a few important details you will want to pay attention to before purchasing and having one installed. Most openers will work with any variety of doors, but it is still important to do your research. While you may not want to look into various models, remember that whatever choice you make you will have to live with for years. It is better to not be saddled with a product you are not happy with. Here are three tips to look at when purchasing a new door opener.

Chain vs. Plastic vs. Belt

Different garage doors can operate with may different openers. As with anything installed in your home, the choice is yours regardless of the type of door you have. Just a few things to look at here. A chain drive opener can be incredibly noisy because it includes a metal chain that is pulled along a metal track. Most new models have plastic tracks, which decrease the noise quite a bit. The ultimate in quiet is the belt drive. With a belt drive, a large rubber belt replaces the old chain making it quite and smooth. Vibrations are dampened by the rubber belt too.

Learn about the motors

Motors are really important on a garage door opener. They guide your door up and down and you want them to last a long time. In general, DC (Direct Current) motors are more cost effective because they use less electricity. DC motors also allow for more speed control than AC motors. 
Put Safety First
Modern garage door technology includes electronic sensors. These will stop and reverse your garage door opener if an object is sensed below the door. This makes it less likely a pet, child or car will become trapped under the door. Garage doors can weigh quite a bit and can cause damage and/or injury if they fall. Please note that these sensors are a required safety feature on new garage doors.
Please remember, the Pros at Precision Door are here to help you in any questions.

Seattle, Salt Lake, Spokane, Tucson, San Diego

Why Precision Created the "Garage Door Overhaul"

Why did Precision Created the "Garage Door Overhaul?  

WHY?

Garage Door is now our front door! Most of us have garage doors and they are the largest and most used openings in your home and they need to function properly for your safety and security. But, we usually don’t think about them much until they stop working. Often this begins a series of visits from garage door repairmen fixing each breakdown as it occurs.

At Precision Door Service we asked: Why not completely fix that broken door right the first time and do it in such a way that means you will have fewer problems, fewer return visits, lower costs and will never have to worry about it again?

HOW?

The Precision Door Service “Complete Garage Door Hardware Overhaul”.

This unique service is designed to make your garage door system worry free.

We will replace ALL the key working parts of the garage door with long lasting, commercial grade parts and provide you (the Homeowner) with a Transferable Lifetime warranty on both the parts AND the labor. It protects your door against breakage due to natural wear and tear, improper installation and any manufacturer defects.

Sound interesting?

Contact Us: 

Seattle, Salt Lake, Spokane, Tucson, San Diego

Saving Energy, Money and the Environment one Garage Door at a Time

Now you can save Money, Energy and the Environment with something you do hundreds of times a year!

Go Green with Marantec-Eco Garage Door Openers and Precision Door

Marantec-Eco: Energy conscious, feature-rich, reliable systems designed to perform, built to last and guaranteed to provide years of trouble-free operation. Their advanced operating system (EOS) and Direct Current (DC) motor ensures an amazingly quiet operation and the best warranty in the industry.

In addition; Marantec ECO openers provide the following green advantages:

• A highly efficient stand-by-mode reduces the opener energy consumption from 7 watts to less than 0.3 watts.

• During stand-by-mode, the operational efficiency is up to 96% better than other garage door openers.

• A programmable light timer allows for the opener lighting duration to be set between 30 seconds and 4.5 minutes, thereby illuminating the garage only when needed.

• An integrated energy management system with active sleep mode provides on demand operation without delays.

Saving Energy, Money and the Environment one Garage Door at a Time

Seattle - Salt Lake - Spokane - Tucson

We All Do It

We all do it...

We avoid the dentist - postpone the oil change - ignore the warning light. It's just something we all do and often, we get away with it. Nothing seriously bad happens... until it does.

Unfortunately, this is the nature of the garage door. We never think about it until something goes wrong.
It won't open, or close, when we need it the most. But nothing too much worse can happen right????

Well, sometimes very serious things happen. Doors fall on cars or worse yet kids. The picture below is a great example of a very serious result of ignoring the balky garage door. The customer ignored the sound their opener made every time they opened the door. They didn't think about it... and, they almost burned their house down.

Please, pay attention to that garage door and opener. Please call a professional and have your door inspected and tuned-up (just like your car) every year or so. It will run better, smoother. safer and last longer.

We know you won't regret it.

Call us in Seattle, Salt Lake, Tucson, Spokane

We get this question a lot!

We talk with lots and lots of homeowners about their garage doors and any needed repairs, and we get this question a lot... How do your replacement parts compare to typical replacement parts??
Let's start with quality. Precision Garage Door parts are designed for a long trouble free life, they are commercial grade and the highest quality parts available in the garage door industry today.

What about longevity? Our Springs are rated to last 4 times longer than typical springs and our rollers are designed to last 10 times longer than the typical roller.

What about Cost?  Yes Precision parts do cost a little more...maybe 10% more, but when compared with the typical...we call it great value.

Available in: Seattle - Salt Lake - Spokane - Tucson

Creating Curb Appeal on a Budget

Originally Posted by amarrgaragedoors

Resale value is often a major factor when deciding to make home improvements. Both structural and decorative curb appeal are important features to consider. But home improvement projects can be expensive, and many homeowners are still weary about spending money on renovations. So what’s the best way to spruce up the appearance of your house without breaking the bank?
There are many budget-friendly exterior projects that can increase curb appeal.
■A fresh coat of paint can work wonders, whether it’s applied to the entire house or just on the front door. If your house is painted a neutral color like white or cream, be adventurous and try an energizing red or soothing aqua on your front door; the pop of color will add appealing interest.

■While a landscaping overhaul can be very expensive, window boxes or planters are an easy and cost-effective way to add natural beauty to your home’s façade.

■Do your windows look bare? Try adding shutters for added style, but make sure they are appropriately-sized. Buying shutters that are smaller than the windows they flank is an all-too-common mistake homeowners make, causing windows to look disproportionately small.

■If you have a garage, don’t overlook the importance of a good-looking garage door. According to the 2011 Cost vs. Value Report by Remodeling Magazine, garage door replacement continues to stand as a valuable, cost-efficient home improvement project. Garage door replacement ranks as the #4 midrange exterior project, recovering 71.9% of the cost invested.

A garage door can account for up to thirty percent of a home’s exterior seen from the street, so having an attractive design is vital to good curb appeal. But, like shutters to a window, a garage door should be appropriately matched to its house’s architectural style. There are all kinds of styles available today, from authentic carriage house to traditional to modern aluminum designs. Don’t let budget constraints keep you from improving the appearance of your home’s exterior. There are many low-cost ways to improve your home’s curb appeal.

Check our styles here: Seattle - Salt Lake - Spokane - Tucson

5 Things Every Home Owner Should Know Before Repairing Their Garage Doors

There really is a lot to know about garage doors. However, here are a few key things you (as a homeowner) should be aware of....

The most common garage door repair is the Garage door springs. They are designed to do virtually all of the work necessary to lift your garage door.  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. 

1. When dealing with garage door springs, you should take into account what type of spring you have. Garage Door Springs are available in two main types:  extension and torsion. Torsion springs are by far to most common.

2. Garage door springs come in different lengths and sizes to accommodate various standard size doors, from single garage doors to double doors. Springs are sized or adjusted at time of installation to balance the weight of the garage door. 

3. Spring are often installed in pairs and they 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. Your professional garage door technician will properly release the tension on the garage door springs before any adjustment or replacement.

4. 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.

5. Also, any added weight can adversely affect the function of any garage door opener by  overworking the motor and/or breaking key parts.  The safety of a garage door is directly attributed to the design of these components working together without any other added material.  For example, adding weight, including hanging large objects, to any part of the door or track can obstruct the pathway of the door and can cause the horizontal track to twist, buckle or deform.  This has the potential to allow the door to fall out of the horizontal track. 

Because doors are large, heavy moving objects that can weigh up to over 500 pounds, a door falling out of its tracks is dangerous to people, and hazardous to property. Always consult with experienced repair services in
Seattle, Salt Lake, Tucson and Spokane.

Garage Door Painted like Bookshelf

I just think this is fun!
Garage Door Painted like Bookshelf

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2012/08/la_garage_door_painted_to.php#.UDUQOeBTFWI.facebook

Back to School Question

Did you know your kids are more likely to use the garage door when coming and going to school than any other door in the house?

That’s right, the garage door has officially become the most used door in the house – meaning
“Back to school” is a great time to make sure your “other front door” is working properly.

Not sure your garage door is working properly – Schedule your annual Garage Door Maintenance now.

Seattle - Salt Lake - Spokane - Tucson

Interesting Use of Garage Doors

Sometimes, friends send me ideas and pictures... Here's an interesting and useful idea.

The problem faced here was - a very public pathway behind a restaurant where the garbage needed to be....These garage doors (set up as barn door sliders) are hiding commercial dumpsters!

This creates a very simple and clean solution when the public can see the dumpsters.
Thanks for sharing Terri!!

If you have idea/pictures to share send them on and I'll share them too!!

Seattle, Salt Lake, Tucson, Spokane

All You Have to Do is Listen

If you own a home with a garage door and automatic garage door opener it’s going to occasionally need service or repair. If you think about it your garage door is the largest moving object in your home and does the most work to allow you convenient access to your garage and your home. In fact it's "Your Other Front Door"!

A simple and easy way to tell if you might need a garage door repair or service is to simply listen to the noise your garage door makes when opening and closing your door. Often before your garage door breaks altogether it will start making excessive noise and may even become jerky when operating.

Listening to your garage door opening and closing can let you know if your garage door opener is suddenly straining when opening or closing. This could be a  sign that the garage door springs may need adjustment or that you might even have a broken torsion spring system.

Just like your car - all garage doors need occasional adjustments and lubrication. Over time, the moving parts on your garage door will become dry and in need of lubrication. Routine garage door service will prolong the life of your garage door as well as your garage door opener.

Garage door rollers, hinges, bearings, pulleys, cable and garage door opener drive mechanisms need to be lubricated in order to ensure long life and reliability. Sometimes even with routine garage door repair and service moving parts will wear out and need to be professionally replaced. As these parts become dry and start to wear you’ll likely notice an increase in noise and possibly the door operating roughly, when this happens don’t wait, call a professional garage door repair company and save yourself the hassle of a broken garage door.

How long is the warranty?

When you need a garage door company; here's a good question to ask. How long is the warranty?

You'll get a wide range of responses to that question. Look for a company that is completely honest and candid about their warranties. Many garage door repair companies do offer extended warranties that are often better than the manufacture’s. Make sure the company you decide to work with takes pride in their work. At Precision Door Service we not only warranty our parts but our labor too! 

See us in Seattle, Salt Lake, Spokane, Tucson

Happy 4th of July

From all of us at Precision Door Service

To You and Yours

Enjoy a Safe 4th of July!

Precision Garage Door Service

Seattle - Salt Lake - Spokane - Tucson - Albuquerque

View Your Home from a Buyer's Perspective with these Top 10 Remodeling Projects

View Your Home from a Buyer's Perspective!

Your home's curb appeal is often based on the street-view appearance and it is a buyer's first in-person impression, particularly if they spotted your home on the Internet first. Although photographs can give a buyer an idea of the features the home offers, driving by the property provides an opportunity to see how the pieces work together with the surrounding neighborhood.

Many homebuyers drive by a home or schedule a walk-through after viewing it on the Web. Since many will do so in the evening after work, consider installing lights along your driveway and walkway or adding a decorative light fixture to the front of the home.

75% of homebuyers drove by the home, and
63% walked through the homes, after viewing it on the Web.
Source: National Association of Realtors, Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers 2011

Here are the top 10 Remodeling Projects That Give You the Most Bang for Your Buck

1. A new front door

2. A new garage door

3. Fiber-cement siding

4. A wood deck

5. A minor kitchen remodel

6. Window replacement

7. Remodeling the attic to add a bedroom

8. A basement remodel

9. A major kitchen remodel

10. A second-story addition

Source HGTV Front Door. January 18, 2011

Do you need to upgrade that garage door?

Why Choose Precision Door Service

I usually use this space to talk about the door industry and not make it a big "plug" about our company.
I get many questions about Precision Door so here's some information on why customers choose Precision Door.

We at Precision want to ensure that you feel comfortable with the company you chooseWhen it comes time to repair your door, there are many factors that can go into deciding what company to work with.

Precision Door Service has been a locally owned, since 1985. We are one of the biggest garage door repair companies serving our markets - with 14 technicians in the Seattle area, 7 in Salt Lake, and 2 each in Spokane, Tucson and Albuquerque. All our technicians are knowledgeable, friendly and willing to listen to your problems and offer you a viable solution.

Our technicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we never charge extra for evenings, weekends or holidays. We use only top quality commercial grade parts to provide you with the best long term solutions for your garage door system.

Precision is licensed, bonded, and insured, have A ratings with the BBB and are members of all our industry associations. All our technicians and trainers are certified with the International Door Association.
Deciding who to welcome into your home and complete repairs can be a big decision and one that should not be taken lightly. We hope that after reading this, you will choose to use the Pros at Precision to do those repairs for you!

Call us anytime - 888-712-3667
Or, Visit us online:

• In Seattle:                   http://www.garagedoorseattle.com/
• In Salt Lake:               http://www.garagedoorsaltlake.com/
• In Spokane:                http://www.garagedoorspokane.com/
• In Tucson:                   http://www.garagedoorstucson.com/
• In Albuquerque           http://www.garagedoorsalbuquerque.com/

Thanks!

Two Questions We Get Alot

My door does not open or close far enough. What should I do?


You many need to adjust the "travel settings" on your openers. Your opener will have a “travel” adjustment that controls the distance that the garage door opener moves the door. Separate adjustments can be made to the opening travel distance and the closing travel distance. Refer to your owner's manual, or contact us for a professional tune-up and adjustment.

My door opens very slowly. How can I adjust the opener?

Your opener has a “force adjustment” that controls the power used to open and close the door. New garage door openers are preset at the factory to the lowest possible force. If your door is properly balanced, the force required should be minimal. The greater the force setting, the harder the opener will push or pull the door. Never adjust to a higher force if your door is unbalanced or sticking and always test the safety reverse system after adjusting the opener. If the door is hard to lift, the door must be serviced and adjusted by a professional authorized dealer as there may be a more serious problem.

How Safe is Your Garage Door?

June is home safety month and a great time to talk about garage door safety with kids.
Did you know that upwards of 30,000 people end up in the hospital every year with injuries from garage doors? Scary and very avoidable!

First, many injuries come from well meaning folks trying to save by doing repairs themselves. Yes, there are things that can be done - like checking the door balance etc. - but when things are broken - Please call a professional!

Second, this is a great time of year to talk with kids about home safety and garage door safety. With kids out of school, the garage door often becomes the primary entry and exit door - take a few minutes to talk about how to safely use what is (as noted above) a very large, heavy and occasionally dangerous piece of equipment.

For younger kids Download a FREE Kids Garage Door Safety Coloring Book - and for older kids... just use the list at the back of the coloring book!.

Have a wonderful and safe June!

Memorial Day

It's the Memorial Day Weekend - time for family gatherings, BBQ, car races and baseball. By all means relax and enjoy. However....

Please take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of the day, and give a moment of silence and respect for those who gave us their ultimate sacrifice.

For Lack of a Spring the Car was (almost) Lost

I know, I know... I keep harping about garage door maintenance. But sometimes a picture is worth about $10,000. This picture hurts on many levels...
OMG the car!

Broken Garage Door Springs happen all the time, but this didn't need to happen.  A little regular maintenance and this could have been avoided.

BTW... the car is OK now.

Common Garage Door Myths

Like nearly everything; garage doors have a number of myths and misconceptions associated with them... here are some of our favorites:

The electric garage door opener lifts the weight of the door. Regardless of brand, style or horsepower, residential garage door openers are only designed to lift a maximum of about ten pounds. The Springs are what do the lifting. If the springs are old or broken there is more weight and the plastic drive components in the opener will suffer extreme wear.

All garage doors are the same. Like other products, garage doors are available in a wide range of styles and quality that determine their life expectancy and performance.

Garage doors never require maintenance. As the largest moving object in your home, garage doors are under an immense strain. Routine maintenance is essential for maximum performance.

All repair and replacement parts are the same. The vast majority (upwards of 95%) of commonly used replacement parts are designed for  the industry minimum life-cycle rating. Longer life-cycle rated components are available but rarely used, thus limiting warranties and causing needed service in the future. Precision Door uses these longer lasting parts exclusively, enabling us to offer longer warranties and trouble free door systems.
All garage door companies are the same. Most garage door companies use technicians who are sub-contractors.This limits the company's liability and can expose the homeowner to liability for injury and accidents. ALL Precision Door technicians are company employees.

My New garage door has a 15 year warranty against failure of the moving parts. Please ask the question - Over 98% of new doors sold offer a one year warranty on moving parts. The 15 year extended warranty applies to the paint finish. If the company does not have their own warranty program - keep looking.

Garage doors are all noisy. Noise is generally a sign of failing critical components or poor installation.
I can save time and money doing garage door repairs myself. Write this number down...911!
Garage doors are potentially extremely dangerous. The average two-car door weighs about 300 lbs and has nearly 40 moving parts. An average of 30,000 injuries per year are reported due to garage door related accidents.

How to Open Your Garage Door Manually

We get lots of calls when the power goes out. Mainly, because people don't know how to open or close their garage door manually. It's a simple procedure that will save you both time and money. Here's a brief Video that will show how and why.

Take care and when in need.... call a garage door professional.

Heading out on Vacation?

So, I'm heading out on vacation - tickets, rental car - check. Furnace set low, water heater turned down - check. Lights on timer and dog to kennel - check.  etc. etc.
 
One thing that is rarely on peoples' checklists for vacation is their garage door. Make it simple and safe.
On your wall remote switch (where you turn lights on/off etc. is a "Lock" button. Take a couple of seconds to lock the garage door and eliminate accidental openings from random radio signals etc.
 
If you have a slide lock on your garage door (into the side rails) engage it... and disconnect your door from the garage door opener. This will mean your door is locked and any accidental attempts to open it with the remote will not damage the opener...
 
OK. All set - Enjoy your vacation!

Garage Door Safety is your Business too!!

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


Garage doors can weigh over 400 pounds, and can be potentially lethal. 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.
Please, take a few minutes to inspect and test your garage door system and make that inspection and testing a part of your regular home maintenance routine. Safety is everyone's business. If anything is suspected to be unsafe or in need of attention, contact your Garage Door Service professional in Salt Lake, Seattle, Tucson, Spokane, Albuquerque ASAP.

Another Way to Go Green

Homeowners now have another way to ‘go green’. Installing energy efficient, insulated garage doors can not only help save the planet, it can help save one’s wallet from becoming too thin.


Homes that include an attached garage can expend large amounts of extra energy heating and cooling their homes. Cold air in the winter (and warm air in the summer) can permeate a home through the garage, increasing the amount of energy needed to adequately heat or cool the home. An insulated garage door protects the climate of a garage from the outside air, preserving the desired temperature in the home with less energy expended and less money spent.

The garage is often the most overlooked space in the house, but in reality, it should be thought of as another room that needs to have proper climate control. Controlling the climate of a garage can be as simple as installing an insulated garage door. Few homeowner would tolerate a drafty front door, so why tolerate a drafty garage door drain that can drain the energy out of your home?

Today’s insulated garage doors come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and shapes, so design and curb appeal is never an issue. In addition to the energy savings, an insulated garage door may qualify as part of your home's energy tax credits.  Precision Door Service offers insulated garage doors from the most reputable brands in the industry.

Before and After = Curb Appeal

Wonderful example of how a garage door can really change the look and feel (not to mention curb appeal) of a home.

Before:

After:

See more at http://www.garagedoorseattle.com/

How to Program a Universal Garage Door Opener Remote

The universal garage door opener is a modern miracle that has saved the fortunes of countless families who have lost the remote control that came with their garage door opener. It also comes in handy when you need to get a new garage door opener but prefer to customize the shape of the buttons and, in some cases, their function. Universal garage door openers also come in handy when you have to manage multiple garage doors, like the one at your home and the one at your beach house.

Programming a universal garage door opener is simple. When you buy the device, there will be a list of codes associated with the brands and models of common garage door openers. Some brands claim to open and close 80-90 percent of garage door openers on the market. That means that you shouldn’t waste time hunting for the one that handles your garage door or garage doors—unless you bought your model from Eastern Europe or on the grey market.

Find the code that corresponds to the brand and model of your garage door opener or openers. Program that code into the universal garage door opener, press enter and test. Your garage door should open and close with ease.

Never throw away the code manual for your universal garage door opener. Without it, you will not be able to reprogram the device when you have to replace the batteries. Keeping the manual will also come in handy if you need to add a new garage door opener to your remote.

How do your Garage Door parts compare to typical replacement parts?

It's a question we're asked all the time... Let's start with a simple fact - All garage door parts are NOT created equal.  The typical garage door installation and/or repair uses a "Builders Grade" set of parts. Just like "Builders grade" appliances - These are designed to last a few years (if treated lightly and maintained well) and wear out...

Precision Garage Door parts are designed for a long and trouble free life. We use "Commercial grade" parts and they are the highest quality parts available in the garage door industry today. Our Springs are rated to last 4 times longer than typical springs and our rollers are designed to last 10 times longer than the typical roller AND they carry excellent Warranties - something most provide. The final advantage? - Precision parts cost only about 10-15% more.

Why is that important to you? We want to fix your garage door once and then not see you or your garage door except for some regular maintenance. Many companies want to fix it today and again next month.