Garages are more than just a place for the family cars. They offer convenient access and security for tools, bicycles, seasonal items, and so much more. And this is one part of the home that many homeowners take for granted until something goes wrong. Expensive emergency calls can be avoided by simply keeping an eye out for these three signs that indicate you might need a garage door repair in the near future.
These repairs can be simple maintenance, that allow for easy opening and closing. It can also mean correcting damage caused by a student driver, over zealous basketball game, or storm-tossed tree limbs. These jobs are best done by professionals who have the training, experience, and equipment needed to get the job done properly, the first time.
Garage Door Repair Or Back Repair?
Very little exertion should be required when your manual garage door is operating smoothly and at peak performance. Over time, however, dirt and debris can cause problems. The first sign that a garage door repair is needed is when lifting the door becomes back-breaking work, or when the automatic system stops functioning properly. The path used by the rollers can sometimes require adjustments to operate smoothly and the automatic sensors sometimes need replacing. While these are simple procedures, they are not suitable for the inexperienced do it yourself persons.
What Was That Noise?
There is no mistaking the sound of an industrial strength spring when it breaks. A door that was only minutes before a breeze to open, suddenly weighs a ton, if it will open at all. Broken springs do not occur very often but when they do, you need expert help as fast as you can get it. If the door won’t open at all, you may not be able to get the family car out. If it won’t close securely, suddenly possessions and family are at risk. Reputable companies should be able to provide a fast online estimate and should be available for emergency service calls any day of the week.
Home Improvement
Sometimes improvements are necessary, for instance when a new driver hits the gas pedal instead of the brake. But sometimes homeowners just want to spruce up their home’s appearance. Home improvements are an excellent way to improve the value, appearance, and usefulness of a house and the garage door is no exception.
Homeowners can protect their financial investment by being on the alert for increasingly difficult operation, strange sounds, or other cosmetic care needed, as these are all signs that a garage door repair may be necessary.
Garage doors are known to be the heaviest machinery in our houses. They are very expensive that’s why they need to be maintained in an excellent condition to avoid costly repairs or replacement. Providing regular maintenance to your garage doors will keep them working smoothly for a longer period. Garage port door maintenance is not very costly. In fact, dealing with worse problems such as fixing serious damages can be more costly that’s why you should avoid delaying repair and maintenance.
If you don’t provide the necessary maintenance for your doors, you may end up spending a lot more money for repair expenses and worse, purchasing a new door. There are several parts that need to be checked periodically. Once you spot any glitches or minor problems, you should seek help from a professional garage repair company to avoid worsening the problem. Select a reliable company that can offer you excellent services at reasonable prices. They should be able to keep your car in excellent condition and lengthen the lifespan of your garage door.
One of the most common problems encountered by home owners in their garage doors is related to the remote control system. If your door has an automated system for automatic operation, the remote control is the main unit of operation used. If the remote control becomes faulty, you may not be able to use the garage entry door conveniently. Thus, you should call an expert technician to check your door. Serious problems should be dealt with by a registered repair company to ensure that professional repair will be done. If you believe you have the necessary knowledge and experiencing in doing repair and maintenance to your door, then you can save money from repair expenses. However, don’t attempt to fix its problems if you’re not familiar with the exact processes.
Another common problem in car pot gates is the half way opening of the door. Generally, this is caused by faulty springs. It’s actually an urgent problem that needs to be dealt with immediately because the mechanical parts of the door might get worn out and lead to serious damages. The parts start to rub with each other and jam causing complete stoppage of the garage door’s operation.
Other problems in garage doors are door jamming, half way rotation of door turner, and increased power requirements among others. If you delay solving any of these problems, the damage could get worse and you may have to replace the entire car port door. To avoid experiencing such problems, you should maintain your garage doorway in a regular period with the help of professional garage maintenance companies.
If you are like most home owners, you greet the prospect of repairing a broken or stubborn garage door with at least a mild sense of trepidation because they are large and seemingly complicated. However, this fear is not warranted if this apparently daunting task is broken down into a few manageable steps. So, what follows are some useful tips and instructions regarding garage door repair.
The mechanism of a garage door is actually very simple. This applies to two main types of garage doors. The first type is where the door is a single solid panel that swings up on metal tracks. The second type also rolls up on tracks but does so in sections that follow the tracks up and over. If you have the type of metal door that rolls up into a large horizontal cylinder above the door, this article is not for you. You need to call a professional. That type of door is hazardous to work on without the proper training and equipment.
Assuming you have one of the two garage door types covered by this article, the first of the parts to inspect for possible repairs are the door tracks. These originally are well lubricated, but they can accumulate a lot of dust, dirt, pieces of dried leaves or anything else that might stick to the door roller and be carried up into the tracks. All that material is ground into the lubricant and can become a sticky, near solid mass. The door wheels that fit inside the track can become encrusted with this mess as well. If this is the case you need to clean out the encrusted lubricant from both the tracks and the door wheels with a towel. You may need to use solvent to cut through the old lubricant. Once it has been cleaned out, lubricate it with door spray, household oil, silicone spray or powdered graphite.`
Other track-related things to check are bent or broken tracks or misaligned tracks. Bent tracks can usually be straightened with a mallet or even a pair of pliers. Make sure the tracks are still parallel with each other and perpendicular to the front garage wall. Measure with a tape measure if needed to be sure the tracks are the same distance apart along the full length. For a broken track you just have to get a replacement. If this is the case, then this might be a good time to price the cost of a new replacement door,.
Because the doors are so large and heavy the track mechanism has a spring counter-balance that helps lift the weight of the door. These are usually located on either side of the door. This means that when the door is closed, those springs are stretched to their maximum tension, and when the door is fully open the spring have little or no tension on them.
As the springs age they may lose strength. If the door is still hard to open then you need to adjust them. This adjustment is usually in the form of an adjustable plate that the spring is attached to. If your door rolls up in sections then the spring is attached with a cable and the cable itself needs to be adjusted to make it tighter. Because the springs have the most tension when the door is closed, you need to perform the adjustment with the door open if possible.
You may encounter a situation or door type not described here. If that is the case the only advice to offer is to seek the services of a professional. Given the strength of the springs and mass of the mechanisms involved, you need to err on the side of safety if a solution is not clear.
If you want to save your hard earned money while doing garage door repairs, make sure you get value but use only the best materials and never compromise on quality to get the work done cheaply. There are certain ways to do this fruitfully.
Evaluating the Problem
As the first step, you should understand the exact problem concerned with your garage door before attempting to repair them. When you’re uncertain about what is wrong with them, you can’t fix it yourself. Also, you have no means to detect whether the technician is telling the real problem or not. Even though it is not right to doubt everyone around you, a certain degree of carefulness is healthy regarding something you need to pay. Cautiously and safely, verify the problem in detail, so that you can locate it easily. You can also take the help of a well-informed friend or a member of the family if you want.
Ideas for Cost Saving
As far as garage door repairs are concerned, the most effective cost-saving idea is to do it yourself. After you have understood the problem systematically, ask yourself if you can take care of it confidently. If you are not confident about it, that’s okay. It’s always better to hire a specialist to do it rather than trying something to make the unit more problematic and need more extensive maintenance in the future. Always bear in mind that doing this without enough knowledge will result to more money spent and the time you use in fixing your door will put to waste.
Also, if you are familiar with someone who is knowledgeable in this field and knows how to do garage repairs, you can try bartering. Think if you can do some service like landscaping or some plumbing work for them in return. In fact, bartering can work nicely at times.
Prevention
Once you are finished with your garage door maintenance, make sure that the garage is functioning properly. Keep in mind that careful maintenance today can save you a lot of money tomorrow. Keep a repair and inspection timetable, and stick to that. Educate yourself about how to do proper maintenance for your garage door unit. After some time, it will become a habit for you. Keep in mind that garage door repairs can be done cost effectively if you find the best deal, or educate yourself to do them yourself. Nevertheless, make sure that the whole thing is done safely.
When your garage door stops running smoothly, you may find yourself in trouble. Arriving at work a few minutes late on account of malfunctioning equipment may be the least of your concerns. There is the possibility of the garage door damaging other parts of the structure (as is the case when a torsion spring snaps). There may also be the possibility of bodily harm, should the equipment fail and you or someone else happens to be in the vicinity (e.g. right under it) when it happens. A system failure could also allow a thief entry into your home. That is why, at the first signs of trouble, you should make sure to look into it. Here is a list of questions that usually run through most people’s heads they contact a professional establishment.
How Do I Keep My System In Good Condition?
Repairs may not be expensive, but they do have a cost associated with them. Replacement can cost even more. That is why as early as installation, people should evaluate the system that will best suit their particular need. Keeping your system well-maintained involves monthly cleaning and lubrication. Prevent accumulation of foreign material by wiping the parts. Use mild soap when dirt is difficult to remove. Just make sure you wipe them dry right after. You should also lubricate the moving parts after you clean them. Use silicon spray or household oil for lubricating moving parts and apply powdered graphite on the tracks. DIY Note: plastic idler bearings should be left alone.
How Is Troubleshooting Done?
This is where you pull out your detective’s hat and maybe fix the problem yourself. Examine the hinges, bolts and screws. Tighten everything that looks loose. Check the tracks for alignment and dents. You should also check the cables and springs for rust. They should be in good condition. You can determine your system’s condition by implementing a door balance test. Open the door manually. It should lift off the ground and stay open around four feet off the ground.
When Should Professional Services Be Consulted?
When the problem has something to do with track alignment, cleaning various parts, or tapping out a few dents, you do not usually need a garage door repair serviceman assistance. However, if the problem has something to do with a torsion spring (it is the single spring mounted right above the door that helps in opening and closing), you might need the services of a professional as it can difficult to do it yourself. Torsion springs are in a state of high-tension and are known to cause much damage when they aren’t carefully dealt with. You’ll know this may be the problem by the process of elimination. When most of the other parts have checked out fine and your door still doesn’t operate smoothly enough, it is probably the spring.
Note that most of the garage door troubles you may be dealing with can be avoided through regular maintenance. However, everything is subject to wear and tear. If it’s something that is in frequent use, such as a garage door, there is an even bigger chance of things going awry. You can try to fix things yourself. Lubrication and cleaning do not take much time or effort. For anything else, you can always look up a garage door repair service company.
Looking for something that’s easy to use? Then you need a universal garage door remote controller. They are handy and easy, but it takes just a little set-up first.
Before you buy one, make sure it’s compatible with your garage door. It should say on the packaging what models it works with, or you can always check with the manufacturer. Most universal remotes are not made to work with all major brands, and none of them are brand-specific. Unless you’ve got something really rare, any one should work, but you should always check first before buying anyway.
There are 2 easy steps for setting it up. First, you have to clear the old codes. If you are buying new, this isn’t such a big deal, but you should do it anyway just as a safety precaution. You usually just press a button that says “clear,” and then it wipes any old codes off the remote. With some models, you have to hold down two buttons simultaneously for 30 seconds or so, and this will clear off old codes. After that, you have to program it to fit your garage door.
The word “program” might be a little scary for those of us who are still confused by e-mail and DVD players, but don’t despair. It’s very easy. Each exact brand differs a little bit about how they are programmed, but these are the basics steps that you have to follow.
The first step is to match it with your garage door opener. It will come with a list of brands and their corresponding codes. Look for your brand and model if it lists models, and punch in the code that it gives you. You will also have to match it with your specific garage door.
Usually, you have to hold down a button on your wall controller while holding the remote near it. You may also have to choose a channel for your door. This will connect it directly to your door’s controlling mechanism.
After you’ve got it connected, it will ask you for a PIN number. You’ll have to type it in twice. Make sure it’s something easy to remember but not easy to figure out. It never hurts to write it down. Most of us have so many PIN numbers and passwords these days that the human brain can’t hold them all.
Of course, your universal remote will come with an instruction booklet. This will guide you through the steps, but it also might confuse you and give you more details than you need. If you at least know the basics steps, you’ll be on your way to getting your universal remote programmed in no time.
As we drive through the different places in our neighborhood, we find so many garage doors with various kinds and styles. But we should make first a clear distinction as to the type of garage doors being referred to in this article.
Well this particular issue deals with the two types of garage doors that we often see around. These are the so called industrial garage doors and the Residential type of garage doors. And in order to give a clear understanding between the two, a comparative description is hereby made to distinguish each one from the other.
There are actually some contributory factors to consider as the variations of these two doors are concerned. In general, residential doors as the term implies are the doors that are found and have become a part of our homes. One of the essential characteristics of these door types are that they compliment the exterior design of our homes and they come in various designs and styles. They are usually used for housing private cars or can simply serve as a storage area.
On the other hand, doors found in the industrial types are quite similar to that of the residential doors. The only difference is their sizes because as you can see, industrial doors are bigger and thereby, capable of holding larger number of vehicles of all kinds.
As far as the materials are concerned, residential doors were traditionally constructed of wooden materials but now, due to modern technology, they have improved and were replaced with other materials like fiber glass, synthetics as well as metal or aluminum materials. For the Industrial door types due to their heavier functional usages, they are usually made of stronger and tougher materials like steel. But these types of doors have more simple and plain surface features as contrast to the Residential door types.
Other distinctive characteristics of these two doors can be viewed also as to the series of times the door is opened. Like for instance, in a residential type, the door could be opened only a number of times within a day while for an industrial type, they are opened several times during the day. For some garage owners, a series of opening or closing operations of their door is more significant so an industrial variation is more preferred.
So based on the different characteristics being presented above, we are able to have a clearer vision as to how the two doors are being conceptualized.
Your garage door has to endure a lot of use over the years. Harsh conditions can also put wear and tear on your doors if you live in a climate with dramatic changing seasons. In order to get the most out of its life, some simple maintenance and repairs should be made over time. Just doing a simple inspection once or twice a year yourself can make a difference.
Wood
If your entrance is made of wood, it will need more upkeep than its other counterparts. Once the most popular material, wood has slowly been replaced by other materials requiring less maintenance and upkeep. Initially, it is recommended to paint both the inside and outside of the door.
Also use a good sealant to help slow the rotting process which will naturally occur. If you are having a contractor install your wood entrance, make sure that they complete these tips. It will help to prevent the wood from warping and distorting. Then every year or two, repaint the exterior as chipping may occur, especially in climates that get a lot of rain, sun and wind.
Steel
Steel has become a widely used material for its simple upkeep. Every 6 months or so, oil the torsion springs with a motor oil and lubricate the radius section of the tracks. If there are signs of heavy dirt and grime, wash the doors with soapy water to prevent corrosion. Doing something as simple as this will extend the life of your garage door and save you time and money in the end.
Another simple do-it-yourself repair for all types of garage doors is simply checking the adjustment. It is likely that it will fall out of adjustment at some point in time. Some signs of this are if the door feels heavier than usual when lifting it. Look for worn hinges, springs, nuts or screws.
Tighten loose screws and nuts and oil the hinges. For these same parts, check them for rust. Replace rusted pieces before they become a larger problem. Most of these pieces are relatively inexpensive to replace and can keep your door in good condition.
Aesthetically, the best option for upkeep is always a coat of paint. Even just painting it a different color will instantly give the look of a completely new garage door. Or after repainting that white garage, it will look like a brand new garage and make your home look nicer with minimal work, time and money.
While prices of goods in the market don’t rise and fall dramatically, the same cannot be said for services. It is difficult to budget services fees, especially when it comes to repair services, because the expense depends on the severity of the problem and the company you choose in the end. For someone who doesn’t know much about repair, estimating the average price would be difficult to the point where you can’t tell if something is indeed overpriced. So what are the average costs of services related to garage door repair? Here’s a guide to help you out.
Labor charges – No matter what is wrong with your garage door, you have to pay labor charges to the technician. Depending on the company you choose in the end, labor will usually cost you around 60-70 dollars per hour. Part replacements don’t take a lot of time so the most a technician will spend in your garage would be up to an hour and a half or so. However, if you feel like being vigilant, you can supervise the technician to see if he works efficiently or if he’s dragging things out for too long.
Parts replacement – Sometimes when the doors to your garage break, a simple patchwork job is not enough. Sometimes, you need to replace certain parts like torsion springs, tracks, and hinges. Some companies make use of their own materials and this can both be a good thing and a bad thing. Most reputable companies will offer the best and most durable materials, but they will always mark up the price. Another option would be to ask the technician for a list of parts that you’ll need for the repair and get them from your local hardware store. Although this can save you more money, if you don’t know much about door parts, you might end up buying parts that are not durable.
Garage door replacement – Replacing the whole door is very expensive, and the cost varies from 500-1500 dollars,depending on where you live and how large your garage is. As with parts replacement, you can collaborate with the technician when it comes to choosing the materials for the garage door, especially if you’re on a budget. However, your technician will caution you on some of your decisions when quality of the door is compromised.
Cost and service rates for replacing a garage door will be different from other counties, so once you’ve decided on what you want to do with your garage doors, you can start getting quotes from your local providers.
A proper garage with sturdy garage doors is necessary for all vehicle owners, for the safety and security of their vehicle. In addition to that, it is also important that when you are out shopping for doors for your garage, you look for the right garage door opener that promises extra comfort and security to you. You can of course opt for a door that you can opened manually, but this process is often tedious and time-consuming. A door opener is a device that runs on motor to open and close the garage. It is controlled by a switch that is placed on the garage wall or by remote controls that you can carry.
The electric Garage Door Opener
You can opt for garage gates fitted with an electric garage gate opener. Interestingly, contrary to popular belief, the actual lifting power in an electric door opener does not come for the electricity, but rather from the counterbalancing springs in the garage doors. Such an opener has the added advantage of acting as a lock for the doors.
Remote control for your garage gate opener
Remote control operated garage gate opener can be traced back to many decades. Such an opener makes use of radio frequencies to open the doors. The various features that you can avail in a modern remote-operated garage gate opener are, automatic “courtesy lights” that are turned on when the doors are open and then turned off after a preset time delay. It may also have an integrated carbon monoxide sensor to open the door in case the garage gets flooded with exhaust fumes. Garage gate openers with finger print facility are also available.
Safety features
You need to make sure that the garage gates are rightly adjusted, since a malfunctioning opener for your garage can prove to be fatal in times of emergency. For this reason, proper maintenance and installation is extremely important. All garage gate openers installed in the US after 1982 must have a quick-release mechanism that must allow the doors to be disconnected from the opener in the event of entrapment. The opener must also have photoelectric safety sensors on both sides of the doors.
Things to keep in mind while purchasing
The drive system, the actual horsepower of the garage gate opener, the speed, and the kind of motor that is used in the system are important things to be considered. Look into the warranty while you purchase the garage door opener. Safety is a really important factor that you should look into. Some of the mandatory features that your garage door opener must have are automatic lights, a time reversing feature, a manual emergency release cord and force adjustment feature.