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03.19.2020 By admin Garage Door Repair • Garage Doors 0 Comments

3 Safety Tips To Avoid Garage Door Accidents

As much as the garage door is very useful to many people with vehicles all over the world, they can be very dangerous if not handled properly. A garage door is basically made of metals, and metals are quite heavy, especially if it is as large as the garage door itself. Garage doors can sometimes malfunction and lead to devastating results such as being knocked unconscious, especially by roll-up garage doors. If not closed, then they may give access to unwanted visitors and make your house unsafe. To stay in the safe zone, it is better if you follow some safety precautions. Accidents cannot be prevented, but they can be minimized or avoided. The following are three tips that you should apply to avoid garage door accidents.

Never race against the garage door when it is closing. You may have watched many Hollywood movies of people doing this and successfully getting to the other side. You may also make it to the other side, but you never know the day that you won’t make it across. Many people have got hurt because of a simple mistake like this. As much as garage doors have sensors to stop it from closing on objects such as humans in its path, avoid such a temptation to dash below a moving door. The sensors may fail you, and the results will be catastrophic.
Maintenance of the garage door is a very important factor in the road to avoiding garage door accidents. Just because your garage door is working properly does not mean that it is in good condition. Some of its components may be old or worn out, but you don’t notice because you never check to find out. You need to set up planned maintenance that will keep your garage door working at its best for the long run. Maintenance done annually does not require a lot of time but will provide your mind with a lot of peace. Experts know the weak points of garage doors and will inspect the door thoroughly and provide understandable details on what steps have to be taken next.
A very simple step that you can easily do by yourself is to test the garage door to see if it actually works as you think it ought to. First, you can test the automatic reverse function of the garage. This is where if the garage door is moving and you place an object in its path, then it reverses after reaching the object. If it does not, then repair it. The second things are the force test, push or pull the garage in the opposite direction to its movement; it should detect this force and stop moving. The third test is the balance test, use the mechanism of lift, and lift the garage door with your hands. If the door has some resistance and does not lift smoothly or does not stay between three and four feet above the ground, then it is out of balance, and maintenance is required.

03.16.2020 By admin Garage Door Repair • Garage Doors 0 Comments

How To Repair Garage Door

To repair a garage door, we first have to identify the part to be fixed. The garage door consists of many different parts that can be fixed. You must carefully examine the door and all its components to identify the areas that need attention. You have to follow these simple and straight forward procedures to fix these components.

Check the door to ensure that the mounting brackets are tight. If they are loose, then you have to tighten the screws and bolts. Take a look at the track and ensure that it is not dented, be crimped, or have any spot that is flat. Pound the damaged spots with a rubber mallet if there is any. If they are too damaged, then you have to replace them.
Ensure that the tracks are in alignment. There are both vertical and horizontal tracks. The vertical tracks should plumb, and the horizontal tracks must be slanting slightly towards the garages back. Both tracks also have to be at equal height on the walls of the garage. If you notice that the tracks are not in alignment, then you should loosen the bolts and screws that hold the mounting bracket making sure that you do not remove them. Tap the tracks carefully back to their right position then tighten the bolts and screws again.
If the tracks are dirty, clean them with a strong cleaning agent to rid the dirt and dried up grease. Also, scrub the rollers with precision wipe them and also the tracks clean.
Check for any hardware that is loose and tighten them as you need. If the door swings up, then check the plates with the mounted springs and to ensure that the screws are fit tightly and tighten them if they are loose. If the door is the type that rolls up, then take a look at the hinges holding the door sections together, tighten loose screws and get new hinges if there are any damaged ones. Another thing to repair is usually the sagging of the door on one side. To fix this, just service the hinges. If the holes of the screws are widened, then get longer screws with the same diameter to replace them with. Use a hollow fiber plug dipped in the glue used by carpenters. If the wood at the hinge is cracked, then remove the hinge and fill up the cracks as well as the holes of the screws with wood filler. Give the filler time to dry up then replace the hinge. If you can manage to do it, then move the hinge onto hard solid wood.

If you have a roll-up door with a single torsion spring at its center, then it is highly recommended never to try fixing it yourself, the tension of the springs is so great that the spring can hurt you badly. To avoid such risks, call a professional to repair the torsion spring.

03.13.2020 By admin Garage Doors 0 Comments

How to avoid common garage door injuries to kids

Garage door injuries are an alarming cause of death among children. This occurs in different ways. The following safety measured is highly dependable in attempts to reduce risks and injuries caused especially to children by garage doors.

Garage door sensor

It is common for doors to clamp on hands or people when they accidentally close. Fitting a door sensor on your garage door will greatly reduce accidents caused by doors lowering onto a person or animal. This feature protects your children from being clasped by the door as the sensor will always feel the presence of the child and automatically reverse.

Failure on the spring

The movements of a garage door up and down are effected by the door spring. This gets ruined by wear and tear as long as the door remains in operation. Springs that fail to operate or snap suddenly may expose children to dangers of falling doors.

Keep passwords secret

Many modern door openers come with security features that allow you to set one-time and user-specific codes that can be safely used to access the building by workers and family members. This reduces the chances of door injury to children as they will not be able to access the garage door without being accompanied by an adult.

Education the children

Children like to play, especially on swinging objects. Many children will enjoy riding on an opening garage door while it goes up. Teach the children that this is a deadly practice and at no time should you allow such.

Some new garage doors have pinch protection that reduces the risk of finger and hand injuries. However, teaching the children to avoid inserting fingers or hands between door panels during closing processes will help you keep them safe from garage door related injuries.

Keep the remote away

Children like to use anything as a toy for play. They will access the remote control and constantly open and close the garage door. This practice is, however, more dangerous and can cause fatal injuries to the child. Keep these transmitters away and always make sure that the wall control for the garage door opener is more than 4 feet off the ground.

Test the force

Your garage door should be adjustable in a way that the force with which it comes down or goes up can be controlled. Always reduce this force to the minimum in order to reduce possible injuries that may come as a result of forcefully closing down. Ideally, the door should be able to stop when you hold it with your hand while it closes down.

Avoid DIY on major repairs

Although it may be cost-effective to be able to perform some minor garage door repairs without engaging an expert, attempting major door repairs without expert knowledge may be fatal to you and your family members or even workers. Avoid attempting to fix doors that are misaligned, broken, or loose torsion springs and broken cables. These garage door problems require much more attention, and expert knowledge and attempting to rectify them on your own exposes your children to more danger.

03.10.2020 By admin Garage Door Repair • Garage Doors 0 Comments

Reasons your garage door may not close

Garage door problems arise from time to time as the door is constantly in operation. However, anticipating a garage door repair can sometimes be devastating due to the costs involved in the repair and replacement of damaged parts. When you attempt to close your door, and it fails to do so, it could be a signal of major or minor door problem. Some of these problems can be fixed by a DIY, while others may require a professional. The top reasons that may stop your door from closing are discussed here.

Dead transmitter batteries

Transmitter controls work best when fitted with powerful or new batteries. Ensure your transmitter battery is changed regularly as old batteries will not work and may ruin the transmitter system. Remove the battery and replace it with new sets and try closing your garage door again. If the door does not close with the new batteries in place, the problem could not be the battery. Inspect the door for other issues.

Misaligned track

Bad weather such as storms, strong wind, and poor door handling may cause the door tracks to misalign.

Misaligned photo-eye

Your door transmitter has a small photo-eye through which signals are transmitted to your door opener. If this is blocked or misaligned, the signals will not transmit to your door, and the door will not close.

Transmitter or opener issues

The transmitter and or opener may have system issues that may cause them to malfunction. When this happens, the signals will not be generated or transmitted to your door, and as such, the door will not close.

Broken springs

Springs are an imperative part of your garage door. When they get broken, the door will not close safely. Broken springs may cause the door to fall down dangerously as opposed to safely rolling down, and this should be carefully handled. If you suspect the problem to be a broken spring, do not attempt a DIY on the door.

Poorly set garage door limit

When the garage door limits are poorly set, the door may not close up properly and may sometimes begin to close and open up again. If this is the issue with your door, engage a professional to adjust the settings for better door functionality.

Something is blocking the door

The garage door rolls down or up while in operation. When an object falls or lies on the way of the door, it will block it from either opening or closing safely. Ensure you check your door track carefully to ensure there is no object. Broken spring or spring parts can also lie on the door tracks and block it from closing. If you suspect this could be dangerous to handle, call for professional door service.

Your garage door is locked

When your garage door is locked as a security measure so that it does not fall off accidentally, the door will not close. This should be checked before attempting to close the door as forceful closing will destroy the lock mechanism of your garage door.

Tension springs or cables are broken

Tension springs and cables are the key features of the door that helps it to pull up or down. When the tension springs and cables garage door is broken, it can be very dangerous and fatal for you and your family. If you identify this as the issue stopping your door from closing, urgently call an expert to check and rectify this issue professionally.

03.07.2020 By admin Garage Door Repair • Garage Doors 0 Comments

Poorly set garage door limit

When the garage door limits are poorly set, the door may not close up properly and may sometimes begin to close and open up again. Sometimes this may happen as a result of worn-out springs or cables. The spring tensions may also be the culprit, and this may require that the spring or cable tension of your garage door is adjusted. If this is the issue with your door, engage a professional to adjust the settings for better door functionality.

Grinding noise

Noise on your garage door may be a result of loose parts or a squeaky section. However, these are simple signs that your garage door needs lubrication or tightening of the loose parts. Try applying lubrication directly on the affected parts and see if this resolves the problem.

Rust formation

Garage doors made from non-galvanized steel are much more exposed to rust. The door accumulates moisture during wet seasons and begins to rust over time. This makes the door tarnished, robbing your garage of that splendid look it had when new.

These are common door problems in wet conditions and can be easily resolved by a do it yourself. When the door begins to rust, clean the affected area using dishwashing soap and rub the area with vinegar to dissolve the rust. Once the rust is removed, apply primer and paint.

Unresponsive garage door remote or opener

The remote batteries may also fail to work. Transmitter controls work best when fitted with powerful or new batteries. Ensure your transmitter battery is changed regularly as old batteries will not work and may ruin the transmitter system. Remove the battery and replace it with new sets and try closing your garage door again. If the door does not close with the new batteries in place, the problem could not be the battery. Inspect the door for other issues.

Cracks

In wooden garage doors, cracks are very common. Always use a waterproof filler or sealant to caulk the crack whenever you notice them.

Broken weather sealant

Your garage door weather sealant keeps water out, seals air leaks, and reduces street noise. Always remove and replace broken or old weather sealants.

03.04.2020 By admin Garage Doors 0 Comments

The most common garage door problems when it’s cold

Are you approaching the cold days and not sure what recipe it brings to your home and particularly your garage door? Do not give a sweat. The garage is a very crucial part of your home, serving many other duties apart from storing your vehicle. This place can be a store for many household equipment and other tools that can help with fixing the door itself. It must be, therefore, very accessible at all times without experiencing any problems. Cold weather comes with a variety of challenges, and as a homeowner, you must be prepared to handle such issues, especially those that directly affect the garage door. Garage doors are made for longevity. However, when it comes to cold, they become susceptible to a number of door problems. Some of the most common garage door problems when it’s cold are discussed below.

Excess Grease

Grease and any other lubricant are integral parts of any moving parts of a machine. They help the garage door springs and gears to operate smoothly with low friction. However, when your garage door has excess grease while winter is approaching, you should not take it easy. Too much grease may freeze on the door tracks causing the rollers to jump out of alignment. This is dangerous, and therefore a balance between enough lubricant too much lubrication must be established.

Most lubricating greases are meant to be used under extremely hot conditions. This is what makes them very effective in the high-power conditions found in engines that produce more heat while under operation. However, low temperatures can harden grease, thickening it to the point where it makes a very poor lubricant. Always avoid this from occurring in your garage door by removing excess, old, hardened grease using a solvent before winter. This can then be replaced with a silicone-based oil for better door performances during the cold season.

Contracting Metal

As a normal behavior, metals respond to changes in temperature by expanding in hot weather and contracting in cold weather. Garage door parts such as springs, screws, and many other components are therefore expected to contract or shrink in the cold months. This kind of behavior will affect the normal operation of the garage door. However, it cannot be prevented.

Nonetheless, the problems can be mitigated by adding more lubrication to the spring. While doing this, remember to keep oil away from the tracks to prevent the door from jumping off the tracks, as explained in the first problem.

Weather-stripping failure

If water freezes near a closed garage door, weather stripping may stick to the ground causing it to be ripped off when the door is opened. When this happens, poor insulation may make your garage colder, resulting in unbearable energy losses.

Broken springs

Garage door springs tend to become more stiff in cold weather. As a door feature that helps to keep the garage door weight secure and balanced, when it becomes stiffer, the resulting high pressure causes the springs to break more frequently.

03.01.2020 By admin Garage Door Repair • Garage Doors 0 Comments

How to repair garage door cables

Garage door cables are a safety feature of garage door running through the torsion springs and do the heavy lifting of the door every time it comes up or goes down. The cable also works as a backup just in case the spring fails. This way, it prevents violent spring recoil and thus preventing any damage or injury to the door or any property. The cables can sometimes slacken and come out of the track, or if the tension is too high, they can snap and fall off. Before attempting cable repair, find out the cause and kind of damage and follow the following steps.

However, it is considerate to know that attempting garage door cable repair is a dangerous activity that should not be a do it yourself for a new unskilled person. This activity may require that you engage an expert technician in order to reduce the chances of injuries.

Release tension on the springs

The garage door springs are stressed every time the door opens or closed. It is a dangerous practice to attempt any cable repair before releasing the spring tension, as this may cause the springs to recoil more suddenly and cause injury.

Loosen the cable

Using a vise-grip, clamp, grip the shaft and turn it just enough to loosen the cable. Be sure not to excessively turn the shaft as it could cause the cable to unwind on the other side of the door, making the task more time-consuming.

Remove the cable

Once the shaft is loose, remove the old cable from the pin at the bottom of the door and unwind the cable slowly to remove it from the drum.

Replace the cable

Once you have removed the damaged garage door cable, you need to do an immediate replacement with a new standard garage door cable of about 8 feet 6 inches in length. Take the cable and slide the tip of the cable into its slot in the cable drum. Keeping your hand on the cable, wrap it tightly on the drum until you can easily attach the loop at the other end of the cable to the pin at the bottom end of the door. Once this is done, turn the shaft using a vice-grip in order to tighten the cable around the drum. Be more cautious not to overtighten the drum.

Test your garage door cable for free play

Once you have done the replacement, check round the drum for misalignments of the cable. Once you are sure the cable is well fixed on the drum and the torsion springs are adjusted to the right tension, remove the clamps from the garage tracks and gently lower the door by hand. It should be able to close and open more easily with less force.

Always check the cable for kinks or frayed portions and try to establish the causes of such damages. It is also important to keep the cables free from the accumulation of debris by avoiding the use of heavy lubricants, which may attract dirt.

02.26.2020 By admin Garage Doors • Types of garage doors 0 Comments

Insulated Vs. Non-insulated garage doors

Garage doors are equally important and perform key functions in your home or business. They secure your vehicles, tools, and other personal items.

Garage doors come in two main types: insulated and non-insulated garage doors. The type of garage door you choose depends on the climatic conditions of your home area and whether you have an attached garage or not.

Many times, attached garages are built in different ways from separated garages. Attached garage doors are built with thicker steel and stronger materials because they are an integral part of the structure of your home. Such garages are built in close attachment with your house and can be accessed from the interior of the house. They, therefore, greatly affect the energy consumption of your home as poorly insulated doors will allow drought to get into the houses and thus lead to high electricity costs being spent on heating or warming the house.

When shopping for a new garage door, always be sure to check the gauge of the steel. Standard garage door steel should be 24 or 25 gauge. High-quality garage doors are made using galvanized steel frames, which makes them rust-free. The type of joints a garage door has also ensured that it resists strong winds while making it more stable.

Insulated garage doors

Insulated garage doors are modern doors made to resist cold weather, especially when the garage is attached to your home. An insulated garage door comprises two layers of steel and insulation in between each layer.

The insulation protects the door against heat losses to the home exterior while also protecting the home from gaining cold from the exterior. These types of doors are thicker than non-insulated doors and can be custom insulated a little less or more, depending on what you prefer and based on the climatic demands of your home area.

The current environmental conservation campaigns have pushed many companies to start selling environmentally friendly insulations that are made up of CFC-free and HCFC-free polystyrene. This ensures that the right insulated garage doors remain in the market and serves the interests of the homeowner while championing conservation efforts as well. In addition to energy savings, insulated garage doors are quieter compared to non-insulated doors. They are more attractive and resist dents and dings in a better way.

Non-Insulated

These are open garage doors without any material protection from extreme weather or climatic conditions. They will, therefore, not protect your home or garage from extremely hot weather or extremely cold weather.

A non-insulated garage door has an open back. They are constructed only of steel and are most appropriately used in the consistently warm climates. This is because there is no need for protection or insulation from cold. If it gets too hot or too cold, a non-insulated garage door will either seep cold air into the garage or overheat the garage.

In conclusion, it is a biased decision to say that either insulated or the non-insulated garage door is better. This is true as these garage doors are both made for a specific reaction.

02.23.2020 By admin Garage Doors 0 Comments

Quality garage door springs

Garage door springs are an important feature of the door helping it to roll down or up. It is, therefore, imperative that the garage door springs should be kept in good condition as this will put the door in check, making sure it functions safely and efficiently. This way, you will be able to save money and time wasted in attempting repairs on doors that are already damaged beyond repair.

Preventive spring maintenance can assist you in keeping the garage door working like new. Read and understand the key issues around garage door springs that will restore your enthusiasm in maximizing your garage and home utility.

Importance of Quality Garage Door Springs

Quality garage door springs are essential for the efficient operation of your overhead door. The most important step is to lubricate the pulleys, track, and other parts every few months. You can also replace the weather stripping as well as tighten loose nuts, bolts, and screws. This way, you will ensure your garage door springs work efficiently in coordination with other useful parts of the door.

It has been common as hospitals continue to receive reports on people suffering lacerations and pinches from poorly maintained parts, while at the same time, there are several individuals who get injured when garage doors fall due to broken torsion springs. It is, therefore, more important that garage door springs be kept in good condition as this will save you money, time as well as enforce good health among your workers and family members. Make sure that regular maintenance service is done in good time, and a repair contractor is tasked to provide safety inspection regularly.

Garage door springs are regularly exposed to tear and wear. It is therefore very important that such old worn out springs be replaced from time to time. Do not forget that door spring is a key part of your garage door and is used daily in the operation of the garage door. Anytime a person requires an opening or closing door, it is basically the spring that will be used. The continuous operation of the door stretches the hardened steel torsion spring mechanism of the door, and sooner it develops stresses and becomes overused.

Types of garage door springs

With increasing technology, it comes with the development of different types of springs with better functionalities as opposed to the old spring sets. With this in mind, it becomes very difficult to identify the best type of spring to buy for your garage door. There are basically two kinds of springs:

Torsion Springs

Torsion springs are majorly used in the sectional garage doors. They placed above the door and run along the length of the ceiling. In many cases, single door overhead doors usually have one torsion spring only. On the other hand, double door overhead doors have two torsion springs.

The efficiency of these springs is set to increase when they function on a high tension level. It is, therefore very essential to handle them cautiously in order to avoid any fatal injury.

Extension Springs

Extension springs are used in tilt-up doors for opening and closing mechanism. Surprisingly, these single-piece doors move completely during their operation. They are also more commonly used in wooden garages and are also designed to function under high tension.

Which garage door spring is best?

Extension springs are cheaper and are often used in residential construction projects. However, with more exposed parts, they are also dangerous.

Torsion springs, on the other hand, are able to last longer and can support more weight. They deliver greater balance and make doors easier to open and close. They are a little expensive but are safer to use.

02.20.2020 By admin Garage Door Repair • Garage Doors 0 Comments

Brand new look of your garage door without replacing

Wondering how you can revitalize your old or tarnished garage door without doing a major replacement? Garage doors are your home exterior entry points and are, therefore, constantly exposed to bad weather and external forces such as kicks. Doing a repair on broken or worn out door parts may not be as costly as replacing the whole door set. Such repair works can also return the lost glory to your garage doors when properly and professionally executed. Consider the options available here and make a decision on which options are friendly to your pocket and weather around your home.

Paint up the door with a new décor

Old garage doors can sometimes look rusty as a result of mold or rot factors settling on the door over time. These doors are also exposed to dust, and this completely tarnishes the initial design and paintings on your garage door. Applying a new paint gives your door a completely new look and is actually cheaper than whole door replacement. Always be sure to scrub molds and thoroughly clean the door using soap and machine washer for better results.

Use embellishments to update the look of your garage door

Decide on the design you prefer by considering your home exteriors, preferences of your family members, and the cost of preferred embellishments. Once you have made a decision on the design you want, buy, and install the embellishments. You can also add vinyl sidings and panel overlays or just be creative and use varying materials that fit the design that you desire.

Always remember to do early research or ask the workers at the local hardware on how to properly install the embellishments and overlays so that your home improvement project does not turn into a catastrophe.

Depending on the materials you choose, repainting or adding embellishments on your garage door will help you create a gorgeous design that fully blends with the environment and returns glory to your visitors and family members.

Advantages and disadvantages

Painting or adding embellishments on your rusty garage door can be a DIY, or you can engage a professional if you are going to think twice about getting dirty. However, a DIY do idea will definitely save you time and money. It is fun to do and can be a great bonding opportunity for your family. However, you are on a mission to improve the face of your garage, and therefore this activity must be well researched in order that you do not end up ruining your garage door.

If you realize that you have a complex garage door with more complicated features and you are not experienced in DIY door repair or painting, engage a professional to assist. These people are trained in such services and are up to date with emerging designs and materials that will give your door a completely new look.

What to consider

Before you begin your remodeling project, consider your budget, the materials you want to use, the overall design of the house attached to your garage, the functionality of your garage door and the added value your enhancing features brings to your home just in case you decide to sell it out.