Helpful Home Tips
Garage Doors Tips
When to attempt to fix your garage door or opener and when to call a professional.
So, your garage door is having issues, should you call someone or try to fix it yourself. In these economic times we are all trying to save some money, so here are some helpful tips to decide whether to call a professional or not. If your door is not going down first thing to check is the safety eyes. Make sure the lights are illuminated (the sensors are located on either side of the door just above the floor). If the lights are flashing or one light is not illuminated then attempt to line them up. If you cannot, it is time to call someone because the sensors may be faulty.
If the door is noisy then you should first lubricate key components with a Teflon based lubricant to see if it helps. You should lubricate the hinges, tracks, and springs (only lubricate the springs if the springs are above the door when closed, typically on a big door). If the door won’t open check for broken springs, if they are broken call a professional! Springs are under high tension and attempted repair by an untrained individual can result in serious injury.
If your remotes are not working first check the batteries and replace if unsure. If still no result, check the wired button on the wall and make sure you do not have a switch labeled “vacation” or “lock”. If you do, make sure the switch is in the “unlocked” position and retry the remotes. If still no result, you can attempt to reprogram the remotes using your owner’s manual. Keep in mind you may have a faulty remote or circuit board in the motor. If you have frayed or broken cables, call a professional. If the door is stuck or crooked, call a professional.
Lastly, if you are unsure of any do-it-yourself repairs, please call a professional garage door repair company. Please remember safety first, your garage door is the largest moving item in your home and it is very heavy.
This post was provided by – Garage Door Repairs Marietta GA
Garage Door Maintenance
Garage doors are rarely properly maintained. Come on, let’s be serious, we push the button and it goes up and down, it must be working properly. Well if we took that approach with our cars we wouldn’t change the oil or replace worn tires, which would lead to costly repairs and they wouldn’t last. A garage door is the same way. It needs to be regularly lubricated and inspected for worn parts. Lubricating your garage door is equally as important, and it is quick and easy. Twice a year you should lower the door all the way down, and then lubricate all the hinges, the tracks, the wheels, and the springs. Lubricate the springs only if you have the ones that coil around a tube above the door (typically large or double doors). While lubricating the door, it is important to do a visual inspection. Check for loose or missing bolts and nuts. If some are loose, carefully tighten them. If you notice any frayed cables, leaning or missing rollers, or bent hinges you should call a professional.
Next you should check the balance, with the door already in the down position, pull the release cord to release the door from the opener. You should now be able to raise the door manually. Attempt to raise the door to waist level (3-4 feet), the door should stay there suspended on its own or gently settle to the ground. If the door slams down or you cannot raise the door, then you should call a professional, it is possible the springs are worn or broken. If the door is easy to raise, manually run the door all the way up and down and make sure it runs free, without binding or jerking. If all seems well reattach the door to the opener.
Now, you should check opener safety features. If you have “safety eyes” check that the door will not go down when the beam is broken. If the door does not stop on the way down, this is a serious safety concern, call a professional. Other safety checks and recommendations can be found in owner’s manuals.
This post was provided by Garage Doors Canton GA – Legacy Garage Doors.
How can a new garage door save you money?
Is your basement frigid during winter? Does your upstairs have cold floors? Are your heating bills through the roof? If you have an old wood door or an un-insulated garage door this could be one of the reasons why. Your garage door is this largest opening in your home’s exterior and if not properly sealed or insulated it is likely to be costing you money.
A wood door has an R-value of approx 2.00, an un-insulated metal door has an R-value of approx 1.00, a 2” thick fully insulated door has an R-value close to 7.00, and a 2” thick, two sided steel, insulated door can have an R-value close to 14.00. Since we are coming up on the winter season it is important to keep the heat from escaping. A new, high R-value door is a great investment in to the life of your home, it will yield years of trouble free operation, and help save on heating and cooling costs.
Aside from the door itself, you can save money during winter by keeping the cold air out of the garage. A good seal around the door and along the top and bottom will keep out the cold and pesky critters too. A proper seal can be purchased from many home improvement stores or you can have your garage door repair professional install upon request. The trim is called garage door stop trim, make sure to request one with the “rubber flap”. The trim is usually installed on a home with metal doors, but it can be installed on a home with wood doors also.
Now, on the other hand, during summer an insulated door is also very beneficial. If your door has direct sunlight beating down on it then you can greatly benefit from an insulated door. The insulation can greatly reduce the amount of the sun’s heat that is transferred through the door into your home’s interior.
To recap, an insulated is one of the most effective ways to save money this winter, but a good seal around the door can be priceless as well. Hope this helps you save money in the near future.
Post provided by – Garage Door Service Alpharetta GA.
When to replace or repair your garage door(s)?
When should you replace your garage door? Is the door rotten? Is it outdated? Is it in need of repair? Is it older than dirt? Or is it just plain ugly? These are all things to consider when it comes time to repair or replace your garage door.
For most of us the garage door is a major component on the front of our home. How it looks can greatly affect the curb appeal of your home. A new door can instantly update the face of your home, increasing curb appeal, increasing resale, and even reduce utility bills. A garage door system has what we will call: three main components. The first is the door itself, it may be made of wood, steel, aluminum (uncommon residentially), fiberglass, even copper and stainless steel. Second is the hardware, this consists of the springs, hinges, rollers, bearings, cables, pulleys, brackets, and other miscellaneous parts. Third is the garage door opener itself. The garage door sections are not a wear item, they only need to be replaced if they are damaged, rotten, or you just want an updated look. The hardware is usually rated for 10,000 door cycles and this equates to typically 7-10 years on a double door with two cars using it every day. If you have single doors then the hardware should last closer to 15 years.
Here are a few things to consider when weighing the option of repairing your existing door or replacing it altogether:
(1)If the door is more than fifteen years old and has damaged sections due to rot or it was backed into by a car, then it may be a good time to replace the door or at least get new door prices. This is due to the cost of the sections in conjunction with the cost of the inevitable broken parts in the near future would bring the repair possibly close to the cost of a new door.
(2)If the door is fifteen years old or older and has broken springs, worn rollers, and more parts that are worn due to use, but the sections are structurally sound, then it may be most cost effective to overhaul the moving parts. An overhaul replaces all the wear items on a garage door usually excluding the hinges. This repair typically will get the garage door running better than it did when it was originally installed. We hope this makes your garage door purchasing a little easier.
Post provided by – Garage Door Repair Canton GA.