5 Garage Door Maintenance Tips You Must Know

When you’re running late for work, the last thing you want to deal with is a stuck garage door. To ensure your garage door operates smoothly for years to come, follow these simple maintenance tips each year.

1. Lubricate the door’s moving parts

A small amount of lubrication can go a long way toward preventing noise and keeping your garage door operating properly. Use a spray lubricant to grease up the door opener’s chain or drive screw. It is also a good idea to lubricate the door’s hinges, rollers and tracks.

2. Check hardware for tightness

Your garage door moves up and down several times a day and it is not uncommon for hardware to loosen over time. Inspect your hardware and tighten any loose roller brackets or bolts.

3. Test your door’s balance

If your garage door is not properly balanced, the opener has to work harder each time you open and close the door, which means that it won’t last as long.

To check whether the door is balanced, disconnect the opener by pulling the release handle. Then open or lower the door halfway. If the door is balanced, it will hold this position without your help. If, however, the door starts to fall or ride up, the spring’s tension needs to be adjusted.

4. Test the auto-reverse feature

The auto-reverse feature is designed to prevent injury. It is essential that you test this feature at least once a year to ensure it’s working well. Start by placing a large piece of wood or brick underneath the door. You’ll know if your door is functioning correctly when it reverses automatically after coming into contact with the object.

Modern door openers have a second reverse feature—a photoelectric system designed to detect people and pets walking underneath the door. To test this feature, activate the door and step your foot directly underneath the door’s path for just a moment. This movement should activate the door’s reverse function as well.

5. Inspect door parts for damage

Over time, parts such as the door’s rollers and cables can become damaged. Inspect parts regularly to ensure every aspect of your door is damage-free. If necessary, replace broken or damaged parts.

Original Article Here: 5 Garage Door Maintenance Tips You Must Know

Related Article Here: 10 Tips for Maintaining Your Garage Door

For more information about garage door repair services, Garage Door Repair NDH is just one call away!

Spring Systems or Pulley Systems for your Garage Door Springs

If you hear the works, garage door springs, you may or may not be familiar with the term. However, if you are a homeowner, it is very likely that you have heard the term before. Garage Door Repair NDH in North Druid Hills, Georgia repairs and installs garage door springs. It doesn’t matter the type of garage door that you have, you will need good sturdy springs. Many of our customers want to know what the differences are between the torsion spring system springs and the pully system. It is the torsion springs that are torsion springs and the extension springs, which are on the pulley system. Both make things easier for you when you’re using your garage door but knowing which one is best for you is important, especially if you are having new one installed. Here is a little information that you might find useful 

Torsion Garage Door Springs 

Again, it is the torsion springs that are use the spring system. The more recently manufactured garage door openers usually are the ones with the torsion springs. They can be found near the top of your garage door. The components are a torsion spring bar that is mounted on a header on the inside of the garage door opening. The actual springs are mounted onto the tube, which is parallel to your garage door. Each end has a drum with cables that connect to bottom brackets on both ends of your garage door. Once the door is opened the cables will move up the door and around its drums. The torsion springs have the strength needed to open and close the door and it is the cables and drums that do the actual lifting. Torsion springs come in different sizes based on the weight of the door. This is calculated once the attached components in place. Torsion springs generally last longer than the pulley system type springs. Doors that are lighter in weight might only require one torsion spring but the larger and heavier doors will use two or more springs. 

Extension Garage Door Springs 

If you are hearing about a pulley garage door spring system, you should know that whomever is talking about them are actually discussing extension springs with you. Even though this type of system is not as widely used as the torsion spring or spring system, they are still in use in some garage doors today. They do not tend to last as long as the spring system, torsion springs do. Therefore, many people who have this type of system, eventually have it replaced. When the extension springs are attached, there will always be two. This type of spring requires pulleys and cables to open and close your garage door. They need to be properly balanced and in good condition if your garage door is going to move along efficiently and smoothly. Our garage door repair technicians will generally suggest that both extension springs are replaced at the same time since they usually tend to become worn around the same time. When one spring is sturdier than the other, you’ll notice your garage door going up at an angle. When your garage door has extension springs, they stretch when the door closes and loosen once it is opened again. One benefit to the extension springs or pulley system is that they have a safety cable that is attached on both sides of the track and runs through the middle of both springs and then extends to the brackets. This is necessary because extension springs hold a lot of tension and if a spring breaks, all the extra support can keep it from killing someone. No, we are not saying this jokingly. There has been loss of life due to broken garage door springs. Therefore, it is very important to allow trained, qualified professionals to make any necessary repairs to your garage door springs. It also serves as a safety precaution to allow someone with the experience to address your spring issues and concerns. 

Time to Choose a Spring Type 

Now that you know how they are designed, it is time to decide whether you’re going to stick with what you have or try something new. Many people who have the extension springs already and have not had any problems with them tend to just keep them and have them cared for by our local service technicians. However, there are some who for fear of what could happen, will have the replaced with the spring system or torsion springs. They don’t often do this until one of their extension springs has broken. If you are having a home built and you are making a decision about your door, make sure you inquire about the type of springs that are going to be used. If you have a preference, based on your understanding of both types, you should certainly speak up before the door is completely installed. If you’re not sure which garage door springs are best for you, perhaps you need additional information, which any garage door service should willingly offer to you. You should make a well-informed decision. 

Consider the Security Features 

Your garage door springs offer convenience and they also offer safety features. If you didn’t have the garage door springs, you would have to get in and out of your car to open and close the door. Your garage door opener can’t operate without springs. Opening and closing your garage door could be a safety concern also. If you’re not paying close attention the door could malfunction and fall back down on you. Your garage door springs begin to show signs of distress long before this happens. As a homeowner, you’ll have to pay attention to the warning signs that serve to protect you from harm. If you would like to learn more about the security and safety features of your garage door springs, inquire. You should know everything that you want to know about your garage door so that you can be cautious when it is in use. 

Manual Garage Door vs Electric Garage Door; Pros and Cons

We live in a world full of options. Would you like fries with your burger? How many bedrooms do you want in your new house? Do you eat meat or are you a vegan? The sky is the limit when it comes to choices and this goes for garage doors, too. We can install garage doors in just about any style, size or material imaginable. We also have choices when it comes to our garage door opener. Not only are there dozens of brands and opener models and styles, but we can even choose whether we want to use an electric, automatic opener or none at all! By none, we mean opening our garage door the old fashioned way; manually. Here at Garage Door Repair NDH, we mainly install and service garage doors that use the automatic, electric openers but every once in a while, a customer asks about the pros and cons of manually opening your own door and believe it or not, there are advantages and disadvantages of this. 

Once upon a time 

In the “old” days, everyone had to operate their garage doors by hand. You had to manually lift and lower your garage door via a handle on the inside or outside of your door. This is true not only here in North Druid Hills, GA but elsewhere, too. Read on and see what these pros and cons are; it might help you make a buying decision or to make a change! Let’s take cost for starters. It’s obviously less expensive to not use an automatic garage door opener. Think of the money savings and all that extra exercise you get from actually getting out of your car to manually open or close the garage door. Wow; it almost sounds worth it and for some, it just may be! Not only are you saving money on not buying an automatic electric opener unit, but you also save on maintenance and upkeep costs. Then there’s the fact that there are no installation costs either. When having a new garage door installed, you simply attach it to your other components like pulleys, tracks, and cables and you simply forgo the added expense of adding an electric opener to do the opening and closing. 

But why do most choose the electric openers? 

In actuality, they are not choosing one over the other. Almost all home builders and contractors assume that folks want the automatic, electric ones. It’s never offered as an option or upgrade feature; it is assumed that new buyers want the convenience of having an electric opener unit. Later, when houses are rented or re-sold, they already have the opener units installed. In fact, many home buyers may not even be aware that they have a choice between the two as all they have known is the automatic opener variety. 

Electric opener advantages 

There are so many pros to the electric garage doors; where to begin? First and foremost is the convenience; you get to stay in your car or even inside your home and simply tap a button to open or close your garage door. No tedious getting out of the vehicle to physically lift and lower your several hundred pound door; just a simple tap on your remote and it’s done. Convenience is probably the most obvious benefit of having an electric garage door, but there’s another “pro” that is really important, too; safety! 

Better security  

It’s so nice to come home during a rain downpour and not have to get wet! You simply stay inside your dry car and push the opener remote and your garage door opens. Drive inside and tap the button again; the door closes and you remain dry. You might wonder what this has to do with safety but the act of staying inside your vehicle has a lot to do with it! Getting out of your still running car put both you and the vehicle in danger. You can be accosted, hurt or even kidnapped while you are preoccupied with opening your garage door by hand. Or, your car might be the target. Car theft is a tempting possibility and since your purse, wallet and keys are still inside along with your registration, address, insurance papers and house keys, it’s a dream come true for thieves! On a related note, the fact that you are outside the car and pre-occupied makes it easy for a crook to grab you, drag you inside the garage and close the door, leaving you and your house vulnerable to all sorts of bad things. 

House value 

Another little known factor to consider is that of your home’s value. Let’s say you want to sell or rent your property and of course, you want top dollar. You won’t get anywhere near that if your garage door is only manually operated. You may like this way of opening and closing your garage door but that doesn’t mean that others will. The natural response will be to “knock down” the price a bit and that’s not what you want. Face it; most owners or renters WILL want the automatic, electric garage doors so bear that in mind. 

Upgrading to electric? 

Many people upgrade from manual garage door operation to electric. You can do this in several ways. You can purchase an opener unit and install it yourself. You can also call a garage door opener shop have them do the installation for you. A big advantage of that is that you know the work will be done correctly and safely. A full service, professional garage door technician can actually save you money, time and hassle. He or she can assist you in selecting the perfect opener model for your particular needs. All electric opener models and units are not alike and depending on your garage door size and usage, it’s smart to choose one that is well suited to your garage door. Ultimately, it’s your garage door so choose the option that fits your needs best! 

Follow These Steps For Finding A Local Garage Door Repair Service

As a homeowner, you probably know about the hassles of dealing with a broken or non-functional garage door. Repairing garage doors requires professional expertise, and there are plenty of garage door services around. In this post, we have enlisted the steps you should follow for finding a reliable service.

Ask around

Talk to your friends, relatives or neighbors to know about the best garage door repair services. Ask about their experience and why they liked or disliked a service. If you don’t have that option, you can always check online to find local listings. Check the reviews and feedback from other customers, so find the nature of complaints against a particular service.

Find more about a service

As a client, you should consider asking a few relevant questions, such as –

1. Is the company licensed? Do they have the necessary permissions to take up repair contracts?
2. What kind of services do they offer?
3. Do they have an in-house team of repairmen? Does the company hire day laborers? Do they train their team members additionally?
4. Do they offer a quote for the job in advance? If yes, will they offer a service agreement?
5. Do they offer any warranty on their services?
6. What kind of doors do they repair – wood, glass, steel, and craftsman?

Insurance matters

A professional garage door repair service will always have insurance cover to keep their clients protected against possible mishaps. Workplace accidents are common in the service sector, and if their workers are injured at the site, they must have workers’ compensation insurance to handle the medical bills and other expenses. They must also have general liability insurance, which will cover any damage or loss to your property, owing to the mistake of their repairmen. Don’t believe in tall claims, unless you have checked the papers

Check for emergency assistance

One fine day, you might return home to a broken garage door, and in such urgent times, you would expect immediate assistance. The response time of the repair service is one of the many factors that matter in the long run. You need a company that’s accessible and available for emergency needs. Try calling to a few hotline numbers to know if your phone is attended by a real human and not a computer.

Ask for a quote

Typically, when you call a repair service, they will send their executives, who will check the overall work before offering a quote. The estimate may or may not include the cost of replacement parts, and that’s something you need to check. If they have a warranty on their services, you need to know the terms and conditions as well. Also, ask for a service agreement and try to understand the relevant aspects that may concern the terms of their services.

If required, ask for a few client references, so that you can compare the services better. Unless you are in an emergency, do check the website of the concerned company to understand the highlights of their services.

Original Article Here: Follow These Steps For Finding A Local Garage Door Repair Service

Related Article Here: Steps to Hiring a Good Garage Door Repair Company

Are you searching for a reliable garage door repair services? Garage Door Repair NDH is now here to give you a satisfying and worthy service!

Follow These Steps For Finding A Local Garage Door Repair Service

As a homeowner, you probably know about the hassles of dealing with a broken or non-functional garage door. Repairing garage doors requires professional expertise, and there are plenty of garage door services around. In this post, we have enlisted the steps you should follow for finding a reliable service.

Ask around

Talk to your friends, relatives or neighbors to know about the best garage door repair services. Ask about their experience and why they liked or disliked a service. If you don’t have that option, you can always check online to find local listings. Check the reviews and feedback from other customers, so find the nature of complaints against a particular service.

Find more about a service

As a client, you should consider asking a few relevant questions, such as –

1.      Is the company licensed? Do they have the necessary permissions to take up repair contracts?

2.      What kind of services do they offer?

3.      Do they have an in-house team of repairmen? Does the company hire day laborers? Do they train their team members additionally?

4.      Do they offer a quote for the job in advance? If yes, will they offer a service agreement?

5.      Do they offer any warranty on their services?

6.      What kind of doors do they repair – wood, glass, steel, and craftsman?

Insurance matters

A professional garage door repair service will always have insurance cover to keep their clients protected against possible mishaps. Workplace accidents are common in the service sector, and if their workers are injured at the site, they must have workers’ compensation insurance to handle the medical bills and other expenses. They must also have general liability insurance, which will cover any damage or loss to your property, owing to the mistake of their repairmen. Don’t believe in tall claims, unless you have checked the papers

Check for emergency assistance

One fine day, you might return home to a broken garage door, and in such urgent times, you would expect immediate assistance. The response time of the repair service is one of the many factors that matter in the long run. You need a company that’s accessible and available for emergency needs. Try calling to a few hotline numbers to know if your phone is attended by a real human and not a computer.

Ask for a quote

Typically, when you call a repair service, they will send their executives, who will check the overall work before offering a quote. The estimate may or may not include the cost of replacement parts, and that’s something you need to check. If they have a warranty on their services, you need to know the terms and conditions as well. Also, ask for a service agreement and try to understand the relevant aspects that may concern the terms of their services.

If required, ask for a few client references, so that you can compare the services better. Unless you are in an emergency, do check the website of the concerned company to understand the highlights of their services.

Original Article Here: Follow These Steps For Finding A Local Garage Door Repair Service

Related Article Here: Steps to Hiring a Good Garage Door Repair Company

Are you searching for a reliable garage door repair services? Garage Door Repair NDH is now here to give you a satisfying and worthy service!

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT GARAGE DOOR FOR YOUR HOME

We don’t think much about it, but the garage door actually plays a major part in your home’s general appearance. The truth is, an unsightly garage door, or one that’s in obvious decline will make your property look shabby, and its value will drop, too. Particularly if your garage doubles as a spare room, shop, office, or den, then you should pay even more attention to maintaining it. Begin with an optimum-quality garage door that’s solid and resilient. Keep in mind that the garage door is the largest operating appliance in your household, so it’s important to keep it in tiptop condition. If you’ve decided that it’s time to buy a whole new garage door, it’s vital to land upon the perfect combination of durability, curb appeal, price, and satisfactory maintenance requirements.

Which is Better: A Sectional Garage Door? Or a Single-Panel One?

If you’re shopping for a brand-new garage door, there are literally endless choices. At first, you may think that a sectional garage door is the standard, which nowadays actually is true. However, there are numerous additional options, such as the single-panel garage door ~ also called a “swing” door, or the “up-and-over” door. To find the garage door that’s right for you, there are a good number of aspects to consider.

Sectional Garage Doors

Sectional garage doors are definitely the most popular kind. This type of garage door is hung on overhead tracks, and made of four sections or more. These panels are held together along the edges with hinges, which also hold the rollers so they will stay in place, permitting the garage door to open and shut properly along its tracks.

Pros

Convenience. If space at your property is limited, a sectional garage door is your best bet. These doors don’t need to swing out, so it allows for more space outside. Your car can be parked closer to the garage door.

Tougher and safer. A sectional garage door stands up well to extreme weather. Without extension springs, and with the capability of automatically operating this garage door, it is less dangerous.

Attractive options. A wide range of colors, materials, and finishes is available. Sectional garage doors of either wood or steel are exceptional options. A wooden sectional garage door is great if you have a custom-built, more expensive house with an attached garage, and you’d like a more welcoming look. Steel sectional doors are easier to install, sturdier, and less expensive.

Easier to repair. If a sectional garage door ever gets damaged in just one section or two, it’s much easier and less costly to repair, because you can replace only the sections affected without too much effort, instead of having to repair or replace the whole garage door.

Cons

Higher pricing. Depending upon which customization options you choose, a sectional garage door is usually more expensive than a single-panel garage door.

Your garage space is affected. Because of the tracks for this kind of garage door, it uses up a bit more space inside the garage.

Expert attention is required. A sectional garage door has a large amount of little parts and springs, making installation more complex. Typically, these doors are also limited to options which work well in two-foot segments, so it’s harder to fit them together correctly for installation.

Single-Panel Garage Doors

A single-panel garage door is a solid slab, which, when opened, slides up and into the space above your automobile. Although it occupies the amount of space similar to what a sectional garage door does, it operates differently. Most single-panel garage doors are hung on a heavy-duty hinge system, which is attached to the jamb. Once this sort of garage door is fitted with its springs, it swings easily, and a garage door opener isn’t even needed. Or, sometimes, a single-panel door can be hung with a system similar to a sectional door, so that you can attach it to a garage door opener.

Pros

Lower cost. A single-panel garage door is often a lot less expensive than a sectional door, even when made from the same materials. If you ever need to replace your garage door’s torsion springs or cables, the cost will likely be more reasonable.

Simplicity. The single-panel garage door has relatively few parts, making installation easier. Furthermore, the fact that there are fewer parts means that there are fewer things that could potentially break over the years, so there’s less to maintain.

Variety. The single-panel door can be made from almost any material you can imagine, and you won’t have panels that clutter the overall appearance.

DIY. A single-panel garage door is ideal if you have an older home, since, with minimal effort, it will be easy to match its old-fashioned style to the style of your property. Whenever you wish to retrofit the garage door hardware that’s already there, a single-panel door is a clear-cut choice.

Cons

Space limitations. If you are in a tightly packed neighborhood, and space is at a premium, you might feel uncomfortably confined. Thus, there’s extra area required in your driveway for a single-panel garage door ~ for tilting up and down ~ so each time you open or shut your garage door, you’ll have to remember to park further back.

Safety concerns. A single-panel garage door requires extension springs, which, if they crack or break, can be hazardous. If not maintained properly, these springs can go straight through a wall! They can cause serious injury and can even be deadly.

Maintenance issues. When a single-panel garage door malfunctions, it usually fails all at once, so the entire door can fall down.

This is only a brief overview. When it comes to garage door materials and styles, there are many possibilities. Considering your taste, budget, and requirements, how do you choose the one for you? Hire a topnotch local garage door repair company you can rely on. If you’re in North Druid Hills, Georgia, consider a reputable company such as Garage Door Repair NDH, where free consultations are available.

Garage Door Repair NDH: Garage door opens and closes on its own

A garage door that opens or closes without you giving it the signal to can be quite scary. While it doesn’t happen often, it does indeed happen, and it doesn’t necessarily indicate that you have a ghost in your home. Don’t panic if your garage door opens and closes on its own. Garage Door Repair NDH has put together a list of reasons to help you identify what is going on and what to do to prevent it. If you are in North Druid Hills, GA be sure to reach out for help. But if you live elsewhere, you can easily find a garage door repair company that can ensure everything is working as it is supposed to. We will provide the right steps to take at the end of this blog so you will know how to hire the best place!

Why is my garage door opening/closing on its own?

It’s not a ghost or some sort of magic! The garage door might be operating without you telling it to because there is an electrical fault. There could also be an issue with the opener or other parts. Was your garage door installed in the early 1990s? If so, there could be interference from a neighbor’s remote.

Look for:

1. Dirt or debris interfering physically with the garage door

Physical interference can easily cause a garage door to malfunction. Even something simple like dirt or snow that gets in the way can make your garage door sense something is in its path. Therefore, when you are attempting to close it, it will reverse to open. It does this as a security feature so that no one ends up with the garage door closing on top of them. Clear away any snow. Move piles of leaves. Make sure nothing is in your door’s path.

1. Damage to electric circuit

If you recently had a big storm hit, then you might find that there was damage to your electric circuit. This can happen after a bad lightning storm. A fuse short could have occurred in the remote control. This could also happen within the wiring system. If you do think electrical concerns exist, then it is best to talk with an expert. You won’t have to spend a fortune and you won’t have to worry about getting hurt.

1. Radio interference

Radio interference doesn’t only come from remote control codes that are a match for one another. Do you live near a military base? Perhaps the equipment is causing an interference problem. Are you close to a radio tower? Even if you have police regularly driving by, their radios can interfere with your remote control. When radio interference does turn out to be the problem, the best solution is to reprogram your opener’s code. If it is an option, you might want to replace your older opener unit completely. You’ll likely enjoy more convenience and a safer system.

Finding an Expert You Can Trust

We mentioned before providing information in regards to how to find the best garage door repair professional for the job. Here, you will find just what you are looking for. If you decide that the issue can’t be fixed without the help of an expert, then here is what you should do…

1. Make sure that you are hiring a credible professional in your area. This should mean they are insured and licensed, to start.  In addition, you should check to see if they provide a warranty for their parts and labor. Make note of how long they have been in business – have they been around long enough for you to trust that a 5 or 10 year warranty will actually be effective? Or do they seem like the type of business that might disappear within the next couple of years? See how long they have been established – this will help you to decide how reputable they are and how likely they are to be able to uphold a warranty.

1. Ask around for recommendations. If you can’t seem to find any friends or neighbors who have recently used a garage door service, then check online. Look at any information on the Better Business Bureau. Check Yelp. Check Facebook! There are many places that allow customers to leave real reviews.

1. See if they provide free price quotes. Most repair businesses won’t charge you for consultations or price estimates. Why? Because they know their rates are great, and they don’t mind if you take the time to compare them to other similar businesses.  Partial deposits are not unusual – as a matter of fact, more often than not, they are completely legitimate. Just make sure that you are never asked to pay the total price upfront for repairs.

If you happen to be in North Druid Hills, GA then you know who to call – Garage Door Repair NDH. Our team of experts makes sure that locals have exactly what they need, whether their garage door is strangely opening and closing on its own, or something else is going on. Most services will look into problems with tracks, springs, rollers, cables and more!

No matter where you’re based in the country, we hope this blog post has been helpful to you. Don’t panic if you can’t figure out why your garage door opens or closes without being prompted to do so – just pick up the phone and call the garage door repair provider of your choice. Typically, a quick inspection will provide all of the answers that you are looking for, and you won’t have to shell out buckets of cash to identify the issues preventing your garage door from working properly. Remember, you need it to stay closed so that unwanted persons are unable to get in. Keep this part of your property safe by having it carefully inspected when something is not working as it is supposed to. Best of luck!