GARAGE DOOR MAINTENANCE: 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO DO (DIY)

Garage doors manufactured today are meant to last a lifetime, as long as you invest the time to keep them properly maintained. Much like your car, your garage door requires a periodic inspection and tune-up.

With proper care and garage door maintenance, it’s easy to keep your garage door in optimal condition. Be advised, however, that some repairs should only be done by a qualified door technician.

Here are our top garage door maintenance tips:

1. TEST THE REVERSE FEATURE

While your garage door opener is technically a different set of equipment, it still impacts the overall functionality of your garage door and is important to its overall maintenance.

A reversing feature is a component of your garage door opener that is absolutely necessary. The opener should be replaced if this functionality is not available. Federal law requires any garage door opener manufactured after 1/1/1993 to have advanced safety features, and this is one of them.

To make sure your opener is compliant with these regulations, you need to test that the safety reverse systems are in order. There are two types – mechanical and photoelectric.

To test the mechanical safety reverse system place an object on the floor of the door’s opening, the door should reverse direction as soon as it hits the object.

For the photoelectric safety reverse system, stick two boxes on the vertical tracks, about 4 inches off the ground. Stick your foot in front of the photoelectric system, and see if the door opens.

Another way to test the Reverse Feature (from DASMA):

First, test the balance of the door. If the door is properly balanced, then proceed.

With the door fully open, place a 1-1/2” thick piece of wood (a 2” X 4” laid flat) on the floor in the center of the door.

Push the transmitter or wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when it strikes the obstruction. (Note that the bottom part of “one-piece doors” must be rigid so that the door will not close, but will reverse when it contacts the obstruction)

If the door does not reverse, have it repaired or replaced by a qualified technician.

2. VISUALLY INSPECTING YOUR GARAGE DOOR

Check out your garage door springs, rollers, pulleys, cables and all hardware for signs of wear.

*The springs hold a great deal of tension and only professionals should adjust them. The torsion springs (the springs above the door) should only be adjusted by a professional. Do not attempt to repair or adjust torsion springs yourself.

As a precaution in case the spring breaks, the restraining cable should be installed on the extension spring (the spring along the side of the door).

3. CLEANING AND LUBRICATING YOUR GARAGE DOOR

An important part of garage door maintenance is making sure the tracks, on which the door moves, are clear of debris, and screwed in tightly.

To ensure that your garage door tracks function well you will need to clean the track, removing oil, dirt, and grease.

Next, apply a small amount of lubricant to the heads of the rollers and the pivot points on the hinges. This will allow all moving parts to glide more easily in the track. You may use any lightweight oil, 30w or lighter. Make sure that you don’t miss areas like the locking hardware, and torsion spring (if present.)

After wiping excess oil, you may tighten any hinges, struts, handles, locks, and brackets that may need it.

This whole process of garage door lubrication maintenance should be done yearly. For best results, consult your owner’s manual.

4. ASSESSING THE GARAGE DOOR BALANCE

Periodically testing the balance of your garage door is another important component to your routine maintenance. Here’s how:

Ensure the door is closed completely

Engage the release mechanism so you can control the door by hand

The door should then lift with little resistance. You should be able to keep it open 3-4 feet above the ground.

5. INSPECTING THE WEATHER SEALS ON YOUR GARAGE DOOR

It is also important to make sure the opening of your garage door has proper weather stripping. This will help to keep debris and cold air from permeating your garage.

Look closely at the weather seals on the top, bottom, and sides, checking for any rips or tears. You should also assess the flexibility of each strip because as the strips stiffen, they lose effectiveness.

Since buying a garage door is such an investment, it makes sense to take the time and effort to keep your garage door in optimal condition. If you’d like to know more about the factors that will impact your garage door’s longevity, read up about how to protect your garage door from salt damage.

Original Article Here: GARAGE DOOR MAINTENANCE: 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO DO (DIY)

Related Article Here: Maintain a Garage Door and Opener

If you are having difficulty in doing the maintenance, you call for a professional help. Lilburn Garage Door Repair is always ready to help you anytime!

Automatic Garage Door Openers

If you’ve ever used a manual garage door, you probably understand the benefits of an automatic garage door. Many people don’t buy homes that have a manual door and quite frankly, manual doors are rarely used now-a-days. I suppose this would depend also on where you live and the type of home you live in. At Lilburn Garage Door Repair in Lilburn, Georgia, most of the homes we service have an automatic door opener. A manual door means that you will have to get out of your car to open and close the door. There are safety issues with both types of doors but as it relates to a manual door, you should pay close attention to make sure it doesn’t close on you. There is also the security factor, if you need to get out of your car late at night to open and close your garage door, you risk being attacked by someone lurking in the dark. This isn’t said to scare anyone, it is simply to tell you of the risks associated with using a manual garage door. 

An automatic garage door opener prevents these things. You are safely in your car as you open and close your garage door. You don’t have to worry getting out during bad weather to open and close the garage door. If you have several things that you need to take in and out of the car, having an automatic garage door means you can easily get in and out without continuing to manually open and close your garage door. Here is some additional information about automatic garage door openers that most of our local homeowners find very helpful. 

How Automatic Garage Door Opener are Installed 

When an automatic garage door opener is installed, it is pretty straight forward and simple. This is, if you are a professional garage door technician. If you are attempting to handle this job on your own, we would strongly suggest that you consider the difficulty in doing this on your own. What takes our experienced service technicians a short amount of time to do, would likely take an inexperienced person a rather long time to do. Due to the size of most garage doors and their weight, it can make it a little bit of a challenge to install the opener. You might end up hurting yourself or someone else during the installation process. Rather than taking such unnecessary chances, rely on the services of a reputable garage door service to handle the installation of your automatic garage door opener. 

Automatic Garage Door Opener Maintenance 

You, like most homeowners, assume that you just have the thing installed and let it do its thing. This is slightly true, however; it does require a little more maintenance than a manual garage door opener. The way you take care of your garage door opener will vary depending on the manufacturer. There are some that experience weather damage if they are not resistant to weather. Water damage is what usually occurs. What can occur is that the non-water chemicals can cause your metal doors to corrode. You can prevent this by wiping down your opener. Water and some soap is all you’ll need. The way that you handle the care of your automatic garage door opener for a wooden door will be different from any other type. Keep this in mind and consult with a professional garage door technician about the maintenance of your automatic garage door opener. Some will suggest that to keep your garage door opener in tip-top condition, allow them to perform the maintenance for you on a regular basis. This will ensure that your garage door opener will remain in good condition. When a garage door professional is attending to your automatic garage door opener, they will make sure that it is properly lubricated, to keep the doors functioning smoothly. They will make sure your springs and other components of your garage door are in good condition. If you live a busy lifestyle and are prone to overlook such things, it might be in your best interest to allow a garage door repair service technician to handle your garage door maintenance, which includes your automatic garage door. 

Automatic Garage Door Opener Remote Access 

Automatic garage door openers offer the convenience of remotely opening and closing the door. Just be careful that you do not open too soon if you don’t want someone sneaking in without your knowledge. There is also a wall-mounted remote on the inside that you can simply press when entering or exiting your home. Stay in your garage to make sure the door closes completely. In some instances, when there is a problem with your automatic door opener, the door will go down but turn around and go right back up. If you go in the house too soon, your garage door might be wide open. This would put your household in jeopardy. Moving in and out garage from the comfort of your car is what is most appealing to most motorists who have an automatic garage door opener. It isn’t a bad idea to leave one in the car and keep one on you.  

There is no doubt about it, having an automatic garage door opener is truly a level of convenience that most of us don’t even know how we lived without. However, there are some people who still have a manual door may certainly have their own reasons for preferring that style over an automatic. Perhaps, if you are more interested in an automatic door opener, you should know that it is possible to change your manual opener over to an automatic garage door opener. Just ask the experts. They will be able to address any of your concerns and quickly get to work on installing one for you. If you’re reluctant because of safety concerns, make sure they point out the useful safety features that come with an automatic garage door opener. 

Garage Door Opens or Closes on its own

No, it’s not something from the horror movies; garage doors really can open and close on their own! It might sound comical but wait until it happens to you! You might be inside the house making a sandwich for lunch. You hear the garage door start to open. You “know” it’s your spouse or partner; after all, who else has a garage door opener like yours? You finish making your sandwich; should you make your partner one, too? No one comes in. What’s keeping them? You go to the garage and look inside. The garage door is open but no car is inside. What gives?

You are not crazy!

Nope; you are not nutso! Your garage door really did open. Only, it wasn’t your partner. It was a little known fluke that affects garage doors here in Lilburn, GA and elsewhere, too. Our full service professionals here at Lilburn Garage Door Repair know the secret; it’s a neighbor that’s using your garage door frequency quite by accident. Don’t panic; this unusual activity is easily remedied – we’ll show you how.

Sharing is nice; unless it’s your garage door frequency!

Each garage door opener unit has its own frequency so that it can respond to your remote. The main unit and the remote communicate via this frequency so that when you tap the open or close button on your remote, it actually happens. Now, if someone else has the same frequency as yours, their opener and remote will respond accordingly. This means that their remote can open your garage, and vice-versa! These remote anomalies only happen on older pre 1993 models. If yours is newer, it uses a different system of rolling frequencies that change all the time. The older openers have static codes and far fewer frequencies so if someone changes their code, they can accidentally program it to match yours. So what’s the solution? Just contact your neighbor and decide between the two of you which one is to alter their opener code in order to be different. How can you tell which neighbor it is? Easy; who is coming home or leaving when your garage door mysteriously starts acting like your house is haunted!

But my opener unit is a newer model!!!

Don’t panic; there’s hope! If your garage door opener unit is post 1993 and you are experiencing unusual opening and closing activity, there are things you can do to diagnose the problem and stop it. Start by checking the battery in your remote. People often think that either the batter is good or it’s not. Not true; your battery may be partially drained and thus give off a random signal that in turn triggers unusual garage door activity. That’s right; the culprit could be your own remote! This weird garage door activity could also be caused by a neighbor’s remote if the battery is low. To make sure that your battery is good; test it. Use a home tester if you have one. If not, they are inexpensive and easy to buy both locally or online. You can even pick up a good used one at a garage sale if you want. Many local stores offer free battery testing so that’s one smart way to find out if yours are fully powered or not. While you are at it, check your remote for battery leakage, as well. Sometimes batteries leak their acid and it can get on the terminals and affect the signal sent. If yours are leaking clean them using a cotton swab dipped in vinegar or lemon juice. This offers gentle cleaning that can remove the battery acid and along with the new battery, can give your opener unit a strong, valid signal.

Next possible culprit; electrical short

You might also have an electrical short in one of your remotes or in your wall button. A short like this can cause your garage door to open again after fully closing. Imagine backing out of your driveway and watching your garage door close and then open back up as you drive off! Here’s an easy way to see if the short is in your transmitter. Take out the battery from your remote and operate the garage door using the wall button instead. If it works, that’s great, it was your remote. If it doesn’t the short is located in the circuit board, the wall button wiring or the button itself or in the wired keypad. The usual method of finding where your short is located is to try each part and do a kind of process of elimination for each one. You can do this yourself if you know how. If you don’t, you can either refer to your owner’s manual or if you don’t have one, you can find the PDF form of it online by using the keywords “owner’s manual” along with (brand and model number) in the search bar of your favorite search engine. There are also many online videos that show how to check for this. Don’t worry; it only sounds complicated but once you’ve done it, the next time will be a breeze.

It’s up to you

Like anything else, do it yourself jobs can either be a fun past time or a real chore! How much is your time worth? If working with your hands and doing fixer types of tasks are agreeable, by all means go ahead and do them. At least check your remote’s battery yourself or find that clueless neighbor with the same remote frequency. If those tasks do not get the results you want and your garage door still opens or closes on its own, it may be time to call in the pros. A licensed, bonded and insured garage door repair shop is good to have as a contact in your smart phone. You never know when you will need or want to use their assistance. An experienced technician will be able to pinpoint the problem quickly and fix it for you, usually the same day. Consider it!

IS YOUR GARAGE DOOR OPENER NOT WORKING? HERE’S WHAT TO DO!

If your garage door opener is on the blink, there are a good number of reasons for your troubles. Some are simple, and others are complicated. Here are some possibilities and solutions. 

Simple Problems 

Does your garage door not open with the remote? There are few causes for this happening, which are easy to fix yourself.  

1.You should charge or replace thebatter  

2.Youmay be too far out of range. 

3.Thegarage door motor’s antenna is damaged or blocked from the signal.  

4.The remote needsto be reprogramm 

Does your garage door opener run, but the garage door still doesn’t budge?

In case of a power failure, your garage door opener has a disconnect switch, which permits you to manually shut or open the garage door. Typically, this switch is attached to a rope or knob, and it can come unhooked by accident. Shut or open your garage door all the way, and then reattach the hook firmly. Next, with the transmitter, try opening or closing the door again, and now it should work. 

Is the garage door opener running for a few seconds, but then turning off?

If the garage door still won’t move when the garage door is shut, you’ll likely see that the door motor is attempting in vain to lift up the door. First off, check the springs. If they’re not broken, see if the track is blocked by a tiny obstacle or grime. If neither of these is the culprit, then look to see if your garage door is the kind with a built-in lock, because it might be engaging by mistake. This commonly occurs with older garage doors. 

Inspect the power source. Maybe the transmitter batteries just need replacing. Or, the electrical outlet could be faulty. 

Is the garage door stuck open, and won’t close at all? The photo eye sensors are probably out of alignment. Your garage door has a photo eye on each side, and between them is an invisible beam, which, when it’s broken, prevents the door from shutting. Find out if they’re grimy or misaligned. On most brands and styles of sensors, if the light’s blinking, something’s definitely wrong. Or, if you have a sensor with red and green lights, the red one is usually the indicator that it’s failing. 

Another possibility is the sensors’ wiring. Check the connections to see if the wires aren’t corroded or loose. There might be a short in the wiring, which can sometimes be caused by a staple that was used during installation; vibrations over time can ultimately result in a disconnect. Or, a disconnection will also result from the wires becoming stretched. 

Does your garage door go all the way down, but open up again? The open-and-close limit settings of the garage door opener are probably on the fritz. The settings tell the garage door opener how far the door should move before it’s completely closed. If it’s set too high, the door will land on the ground before the opener thinks it ought to, because it’s assuming the door is hitting an object in its path; then it will automatically reverse to stop from crushing it. Read the manual to find out how to reset the open-and-close limits. 

Does the garage door open and shut at random? If your garage door is opening or closing by itself, check the transmitter. It might be stuck under an object that pressed on the control mechanism inadvertently. For example, the transmitter may be stuck beneath an item you forgot you left in your vehicle or somewhere else nearby. You can also test the transmitter’s frequency; it’s possible your neighbor has the same exact frequency as yours. 

Complicated Problems 

Your garage door track could be out of alignment. If the track isn’t aligned, it certainly won’t move. Look for bends in the rails, or gaps between the rail and rollers. The substantial weight of your garage door will eventually compound these problems, so don’t procrastinate. This is serious. Before your garage door becomes hazardous, hire a professional garage door technician. 

Does the garage door close part way, but then open again? A garage door has a reversing mechanism to prevent it from smashing an object in its path. The reversing instruction is activated by any item that’s on the floor in the garage door’s path, such as a trash can, bicycle, toy, or box. Another probability is that there’s a buildup of debris on the garage door’s tracks ~ dirt or a minute object ~ which will stop the rollers from moving. This scenario requires the attention of a garage door expert. 

Does the garage door slam with a loud bang? In all likelihood, your spring is broken, which exists to counter the garage door’s weight. Or, the cables have broken. Either way, this is dangerous. Call a professional. 

If the garage door still won’t open, a spring, or both springs, are broken and need repair or replacement. It’s time to hire a garage door repair specialist. 

Unless you’re an engineer, DO NOT adjust the garage door by yourself! If you don’t have your garage door professionally serviced, the springs can cause injury, and even death. Don’t risk it! The garage door cables, drums, and bottom brackets also may require adjustment. Consult a reliable local professional garage door repair company.  

Take Preventative Measures 

Garage door maintenance is worth the minimal time and effort necessary. Keep your garage door in tiptop shape, and it will last a good long while.  

Once each month, examine the components of your garage door system thoroughly. Replace worn parts. Tighten loose bolts. If you hear any odd noises when the garage door closes and opens, call a garage door professional. 

Each year, before winter comes, lubricate the garage door springs, rollers, and hinges. With no lubrication, ultimately the springs will rust and the coils will bind, costing a lot. Prevent this from happening by using a reputable brand, so it won’t dry out. A light coating is all you need.  

Schedule an annual inspection with a dependable local garage door repair company. Wires, pulleys, cables, and springs all require attention from a professional.  

If you live in Lilburn, Georgia, find a legitimate garage door repair technician you can count on, such as a mobile garage door repair specialist on staff at Lilburn Garage Door Repair. 

Garage Door Won’t Work – Things To Check Before Calling An Expert

Garage door repair services are a great asset for the home owner but often times, a call will be sent out for a repair job when the actual cause is a bit less serious. While regular maintenance and service of your garage door will keep it running for thousands of cycles, knowing when to call an expert about a garage door is necessary to save a little cash in the long run.

Garage Door Repair

To understand what to look for before calling an expert, you’ll want to know a little more about how the garage door works as a whole. The garage door is a mechanism that runs on three core components: the garage door itself, a track and roller system, and the garage door springs. If any of these are not functional, then the whole system is considered failed but sometimes, it can be something you overlooked completely. Especially when it comes to any garage door that is in combination with a garage door opener.

Check Your Garage Door Opener Remote’s Batteries

Surprisingly, companies like Lilburn Garage Door Repair in Lilburn, GA get a lot of calls about a home owner not being able to open their garage door using their opener. A lot of the time however, after being asked whether or not they have replaced the batteries in their remote, the owner replies with a shocked gasp before opening the back of the remote and getting the item working without much issue.

While this is a common fix, sometimes that just doesn’t do it and instead, there is an actual problem with a remote. This can often cause issues since trying to find a new remote is either extremely difficult or expensive and may even result in having to replace the whole unit. If for some reason, the remote has become readily unavailable, it may be a good time to call a garage door repair service for an evaluation. Experts are equipped with different troubleshooting tools and more importantly working knowledge of each component of the garage door opener.

Often times, it isn’t related to the remote in the end and instead has to do with the cabling or receiver malfunctioning. Calling an expert after making sure your batteries are not the cause will save you a lot of trial, effort, and money of finding a remote that may not even solve the problem in the end.

Check For Debris In Your Garage Door’s Tracks

When your garage door doesn’t open or close as smoothly as you would want it to, this is a great time to learn about maintaining the garage itself. Just like any other door in the house, the garage door needs regular cleaning and maintenance to keep performing correctly.

When looking at the back of the garage door, look within the tracks for any debris such as spider webs or other insect nests as these can build up and cause obstructions that you clearly don’t want in the end. By cleaning these out with a broom or other tools like a Swiffer, you can restore the door to working condition rather easily.

However, if while looking at the door, you notice anything out of place (such as a roller missing from the track or the track itself having skewed and warped metal), then it’s time to call an expert. Both of these are a sure sign of a garage door being misaligned or on the way to being misaligned. An unbalanced or misaligned door is considered “failed” and requires immediate attention at the risk of it collapsing completely.

Check The Garage Door Springs

The garage door springs are the lifeline of the garage door. Whether you have an automatic opener or a hand operated one, the garage springs are vital to its operation.

The garage door springs provide what is called “spring force” equal to the weight of the door itself. Basically, it keeps the door up and provides support for opening and closing it that would not be possible without them. When these fail, a number of different problems can arise and become almost immediately apparent.

The first issue to look out for is your door sliding up or down without you moving it yourself or hitting the button to. This is due to the spring not providing support correctly and makes the door slide on its own which is the complete opposite of what you want in a door. Beyond this, if the spring is failed, the garage door will often come to a thud when sliding it down at a quick speed. Again, this means there is no control on the door as it moves from one state to another and this is a major indicator that it is time to call an expert.

Another way to check for this is to look up at the springs from inside the garage and see if they are split in half or noticeably separated from the garage door cabling. If either of these are a factor, then this is another indicator that it’s time to grab the phone.

Replacing a garage door spring is one of the most technically involved aspects of garage door repair and one mess up can cause an even worse and more expensive problem for your home. Calling an expert for this occurrence is highly recommended and without hesitation.

So I May Need An Expert, Now What?

Get the phone and call as soon as possible. While it’s easy to wait on repairing your garage door thinking “It works now, why bother?” think about how often you use your garage. If you store your car there before heading to work every morning, one phone call today can prevent missing work for a week because you waited.

As with any type of servicing, being proactive today can prevent any added costs and headaches in the future. Not only that but hiring a great garage door service means you’ll be able to ask questions, learn more, and help you maintain your garage for a long time to come.

IS YOUR GARAGE DOOR OPENER NOT WORKING? HERE’S WHAT TO DO!

If your garage door opener is on the blink, there are a good number of reasons for your troubles. Some are simple, and others are complicated. Here are some possibilities and solutions.

Garage Door Opener Installation

Simple Problems

Does your garage door not open with the remote? There are few causes for this happening, which are easy to fix yourself.

1. You should charge or replace the batteries.
2. You may be too far out of range.
3. The garage door motor’s antenna is damaged or blocked from the signal.
4. The remote needs to be reprogrammed.

 Does your garage door opener run, but the garage door still doesn’t budge? In case of a power failure, your garage door opener has a disconnect switch, which permits you to manually shut or open the garage door. Typically, this switch is attached to a rope or knob, and it can come unhooked by accident. Shut or open your garage door all the way, and then reattach the hook firmly. Next, with the transmitter, try opening or closing the door again, and now it should work.

Is the garage door opener running for a few seconds, but then turning off? If the garage door still won’t move when the garage door is shut, you’ll likely see that the door motor is attempting in vain to lift up the door. First off, check the springs. If they’re not broken, see if the track is blocked by a tiny obstacle or grime. If neither of these is the culprit, then look to see if your garage door is the kind with a built-in lock, because it might be engaging by mistake. This commonly occurs with older garage doors.

Inspect the power source. Maybe the transmitter batteries just need replacing. Or, the electrical outlet could be faulty.

Is the garage door stuck open, and won’t close at all? The photo eye sensors are probably out of alignment. Your garage door has a photo eye on each side, and between them is an invisible beam, which, when it’s broken, prevents the door from shutting. Find out if they’re grimy or misaligned. On most brands and styles of sensors, if the light’s blinking, something’s definitely wrong. Or, if you have a sensor with red and green lights, the red one is usually the indicator that it’s failing.

Another possibility is the sensors’ wiring. Check the connections to see if the wires aren’t corroded or loose. There might be a short in the wiring, which can sometimes be caused by a staple that was used during installation; vibrations over time can ultimately result in a disconnect. Or, a disconnection will also result from the wires becoming stretched.

Does your garage door go all the way down, but open up again? The open-and-close limit settings of the garage door opener are probably on the fritz. The settings tell the garage door opener how far the door should move before it’s completely closed. If it’s set too high, the door will land on the ground before the opener thinks it ought to, because it’s assuming the door is hitting an object in its path; then it will automatically reverse to stop from crushing it. Read the manual to find out how to reset the open-and-close limits.

Does the garage door open and shut at random? If your garage door is opening or closing by itself, check the transmitter. It might be stuck under an object that pressed on the control mechanism inadvertently. For example, the transmitter may be stuck beneath an item you forgot you left in your vehicle or somewhere else nearby. You can also test the transmitter’s frequency; it’s possible your neighbor has the same exact frequency as yours.

Complicated Problems

Your garage door track could be out of alignment. If the track isn’t aligned, it certainly won’t move. Look for bends in the rails, or gaps between the rail and rollers. The substantial weight of your garage door will eventually compound these problems, so don’t procrastinate. This is serious. Before your garage door becomes hazardous, hire a professional garage door technician.

Does the garage door close part way, but then open again? A garage door has a reversing mechanism to prevent it from smashing an object in its path. The reversing instruction is activated by any item that’s on the floor in the garage door’s path, such as a trash can, bicycle, toy, or box. Another probability is that there’s a buildup of debris on the garage door’s tracks ~ dirt or a minute object ~ which will stop the rollers from moving. This scenario requires the attention of a garage door expert.

Does the garage door slam with a loud bang? In all likelihood, your spring is broken, which exists to counter the garage door’s weight. Or, the cables have broken. Either way, this is dangerous. Call a professional.

If the garage door still won’t open, a spring, or both springs, are broken and need repair or replacement. It’s time to hire a garage door repair specialist.

Unless you’re an engineer, DO NOT adjust the garage door by yourself! If you don’t have your garage door professionally serviced, the springs can cause injury, and even death. Don’t risk it! The garage door cables, drums, and bottom brackets also may require adjustment. Consult a reliable local professional garage door repair company.

Take Preventative Measures

Garage door maintenance is worth the minimal time and effort necessary. Keep your garage door in tiptop shape, and it will last a good long while.

Once each month, examine the components of your garage door system thoroughly. Replace worn parts. Tighten loose bolts. If you hear any odd noises when the garage door closes and opens, call a garage door professional.

Each year, before winter comes, lubricate the garage door springs, rollers, and hinges. With no lubrication, ultimately the springs will rust and the coils will bind, costing a lot. Prevent this from happening by using a reputable brand, so it won’t dry out. A light coating is all you need.

Schedule an annual inspection with a dependable local garage door repair company. Wires, pulleys, cables, and springs all require attention from a professional.

If you live in Lilburn, Georgia, find a legitimate garage door repair technician you can count on, such as a mobile garage door repair specialist on staff at Lilburn Garage Door Repair.

Why Insulate Your Garage Door

If you are trying to stick to a household budget or you are on a fixed income, there are areas of your life that you might consider cutting back on. You might need to start at home. When you continue to notice your energy bill getting higher and higher every year and never going down, perhaps you’ll need to consider ways of improving the insulation of your home. One of the ways you can do this is by considering having your garage door insulated. In fact, if you’re in the market for a new garage door, you should consider having your garage door insulated at the time of installation.

You might be surprised to find out just how much air comes in through your garage door, especially when it isn’t insulated. The temperature from outside is felt the most when you’re inside your garage. There is a reason for this and it is generally because this is the one area of your home that isn’t insulated. If your garage is attached to your home, having a garage door that isn’t insulated can become very problematic.

Garage Door Insulation

Since your garage door is opened and closed regularly, it stands to reason that you’ll need insulation that can withstand the amount of use your door receives. Spray foam insulation and bat insulation will not be appropriate for your garage door. There may be some that exist for the garage door but the continued use of your door will make them flake and eventually pull apart. The problem with this is that you’ll have to continue insulating your door. This can be very costly. Instead of continuing to waste your hard-earned money, why not consider purchasing more efficient insulation. The best alternative to insulating your door is to buy a door that is already insulated. Instead of worrying about the type of insulation to install, make it easier on yourself by having an insulated door installed. Stop losing energy by investing a quality, insulated garage door, upfront. Ask any one of our service associates at Lilburn Garage Door Repair in Lilburn, GA about your options.

You might think that the only thing that needs to be insulated is your garage door but this isn’t the case. Your floor is likely made of a slab, which likely isn’t insulated. The cold air from the floor is easily transferred to the rest of your house during colder weather. Your garage’s concrete walls are also a problem when it comes to the amount of air that comes inside your home. You may need to insulate the ceiling and walls in order to see a significant change in your energy bill. You’ll need to make sure that the interior walls of your garage are well insulated to make sure that the even when the temperatures in your garage change, they will not affect the inside of your home.

As mentioned before, if you are considering using your garage as your office space or a home gym, you might have to do more than insulate the transfer points of your garage. Your garage, itself, will have to be properly insulated in order to avoid the costly energy expenses and to be comfortable enough for other uses. This means you’ll have to let the installer know what your intentions are for your garage space. Your garage needs to be insulated in a way that still makes it functional, if you are using it for more than storing your cars. Some people make the mistake of thinking that as long as their home is insulated, they don’t have to worry about their garage. This is often why many avoid insulating the garage at all. Even when they decide to insulate the garage, they may fail to have it fully insulated. You may avoid fully insulating it because of the expense associated with doing so. We strongly encourage you to count the cost prior to having your garage insulated. Get more than one estimate so that you can find a service provider to do the job that you need to be done. You should make sure that you can complete the job by relying on a service provider within your budget. If you are not able to get your garage insulated the way it should be, it is probably in your best interest to hold off until you can. This means you should avoid placing items in your garage that can be damaged due to weather conditions.

Counting the cost of having your garage insulated may also involve making sure you can afford to invest in the right type of door that offers maximum insulating benefits. This type of door may not offer you the design that you are interested in but it will offer you something more important, cost-efficiency. You can always add hardware to your garage door or have it painted if you are interested in changing the appearance of your garage door. Provide the garage door service with as much information as possible so that they are certain to advise you of what is going to be best for you. They want to be able to offer you the type of door that is going to benefit you in the long run and they are usually willing to take their time until you have made a final decision about the type of garage door to have installed and what type of insulation you need.

The bottom line when it comes to insulating your garage is that you should definitely consider insulating more than just your door. In order to benefit from an energy efficient garage, you may need to insulate the ceiling and the wall. Your decision will need to be made based on the lifestyle that your household lives. This will aid in keeping your home energy efficient. You won’t have to rely on your own understanding, as this is exactly what a professional garage door service is here to do for you.

 

GARAGE DOOR ISSUES IN COLD WEATHER

Garage Door Opener Installation

Here in Lilburn, GA we often get weather extremes. From hot, humid, summers to icy cold winters and everything in-between. Weather changes can be annoying enough when you are simply outside, but when your garage door is affected, it adds a whole new dimension to the problem. Imagine trying to leave for work or to take the kids to school when your home’s garage door refuses to open. We use our automatic garage doors so much that we expect them to operate at full capacity all year long. Here at Lilburn Garage Door Repair we tend to get higher call volume during cold weather as frigid temperatures can send garage door performance to plummeting lows. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do on your end to mitigate the problem and quite often, you can avoid a garage door repair service call altogether!

Step one – breathe deep!

That’s right; do whatever it takes to get and stay calm. Panicking or getting frustrated only makes the problem worse. Like we stated above, you can often avoid having to call a local Lilburn, GA garage door repair technician by simply checking a few things listed below. Often, problems can seem worse than they really are and this certainly includes garage door issues due to cold weather. When your door first fails to open or close, you might assume that you have a big repair bill ahead of you. You might even worry about possible injury to you or to a member of your family including pets. The fact is, cold weather CAN affect your garage door in many ways and more often than not, this can translate into a poor or shoddy performance.

It’s the simple things…

First of all, be sure to check the battery in your opener remote. It may be drained OR it might just be cold. Many times, the battery will work just fine when it warms up. In any case, be sure to have it tested. You can do this yourself at home if you have a tester. If you don’t; fear not; there’s a free and simple way to get it done. Just take your remote battery to the nearest Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe’s or Target store and they will be happy to test it for you. Sure, they want to sell you a new one but you are under no obligation to buy one. Also, if you have changed your remote battery several times or dropped your remote, the inside terminals may be a little loose. Sometimes, the cold weather can actually expand them a tiny bit especially if left overnight in a cold garage or in a car parked outside in the driveway. Simply squeeze the terminals a bit to get them to hold the battery more snugly and you should be good to go.

Safety sensors

Another reason your garage door may not work as it should, is your photo electric safety sensors. This device was designed to prevent your garage door, which weighs several hundred pounds, from directly hitting anything beneath it. This can include car, pets, children or even you! Your sensors transmit a beam to each other, and when that beam gets interrupted by something that gets in the way, the garage door either goes back up or it won’t move at all. There’s a simple test to see if your sensors are working. Inside your garage is the wall switch. Hold it down and see if your garage door closes. This action overrides the safety component and if it still doesn’t close, then your safety eyes need alignment or a lens cleaning. In case you are wondering what sensor alignment has to do with cold weather, it is this. Frigid temperatures here in Lilburn, GA can make your metal sensor casings expand and contract and this small action is often enough to throw off the much needed alignment.

Check your garage door tracks

Colder weather can make the grease build-up inside your tracks harden and this action alone is often enough to stop the movement of your garage door as it needs smooth movement within your tracks for optimal performance. The grease can also combine with oil, dirt, pet hair, leaves and other debris to form a blockage that can stop your garage door from working as it should. A quick inspection of your tracks should tell you whether they are is blockage or not. If so, a simple and quick cleaning with an old toothbrush should be enough to clear the passage. Don’t lubricate though; just clean using a dry brush.

Cold garage door springs

Our Lilburn, GA cold weather can also affect extension and torsion springs as well as our garage door rollers. Off and on cold weather spells can shorten the life span of these much needed garage door components and cause them to perform poorly or not at all. You may have a damaged spring in which case, we highly recommend that you don’t attempt repair on your own! Working on springs, especially extension springs is very dangerous and you should definitely call a local garage door repair technician at first chance. What you CAN do, is to run a simple test to see how your springs are working. Simply pull the emergency release on your garage door (the red knob at the end of the cord) and try manually opening and closing your garage door. If movement is choppy or difficult, you have one or possibly two damaged springs.

Cold weather tips

You can apply basic lubrication service to your garage door springs and rollers. This will certainly help during cold spells. If your springs are already damaged, this won’t help, but if not, it should prolong their life cycle and promote better performance. Simply spray your springs, rollers, hinges and tracks with a silicone based lubricant or a lithium spray. No need to go overboard; just lightly spray every few days or so for maximum benefit.

CAN’T GET YOUR GARAGE DOOR CLOSED OR OPEN? HERE’S WHAT TO DO!

If your garage door goes on the blink, there are a good number of reasons you could be having difficulties. Some are easy, and some are problematic. Here are some typical possibilities and solutions.

Basic Issues

Does the door go down all the way, yet open again? It’s likely the open-and-shut limit settings of your garage door opener are failing. The settings instruct the garage door opener on how far the garage door should move before it’s closed. If set too high, the door will touch the ground before the opener thinks it ought to, presuming the door’s touching something in its path. If so, it will reverse to stop from smashing it. Read the operator’s manual to find out how to set the open-and-shut limits.

Does your garage door opener run for several seconds, but then turn off? If your garage door still doesn’t move, this will happen when the door’s closed and the motor tries yet fails to lift the garage door. Try this:

1. Check the springs.
2. Look at the track for possible obstacles.
3. See if your garage door has a built-in lock engaging accidentally. This often occurs with older garage doors.

What if your garage door just won’t close? The photo eye sensors could be out of alignment. Your garage door has a photo eye on each side, and between them is an invisible beam, which, when it’s broken, keeps the door from closing. Inspect to see if they’re grimy or misaligned. Depending upon which style and brand of sensor you have, if the light’s blinking, there’s something wrong. (Or, if you have sensors with red and green lights, the red one usually means it’s malfunctioning.)

Another possibility of the sensors not working might be the wiring. Check the connections from the sensors to check whether the wires are coming loose or hindered by corrosion. Another issue may be that there’s a short in the wiring someplace, which can sometimes be caused by a staple used during installation; vibrations over the years can eventually cause a disconnect. The wires can also get stretched, resulting in a disconnection.

Does your garage door open and shut randomly? If your garage door opens or closes by itself, that’s a safety risk. But don’t fret. Try this:

1. Make sure the transmitters aren’t wedged under an object unintentionally pushing down on the control mechanism. For instance, the transmitters might be underneath items you’ve forgotten about in your automobile, or somewhere else nearby.
2. Test the transmitters’ frequency. Your neighbor might actually have the same exact frequency as yours.
   

Does your garage door opener run, yet still doesn’t move? In case of a power failure, your garage door opener has a disconnect switch that makes it possible for you to open or close your garage door manually. This switch, usually attached to a knob or rope, can get unhooked inadvertently. What to do:

1. Open or shut the garage door all the way by hand.
2. Reattach the hook securely.
3. Using the transmitter, you can try opening or closing the garage door again. It ought to work fine now.

Your transmitter batteries may be low. Perhaps, simplest of all, you just need to replace the batteries, and the garage door will open.

Complex Issues

Does the garage door close only part of the way, but open again? A garage door has a reversing mechanism to keep it from crushing any object in its path. The reversing instruction can be activated by objects on the ground blocking the door’s path ~ such as a garbage can, bicycle, or box. There may also be a build-up of debris on the tracks ~ grime, dirt, a tiny object, and so forth ~ preventing the rollers from moving forward. This problem calls for an expert.

 Your garage door track could be out of alignment. This is definitely serious. The metal track of your garage door must remain aligned properly, or it won’t budge. Check for bends in the rails, or gaps between the rail and the rollers. As years go by, the garage door’s weight can compound these issues, so don’t procrastinate. Your door might soon become dangerous, so hire a professional.

Does your garage door still not go up one bit? Your garage door spring needs attention. Your garage door may have one or two torsion springs, and one or both might be broken. If so, the door will malfunction, or not even open at all. Professional attention is required.

Does your garage door slam shut with a bang? It’s probably a broken tension spring, which counters the door’s weight. Or, the cables connected to the tension spring are possibly broken. Either can be hazardous, and necessitates a garage door professional.

Prevent Future Issues

Establish a routine garage door maintenance schedule to extend the garage door’s life. If your garage doubles as a game room or shop, you’ll certainly want an insulated door, and keep it in tiptop condition. Lubricate your garage door springs, hinges, and rollers ~ at least annually, before winter comes. Without lubrication, ultimately the springs will rust and the coils will bind. Use a reputable brand, and it won’t dry out. A light coating is all you need.

Once per month, examine your garage door system’s components.

1. Tighten down loose bolts.
2. Replace worn parts.
3. If you ever hear odd noises when your garage door opens and closes, immediately investigate.

Every other year, clean your garage door to prolong its life.

1. Wash both sides with a sponge and mild dish soap and water.Rinse well.
2. Wash the garage door opener sensor eyes with a dry, clean cloth.
3. Keep the perimeter around the sensors free of grime and cobwebs.
4. For a steel garage door, apply car waxif you want cold-weather protection.
5. For a wooden garage door, if you notice signs of chipping or peeling, apply a fresh coat of paint.

Schedule an annual inspection with a local garage door repair service company. Pulleys, springs, wires, and cables require professional attention.

DO NOT adjust your garage door yourself! A garage door spring can cause severe injury, and even death. The cables, drums, and bottom brackets sometimes requires adjustment. Hire a trustworthy garage door repair company. For example, if you live in Lilburn, Georgia, consider hiring a legitimate local company such as Lilburn Garage Door Repair.

HOW TO FIND A GOOD GARAGE DOOR SERVICE

LILBURN GARAGE DOOR REPAIR: HOW TO FIND A GOOD GARAGE DOOR SERVICE

When you are in need of household service, it can be hard to know who to trust. You don’t want to just pick a random name out of the phone book. However, if you have never required technician services before you can feel like you are moving around in the dark. When it comes to your garage door, the service company you choose needs to have the required expertise to get the job done. The company should also be professional and personable, and provide quick and budget friendly service. So what are some things to look for in a good garage door service? Keep reading for some tips that can help make your decision easier.

Ask lots of questions

When you are calling around to various companies, ask lots of questions. You are about to spend your hard earned money, so be as inquisitive as you would like. Do some research first, and see if the technician is knowledgeable. See if they are willing to give you some advice over the phone.  This is also a good way to judge their commitment to providing great customer service.

They should have experience

Any company you choose should have experience in the industry. How long have they been in business? What type of background do they have in working with garage doors? Does the company have experience in your geographical area? This is important because environmental factors can lead to different issues with your garage door. Ask if they have experience working with top industry brands. Some brands they should have experience with are:

• Genie
• Wayne Dalton
• Clopay
• CHI Doors
• Craftsman
• Sears
• Amarr
• LiftMaster

If your brand is not listed, ask them if they are familiar with the manufacturer of your garage door and opener. You want to make sure whoever you hire has worked with your system in the past.

Positive reviews

Does the company have positive reviews and feedback? Do a quick search and find out what people are saying about the company. Check the company’s website – is there a testimonial section? Read through and see what kind of positive reviews they have posted. The company should also be able to provide you with references of work they have completed in your area. Check these references thoroughly. You can also ask friends and neighbors if they have had garage work done in the past. Ask who they have worked with and how they liked the job and the experience. Word of mouth is always a great tool to get a glimpse into the quality of service a company offers. People will be happy to share their positive (and negative!) experiences with you, and you can learn from what they have already been through before spending a dime.

Are they up on codes and regulations

Any business providing repair services in your community should be up to date and well conversed in the codes, rules and regulations pertaining to their business. As a homeowner, you are putting trust in them to be the knowledgeable professionals. You don’t want to be left with a fine or hefty repair bill because the company you hired did not provide work that is up to code. One question to ask prospective repair services is if they are aware of local building codes in your area. Contractors should also be certified in safety practices. Any company you choose should be following licensing standards and safety regulations. You want your repair experience to safe and worry free.

Are they insured?

The business you hire should have proper insurance coverage. Garage door repair work can be dangerous, and you want to make sure the repair service you hire is carrying the proper coverage to cover themselves as a business as well as their employees. It is always a good practice to ask if the business and employees are insured. Some businesses will even go so far as to provide you a copy of their Certificate of Insurance if asked. If the business says they do not have insurance, then avoid them at all costs. You do not want to be held liable for any issues that may arise. If a company is not responsible enough to carry the proper insurance to cover themselves and their employees, the level of service they would provide you the consumer is questionable.

 Service guarantees?

The world is becoming increasingly competitive. As such, most companies offer some type of service guarantee to put their customers at ease. When looking for a company, see if they offer any guarantees. Do they say your satisfaction is guaranteed? Are they willing to stand behind the products they sell and the services they provide? If so, that is added peace of mind for you. The company should also offer a warranty on the parts they sell. Will they provide a free consultation or free quote? Another thing to look for is their hours of operation. Are they willing to offer 24/7 emergency service? Most garage door service companies are willing to accommodate your schedule and will provide emergency service in serious situations.

 Professional

The company should be personable yet professional at all times. They are the trusted experts in this field. They should be able to explain what they will be doing and why. They should also be able to offer tips to increase the longevity of your garage door. It is easy to decipher whether the person you are speaking with is knowledgeable in their field. Likewise, the company you hire should respect your time. The last thing you want to deal with is a service repair company that is late, doesn’t complete the job correctly, or leaves a mess all over your property. The service person should also explain what went wrong with your garage door, and if possible provide tips on how to avoid the same thing happening in future. In some cases, your garage door issues may be due to age or wear and tear. If that is the case and parts have been replaced, ask the technician if there is a warranty on the new parts, and how long they are expected to last before needing to be replaced again.

If you follow the above tips, you should be able to separate the reputable companies from the rest. If you are in Lilburn, GA the company to call for help is Lilburn Garage Door Repair. We have been servicing the Lilburn, GA area for some time, and have many positive customer reviews to show for it. Give us a call for a free consultation.