Choosing the Right Garage Door Opener for Your Home
You probably have never given it much thought, but as garage door service professionals we know that there are different types of garage door openers to choose from and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the right garage door opener for your home depends on what your priorities. Fortunately, most garage door openers are very reliable and there are really no wrong decisions, only better decisions for your personal needs.
There are basically three types of garage door openers to choose from based on the type of drive mechanism. These include:
- Chain driven
- Belt driven
- Screw driven
Chain driven openers were common in the very first garage door openers and continue to be utilized today. Because the chains tend to be made of metal and flex under the pressure of the door they tend to be noisy and less popular.
The second type is a belt-driven opener where the chain is replaced by a rubber belt. These are more expensive and require extra care when installing, but provide the quietest operation of all types of mechanisms.
The third type is a screw-driven opener. These types of openers have no chains or belts and feature very few moving parts. They are smaller than both chain and belt-driven openers and tend to be quieter than their chain driven counterparts. Because they contain fewer moving parts, they also require less maintenance and are the easiest to install for the do-it-yourselfer.
At Custom Door & Gate, we’ve been installing and repairing garage doors since 1989. This includes helping you choose the right garage door opener for your home. We know the ins-and-outs of both residential garage doors and commercial garage doors and can help you find the door that’s right for your home or diagnose your garage door issues.
How Long Should a Garage Door Last?
Your home is most likely the biggest investment you will ever make, and as such, you want to protect the value of that investment for as long as you own it. Few people however consider how their garage door influences the value of their home until it becomes a problem. But just like a roof that has a very specific lifespan, so does your garage door. And you want to do what you can to extend the life of your garage door.
Ask the average person how long their roof should last and they can tell you 25-30 years. Ask them how long should a garage door last or how much does a garage door cost; and you’ll most likely hear “I don’t know.” In fairness, the answer depends on the type of door and it daily usage.
The average garage door should operate without trouble for about 10 years. Unfortunately, in planned subdivisions, the garage doors are often picked by the builder for reasons related more to cost than performance. That may mean the quality of the door, its components and the installation may cause you to have problems earlier.
Other important factors in determining how long your garage door will last include the type of spring, the number of times it is opened per day as well as the weight of the door.
Most garage door manufactures distribute 10,000 cycle springs with their doors, meaning the spring is intended to function properly a minimum of 10,000 times. If your door opens and closes 3-5 times a day, the lifespan of your garage door will be 7-10 years. If the spring is too small for the weight of your door, you may have problems sooner.
At Custom Door & Gate, we are your local garage door service professionals.
We’ve been installing and repairing garage doors in the Raleigh, Fayetteville and Greenville areas since 1989. We know the ins-and-outs of both residential garage doors
and commercial garage doors
and can help you find the door that’s right for your home or diagnose your garage door issues.
Basic Garage Door Repair
Is it up? Is it down? Is it stuck somewhere in between? If you’re garage door is on the fritz, it might be time to for some basic garage door repair.
Few things are as aggravating as pushing a button on a transmitter and having nothing happen. It doesn’t matter if it’s your TV, the stereo or your garage door. That’s why it’s important to do basic garage door repair and maintenance to ensure this doesn’t happen to you at the worst possible moment.
Here are a few basic garage door repair tips to help you avoid problems in the future:
- Check your transmitter batteries every year
If something goes wrong when it rains, it will be this. Replace your batteries every year. If you need to be in your driveway before the transmitter will work, you’re probably due for a replacement. - Keep your photo eye sensors clean and aligned correctly
It’s easy to bump these and knock them out of alignment. Bikes, garbage cans and basketballs all have a way of find these delicate sensors so be careful with what’s kept around them on a daily basis. - Clean your garage door hinges, rollers and rails yearly
Dirt, bugs and other debris can easily clog up your tracks. Take a few minutes to clean them out with a broom or hose to keep things rolling smoothly. - Don’t try to adjust the torsion springs yourself
Tension springs are critically important to the smooth operation of your garage door. If yours breaks, call a garage door service professional and never try to fix one of these yourself unless you have the training to do so.
At Custom Door & Gate, we can help you fix your garage door the right way. We’ve been installing and repairing garage doors
in the Raleigh, Fayetteville and Greenville areas since 1989. We know the ins-and-outs of both residential garage doors
and commercial garage doors
and can help you find the door that’s right for your home or diagnose your garage door issues.
Fixing a Noisy Garage Door
My neighbor jokes that his noisy garage door is a security system so he always knows when his son is coming home with the car. His wife doesn’t think this is funny. The truth is, many people joke about and simply put up with their noisy garage doors because they don’t know how or even think they can change it. In fact, fixing a noisy garage door can be easier than you think and with the right guidance, you can be sleeping soundly through the night, undisturbed by the noise of your garage door anyway.
Fixing a noisy garage door starts by performing a visual inspection of your garage door to identify any mechanical or structural issues. Simple issues related to balance and alignment can reverberate through the foundation of your home and cause a lot of noise.
The next thing to do is evaluate the type quality of the door itself. Is it still in good shape or are there loose hinges and boards that are adding to the rumble going up and down. Tightening loose screws that have vibrated loose over time can elevate some of the trouble.
You may also consider adding garage door insulation to your door if it’s not already present. This can help minimize some of the noise caused by vibrations as well as add comfort and energy savings to your home.
After inspecting the door, turn to the rollers and track. Make sure they are clear of debris and other obstacles that can gum up the track. Sand is especially harsh and noisy when it’s covering wheels and bearing.
Finally, focus on the automatic garage door opener. Choosing the right garage door opener for your home can make a huge difference. Older chain driven openers are often much louder than new screw or belt driven varieties. Spending a few hundred dollars to replace these can make a big difference.
At Custom Door & Gate, we’ve been installing and repairing garage doors
since 1989. This includes helping you choose the right garage door opener for your home. We know the ins-and-outs of both residential garage doors
and commercial garage doors
and can help you find the door that’s right for your home or diagnose your garage door issues.
How Much Does a Garage Door Cost?
Your garage door is an engineering marvel. It’s the largest moving object in your home and it can be opened or closed with one-hand or the simple push of a button. It’s something you use every day, yet pay little attention to. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t even do regular maintenance on it. As a result, few people know the answer to the question “How much does a garage door costs?” or even “how long should a garage door last?”
How much does a garage door cost?
The answer of course depends on the type of door and the features you want to go with it. The least expensive doors start at a couple hundred dollars, while custom doors can be several thousand. The simple answer is that the average garage door used on most two-car garages is around $1000 to $1500. Add more insulation, windows or use wood, and the price will go up.
Determining the right garage door for your home is a lot like picking paint. It’s a personal decision that needs to fit your lifestyle, personality and budget. It’s also something you can’t take lightly because unlike paint, it’s not something that you can easily replace. And like paint, can improve the look of your home and make your house the pride of the neighborhood.
At Custom Door & Gate, we are your garage door service professional. We’ve been installing and repairing garage doors in the Raleigh, Fayetteville and Greenville areas since 1989. We know the ins-and-outs of both residential garage doors and commercial garage doors and can help you find the door that’s right for your home or diagnose your garage door issues.
A Guide for Fixing Your Garage Door
Garage doors are an afterthought. Taken for granted until something goes wrong and you’re stuck in your car while it rains wondering why it won’t go up. Understanding the issue is the first step toward fixing any problem, and in this series “A Guide for Fixing Your Garage Door,” we’re going to highlight some of the most common issues with garage doors.
Before we get started though, I think it’s important to point out that garage doors are not to be taken lightly (figuratively and literally). Garage doors are heavy and the mechanics that make them work s
moothly are a delicate balance of engineering and design. A typical 16×7 door weighs around 250 lbs. Wood doors can be significantly heavier. Thus, before you even think about repairing your garage door you need to think about safety.
One final thought. In this Guide for Fixing Your Garage Door, we’ll try to cover the basics of garage door repair and diagnosing the typical problems people encounter. Having been in this business since 1989, Custom Door and Gate’s commercial and residential garage door service professionals have seen pretty much everything, including the look on the customers face when we tell them to replace the batteries in their controller. Some of the issues we’ll discuss, like “batteries” are clearly correctable by the average homeowner; while others need to be done by a trained professional. Along the way we’ll help you identify which are which.
So come back in the next few weeks to learn more and read our guide for fixing your garage door.
And if you’re in North Carolina or South Carolina area and need garage door service professional, or even a new garage door, we hope you’ll make Custom Door and Gate your first call.
Why You Need Garage Door Service Professional?
You’re garage door is not just part of your house, it’s part of your life. When it’s not working correctly, it can be anything from a mild irritation to a critical safety hazard. If you’re a Do-it-Yourself kind of guy, take notice: messing with the components of a garage door can be dangerous. Tinkering with them can lead to major repair bills on your home, as well as serious injury. That’s why we always recommend that when repairing your garage door you use a trained garage door service professional for anything but minor repairs.
Why You Need Garage Door Service Professional?
If you’re like me, you read that first paragraph and said “whatever.” For you, I’ll share three key statistics provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Over the past 10-years, there have been on average 20,000 REPORTED garage door related injuries per year.
- Over 6000 of those injuries included pinched or crushed limbs resulting in amputation.
- Approximately 1500 of those injuries were to the DYI homeowner.
The last statistic about the injuries to the DYI homeowner is the most troubling and the biggest reason why you need a garage door service professional to fix your garage door right. It shows that the majority of injuries are not to the person repairing the door, but to someone else unaware that there was even a problem. The majority of these cases include children who are crushed by the door falling or safety features not responding correctly.
With that said, we know you’re still going to do certain things yourself and we would too. Our advice, think twice and keep all your fingers. We also suggest reading our blog entry entitled, “
And if you decide that maybe you do need a garage door service professional, or even a new garage door, we hope you’ll make Custom Door & Gate your first call.
Checking the Balance of Your Garage Door
Even if your door goes up and down without issue, checking the balance of your garage door is still a good idea because it can help you save money by extending the life of your garage door and avoiding expensive repair bills. The best part, doing this is pretty easy, as is identifying if you have an issue.
The first thing you need to do is close the door and then disconnect your automatic garage door opener if you have one. Now lift the door manually. Despite the average garage door weighing 200-250 lbs, it should lift smoothly with little resistance. This is because the springs of the door do most of the work. Additionally, the door should remain in the open position and not slide back down.
Now reverse the process and close the door. You should need to provide sufficient pressure to start the door back down its tracks, but not so much effort that you need to force it. Conversely, the door should not be coming down so quickly that it slams into the floor with a loud thud.
Balance is a principle behind the proper mechanics of your garage door. By checking the balance of your garage door on a regular basis, and not just when the power goes out, you can improve the life and performance of your door.
If you door’s balance is off, you should have your door inspected by an expert. Don’t attempt to adjust the springs or balance yourself unless you have the proper training. For other problems that you might find, check out our blog entry entitled, “A Guide for Fixing Your Garage Door” with helpful tips on what you should and shouldn’t attempt to fix yourself. And if you decide that maybe you do need a garage door service professional, or even a new garage door, we hope you’ll Contact Custom Door & Gate..
Performing a Visual Inspection of Your Garage Door
You’re garage door is more than a wall that goes up and down. It’s a doorway to your home and a vital barrier from cold, heat and other elements that you want to keep out. By performing a visual inspection of your garage door, you can improve not only its performance, but also avoid future problems by identifying them early on.
To do this, stand inside your garage with the door closed. Now look for visual gaps in around the edges or in the seams where light is still coming in. Don’t forget to check at the bottom of the door. Visible light is a clear sign that your door is not properly aligned and that the load is unevenly distributed across the structure.
Next, inspect the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys and mounting hardware. Each of these components has a very specific function and needs to be calibrated correctly. For example, cables and springs should be tight and not hanging loose. Hinges and wheels should be straight and not be rusty or worn.
The next test is easy. Open your door and listen to the sounds it makes. If you hear lots of creaking, rubbing or scrapping, that’s a good sign that it needs help. If you can isolate the noise, you can then check for physical wear and tear on those components.
Remember, performing a visual inspection is just the first step to Extending the Life of Your Garage Door. If you find something, you may want to have your door inspected by an expert. You may also want to review our blog entry entitled, “A Guide for Fixing Your Garage Door” with helpful tips on what you should and shouldn’t attempt to fix yourself. And if you decide that maybe you do need a garage door service professional, or even a new garage door, we hope you’ll Contact Custom Door & Gate..
Cleaning and Inspecting a Garage Door Photo Eye
As a child, I remember thinking it was a game to push the button and try to get out of the garage before the door closed without hitting the photo eye. Adults often think of the garage door photo eye as a nuisance. Regardless of what you think, the photo eye plays a critical role in the safety of your family. Yet nearly 20,000 garage door related injuries are reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission each year.
That’s why cleaning and inspecting a garage door photo eye is an important step in maintaining the proper function of your garage door.
The photo eye works by sending an invisible bean across the opening of your garage door. When the door is coming down, if something breaks this beam, the door should automatically go back up. If this doesn’t happen, you should replace your automatic garage door opener or call a service technician.
More frequently however, the issue with the photo eye is that it is out of alignment or dirty and your door will not go down at all. If this is your issue, fixing your garage door shouldn’t be too hard.
The first step to solving this problem is cleaning the photo eye lenses. Because of its proximity to the ground and environment, the photo eye can become very dirty. To clean it, use a clean cloth and mild cleaner. The photo eye is normally made with glass and you should use the same care with it that you would a camera. Scratches or other markings may cause it to function improperly.
Next, check the alignment of your photo eyes (one on both sides of your garage door). You can do this visually or by measuring the height of each photo eye from the ground, and using a level to make sure they are pointing straight across at each other. A laser level is very helpful but not necessary.
To test the photo eye, push the door transmitter or wall button to trigger the door to close. If it closes, the eyes are correctly lined up. Now use a broom or some other object to break the beam to ensure that the door opens. If the photo eye functionality is working correctly, the door should reverse and return to the open position.
If you decide that you do need a garage door service professional to help you diagnose problems with your photo eye or even pick a new garage door, we hope you’ll Contact Custom Door & Gate.