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.
Garage Door Upgrades Top Home Improvement Investments
Remodeling magazine has recently published their annual Cost vs. Value survey. For the third year in a row, eight of the top 10 remodeling projects that render the best return on investment are those that enhance curb appeal.
Whether you choose to replace your garage door with a mid-range door or high-end upgrade, garage door replacement takes two of the three top spots for home improvements that cost less than $5,000.
The elevation of the majority of homes incorporates the garage door at front and center. The emphasis on an attractive, yet practical garage door is a worthy investment. At 75.7%, a mid-range garage door replacement ranks second on ROI when spending less than $5,000.
Custom Door & Gate offers a full line of Clopay® garage doors; from affordable steel doors, to contemporary aluminum and glass doors, to hand-crafted carriage house style wood doors.
Use our Visualizer tool to “try on” a new garage door and design coordinating doors to maximize the “wow” factor.
Our staff of professionals are happy to answer your questions about Garage Door Upgrades and assist you with the design process. We’ll assure you choose the perfect door to complement your style without breaking your budget. Or stop by our showroom in Raleigh where you can see the quality products we sell first-hand.
Insulated Garage Doors Improve Home Comfort and Energy Savings
The change in season often marks a change in a home’s thermostat. With homeowners making increasingly eco-conscious choices, we look for ways to increase energy savings, but one place that is often overlooked is the largest opening to a home, the garage door.
Replacing a non-insulated garage door with a newer, improved insulated one can make a huge difference in a home’s ability to retain heat in the winter months and keep a home cooler during warmer weather. Interior home temperature, energy savings and power-saving costs are immediate.
Insulated doors are sure to be a home investment that you will appreciate for many years to come, and they are great for the environment!
Garage doors enhance a home’s curb appeal and value
Garage doors can be so much more than a home’s point of entry. In addition to being functional, a stylish garage door can enhance a home’s curb appeal and ultimately increase the value of the home. Ranging from time-tested classic designs to an industrial, modern look, today’s garage doors offer styles to complement and enhance any home’s architectural uniqueness.
In addition, better materials and designs, faster and quieter garage door openers, and better-insulated doors are just a few factors homeowners should consider when upgrading a garage door. We offer a wide variety of products that are sure to match your needs, style and budget.
Drop us a line to see what we can to do give your home a much-deserved facelift today!