Garage Door Replacement Torsion Springs (Truth & Lies)

April 27th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Contractors, Garage Door Spring Replacement, Garage Door Springs, Garage Door Torsion Springs
Comments Off on Garage Door Replacement Torsion Springs (Truth & Lies)

For those of you who have a broken garage door torsion spring and are trying to sort through what’s true and what’s a sales gimmick here is some garage door torsion spring fact and fiction, I hope you’ll find very helpful.

There are two types of garage door replacement torsion springs available. The most common type is the “oil tempered spring”, this particular construction has been around since the beginning of garage doors and is the most commonly found torsion spring. The other type of torsion spring that you’ll find is a galvanized torsion spring that is shiny and is touted to last longer and not get your hands dirty. On a side note we don’t recommend consumers handle the springs so who cares about dirty.

Now assuming that you have two identical doors and one door has oil tempered torsion springs and the other has galvanized torsion springs if they are installed at the same time and used the same amount of cycles then the oil tempered torsion spring would break before the galvanized torsion spring, this is a fact. Now here is where it gets tricky.

It’s extremely important that the proper springs are installed on your garage door the same as it would be that you wear the proper size shoe that fits you. It’s also extremely important for safe operation of the garage door manually and with an automatic garage door opener that the door be balanced so here is why “Oil Tempered Springs” are the only way to go.

The keywords here are a “balanced garage door”. The oil tempered garage door torsion springs installed today will still have essentially the same tensile strength one year from now and if the garage door was balanced it will still be balanced a year later. The galvanized garage door torsion springs will have lost approximately 9-15% of their tensile strength causing the garage door to no longer be balanced. In order to re-balance the door a service visit will be required at an added cost to you and tension will be added to the door. Each time tension is added to your garage door you shorten the life of the spring and since galvanized torsion springs continue to lose their tensile strength you’ll need to re-balance the door every year until the spring breaks.

Oil tempered garage door torsion springs cost a few bucks more but you’ll save big in the long run!

, ,
Read More

Garage Door Repair? Don’t be fooled!

April 27th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Contractors, Garage Door Repairs
Comments Off on Garage Door Repair? Don’t be fooled!

In today’s tough economy consumers are looking for a bargain and Atlanta garage door repair companies are desperate to gain your business. This could be a great deal for you the customer or as many have experienced a real Rip-Off.

Let’s face it there is no such thing as a free lunch so when you see bogus so called deals claiming 50% off, Buy 1 Get 1 Free, Free Service Call, $200.00 off etc., you can be certain you’ll be paying for this in some hidden way. Generally speaking when you see these kinds of Gimmicks you can rest assured you will almost always pay more than you needed to for your overhead garage door repair.  In most cases these Gimmick garage door repair companies will end up charging you 2-3 times more than a reputable door company.

The purpose of the so called “Free Service Call” is to gain access to your garage door and your home and have you as a captive audience. They bank on your lack of fair garage door repair pricing knowledge, your trust and since they are already at your home you might as well get the work done. I hear stories weekly of people being charged 2-3 times the going garage door repair rate and then calling around after the fact to find out they been Ripped-Off.

In almost 34 years of doing business with most garage door and garage door opener manufactures in North America I’ve never had them offer “buy 1 get 1 free” or “50%” off or free. Now if these huge corporations can’t afford to do it then it’s only logical that a local Atlanta garage door repair company can’t do it either.

Remember an honest  Atlanta garage door repair company will always quote “real” pricing up front and you won’t see these bogus claims.  Ask for a quote up front and an explanation of what their service includes, check for online reviews and if a garage door repair company has been in business for longer than a year they should have at least 75 Favorable reviews. Do your homework before you write that check and you won’t end up being Ripped-Off.

, ,
Read More

Signs You May Need a Garage Door Spring Replacement

April 23rd, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
Comments Off on Signs You May Need a Garage Door Spring Replacement

Have you noticed that your garage door opener is working harder than it used to?  Does your garage door seem heavy and hard to open by hand?  Your garage door rollers may be binding up, but the more likely cause is weak garage door springs.

There are two types of garage door springs.  Torsion springs are mounted across the top of the door opening and coil and uncoil as the garage door opens and closes.  Extension springs are mounted along the upper garage door rails extend and contract as the door opens and closes.

Garage door springs help keep the garage door balanced by assisting with opening the door.  Garage door springs are coils of heavy duty metal that carry some of the weight of a closed or closing garage door.  Garage doors weigh hundreds of pounds and without these springs they would be very difficult to open and hard to control while closing.

As a garage door spring gets older, it starts losing its strength which causes the opener to work harder and the door to seem heavier.  If your garage door springs are more than 7 to 10 years old, it may be time to replace them.  Each garage door spring will only work for a certain number of “cycles” of opening and closing.  For a garage door that opens and closes twice a day, the springs should last at least 7 years before showing significant sings of agin.

If you have newer springs, your garage door technician may be able to adjust the spring tension so that the door opens and closes properly.  Older, weak springs are due for a replacement.

Your local garage door service company can help you with a spring adjustment and determine if that will solve the problem  Otherwise they can safely install fresh new springs that will last for years.

 

, ,
Read More

Garage Door Seasonal Maintenance

April 23rd, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
Comments Off on Garage Door Seasonal Maintenance

Now that spring is in the air, this is a great time for a little seasonal maintenance on your garage door to keep it working great all summer.  For such a large moving object, garage doors just need a little maintenance for reliable operation.

Before you begin remember to never attempt to disassemble the springs or cables and pulleys that are part of the garage door lift assistance system.  These components are under tremendous pressure and can cause a serious injury or even death if they come loose.  Any garage door repairs or adjustments to the springs or pulley systems should be handled by a qualified garage door service technician.

Start by inspecting the door, hinges, rails, and rollers and tightening any loose hardware.  Lubricate the rollers and hinges with a light oil or dry lubricant.  If you have a chain drive or screw drive garage door opener, lubricate the chain and rail or screw according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you don’t have the instructions, the screw drive and railing on a chain drive unit can be lubricated with white lithium grease.  The chain can be lubed with light oil or motorcycle or bicycle chain lubricant.  Be sure to wipe off the excess oil before parking your car back in the garage.

This is also a great time to check the safety reverse system on your garage door to make sure it is working properly.  The garage door should have an electronic ‘eye’ near the floor that will stop the door from closing if anything is detected in the path of the door.

If you notice any problems with the door, call your local garage door service technician.  Garage doors are large, heavy moving objects and having repairs completed by a qualified garage door technician is important for safety reasons and to maximize the service life of the door.

, ,
Read More

Leave Garage Door Repairs to the Pros

April 23rd, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
Comments Off on Leave Garage Door Repairs to the Pros

Whether it’s a malfunctioning garage door opener, broken springs, or other problem, most garage door repairs are best handled by a trained garage door technician.  Garage doors are more complicated than they appear which is reason alone to let a professional handle the job, but more importantly garage doors can be dangerous to work around and can pose a serious safety hazard if they are not installed or maintained properly.

Garage doors are much heavier than most people realize.  Garage doors weigh hundreds of pounds but a properly adjusted garage door feels very light because they are equipped with lift assisting springs.  These springs carry most of the weight of the door so it opens easily by hand or with a small automatic opener.

When the springs are out of adjustment or have been removed for repairs, the garage door becomes very heavy and can come crashing down from an open position.  In fact, many homeowners have been surprised by a garage door that seems to get heavier as it is closed until it gets too heavy to lift.  All that weight means that the garage door can injure someone who is standing or working in the doorway.

In addition, the powerful steel lift springs that help balance the door are under very high pressure.  If they are disconnected improperly they can seriously injure or even kill someone.

An experienced garage door technician has the training and skill needed to handle garage door repairs safely.  Protect yourself and your family from harm by calling a professional garage door service whenever you need garage door repairs.

, ,
Read More

Garage Door Spring Replacement

April 8th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
Comments Off on Garage Door Spring Replacement

Garage doors use heavy duty steel springs to counterbalance the weight of the door and make it easier to open and close.  Garage doors typically weigh hundreds of pounds and even a small single door can weigh 100 pounds or more.

Without the assistance of springs, it would be very difficult for most people to open the garage door and garage door openers would need much heavier duty motors and gears.  With the assistance of properly adjusted springs, a garage door seems almost weightless and is easily opened by hand or by a modest garage door opener.

The two most common types of garage door springs are extension springs and torsion springs.  Extension springs are installed parallel to the door tracks and are connected to the door through a system of cables and pulleys.  As the door closes, tension is placed on the spring and it extends, bearing most of the weight of the door.  The spring contracts as the door opens.

Torsion springs are mounted over the top of the door parallel to the door itself.  Unlike extension springs, torsion springs work by coiling and uncoiling as the door opens and closes.

A garage door spring is good for thousands of cycles of opening and closing the door, but the steel in the spring fatigues over time and all garage door springs eventually break.  A garage door spring is most likely to break when the door is closed or closing because that is when the greatest amount of tension is put on it.  You will hear a loud banging noise when the spring breaks.

Contact a garage door repair service to replace a broken garage door spring.  These springs are under a lot of tension and can cause serious injury or even death if they are mishandled.  Expect to replace both springs at the same time.  If one spring breaks, the other is not far behind and your door will open best with two springs of approximately equal age and strength.

, ,
Read More

Why You Should Replace Both Garage Door Springs

April 8th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
Comments Off on Why You Should Replace Both Garage Door Springs

Overhead garage doors use heavy duty steel springs to help make it easier to open and close the door.  Garage doors weigh hundreds of pounds, but with properly adjusted springs they easily opened by hand or a small opener.

As garage door springs extend and contract (or coil and uncoil for torsion type springs) they become fatigued.  Each cycle of opening and closing the door causes the spring to become slightly weaker and it will eventually break.  Garage door springs typically last for thousands of cycles so even if you use your garage door frequently, it will take years for a spring to break.

When a spring breaks, you will need to have it replaced by a good garage door repair service.  These springs are dangerous and this is not a job for the homeowner.  Garage doors usually have two springs – one attached to either side of the door.

Always replace the springs in pairs, even though only one spring is broken.  It is important that the door is lifted evenly and as garage door springs age, they become weaker.  Installing a strong new spring on a door with an old weak spring will cause uneven lifting and jamming of the door.

In addition, if one spring breaks the other is not far behind and it is less expensive to install both springs at the same time than it is to have the garage door technician make two trips to your home a few months apart.

, ,
Read More

Making Room For Garage Door Repairs

April 8th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
Comments Off on Making Room For Garage Door Repairs

If you need garage door repairs, before the technician arrives it will be helpful to clear the area so that the garage door technician has room to work safely.  For many homeowners, this just means moving the cars out of the garage.  However, if you have a broken garage door spring, wait for the technician to arrive before attempting to open the door.  The door will be much heavier than normal and can overpower your opener.  The door may also be too heavy for a homeowner to safely lift it by hand.

Your garage door technician will need a clear area in which to work and will need access to all areas of the garage door.  That means if you use your garage for storage, you will need to move some things around to give the garage door technician access to the work area.

This included a wide area around the inside and outside of the door itself and area along each door track and an area under the opener from the door to the opener motor.  There should also be a clear path from the door to the garage door opener button.

By keeping these areas clear, your garage door technician can quickly and safely repair whatever problem you are having with your garage door.  You don’t have to completely clear the garage, you just need to move enough things around so that the garage door technician can easily and safely get to all areas of the door.

, ,
Read More

Find Local Company | Garage Door Directory | Find Local Garage Door Service Companies