Summer Cleaning For Your Garage Doors

July 1st, 2014 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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Summer time is often when homeowners turn their attention to the exterior of their homes to do needed improvements and maintenance. Winter can leave driveways, patios and your garage doors all looking a little dingy. Not only will cleaning your garage door make it look better, it also can protect it from corrosion and damage. With a little soap, water and elbow grease, you can get your garage doors looking like new again this summer. 

Garage Door Spring Maintenance Tips

Almost all garage doors, including wood, steel and aluminum can be washed using a mild household cleaner and water. Usually this will be about one part cleaner to five parts water. However, always check your garage door manufacturer recommendations before using any cleaner. Using a soft cloth or sponge, wipe down your garage doors inside and out with the cleaning solution, then rinse with water and wipe dry. Once clean, inspect your garage doors for wear. 

  • Rust. If you find any rust spots, moisture has penetrated the paint. You will need to sand off the rust and repaint the area, or repaint the entire door. If left unchecked, rust will eventually ruin your door.
     
  • Bare spots. Are there bare spots where the finish or paint is gone or worn? Plan on painting or adding a finish coating to your doors this summer.
     
  • Cracks. Hard winters can leave your garage doors worse for the wear. Inspect your doors for cracks or damage from the winter storms. You may need to replace panels or the entire door if there is cracks in the surface. 

Once your doors are clean and in good repair, the next step on your summer garage door maintenance should be to have a tune-up performed on your opener. If it has been more than a year, call your local garage door service company to perform an annual tune-up and inspection.

 Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

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Damaged Metal Garage Door Panels

April 9th, 2014 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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Garage doors put up with a lot of abuse. They are hit with basketballs, bicycles and even cars, getting dinged and dented in the process. Over the years, your garage door can begin to shows signs of all this mistreatment, taking away from the beauty of your home. However, a few dents and dings don’t necessarily mean the whole door needs to be replaced. 

Replacing Damaged Panels

Many metal garage door panels are removable and replaceable. Depending on the door and manufacturer, you can usually order replacement panels for those which have become dented or bent out of shape. They generally come in only a few colors, or just in white. Once they are replaced you can paint the entire door, leaving it looking just like new. 

There are a few situations where garage door repairs may not be a good option and you will need to get an entire new garage door. These include: 

  • Older models. Some of the older models of garage doors may have been discontinued by the manufacturer. When a model is discontinued, there may not be replacement panels available to order. In this case, you would either have to have panels custom made or replace the entire door.
  • Door structure is damaged. If more than just the panel is bent or damaged, the entire door may need to be replaced. Before ordering new panels, have your local garage door service company inspect the entire door to make sure that only the panel area is damaged.
  • Multiple panels. If two, three or more of the panels are damaged, it may be more cost effective to replace the entire door, especially if the door is already a few years old. 

Replacing old panels on your metal garage door can give your whole garage and home a fresh, new look. Talk to your garage door service company about replacing your dented panels today!

Posted on Behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

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Garage Door Safety Tips

March 25th, 2014 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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Garage doors can weigh hundreds of pounds, making them extremely dangerous if they come crashing down unexpectedly. A poorly maintained garage door system can unexpectedly fail, creating a serious hazard for you and your family, especially small children. It is important to understand the risks that a garage door can pose. Reduce these risks by following standard safety rules regarding upkeep, and use them to keep your family safe from harm. 

  • Garage door controls – Never allow children to play with garage door controls. Make sure your remote garage door opener is installed at least five feet off the ground to keep it away from small fingers.
     
  • Reverse mechanism – Your garage door opener should have a reversing mechanism that stops the door from closing when an object is in the way. Test this mechanism monthly by putting a board under the door. If the door does not reverse after touching the board, call your garage door repair company to have it serviced.
     
  • Emergency release – Know how to use the emergency release feature on your garage door opener. Your manual should have instructions on how this feature can be engaged.
     
  • Check balance – Manually lift and pull down your door, checking for any resistance. When closing, stop about three feet off the ground to ensure that it does not close on its own. Any resistance or automatic closing means the door may be out of balance.
     
  • Inspect your door – Periodically, you should inspect your garage door. Look at the springs, pulleys, cables and rollers for any sign of wear or damage. Never attempt to repair these on your own. Call a professional who has the right tools and experience to safely handle garage door repairs. 

Garage doors should have an annual inspection and tune-up to keep them working properly, and to promote safety. Call your local garage door service company to schedule your annual inspection today.

Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

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When Is The Last Time Your Garage Door Had A Tune-Up?

February 12th, 2014 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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Most people don’t think about maintaining their garage doors until the day they go to leave and it won’t open or close properly. The mechanisms which operate a garage door and their automatic openers need maintenance, just like any mechanical device. Without regular tune-ups, inspections and attention from a professional technician, your garage door will eventually stop functioning safely and effectively. 

Importance Of Scheduling An Annual Garage Door Tune-Up

Keeping your garage door working properly not only can prevent unnecessary breakdowns, but can also keep your family safe from injury. Garage doors are very heavy, and when a cable or spring snaps unexpectedly, they can come crashing down to cause serious injuries or damage to property. Annual tune-ups and inspections by a garage door technician can keep your garage door in good working order. Most annual tune-ups will include: 

  • Inspection. The technician will look at all the working parts of the garage door and opener for wear and parts which may need replacement.
     
  • Tighten nuts and bolts. A nut or bolt can slowly loosen. and can cause a major accident. Tune-ups will usually include tightening of the nuts and bolts in the system.
     
  • Lubricating the system. As a mechanical system, many of the parts require lubrication. Tune-ups will usually include lubrication of the hinges, rollers, springs, garage door opener sprocket and chain.
     
  • Door balance and pressure. Many tune-ups will also include rebalancing the door and checking the downward pressure of the garage door opener. 

By having annual tune-ups and garage door repairs performed on your garage door by a qualified technician, you can increase the safety and life of your garage door. In the long run it can save money plus keep your family safe from injury.

Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

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Typical Garage Door Opener Repairs

August 15th, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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Little thought is given to our garage door openers except for pushing the remote button to open or close our garage doors. The extent of our maintenance is limited to the rare occasion of changing a burned out light bulb to illuminate our nighttime entrances. Our garage door openers tend to work so well, for so long a period of time, that when it begins to act up we simple think of replacing it. Well, think again. There are several common problems that can be remedied fairly easily by a good garage door repair service. 

If suddenly your opener does not work with either the wall switch or remote, chances are good that the power source has been interrupted; check your fuses or circuit breaker. If the wall switch is working but the remote is not, make sure that you are within its range and the motor’s antenna is hanging down from the unit. Try replacing the battery in the remote or reprogramming it. 

Problems associated with how the door and motor function when operating can usually be remedied by adjusting various control switches on the opener unit. The “close limit switch” determines how far the door closes and whether it reverses immediately upon closing. The “limit switch” should be adjusted if the door does not open completely or it the motor continues running after the door is open. If the garage door reverses before hitting the floor, then the “close force” switch need adjusting. All garage door openers should come with an owner’s manual that can help you locate these switches as well as thorough explain their function. 

It’s always a good idea to have a reputable garage door service professional inspect your entire system and recommend a periodic maintenance schedule.

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Garage Door Replacement-What You Need to Know

December 19th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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Your garage door, just like any other part of your property, will need to be repaired or replaced at some point over the life of your home. In some cases, the garage door repairs will be minor ones like panel replacement or realignment, things that can be handled with relative ease and speed by a garage door repair technician in your area.

There are situations, however, that will call for a full replacement of your garage door. If the door is hit by a vehicle moving at a fairly high speed or subjected to abnormally severe weather conditions, repairs may simply be out of the question. As general rule, homeowners are advised to replace their garage door any time the total cost of repairing it is fifty percent or more of a full replacement. In the long run, a full replacement of your existing garage door may be actually be more cost effective than continuing to repair it over time. 

Even if your old garage door is still in reasonable working order, you should consider replacing it if you’ll be applying other upgrades to your home’s exterior. Springing for a new paint job or exterior home covering, shutters and doors will give your home an incredibly dramatic facelift, but the effect will be somewhat diminished if you’re holding on to an aging garage door.

Your local garage door dealer or repair technician can help you make the most cost effective and reasonable decision regarding your garage door upgrades, and choose the best option for your home. Even the most complicated replacements can usually be completed over the course of an afternoon, making a garage door upgrade one of the quickest ways to make a positive impact on your home’s exterior appearance.

 

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Signs You May Need a Garage Door Spring Replacement

April 23rd, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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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.

 

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