Do’s and Dont’s of Garage Door Repairs

November 25th, 2019 Posted in Garage Door Openers
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If you prefer to do many home repairs yourself, you can save a sizable amount of money if you are mechanically inclined or have some handyman skills. When it comes to garage door maintenance and repairs, you can do some tasks yourself to help save on repair costs and keep your garage door and opener maintained. However, there are some repairs that should not done attempted on your own. Here are some do’s and don’ts of garage door repairs to help extend the life of your garage door and opener, while reducing risks of damage and injury.

Garage Door Repairs and Maintenance that You Should Do

Garage door and automatic opening systems need regular maintenance, safety checks and repairs, many that you can do on your own. Some of these include:

  • Lubrication of moving metal parts, chains and hardware
  • Inspection of garage door, hardware and components for damage and wear
  • Cleaning debris, mildew and dirt from tracks and garage door surfaces
  • Doing safety checks on the auto reverse feature on the garage door
  • Tightening screws and bolts on hardware

Garage Door Repair Don’ts

While some maintenance and inspections can be done by homeowners, it is not recommended that major repairs be done on your own. Garage doors are heavy, awkward and may require special equipment or training to perform some repairs, such as:

  • Replacing garage door springs
  • Replacing rollers, cables, hardware or complete garage doors
  • Repairing a garage door that is off the tracks
  • Installing a new garage door opener

There can be risky safety hazards when repairing garage door issues. Know when to call a professional to reduce the chance of injury to yourself.

Posted on behalf of: 
Habpro Garage Doors
Dacula, GA 30019
770-985-3355

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4 Reasons to Invest in a Smart Garage Door Opener

June 24th, 2019 Posted in Garage Door Openers
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Are you still using a remote or control panel to operate your garage door? It is time to upgrade to a smart garage door opener for improved security, safety and convenience. Smart garage door openers are linked to your mobile device and can be operated straight through your cell phone or tablet. Here are four reasons these smart garage door openers are a wise investment for your home.

  1. No more remote. Remotes were a wonderful option when they first became available for garage doors but are now a known security risk. Anyone who has access to your remote also has access to your home. If your vehicle is stolen or broken into, someone can steal your remote and be in your home without any problems.
  2. Always have access to your garage door. You may not always have a remote on you when you need to open your garage door, but most people always have their cell phone. When you have a smart system, you can open your garage door whenever needed, even when you are not home.
  3. Security alerts. A smart garage door opener can alert you when someone has entered your home through the garage door without authorization or if the door was left open accidentally, helping keep your family and home safe.
  4. Air safety alerts. Your garage door opener can alert you when there is a safety issue in your garage or home. Smart openers can be connected to carbon monoxide, smoke and temperature sensors to alert you when there is a problem.

These are just a few of the reasons to invest in a smart garage door opener. They can also be connected to your home automation system and have other cool features that make life easier. Contact your local garage door service to learn more about the options available and to make the move to a smart opener device.

Posted on behalf of: 
Habpro Garage Doors
Dacula, GA 30019
770-985-3355

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Types of Garage Door Openers

August 1st, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Openers
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Consumers have a choice of several types of garage door openers available in the marketplace, with the differences between the openers centering upon the type of drive mechanism that the opener uses to mechanically lift the door.  The options available include chain, belt and screw driven openers, all of which are mounted on the ceiling of the garage.  A qualified garage door contractor can provide professional guidance on which opener will meet the individual needs of each property owner. 

The most popular type of garage door opener is the chain driven opener, which utilizes a chain to raise and lower the door.  While they are very economical and reliable, they tend to be noisy, which is their main disadvantage.  As with all chain driven mechanical devices, the chain does require periodic lubrication to keep the links in the chain operating freely. 

Belt driven garage door openers use a non-metallic synthetic belt to raise and lower the door.  They are also economical, very quiet and reliable as well.  As with any other mechanical item, the belt may need to be replaced periodically. 

Openers using a screw drive mechanism to raise and lower the garage door are a great option as well.  While generally a bit more expensive than chain or belt driven openers, they are especially quiet and a perform very well in cold weather as the components of the screw drive is more tolerant of extreme cold than the chain and belt driven openers. 

All three types of openers are excellent choices and a qualified garage door contractor will be happy to recommend the best option for the individual needs of each homeowner!

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Garage Door Reversing Mechanism

March 28th, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Openers
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If you’re like most homeowners, you probably don’t think of your garage door as a potential weapon. But you should. Garage doors are one of the heaviest objects in your home, weighing sometimes as much as 600 pounds, and they do cause thousands of injuries each year in the United States alone.  

While garage doors and garage door openers are much safer than they used to be, things can still go wrong. People can be careless about safety around them, particularly where children are concerned. They can also neglect important maintenance. 

One very important safety aspect on a garage door is the reversing mechanism. After several children were killed by garage doors in the early 1980s, the industry adopted standards by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission requiring reversing mechanisms on all newly manufactured garage doors.  In 1992, those voluntary standards became mandatory. 

Now, every new garage door is equipped with a reversing mechanism which consists of two parts: 

Garage Door Opener – The garage door opener’s motor senses resistance, and reverses the door’s direction if a certain amount of resistance is met. 

Infrared Sensors – These are usually mounted on garage door frame about six inches high. If anything comes in contact with the sensors, the door won’t work. 

The CPSC recommends installing a new garage door opener if your existing opener predates 1982. CPSC also suggests checking the reversing mechanism every month to see if it is working properly. This can be done by placing a block of wood on the floor under the door. If when you operate the door, it does not stop and reverse at the wood, the mechanism should be adjusted or repaired. You could do this yourself using your operator’s manual, or you can contact a reputable garage door service technician.

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Troubleshooting Garage Door Opener Problems

March 28th, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Openers
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Garage door openers are relatively uncomplicated devices driven by an electric motor. This makes them fairly easy to fix and fairly easy to diagnose when something goes wrong. Following is a short list of common garage door opener problems and how to fix them: 

Problem: The door opener does not respond to commands. 

Fix:  This usually indicates a power issue. Check to see if the electrical cord to the garage door opener is plugged in. Check also to see if the remote batteries are weak or spent. 

Problem:  The opener raises the garage door, but won’t close it. 

Fix:  This could possibly be the beam sensor. Make sure it is plugged in, and it is aligned properly.  

Problem: If the garage door opener runs, but doesn’t open the door. 

Fix: This may indicate a problem with the worm gear or chain sprocket, problems usually best fixed by your professional garage door opener repairman. 

Problem:  The garage door opener operates on its own. 

Fix: This also may be a problem best addressed by a garage door opener service company. Sometimes, it can be a simple solution such as a stuck button on the remote, while other times it may indicate a faulty circuit board, which may need to be replaced. 

Problem: The garage door opener opens the garage door, but then stops and reverses itself, or the garage door opener stops with the garage door partially open. 

Fix:  Most modern garage door openers have a safety sensor that forces the door to reverse if something is in the way. Check to see if the area is clear. Also, check to see if the sensor is adjusted in accordance with the owner’s manual. 

Of course, if you encounter a problem with your garage door opener and the problem persists, it is best to consult a professional. Garage door opener experts can either fix the problem, or replace the opener if necessary.

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Is It Time to Buy a New Garage Door Opener?

March 26th, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Openers
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Stopping your car to get out in order to open a manual garage door every day gets old very quickly, as does dealing with an automatic garage door that’s noisy or slow to open and close. There are plenty of reasons why you may be in need of a new garage door opener installation, and just as many excuses for putting the chore off for another day. 

A garage door opener that’s functioning properly and in good repair is not only a convenient feature, but also one that can be integral to the security and safety of your home. Older models that are still operating may be good candidates for replacement if they were installed before 1993, as they may lack the automatic safety reversal feature that became compulsory that year. These sensors can prevent injuries sustained by children or pets attempting to run under a garage door as it closes, and are highly recommended for all homeowners that have not yet upgraded. 

Another drawback of older garage door openers is that the remote controls may function with a fixed code, which means that the code can be duplicated by would-be intruders. Newer openers use a rolling-code system that generates a new code each time the door is used. New models may also feature a battery backup system that will allow you to operate the door during a power outage. 

If you’re considering the replacement or installation of a new garage door opener, be sure that you contact a licensed and experienced garage door installation and repair technician in your area today to discuss the many options and features available.

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A Primer on Garage Door Openers

January 27th, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Openers
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If you’ve been shopping for a new garage door opener, you’ve no doubt been bombarded with a wide number of options. What you’ll find, however, is that the majority of openers fall into one of three main categories:  chain drive, belt drive and screw drive. Each has its pros and cons for the homeowner. 

Chain Drive: The chain drive garage door opener is probably the most common type of opener. It uses a chain, similar to a bicycle chain, to move a trolley, or carriage, that is connected to a metal arm, called a J-arm, that is connected to the garage door. This is the least expensive type of opener and the most reliable, but also the noisiest. As such, it is not the model to use if your garage is located under a bedroom. If the garage is detached, however, it is ideal. 

Belt Drive: This type of opener works basically in the same way as a chain drive opener except instead of using a chain, it uses a belt made of fiberglass, polyurethane or rubber.  Belt-driven openers are just as reliable as chain driven openers, but they are a lot quieter, making them ideal for built-in garages. The major drawback for belt drives is that they are usually more expensive, up to $100 more than a chain driven unit. 

Screw-Drive: The shaft drive opener uses a threaded metal shaft to connect the motor to the door. Since the shaft does not bend like a belt or chain, the garage door cannot be budged open, resulting in better security for the homeowner. This type of opener is also quicker, opening a door at up to a foot a second, compared to the average 7 inches per second of other types of openers. Cons with screw-dive openers are that they do not respond well to temperature extremes, hot and cold, and are noisier than belt drives. They are also the most expensive of the three types of openers.

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Garage Door Opener Power Considerations

August 29th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Openers
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Buying a new automatic garage door opener for your home involves deciding on the type of drive system, the options and features, and the amount of power the opener has.  Garage door opener sold for residential use can have motors with as little as 1/3 horsepower (HP) or as much as a full 1 HP.  Generally speaking, bigger is better but not for the reason most homeowners think.

Most people believe that larger and heavier doors need a more powerful garage door opener, but the reality is that even the largest and heaviest garage doors can be opened and closed with the smallest garage door opener on the marked if the garage door is properly adjusted.

Garage doors weigh hundreds of pounds and would be very difficult to open without some help from the lift assistance springs.  Most garage doors use either torsion type springs mounted inside the garage above the opening or extension springs mounted along the tracks to help lift the weight of the door.  When properly adjusted, the door will be easy to open and close by hand no matter what it weighs.

A larger garage door opener motor is desirable for two reasons:  It will operate more quietly and it will last longer.  An automatic garage door opener with a larger motor does not have to work as hard to open and close the door which keeps noise to a minimum.  In addition, a typical garage door opener goes through 500 to 1,000 opening and closing cycles every year.  If the opener does not have to work as hard, the wear from these opening and closing cycles will be less and the opener will last longer before it wears out.

 

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Repair Or Replace Your Garage Door Opener?

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Openers
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Most garage door openers are very reliable and when they are properly installed and maintained, they generally give years of good service.  However, like any mechanical device, they can sometimes have problems and when they do, you are faced with the decision whether to spend money on repairing the garage door opener or applying that money towards a new opener.

Garage door openers range in price from about $150 to $400 plus installation.  In many cases, a broken garage door opener can be repaired for much less than the cost of a new opener.  That generally makes going ahead with the garage door opener repair the smart move unless there is some compelling reason to take the opportunity to replace the opener.

For example, if your opener is more than 15 years old or lacks modern safety features like a photoelectric eye that reverses the door to the open position when it detects objects in the path of the door, you should seriously consider replacing the opener rather than repairing it.  All openers sold since in the United States since 1993 have this safety feature and for good reason – hundreds of people, especially children, were being seriously injured or killed when they were crushed under a closing garage door.  This important safety feature alone is worth the cost of a new garage door opener.

An important security feature found on all new garage door openers is the use of rolling codes for the remote control.  Older garage door openers used a fixed code that is easily cracked by criminals.  These older openers leave your garage, home and family vulnerable to criminals.  Consider replacing rather than repairing your garage door opener if it lacks this important security feature.

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Garage Door Safety

December 20th, 2011 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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According to information published by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, more than 20,000 people are injured every year in garage door related accidents.  In addition, despite the fact that all garage door openers manufactured since 1991 are required to reverse when an obstruction is detected, an average of three children are trapped and killed under an automatic garage door opener every year.

You can protect your family from harm by following a few simple precautions.  First, if you have an old non-reversing garage door opener, have it replaced with a new reversing opener.  All openers currently being manufactured have some sort of device to detect obstructions and reverse direction to avoid an entrapment.

Make sure the door’s lift springs are working properly by releasing the door from the automatic opener and raising and lowering the door manually.  The door should open and close smoothly and easily and the door should stay in place when stopped in any partially opened position.  Have the door adjusted if any discrepancies are noted.  Warning- never attempt to disconnect or adjust the spring tension.  The spring are under a lot of pressure and can cause severe injuries or death if released.

Test the reversing mechanism monthly by placing a block of wood under the door as it closes.  The door should either reverse immediately or when the block of wood is encountered.  If not, disconnect the door and call an experienced garage door service technician.

A garage door that is out of adjustment can injure or kill someone.  Keep your garage door working safely by having your garage door service annually by a reputable local garage door company.

Finally, mount the wall button high on the wall to restrict access to children and be sure to warn your children about the dangers of garage doors.

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