Why you shouldn’t have windows on your garage door

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Debate has been raging on whether to have or not to have garage door windows. It’s wise to look at the two sides of the coin in a bid to understand which side holds more weight. Read what installing windows could really mean to a garage door.

There are number of factors that suggest not to have windows on your garage door:

  • You can take a look outside without having to open the garage door with the help of garage door windows, while you can have them installed garage door but will surely compromise your privacy. It would not be appropriate for a person concerned about nosy neighbors or even theft in the area to have garage door windows. The disadvantage of garage door windows is that, depending on the size and height of your window, there may not be any privacy offered.
  • Glass is not a very good heat and sound insulator. Therefore, having garage door windows can reduce the heat insulation in your garage. Heat can be lost through the windows which means more energy is consumed to keep the garage adequately heated.
  • Cost is one drawback when considering glass for garage doors. Adding glass can tack on an extra two hundred to five hundred dollars to the total bill.
  • It is advisable for some homeowners to have windows installed on their garage door. For one, you can open them during those warm days and let in fresh air. This way, you can avoid leaving your garage door partially open for ventilation, which can damage it.
  • Home security is another issue to think about. Glass makes it easier for criminals to peak into the garage to see whether or not you are home and if there is anything of value inside.
  • Energy efficiency is usually lower whenever you introduce glass. You can certainly buy insulated glass, but it is rarely as air tight as an insulated garage door without glass.
  • Garage doors with glass also can take more time to produce, adding a few extra days to your order.
  • For repairs, glass is breakable and may require more occasional replacement of panes due to downed tree limbs or stray baseballs.

So if your garage is a big part of the curb appeal of your house, or you want a custom-coordinated look, or you use your garage part-time as a workshop, consider the beauty and light of a garage door with glass. On the other hand, if you have a tight budget or timeline, are concerned about security or heating bills, or don’t want the headache of the occasional broken pane, skip the windows in favor of a solid door for a long lasting investment.

To be safe and lower risks, it is best to hire a professional garage door specialist.  The specialist can determine and address the problems of your garage door and propose a feasible solution.  Feel free to contact us any time for help.  Call Yuval at (215) 805-9209 or visit SecureGarages.com – don’t forget our Awesome Amazon Local Deal!  Garage adjustment, reconditioning + safety inspection. and for another $34 we will replace up to 8 rollers!  Mention Code: Secure4Sure10 to get another 10% off your order!

How to properly maintain your garage door over the years

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Not only is your garage door the largest door in your home, it’s also the single largest moving part as well. So hopefully it makes sense that you should want to take care of it as much as possible. That’s one big part to need to replace, for one thing. Plus, if it stops working, you’re going to have quite a hassle on your hands. So we have compiled some basic tips that you should follow to properly maintain your garage doors over the years easily.

  1. Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open

One of the easiest ways you can take care of your garage door is simply by staying alert. Whenever you open or close it, watch to make sure it functions smoothly. The entire door should go up and down without any jerking. It should also be perfectly symmetrical. There should be very little noise and especially no alarming sounds like grinding or scraping.

  1. Tighten Your Hardware

The average garage door is used well over 1,000 times each year. That’s a lot of mileage on all those small parts your system relies on to work properly. This means plenty of vibration is working its way toward loosening up everything from bolts to roller brackets. Fortunately, as long as you have a socket wrench and a few minutes, you can tighten everything up so that it works properly and without issue.

  1. Test the Door’s Balance

A garage door that isn’t balanced stands very little chance of working correctly. This imbalance will eventually become a big enough issue that your garage door simply breaks because of all the stress put on the opener. To check the balance on your door, pull the red cord (or whatever your door uses as a release handle) and then manually move the door halfway up

  1. Inspect and Replace Any Broken Rollers

Whether you rely on steel or nylon rollers, they should be inspected at least twice a year to ensure they haven’t become worn down or otherwise damaged. On average, they’ll need to be replaced once every seven years, but if you use your garage door more than most, you’ll probably need to replace your rollers sooner.

This is an easy replacement to make as you can simply remove the brackets, slide the old rollers out, and then slide the new ones in.

  1. Check Your Weatherstripping Too

Weatherstripping runs along the bottom of your garage door so that, when it’s shut, a secure seal is made. Check the stripping regularly and look for any areas where it may have become brittle, cracked or otherwise broken. If you do need to replace it, we have everything you need for this easy project, so don’t hesitate to contact us!

  1. Apply Lubrication

All it takes is about 10 minutes a year to make sure your garage door is properly lubricated and working smoothly. Your home improvement store will once again have the supplies you need which is just some lubrication spray for the overhead springs and some white lithium grease for the chain or screw your opener uses.

  1. Inspect the Cables

The high-tension cables used to lift your door are nothing to mess around with. You could be seriously injured or even killed. However, there’s no harm in checking around the bottom roller bracket to make sure they’re still intact and working well. If you do spot a problem, just call a professional.

  1. Test Your Safety Measures

You should also look into your garage door’s safety features. This means sticking something like a brick or piece of wood on its threshold to ensure the door will back up once it hits this material. Most garage doors should also have a photocell component. If yours doesn’t, that probably means it’s quite old and you should think about replacing it.

With the photocell component, shut the door and while closing, put your foot through the invisible beam. This should trip the system and send the door moving back up again.

  1. Clear out the Tracks

The tracks of your garage door can become encumbered with all kinds of debris and other materials. So, now and then spend just a little time inspecting these tracks and cleaning them out as necessary.

  1. Clean Your Garage Door

Check out your garage door regularly to look for places whereit has become chipped, warped, or if the paint has peeled. For steel doors, ensure there are no rust spots or other issues. Whenever you wash your car, get in the habit of cleaning your garage door too.
While it may not be the most glamorous part of your home, your garage door is no less important.

Use the above tips to make sure you get the best performance from yours, year after year.

To be safe and lower risks, it is best to hire a professional garage door specialist.  The specialist can determine and address the problems of your garage door and propose a feasible solution.  Feel free to contact us any time for help.  Call Yuval at (215) 805-9209 or visit SecureGarages.com – don’t forget our Awesome Amazon Local Deal!  Garage adjustment, reconditioning + safety inspection. and for another $34 we will replace up to 8 rollers!  Mention Code: Secure4Sure10 to get another 10% off your order!

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Why you Shouldn’t have to Force a Garage Door Shut

 

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It is a big problem when your garage door is not closing properly . First of all check garage door properly .  when you didn’t find any problem after checking all the mechanism of garage door or garage  door opener and you shouldn’t have to force garage door for closing it because it damage the mechanism of garage door and problem goes double.

What to do?

You should thoroughly check the garage door and when you didn’t get the solution adjust the closing force of your garage door opener but please don’t put force on garage door for closing because it doubles the problem.

What is garage door opener:

A garage door opener is a motorized device that opens and closes garage doors. Most are controlled by switches on the garage wall, as well as by remote controls carried by the owner.

How garage door openers work :

The garage door dies some time during its 13,476th operation, while it’s being closed. It goes out without much drama—there’s no audible snap as the torsion spring breaks, no parts dangle loose in telltale failure, and the motor sill lights up, strains and stops. Maybe its decline started that day you closed the door on the Buick bumper, or maybe during the last big freeze, when ice swelled the door sections. Or maybe it was just the mechanism’s time. The average American garage door opens and shuts 1500 times a year, and this torsion spring—rated for 10,000 cycles—was positively geriatric in garage-door years. Regardless, you’re in the market for a new system.

There are some step for adjusting the closing force of garage door openers:

 How to adjust the Closing Force for your Garage Door Opener :

  1. A garage door opener with an improperly adjusted closing force can damage the door or worse, injure a child or pet that accidentally walks under the door. The closing force of the door works as a secondary safety catch in the event the optical eyes — that usually stop and open a door if a child, pet or object passes underneath — cease to function. Testing and adjusting the closing force is vital to the safety of the garage door.
  1. There are some steps to figure out the closing force for your garage door opener.
  1. Open the garage door, using the garage door opener.
  1. Close the garage door while holding onto the door handle. The garage door should reverse direction when you apply force to the handle with your hand.
  1. Place a stepladder under the back of the garage door opener’s motor. Climb the ladder. Pull the plastic shroud off the back of the opener and set it aside.
  1. Locate the force-adjustment screw. Turn the screw clockwise one-quarter turn to increase the amount of force required to reverse the door’s direction. Alternatively, turn the screw counterclockwise one-quarter turn to decrease the amount of force required to reverse the door direction. Open and close the garage door. Continue adjusting the closing force until it reverses without excessive force.
  1. Close the garage door. Inspect the rubber seal on the door’s bottom edge. The seal should be slightly compressed and no light should be visible between the bottom of the seal and the garage floor.
  1. Turn the travel adjustment screw — for the closed position — clockwise one-quarter turn to increase the downward travel of the door. Alternatively, turn the screw counterclockwise one-quarter turn to decrease the amount of downward door travel.
  1. Replace the plastic shroud when the garage door operates correctly.

 

To be safe and lower risks, it is best to hire a professional garage door specialist.  The specialist can determine and address the problems of your garage door and propose a feasible solution.  Feel free to contact us any time for help.  Call Yuval at (215) 805-9209 or visit SecureGarages.com – don’t forget our Awesome Amazon Local Deal!  Garage adjustment, reconditioning + safety inspection. and for another $34 we will replace up to 8 rollers!  Mention Code: Secure4Sure10 to get another 10% off your order!

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When to use a Wooden Versus a Steel Garage Door

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When it comes to replacing or installing a garage door, there are several options to consider. One of the biggest decisions homeowners are faced with when selecting a new garage door is which material will best fit their needs. Wood and steel garage doors are typically the two popular options and there are pros and cons for each. Garage doors are an investment and you want to be sure you are happy with your choice for years to come.

Wood Garage Door Overview

Wood has long been used to build garage doors, and it remains one of the most popular materials, despite the emergence of alternatives such as metal and fiberglass. Wooden garage doors are very common in high-end homes because the look is elegant and refined.

Wooden garage doors are often custom or semi-custom built, meaning they’re not mass-produced in a factory. They can be designed to perfectly match the look and feel of your home. Opt for real wood, or choose a composite variety that mimics real wood but requires less maintenance.

How Much Do Wood Garage Doors Cost?

Factory-built wooden doors start at about $500 to $600, not including installation, while semi-custom doors cost about $1,500 to $3,000. Custom-built wooden doors start at about $3,000 but can easily reach $10,000 or more.

Wood Garage Doors Pros

  • Attractive – Wooden garage doors are widely considered more elegant and luxurious. They look more expensive (largely because they are more expensive).
  • Customizable – With wooden garage doors, the style possibilities are almost endless. Choose from a wide variety of looks, designs and colors. They’re available in standard and non-standard sizes, too.
  • Won’t dent – Wooden doors won’t dent the way steel doors do. A wooden door is less likely to be damaged if you run into it with the lawn mower or one of the neighborhood kids hits it with a baseball.

Wood Garage Doors Cons

  • More expensive – Wooden garage doors are pricier than steel doors. The materials are more expensive, and the fact that they are usually custom or semi-custom built also drives up the price.
  • Require more maintenance – Wood can warp, rot or chip without proper maintenance. At a minimum, you’ll need to sand and stain or repaint wooden garage doors every few years. Excessive moisture and pests such as termites can also lead to damage.

Metal Garage Door Overview

There are several types of metal garage doors, including steel, aluminum and iron. Steel garage doors are by far the most common — this is what most people are talking about when they refer to metal doors.

Steel doors are usually factory-built, meaning they come preassembled. Because of this, the color, design and size options are limited. You won’t find steel garage doors in non-standard sizes.

How Much Do Metal Garage Doors Cost?

Steel garage doors usually sell for anywhere from $400 to $1,200, not including installation. Very basic doors with no windows fall on the low end of that range, while fancier varieties with windows and decorative features fall on the high end. The highest-quality steel doors go for as much as $1,500.

Metal Garage Doors Pros

  • Affordable – Steel garage doors are far less expensive than wooden doors. They’re a great option if you’re on a tight budget.
  • Easier to maintain – You’ll never have to sand, stain or paint metal garage doors. Simply power wash them from time to time to keep them clean.
  • Lighter – Steel garage doors are much lighter in weight than wood doors. They’re easier to install, and they’re easier to open if you don’t have an automatic garage door opener or if the automatic opener breaks.

Metal Garage Doors Cons

  • Prone to rust – Steel garage doors are likely to rust over time. If you live in an extremely moist or coastal climate, they’re probably not the best choice.
  • Prone to dents – Steel garage doors are much more susceptible to dents and dings.
  • Fewer design options – Because steel doors are factory built, the size, design and color options or limited. You won’t be able to customize the garage door to match the style of your home.

Having a wooden door will dramatically improve the curb appeal of your home. A wood garage door can increase the property value of your home as well.  On the other hand, since wood garage doors tend to be on the higher end of the price range, there are now many steel doors that mimic the look of a wooden door that you could also consider if budget is a concern for you.

From an investment standpoint you really can’t beat steel, but when it comes to overall looks, you have to go with wood while you can fabricate the look of wood with faux wood or Steel Clopay carriage style doors, a metal door isn’t going to look as elegant and refined as its wooden counterpart. Steel may have the advantage in maintenance, but you can’t beat wood when it comes to style. But finally choice is yours!

To be safe and lower risks, it is best to hire a professional garage door specialist.  The specialist can determine and address the problems of your garage door and propose a feasible solution.  Feel free to contact us any time for help.  Call Yuval at (215) 805-9209 or visit SecureGarages.com – don’t forget our Awesome Amazon Local Deal!  Garage adjustment, reconditioning + safety inspection. and for another $34 we will replace up to 8 rollers!  Mention Code: Secure4Sure10 to get another 10% off your order!

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Why You Should Oil Your Garage Door Tracks Annually

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Oiling the garage door tracks is important because it don’t let the doors to make noise, stops rusting , keeps your garage door rolling smoothly and maintain their real state .

How to Lubricate Springs on Garage Doors:

Keep your garage door rolling smoothly with regular maintenance. The sound of squeaking, squealing, grinding garage doors is annoying, but the sound is a significant sign to a homeowner that the springs maneuvering the action of the garage door require immediate attention. Providing a twice-yearly maintenance routine for garage door springs, whether torsion or extension, addresses problems due to normal wear and tear from the repeated up-and-down motion, checks for any negative affects of seasonal and inclement weather and allows early detection of a defect in the mechanism itself.

What You Need to Know:

Most of the items necessary to lubricate your garage door springs are regular household items, like cotton rags, mild detergent, and lubricating oil (such as WD-40). It’s also helpful to have the owner’s manual to your garage door, if you can locate it.

Lubricating Garage Door Springs:

Step 1:

Apply a thin line of lubricating oil across the top of the torsion springs from one end of the spring to the other. Allow the oil to coat the outside of the springs and seep down between the seams.

Step 2:

Apply a line of lubricating oil across the length of the extension springs. Allow the oil to penetrate the seams of the springs as well as the cables.

Step 3:

Open and close the garage door two to three times once the oil is applied to allow the lubricant to thoroughly coat the inner portion of the springs.

Step 4:

Continue the maintenance regimen by lubricating all hinges, seams, rollers and pivot points that comprise the moving pieces of a garage-door mechanism.

Step 5:

Clean any built-up grease, grime and debris from within the roller tracks using a cloth dipped in a solution of water and detergent. Consult the owner’s manual for instructions regarding whether oil can or cannot be applied to the tracks for your particular model of garage door.

Tips & Warnings :

Lubricate torsion and extension springs once or twice a year and all other moving parts, including hinges and rollers, an additional three times per year.

When oiling torsion or extension springs, do not attempt to fix or adjust problems found during routine maintenance, as broken or faulty springs are dangerous. Consult a professional garage-door repairman to address issues with faulty springs.

Oil used on rollers made with nylon may cause the nylon to degrade. Oil sprayed into the tracks may cause the rollers to slip. Both degrading material and roller slippage affect the effectiveness of the garage-door mechanism.

To be safe and lower risks, it is best to hire a professional garage door specialist.  The specialist can determine and address the problems of your garage door and propose a feasible solution.  Feel free to contact us any time for help.  Call Yuval at (215) 805-9209 or visit SecureGarages.com – don’t forget our Awesome Amazon Local Deal!  Garage adjustment, reconditioning + safety inspection. and for another $34 we will replace up to 8 rollers!  Mention Code: Secure4Sure10 to get another 10% off your order!

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How to Program a New Garage Door Opener

How to Program a New Garage Door Opener

Many people find they need to program the garage door opener on a HomeLink system that came with their car. Maybe you bought the car used and don’t have a manual, or you do have a manual but find it hard to follow. In either case, it really is not difficult to program the garage door opener. It should require no more than 5-10 minutes, as long as you follow each step carefully. Having a helper will make the process go even quicker.

If you are having trouble operating your garage door opener, read Troubleshooting the Most Common Garage Door Opener Problems for advice on diagnosing the problem. The receiver, handheld transmitter and in-car transmitter must all be in good operating condition to ensure success when you program the garage door opener.

The HomeLink system is available on a wide range of cars, and it can also be purchased as an aftermarket product. It is compatible with nearly all garage door opening systems, including Liftmaster, Chamberlain, Craftsman, Genie, Overhead Door, Allstar and Wayne Dalton. The primary requirement is that the garage door opener operates on a frequency of 288-433 MHz. You should be able to find the frequency of your unit on the back of the handheld transmitter.

To program the garage door opener, it will be necessary to raise and lower the door. So, to keep the process safe, make sure that children and pets stay away from the garage.

Once you are ready to begin, just follow these steps:

  • Always begin with a new battery in the handheld transmitter. If you’re not sure how old the battery is, go ahead and replace it.
  • Turn the key to the accessory (“ACC”) position before you begin programming the garage door opener.
  • For a first-time programming (or if you think the garage door opener has been previously programmed), press the two outer buttons on the transmitter for about 20 seconds, until the light starts flashing.On the transmitter, hold the button to be programmed down until it begins flashing slowly (20-30 seconds). Keep holding the button down for the next step.
  • Grab the handheld transmitter in your other hand and point it toward the flashing light from about 2 inches away. Press the operating button on the handheld unit. Once the light starts flashing faster, the frequency has been entered into the HomeLink transmitter. Release both buttons.
  • This step is easiest with a helper. You will need a ladder and, quite possibly, a flashlight. On the garage door opener receiver (i.e., the motor, located inside the garage), press the training button (also called a “smart” or “learn” button). The button may not be labeled, but it will have a small light next to it that flashes when the button is pressed. (Note, if the indicator light stays on continuously, the programming is complete and the garage door opener should function.)
  • If the indicator light flashes (or if it flashes briefly before becoming continuously lit), you have 30 seconds to perform the following step (which is why this goes quicker with a helper).
  • In the car, with the key still turned to ACC, press the button you programmed earlier on the in-car transmitter for three seconds. Remove your finger from the button, then press again for another three seconds. If the garage door hasn’t moved yet, press the button for another three seconds. Once the door moves, the garage door opener has been programmed.

To be safe and lower risks, it is best to hire a professional garage door specialist.  The specialist can determine and address the problems of your garage door and propose a feasible solution.  Feel free to contact us any time for help.  Call Yuval at (215) 805-9209 or visit SecureGarages.com – don’t forget our Awesome Amazon Local Deal!  Garage adjustment, reconditioning + safety inspection. and for another $34 we will replace up to 8 rollers!  Mention Code: Secure4Sure10 to get another 10% off your order!

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How to Properly Measure your Garage Door before Installing it

If you are replacing a garage door, in the process of building a brand new house or garage addition to your home, you will likely be required to know and have the measurements of your garage and garage door.  Garage door measurements can be a little bit tricky to procure, because a garage door is sort of a weird shape.  Garage doors move in a way that is unique to other home appliances or structural parts of your house.  This makes them more difficult to figure out measurements for, especially if the measurements you need are for a garage door that is not yet in place.

A few key areas of the garage are what you need to focus on preparing accurate measurements for, when you are replacing or installing a new garage door. Knowing what these areas are, and how to locate them, is very helpful in the process of new garage door installation.

Step 1:

Measure the distance between the farthest left side of the opening of the garage door, and the farthest to the right side of the opening.  You are looking for the widest area of the garage door, from side to side.  Garage doors are usually framed on the inside with 2” by 6” wood.  Pay attention to inconsistencies in the wood, or damaged areas of the framework.

Step 2:

From top to bottom, find the greatest height of the garage door opening.  The distance between the top of the door and the ground is what you need to figure out, for easy garage door installation.  Again, notice inconsistencies like an unleveled floor.

Step 3:

Find the width of the wall area on either side of the opening of the garage door.  Both the areas that border the opening of the door (left side of the wall, right side of the wall) need to be at least 3.75” wide.

Step 4:

Measure areas between the highest point of the opening of the garage door and the ceiling.  Headroom requirements may differ, depending on the type of garage door you are installing.  You will need to know the existing measurements before you select your new overhead door.

Step 5:

From the front of the garage to the back, measure the distance.  Backroom requirements for sectional doors are the door height plus 18”.  With electric opener installations, backroom requirements are the height of the door plus 4’2”.

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Other things to notice and plan for are the source of electricity for door openers-it is great to already be aware of where the nearest outlet is to your garage door.  Lights or stairwells or attic space that may be in existence prior to garage door installation will affect your specific requirements for type of door, measurement necessities, etc.  Make sure the floor is level, and take note of pipes or air ducts that could possibly obstruct a garage door ability to maneuver correctly.

To be safe and lower risks, it is best to hire a professional garage door specialist.  The specialist can determine and address the problems of your garage door and propose a feasible solution.  Feel free to contact us any time for help.  Call Yuval at (215) 805-9209 or visit SecureGarages.com – don’t forget our Awesome Amazon Local Deal!  Garage adjustment, reconditioning + safety inspection. and for another $34 we will replace up to 8 rollers!  Mention Code: Secure4Sure10 to get another 10% off your order!

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Why you Should have a Manual Open Option in your Garage

Secure For Sure Adjusting Manual Mode to Garage Door

Garage doors come in many shapes and sizes, but one of the first things that every garage owner must decide is whether they want a manual or automatic garage door option. There are quite a few benefits to installing an automatic garage door, but there are some negatives too. You must decide whether the benefits outweigh the downsides for you, whether you are installing a brand new garage door, or you are considering upgrading your manual garage door to an automatic one.

Those who have experienced the convenience that an automatic garage door offers will likely never go back to a manually opening door. Especially in bad weather, there’s no better feeling than a simple click of the button keeping you and your belongings dry. That being said, that same storm might bring with it power outages that could leave your garage door incapacitated and you stuck out in the cold. On the flip side, when you’re inside the garage with no power and you need to get out for work it’s important to have manual open option in your garage door.

While you may have not been in this situation before, chances are you have experienced something similar. If you are one of the many homeowners who has a garage installed on their property, you have grown accustomed to using the electronic opener and would not even think to do things manually. Now that you think about it, could you open your garage door manually if you had to?

Garage doors are heavy pieces of machinery, and we tend to rely solely on electric openers when using them. The situation mentioned above, as well as many others will require you to use manual force to open your door from time to time so where should you start?

Chances are that you have seen the rope hanging from the box that opens your garage. This rope tends to have some sort of handle at the end, and when pulled, it puts your garage in manual mode. Now do be aware that pulling this rope will disengage the trolly from the rails, and if your door is partially open, it could come crashing down. Once the rope has been pulled and the door is no longer connected, you should be able to move it up and down with ease, as most garaged doors are weighted to do so.

If you are expecting the power outage to last for a while, or simply need to use the door in manual mode for a while, you can pull the rope down and towards the back of your garage o fully disengage the doors electric functions. Once power has fully been restored to your area, you will need to do the opposite to reconnect the door to the tracks. Simply pull down the roe once again, but this time towards the front of the garage and away from the motor. This forces the springs to reconnect and kicks your garage back into automatic mode.

Those who have experienced the convenience that an automatic garage door offers will likely never go back to a manually opening door. Especially in bad weather, there’s no better feeling than a simple click of the button keeping you and your belongings dry. That being said, that same storm might bring with it power outages that could leave your garage door incapacitated and you stuck out in the cold. On the flip side, when you’re inside the garage with no power and you need to get out for work it’s important to have manual open option in your garage door.

After all the trouble with your automatic garage door it’s good to be Staying in Manual Mode

The red rope controls the spring attachment in the trolley. If the power is going to be out for a long period of time or the opener motor is malfunctioning, then you may have to stay in manual mode. When you want to continually open the door in manual mode it’s important to pull the rope down and towards the back of the garage (or the motor) so that it doesn’t get caught on the tracks.

It’s important to get familiar with the layout of the garage door opener spring mechanism in non-emergency situations. If you’re locked out when the power is out and the garage is your main way of accessing the home, it may be possible to release the lever from the outside. Placing a shim in the weather stripping near the top of the garage and sliding a bent clothes hanger in to flip the lever will enable the door to be opened manually. Of course, this is a great security risk, so you’ll have to weigh the options on whether installing a secure shield or being able to engage your door manually from outside is more important.

To be safe and lower risks, it is best to hire a professional garage door specialist.  The specialist can determine and address the problems of your garage door and propose a feasible solution.  Feel free to contact us any time for help.  Call Yuval at (215) 805-9209 or visit SecureGarages.com – don’t forget our Awesome Amazon Local Deal!  Garage adjustment, reconditioning + safety inspection. and for another $34 we will replace up to 8 rollers!  Mention Code: Secure4Sure10 to get another 10% off your order!

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 How to Properly Install a Garage Opener

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If your garage door is opening slowly or making a lot of noise, the problem may not be your opener. So before you buy a new one, check for broken or wobbly rollers and brackets. You’ll need to call a pro. If you’re replacing the rollers, get nylon rollers. They operate quieter than steel rollers and cost only a few bucks more. Next, check the torsion spring (mounted on the header above the door opening) to see if it’s broken. When one breaks, you’ll see a gap in the coils. You’ll need a pro to replace a broken spring.

Check the door balance

Make sure the door is balanced. Close the door and pull the emergency release cord (always close the door first so it can’t come crashing down!). Lift the door about halfway up and let go. The door shouldn’t move. If it slides up or down, the torsion spring needs to be adjusted (or maybe even replaced). Adjusting the torsion spring is dangerous, so don’t attempt it yourself (you could get seriously hurt). Call a pro to adjust it.

Choose the right opener

When buying an opener, choose a 1/3 hp or 1/2 hp opener for a single garage door (1/3 hp can be hard to find at some home centers). Go with 1/2 hp for a double door and 3/4 hp for a door that has a wood or faux wood overlay (they can be heavy!). Openers have a set opening speed, so installing an opener with a higher horsepower won’t open your door any faster.

Set the opener on a ladder for easier installation

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to assemble the opener and mount the rail to the header bracket above the door. Then set the opener on a ladder where you’re going to install it. The ladder (usually an 8-footer) holds the opener in position while you measure for your lengths of angle iron. If necessary, put boards under the opener to raise it.

Buy heavy-duty angle iron

Garage door openers come with everything you need for installation. But the mounting straps that are included are often so flimsy that you can bend them with your hands. So buy slotted angle iron at a hardware store. Cut it to size with a hacksaw.Angle iron provides a stronger installation and reduces vibration, which helps extend the opener’s life span. In an unfinished garage, attach the angle iron directly to the face of a joist with 1-in. lag screws. For finished ceilings, attach angle iron along the bottom of a joist with 3-in. lag screws. Hang the opener using two more lengths of angle iron and nuts and bolts. Use lock washers or thread-locking adhesive to keep vibration from loosening the nuts.

Replace all the components

If the wires that run from your opener to the photo eyes and to the wall button are exposed, replace them, too. Those wires have probably been in your garage for 10 years or more, and they may be nicked or worn. Newer openers are extremely sensitive and won’t work if a wire is damaged. It only takes about 15 minutes to run the new wire, so it’s time well spent. If the wires are protected inside the wall, you don’t need to run new wire.

 Check the door’s opening force

To check the opening force, rest your foot on the door handle near the floor and open the door using the remote control. When the door lifts against your foot, it should stop with very little pressure. If the door continues to open, adjust the force.

Fine-tune the opening and closing force

The opener’s instructions probably tell you to place a 2×4 on the floor under the center of the door, then close it. When the door contacts the wood, it should stop and then reverse. Proper closing force ensures that if something is in the door’s path, the door won’t crush it.The locations of the opening and closing force adjustment screws vary.

Use bulbs that handle vibration

Garage door openers vibrate, so you’ll need special light- bulbs that can handle it. Look for “rough service” or “garage door” on the label.

Fix a reversing door

The most common problem with garage door openers is the door reversing when it’s closing, even when there’s nothing obvious obscuring the photoelectric eyes. If your closing force is adjusted correctly, then the problem is almost always the photoelectric eyes. The eyes are very sensitive— even cobwebs can interfere with them. First make sure the eyes are still in alignment . Then make sure the eyes are clean and the path between them is clear. Finally, look for loose wires in the eyes and the opener.

To be safe and lower risks, it is best to hire a professional garage door specialist.  The specialist can determine and address the problems of your garage door and propose a feasible solution.  Feel free to contact us any time for help.  Call Yuval at (215) 805-9209 or visit SecureGarages.com – don’t forget our Awesome Amazon Local Deal!  Garage adjustment, reconditioning + safety inspection. and for another $34 we will replace up to 8 rollers!  Mention Code: Secure4Sure10 to get another 10% off your order!

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How to Open your Garage Door when your Power is out

How to Open your Garage Door when your Power is out

When wind storms cause big power outages. This is the most difficult situation  that we face during bad weather if our garage door is closed and suddenly electricity gone . All electronic or automatic garage doors have a bypass that will allow you to open it manually. This becomes necessary when there is a power failure or, for some reason, you lose your remote. The bypass disconnects the door from the powered carriage, but it stays on the track. Once you disconnect it, you can then lift it manually. When the power comes back on or you locate your lost remote, you can lock the bypass and use the door normally again.

So, there are some steps that will help you yo open the garage door when your power is out .

  1. First step :

Place a ladder under the chain that operates the garage door. Locate a red cord hanging from a bracket on the chain. These cords are almost always red, but if there is only one cord and it’s not red, it’s probably the right one. The cord will have a plastic red knob on the end. Most often, the cord is located close to the door.

  1. Second step :

Jerk on the cord using the knob. The cord is hooked onto a small lever. The lever may be tilted at a 15-degree angle or pointing straight down. You will feel that the lever is spring-loaded; pull the cord until the lever locks in the down position. Step down from the ladder.

  1. Third step :

Grab the door with both hands and lift it. If the door will not budge, pull the cord harder until it locks open. If the door is too heavy for you to lift, don’t hurt yourself. Get an assistant to help you lift it.

  1. Fourth step :

Do not let go of the door once it’s off the ground. It is free on the track and it will fall if you let go. Prop the door open using a two-by-four or have someone hold the door open for you while you drive your car in or out. When you’re finished with the door, ease it down by hand.

  1. Fifth step :

Pull down on the cord hard to lock it in place again after the power comes back on or you find your remote. Pull on the cord and watch as the bracket slips back into the chain bracket, locking the door into the powered carriage. Try the remote. If the door won’t open, but the chain is moving, pull on the chain again until the bracket locks. Test and pull the cord again if necessary to lock it .

WARNING :

Never pull the bypass cord if the door is stuck in the open position. The door will come crashing down with enough force to damage anything that gets in its way. So, there are some tips that can help you in bad weather when suddenly power is out hope it will help you. Be safe.

To be safe and lower risks, it is best to hire a professional garage door specialist.  The specialist can determine and address the problems of your garage door and propose a feasible solution.  Feel free to contact us any time for help.  Call Yuval at (215) 805-9209 or visit SecureGarages.com – don’t forget our Awesome Amazon Local Deal!  Garage adjustment, reconditioning + safety inspection. and for another $34 we will replace up to 8 rollers!  Mention Code: Secure4Sure10 to get another 10% off your order!

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