Category: Garage Door Maintenance

10 signs you need a replacement garage door

Image of Clopay Canyon Ridge Garage doors fitted to a house
It might not be obvious when you need a replacement garage door

If you’re not happy with your garage door, then perhaps you need a replacement garage door.

Here are 10 signs that you need a replacement garage door.

1. Obvious damage

Perhaps somebody has driven into your garage door, or it’s been damaged by bikes or balls or has seen better days and is just falling apart.

Now is a good time to replace it.

2. Doesn’t open or shut properly

If your garage door doesn’t open or close properly, then it might make more sense to get a replacement garage door than repair it.

It may be more cost effective to buy a replacement garage door than to get your garage door serviced.

3. Affected by weather

Perhaps your garage door has been badly affected by storms, or extreme heat or cold.

Perhaps it doesn’t fit as well as it used to, or it now leaks.

Why not see what a replacement garage door could do for your home?

4. Doesn’t meet your needs anymore

Your existing garage door might not meet your needs any more if your family has grown, or your children have left home, or you’ve got a classic car or a boat you want to keep in the garage.

If you now have a boat that you want to keep in the garage, perhaps you can’t get it in because your garage door opener is in the way.  A new garage door and garage door opener could keep your pride and joy safe and protected from the elements.

If your children have left home, then perhaps you can keep all of your cars in the garage now there’s no bikes or sports equipment in the way.

A replacement garage door could make life much easier for you.

5. Used by the whole family

Maybe your garage is used by the whole family know, Perhaps you want several individual garage doors rather than a single huge one, so that the children can get their bikes out without lifting a big heavy door.

6. Different use for your garage

If you’re thinking about different uses for your garage, such as turning it into a home cinema, or games room, or you simply want to spend your retirement restoring a classic car, then you might benefit from a new garage door.

Your replacement garage door could provide more light, more security, or keep your garage warmer.

7. Different material

What was an appropriate garage door material previously may not be now.

Perhaps you’re fed up with a big heavy wooden door that needs regular painting, and want a lighter metal door.

8. Security

Perhaps you know that your garage door isn’t as secure as it should be.

Maybe you’re keeping valuable or expensive items in your garage and want to keep them away from prying eyes to make sure that they stay there.

9. Old and less effective or efficient than a new door

Maybe you’ve lived in your home for decades and have never replaced your garage door.

Perhaps you want to make your garage warmer, or add windows to your garage, so you can spend more time in there.

A new garage door could provide more insulation and save on heating costs, whether you’re fixing something, watching movies, adding an extra bedroom or giving the kids their own space.

10. Doesn’t fit with your home aesthetic

If you’ve recently moved house, then perhaps the garage door isn’t to your taste.

Whilst you’re making the rest of your new home perfect, why not think about a replacement garage door too?

You can have the exact style of garage door you want, and material you’ve always wanted, whether it’s wooden swing out garage doors, or ornate bifold doors.

After all, you’ll probably use your garage door a lot more than a guest bedroom.

Conclusion

A replacement garage door might make a lot of sense if you’re currently struggling to open it, or know that you can’t spend time in there because it’s too cold.

Why not Contact Us at 651-702-1420 today and tell us what you need from your replacement garage door?

10 Garage Door Maintenance Tips

Image or yellow gloves on an open tool box
You might be able to carry out garage door maintenance yourself

If you’re keen on saving time and money, then perhaps you want to add garage door maintenance to your list of things to do.

Here’s what we recommend you do:

1. Check everything works

You’ll want to check that everything works on your garage door as expected.

Perhaps you use your garage door every day and will know when something’s not right, or perhaps you only use it a couple of times a month.

Have a look at the opener, door, handle, and lock to make sure that it all works.

Remember to check your automatic garage door opener too if you have one.

2. Check for damage

Perhaps your garage door has been battered by a storm, or has very obvious damage to it due to a car driving into your garage door.

There may be less obvious signs of damage, such as fraying cables, rusting springs or it’s just slow or noisy when opening and closing your door.

3. Check it’s weather proof

You’ll want to check that your garage door is weatherproof.

Rain, snow, storms and sun can damage garage doors, and let in wind and water.

You don’t want the first sign of a leaking garage door to be everything in your garage is wet.

4. Check the screws

Ensure that all the screws and other fittings are tight and secure, and replace any that are missing.

Whilst you might have suitable screws already, you’ll want to check that they are up to the job.

5. Check the frame

Check the garage door frame.

If it’s damaged or rotting, then your garage door may not be as secure or work as it should do.

6. Clean the tracks

Cleaning the tracks regularly will remove the dust and other debris that might cause problems.

You can brush the worst out, and then use a cloth to make sure you’ve got them really clean.

7. Lubricate

Once clean you’ll want to lubricate the rollers, tracks and pulleys.

You can get garage door lubricant as a spray which will make it easier to get to those hard to reach places.

8. How often?

This depends on where you live, what’s in your garage, how often you use your garage, and what you use it for.

You may need to check once a month, or just a couple of times a year.

9. Safety first

Safety must come first.

Obviously you may not have the tools, parts, skills, experience, time or inclination to even think about repairing your garage door, so you might not be able to attempt even the seemingly easy maintenance tasks.

Garage doors are not toys, and are under a lot of tension, and have many moving parts.

We wouldn’t recommend that you fix any major problems yourself.

10. Know your limits

You might not be physically capable of making these checks, or feel comfortable working by yourself carrying out these garage door maintenance tasks.

Perhaps it’s raining or dark, or your children want you to play with them, or you don’t really have the time to spend on your garage door.

If in doubt, leave garage door maintenance to the professionals.

Conclusion

Whether you’re able to carry out these garage door maintenance tasks or not, you might still need some help, advice or guidance, and we’re only too happy to help.

Even if you can’t fix it yourself, you might have still saved time and money by diagnosing the exact problem, and what replacement parts are required, before contacting us.

You might have confirmed that you do actually need a new garage door, or that only a garage door service is required.

Why not Contact Us at 651-702-1420 now, and tell us how we can help you?

10 Reasons Your Garage Door Isn’t Working Properly

Image of white arched garage door with windows at the top
Find out what to do if your garage door isn’t working properly.

If you’re just starting to use your garage more because the weather has improved, and you’ve noticed your garage door isn’t working properly, then here are just some of the common reasons.

1. Remote control needs new batteries

If you haven’t replaced the batteries recently, then this is where to start. Remember to use branded batteries, as recommended by the manufacturer.

2. Photo eye is out of alignment

If your garage door closes then opens again, or just won’t open, then it could be that the photo eye sensor is dirty or out of alignment, which is preventing the door from closing properly.

3. Track is out of alignment

If you can see that there are gaps or bends in the rails, then the track is probably out of alignment, which means your garage door won’t open or close properly.

4. Garage door is opening or closing randomly

If your garage door is opening or closing randomly, then the chances are there is something resting on the transmitter.

Has it fallen onto the floor of your car, or driveway, or is it in your pocket being pressed by your phone or wallet?

Potentially, a neighbor could be on same frequency; and by opening and closing their door, they’re operating your door too.

5. Garage door opens part way then reverses

If your garage door opens part way then stops, it could be that that it’s hitting or resting on something.

There is a safety mechanism to prevent the door from crushing people, so check to ensure that debris, tools, toys or anything else is not preventing the door from shutting.

6. Garage door won’t open

If your garage door simply won’t open, then it might be due to the torsion springs. These do all the heavy lifting, and will eventually wear out or break.

7. Garage door opens then closes

If your garage door opens and immediately closes, it could be due to the limit settings on the opener.

You’ll need to refer to the manual to see what the settings should be, and adjust as necessary.

8. Opener runs but doesn’t move the garage door

If the opener works but doesn’t move the garage door, then you’ll need to check to ensure that the disconnect switch isn’t unhooked.

You may need to refer to the manual to see how to do this, and how to attach it again.

9. Runs for a few seconds then stops

If your garage door runs for a few seconds then stops, you’ll want to check for obstacles , or that springs aren’t damaged.

10. Closes very quickly

If your garage door closes very quickly, then you might have a broken spring or cable. This will need replacing by a professional if you don’t want to do it yourself.

Conclusion

Now you know some of the common reasons why your garage door isn’t working properly, and that most of the problems are easy to fix.

If you’re not confident you can fix your garage door yourself, why not leave it to the experts?

AA Garage Door covers Minneapolis, St Paul, and the whole of the Twin Cities region, and offers a same day service.

Why not call 651-702-1420 now to tell us how we can help you get your garage door working again.

10 SIGNS IT’S TIME TO GET YOUR GARAGE DOOR SERVICED

Image of a garage door that won't shut
If it doesn’t open or close properly, it’s time to get your garage door serviced

If you’ve noticed that your garage doesn’t open or close as easily as before, then it’s time to get your garage door serviced.

Here’s what to look out for the next time you open or close your garage door.

1. Squeaks

If you garage door squeaks then it could need lubricating or adjusting, which will be a job for the professionals.

2. Scraping sounds

If you garage door makes scraping sounds when opening or closing, then it could be due to a damaged end bearing plate, or misaligned reinforcing strut.

Whilst you might be able to temporarily resolve this issue yourself, these parts may need replacing.

3. Doesn’t open or close properly

If your garage door doesn’t open or close properly, then it could be due to a broken torsion spring, which will need replacing.

It might also be due to worn extension spring cable pulleys.

4. Garage door is up on one side

If your garage door is open on one side, then it could be due to a broken torsion spring cable or torsion spring, which will need replacing.

5. Garage door won’t stay open

If your garage door won’t stay open, then the springs may need adjusting or replacing.

6. Garage door starts to close but then reverses

If your garage door starts to open but then reverses, then the problem is likely to be broken torsion spring cable,  extension spring cable or worn extension spring pulleys.

It might also be that the sensors are dirty or misaligned, causing the door to open again.

7. Garage door is jammed

If your garage door is jammed, then the torsion cable may need to be replaced. Alternatively, the track may be bent and simply needs straightening.

8. Door opener is straining

If your garage door opener is straining, then is could be due to a broken torsion spring, which will need to be replaced.

9. Remote control works opens the door but won’t close it

If your garage door remote control will open but not close your door, then this could be due to a misaligned or dirty sensor. This will need to be aligned, cleaned or replaced as necessary.

10. Door opens slowly

If your garage door opens slowly, then it’s likely that the torsion spring is broken, and will need replacing.

Conclusion

As can be seen, many common problems are resolved when you get your garage door serviced, and the torsion springs, cables and pulleys are often to blame.

If you’re not confident you can fix your garage door yourself, why not leave it to the experts?

AA Garage Door covers Minneapolis, St Paul, and the whole of the Twin Cities region, and offers a same day service.
Why not call 651-702-1420 now to tell us how we can help you get your garage door working again.

WINTER GARAGE DOOR PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Image of a snowy home with a garage and table outside
Winter garage door problems can often be resolved quickly or avoided entirely

When cold winter winds blow and snow starts to fall, even a short walk from your car to your front door can feel like a tortuous experience.

So your garage becomes your safe haven from outdoor chills. But when your garage door stops working, that short walk can turn into purgatory.

Don’t let your garage door fail you during the coldest months of the year.

Follow our tips to prevent the most common winter garage door problems.

Garage Door Freezes to the Floor

When you drive through a snowy driveway, your car’s tires track in snow and water into your garage.

If your weather seals aren’t tight at the beginning of the winter, stray moisture can adhere to the rubber at the bottom of your garage door.

The frozen moisture sticks the weather stripping to the bottom of the garage door.

Then, when you open your garage door, the force can rip the weather stripping from its place.

To avoid breaking your weather stripping, sweep snow away from the bottom of the garage door as often as possible.

You can also spray a bit of cooking spray to the bottom of the garage door to keep it from attracting water.

Thickened Grease

Grease is designed to work well even when heat builds up between moving parts.

It gets slicker and more lubricating when temperatures rise, allowing the rollers and track to move smoothly when your garage door opens and closes.

During the winter, however, temperatures can drop so much that the grease hardens and makes a poor lubricant.

To solve this problem, remove the old layer of grease with a grease solvent and a firm bristle brush. Make sure to work into small cracks. Then wipe the solvent off and apply a silicone-based lubricant.

You should reapply lubricant at least once a year to prevent moving parts from grinding together and causing damage.

Broken Gears

When the garage door freezes to the bottom of the driveway, it may struggle against the gears.

The force holding the garage door to the ground fights against the gears as they try to move the door upward. If you don’t notice that the garage fails to open, the gears could fail.

In this case, you’ll have to call a garage door repairman to make necessary repairs and even replace broken parts.

Grit in the Garage Door Drive Track

During the winter, many people use salt, sand, and grit to help melt snow from the roads.

You may track in the grit on your tires as you enter your garage every day. Or it could blow in during winter storms. In either case, the grit from the ground tends to bury itself in cracks and crevices.

You should be wary of grit in the drive tracks of your garage door (the two tracks on either side of your door that guide it into place as it lowers and raises).

When small debris get into the drive track, they can cause the door to jam. Solve this problem by brushing the drive track often, especially after new snow falls.

Contracting Metal

When the temperature drops, the metal in your garage door contracts.

This affects the tracks, rollers, springs, and screws in your garage door system. Since the metal takes up less space, there is more air between the moving parts in your garage, giving the pieces more opportunities to scrape against each other and get damaged.

To prevent further winter garage door problems, apply more lubricant in the winter than you would in the summer.

Use lubricant on the springs, the screw drive, and the torsion ball bearings.

Prevent Problems Today

Don’t let your winter garage door problems get you down. Apply these simple maintenance tips to keep your garage door functioning properly all year long.

Need help? Call AA Garage Door at 651-702-1420 now.