Power Outages and Garage Door Safety

If you’re experiencing a power outage in light of the high winds in Southern California, you won’t be able to open or close your garage door without a garage door opener with battery backup installed.

Today, we wanted to take a moment to share some information on the current power outages, the benefits of installing a battery backup, and the importance of preparing for evacuation.

Power Outages, 2019

In light of the dry weather and high winds, power companies have been shutting power off to a wide range of homes and businesses throughout Ventura County and Los Angeles County.

According to PowerOutage.us, there are currently 1,784 outages in Ventura County and 6,007 outages in Los Angeles County. This may help prevent new fires from starting due to electrical lines, but it can pose new problems for homeowners and business owners alike.

Your garage door opener needs electricity to operate properly – without power, you won’t be able to open or close your garage door.

This is why it’s important and legally required to have a garage door opener with battery backup installed.

What’s a Garage Door Opener Battery Backup?

A backup battery ensures your garage door will open and close during times of power outages, which can be important if you need to evacuate and can’t open your garage door manually.

Your Garage Door Guys offers the latest LiftMaster garage door openers equipped with battery backups.

Sen. Bill Dodd proposed newly sold or installed garage door openers for residential properties in California should be equipped with backup batteries as a matter of public safety. The law was signed into effect on September 21, 2018, and required all garage door openers sold or installed as of July 1, 2019, to be equipped with a backup battery.

“Most people don’t think about this until it is too late,” Dodd said during a statement. “My goal with this bill is to raise awareness and give people the security of a battery backup.” – Sen. Bill Dodd

A garage door opener backup battery ensures your garage door opener operates in the event of a power outage. This allows you to get out of your garage during an emergency accompanied by a power outage.

Installation

As mentioned, new garage door openers should be equipped with a backup battery. If you have an older garage door, however, we encourage you to consider installing a backup battery or updating your opener to a modern garage door opener.

It’s just a matter of safety.

Garage doors are heavy, which can result in personal injury if you’re not careful while trying to escape your house during an emergency. A battery backup remedies this by providing the garage door opener power during a power outage.

Your Garage Door Guys Can Help

If you’re interested in improving the safety of your garage door, please give us a call. We will be happy to explain how battery backups work, provide an estimate, and provide garage door opener installation for you.

I recommend them highly

YGDG owner Brent, who is very personable and easy to talk to, offered a straight forward deal at a competitive price. Adrian, the technician who came to install the door was highly skilled at his job. He installed the door rapidly with no wasted motions or hesitations. I recommend them highly.

Cyrus M.

Prompt, courteous and very professional!

I have to say , Brent and company are my go to guys when it comes to fixing my doors. They are prompt, courteous and very professional! Brent always makes sure to go the extra mile and he fixes things right the first time.

Jose H.

Prices were very fair

Justin and Brent came to fix our garage door which would leak in water regardless of heavy rain or small showers. Prices were very fair and they also completed maintenance on our door — soooo much quieter now! On top of that, they came within time window and I could tell that they try hard to come…

Jennifer W.

Provided excellent, skilled service on my garage door

This company has consistently provided excellent, skilled service on my garage door issues through the years, at reasonable prices. I highly recommend them.

Carol K.

Very professional, on time and easy to work with

Brent and his team did an excellent job in the installation of my boss’ gate opener. They were very professional, on time and easy to work with. Thanks so much Brent!

John T.

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Damaged Garage Door

A garage door may work perfectly well for months and would not have any trouble. However, there might be times when you try to park your car or take it out of the garage, and the door would not open or close properly. In either case, your damaged garage door would need a repair service to secure your vehicle from theft or other damages.

Causes of damaged garage door

There are numerous reasons which may cause damage to the garage door. Therefore, the quicker these are identified the quicker they will be fixed.

1. Track alignment problem

   Garage doors run on tracks to open and close. If the garage door is not opening or closing properly, it might be due to a problem in the alignment of tracks, which may make the garage door go off track. Correcting the alignment of the tracks would resolve the issue making the door would run smoothly again.

2. Malfunctioning of parts

   A garage door may not stop moving smoothly if the parts of the door like rollers, hinges, and springs wear and tear due to excessive use and dust. The damaged parts if replaced would make the garage door work correctly.

3. Breakage of spring

   Springs stretch every time you open or close the door. The more you use the door, the more they work. As a result, springs have more chances of breaking than any other part.

4. Breakage of cable 

A cable that lifts the garage door becomes weak with time. Subsequently, a weak cable can break any time and make the garage door difficult to operate.

When you fear that your garage door is not functioning correctly, look for the causes of a damaged garage door. The team at Garage Door Doctor can visit your door and fix any issue your garage door may be having. All you need to do is call us on 281-855-9300 or 281-578-7659.

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source https://www.garagedoordoctor.biz/damaged-garage-door

How To Repair Garage Door Sensors

If you find your garage door isn’t opening or closing, the first thing you want to check is the garage door sensors. These will be located at the foot of either side of your garage door and may fall out of alignment, collect dust, or break over time.

In this article, you’ll learn how to repair garage door sensors so you can get your garage door back up and running quickly.

How To Repair Garage Door Sensors

There are several steps involved in repairing garage door sensors.

The first couple of steps involve inspects, so we’ll start there in order to determine if there’s a problem in need of repair or if the sensors simple need cleaning or realignment. You should be able to work through these steps pretty quickly, so let’s get to it …

Here’s how to repair garage door sensors quickly.

1. Clean the Sensors

Your sensors are two photo-eye lenses, mounted at the bottom of the garage door on both sides. They help sense anything that’s in the way, but they’re also in the worst spot when it comes to dust and dirt. It can build up over time and block the lens entirely.

If you’re having problems with the sensors, the first thing you should do is clean them off. Take a soft cloth and wipe off any dirt you see on the lenses. In most cases, this will be enough to get it working again. 

2. Look for damage

Being located at the bottom of the door, your sensors are also vulnerable to damage. They can easily be hit by a car, or by someone simply walking by and accidentally kicking it. Take a look to see if there’s any damage. If so, they may need to be replaced.

3. Realign the sensors

If cleaning the sensors didn’t work, they may need to be realigned.

This is another simple job you can handle yourself, should you need to. On some models, you’ll see that there’s a light that blinks if it’s not in alignment. Keep a lookout for this, and you’ll be able to correct it.

Loosen the nut or screw that’s holding the sensor in place, and then tie a piece of string to both sensors. Lay a spirit level over this, and check if it’s level. If not, adjust the sensor until it is level with the other one, and then secure it back into position. Test the door again before finishing up.

Related: How to Align Garage Door Sensors

4. Check the power

This is a very obvious step, but it’s important to check that the sensors are getting power.

If they aren’t, they aren’t going to work. Take a look at your sensors and see if any lights are showing on them. If not, they may not be properly plugged in or drawing power.

5. Check the wires

If the sensors are properly plugged into power, it may be the wires that are at fault. It’s important that you check they aren’t frayed or damaged.

If they are, replace them as soon as possible. As well as stopping your door from working, they’re also a potential fire risk.

6. Replace the units

If nothing else works, then it’s time to replace the units themselves. Sometimes parts break down or become faulty, so they’ll need to be replaced.

If you’re confident at DIY, you can replace them yourself. You’ll need to take the old sensors off the door, clipping them away from the wiring connecting them to the power. Attach your new sensors into those spots, reattaching the wires as you do so. Before you tighten them fully, align them as described above.

Once you’re happy with the positioning, screw them into place and test the door.

The Importance of Garage Door Sensors

What is the purpose of your sensors?

Their primary use is for safety. With an automatic door, you’ll push a button to open it, drive your car through, and then the door will close behind you.

The sensor comes into play if anything remains under the door when it tries to close. If there is anything, the door will reverse and open again, until the obstruction is removed. It prevents damage to your car and keeps the whole family safe when using the garage.

In the past, these sensors were mechanical and would reverse the door when the door touched the sensor physically.

These days, you’re much more likely to use a photoelectric eye as your sensor. In fact, these were made a legal requirement in 1993. These sensors have a beam that’s fired across the bottom of your doorway.

If anything breaks that beam, the system will not allow your door to shut until it has been removed.

A Note On Safety

Even if you’re simply looking to learn how to repair garage door sensors, it’s should be noted that working on any part of a garage door can be dangerous. Garage doors involve many moving parts, heavy equipment, and electrical components, so always approach the garage door with caution.

Before you attempt any repair on your garage door, it’s vital that you turn off the power to the door while you work on it.

You can usually do that on the garage door opener itself, so you won’t have to worry about the door closing on you while you’re working on it. If you’re not sure how to do this, you could turn off power to the garage itself at your circuit breaker.

Maintaining Your Garage Door Sensors

Once you’ve got your garage door sensors working again, you’ll want to ensure that they’re in top working condition from now on.

It’s best to include them in a regular all over garage door check, to see how they’re doing. At this point, you can spot any damage, and clean the eyes off to keep them clear and unobstructed. Doing this will ensure that you have fewer breakdowns and issues with the sensors, saving you money in the long run. Get into the habit of doing this, and you’ll find everything runs a lot smoother.

Fixing your garage door sensors is much easier than it looks. Often, all you’ll need to do is clean off the lenses or realign the sensors when needed. Even if they need to be replaced, it’s not too difficult to do. If you need help, you can always call an engineer to take a look for you.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to repair garage door sensors, you can work through each step and check to see if the problem was related to your sensors.

If you find the problem isn’t related to your garage door sensors, you may need to call a local garage door repair company. A professional repair service will provide a garage door inspection and offer an estimate for the required parts and repairs.

In most cases, the garage door sensors simply need to be cleaned or aligned. However, this may not be the case if your sensors are on the older side, weren’t installed properly, or need to be replaced due to damaged equipment.

If you’re in our service area, please consider making us Your Garage Door Guys.

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How to level a garage door?

Your garage door works well in all seasons without much repair. The door opens in a perfect balance from both sides. However, with continuous use, the garage door can become uneven and would not close until the end of one side. In such a case, you would need to check its balance. You call a local garage repair service who would level a garage door professionally.

If you think you can work it out yourself, you can follow the following steps to level a garage door:

1. The first step is to disconnect the door from the opener to check from where is the door out of balance. You can move the door up and down several times. This will help you identify until where the door closes and to check that it runs smoothly on the track. If the door falls quickly, it means they’ve lost tension on the springs.
2. Place c-clamps on the tracks so that the door does not lift up while you are working on it
3. Using a ladder, a wrench, and a winding bar start adjusting the tension of spring.
4. Climb the ladder and loosen the setscrew with a wrench while holding the winding bar. You will feel tension adjusting as you loosen the screws.
5. Place the first winding bar up- only a quarter turn and place the second winding bar in the hole and tighten the setscrew
6. Remove the winding bar and repeat the same process on the other side. It might take several attempts before both sides align and close together at the bottom.
7. Finally, check the level of the garage door.

If you think you need the help of a garage repair service call, Garage Door Doctor on 281-855-9300 or 281-578-7659, and our experts will help you level a garage door.

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source https://www.garagedoordoctor.biz/how-to-level-a-garage-door

Garage Door Maintenance: 4 Tips for Long Life

Routine maintenance can help extend the life of your garage door. The professionals at Door Power detail what you need to do to avoid unexpected garage door repairs.

https://www.doorpower.com/About/Blog/entryid/79/garage-door-maintenance-4-tips-for-long-life

How Does Automatic Garage Door Repair Service Helps You?

Gates have been used since the history of human civilization evolved. The modern era has brought a new meaning to the concept of gates by modifying them and adding new features to it. Traditionally gates were made in order to define territory and also to create a strong sense of security for the community but in these days the gates are available in a wide range of varieties along with the innovative automatic functionality. Even cities had gates in order to help in the demarcation of boundaries of location. Today’s modern era gates have a more different and unique approach and objective. 

Garage gates today create the first impression when the garage is positioned in the front of the house. Apart from being a major source of security, it is also used as a status symbol. The more unique a gate, the more it is appreciated. In the modern era, automatic gates are satisfying the consumers more than the manual ones as they have more safety and security features to keep your vehicle protected with minimal closing and opening effort and maintenance.

For these different purposes, gates come in different shapes and sizes and are also made up of different materials. There are automatic gates, commercial gates, security gates, driveway gates, electric gates, sliding gates, chain link gates, wood gates, wrought iron gates, estate gates and many more gates.

Looking at the variety of garage gates, there have emerged many companies who not only provide with a customized version of a gate but also help in maintaining as well as repairing the gate whenever it is needed. The companies not only help maintain, but do all the activities right from design, installation, maintain to repairing of the gates. They even take contracts to maintain gates for a certain number of years and also help in choosing the kind of gate based on the need of a customer.

When to avail the automatic garage door repair service?

But you need to keep in mind that only doing an automatic garage door repair service cannot serve your life long without any hassle. There are many points that you should take care of to keep the automatic garage door properly functioning. But even after maintaining the garage door, you may get something wrong and you can’t keep the door open even for a single day. So, you need to detect the problem and fix it as soon as possible to ensure the security of the vehicle. There are some points that you need to keep in mind for understanding when to avail the automatic garage door repair service from a reputed company.

Continue reading the source article: How Does Automatic Garage Door Repair Service Helps You?

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