Replacing a Garage Door Lift Cable

It is nice to have a strong garage door, but what’s the point of having one when it does not open. A garage door lift cable helps to open and close a garage door. There could be a possibility of it damaging with time. This can lead to the overhead garage door not functioning properly. In such a case, the replacement of the lift cable is the way to go.

Replacement Procedure

It is good to read about the replacement procedure before a person hires a company to replace the garage door lift cable. There are many guides available on replacing the cable. A person can also replace the cord himself. However, to avoid any difficult situation, a professional who is an expert at replacing the cable would be recommended. Since there can be complications, therefore, the person should wear safety equipment while using the correct tools. If a person does not take care of the safety while replacing the cable, then it may lead to an injury in case of a mishap.

Equipment

There are a few types of equipment that come in use when replacing the garage door lift cable. Analyze the size of the door and know the different sizes of equipment that will come in need. These equipment include a winding bar, eyewear, grips, gloves, sockets of various fittings, wrenches of different sizes, and the essential material, a right replacement cable. The cable’s length would also depend upon the size of the door.

If at any point in the work, a person feels like the work needs way more effort, it’s advisable to call a local professional like Garage Door Doctor. After the replacement of the lift cable, sit back and enjoy looking at the garage door, which functions correctly. For more information on garage door repair, call us on 281-855-9300 and 281-578-7659.

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source https://www.garagedoordoctor.biz/replacing-a-garage-door-lift-cable

Getting a Garage Door Repair Cost Estimate

Is your garage door broken? If so, you’re probably wondering how to get a garage door repair cost estimate.

In this article, we’re going to share a few tips to help you get started so you can get your garage door back up and running as quickly as possible.

Garage Door Repair Cost Estimate

Has your garage door suffered damage? There are all kinds of things that can damage it, from bad weather to an accident with a car driving into it. Whatever happened, you need it repaired. How do you get the best garage door repair cost estimate?

Here’s how to get a garage door repair cost estimate.

The first thing you’ll need to do is call on a local garage door repair company to come and help you with your garage door. If you want to shop around, you’ll need to call several and see what they’re quoting.

Not sure who to go with?

Firstly, ensure you’re narrowing your search down to people who can help with commercial garage doors. Next, try asking around your friends, family, and business partners. Some may be able to recommend a service they’ve used in the past. If you’re not able to do that, check out your local businesses on the Better Business Bureau site. This will be able to tell which companies are the best, without any bias.

When you call around, you’re looking for a company that will come and performs a garage door inspection. Some companies will give you an estimate on the phone, but they will need to come and take a look at the damage for themselves. This gives them a better idea of what needs to be done, and therefore give you a more accurate price.

If you can, call around several different companies and have them take a look at the door. This way, you’ll get a range of prices, and feel for the company themselves. Remember, you’re not just looking for the cheapest service. Look for the one that comes with the right expertise and insurance to work on your garage doors. Once you’ve decided, call your chosen company and book them to come and do the repair.

Minor Garage Door Problems

If the garage door is damaged, you may assume that you need to call an expert as soon as possible. In fact, you may be able to fix the problem yourself. Here are some issues that you can correct yourself without calling an expert.

Removing Garage Door Dents

Dents in metal garage doors are common, and nothing to seriously worry about.

If you have a small dent thanks to hail or an accidental foot on the gas pedal, you can hammer it out yourself. You’ll just need a rubber mallet and a piece of wood. Place the wood on the inside of the dent, where it’s bulging outwards. Tap the mallet against it until the dent is hammered out.

If the dent is too big or won’t hammer out, this is when you’ll need to call an expert.

Unresponsive Garage Door Remotes

If you have an automated garage door, then you’ll know that sometimes they just won’t work with your garage door remotes. There are all kinds of reasons why this could be happening, so try these fixes before calling for help:

• Change the batteries in the remote. Often they’ve simply run out, so new batteries will fix the problem.
• Check the garage door hasn’t been locked manually, which will stop the garage door opener from being able to work.
• Check the disconnect switch hasn’t been pulled. This may have happened if someone has been doing maintenance on the door recently.
• Try changing the codes on the remote. In older models, you can do this manually by flipping switches in the remote, while newer ones will allow you to set them automatically. Check your manual for details.
• Check you’re not trying to use the remote from too far away. They have a limited range, so they won’t work if they’re not close to the door.

Bent Garage Door Tracks

The tracks are what your door runs on when it opens and closes.

If you’re finding the door is squealing when you open and close it, there could well be a bend in the track. If it’s a small bend, you can fix this yourself. Find where the damage has occurred, and unscrew the track from the door itself. Again, using wood and a mallet, hammer the dent out until it’s straight again. Screw the track back in, and test the door. If it moves smoothly, you’re good to go.

Remember, if the bend is too great, you shouldn’t try and fix it yourself. If it’s a large dent, or the door is stuck because there’s a serious dent, you’ll need to get help with it.

Auto Reversing Door

Your garage door should have an auto-reverse feature. This stops the door from shutting on anything in its path, be it a person or a vehicle. It’s an essential safety feature, so you want to ensure it’s working properly. Are you finding that the door opens back up before it touches the floor, even if nothing’s in the way? This can easily be fixed.

The system works by using two photo eye beams on either side of the bottom of the door. These shoot out a beam that meets in the middle. If the beam is interrupted, then the door won’t close. The most likely reason it isn’t working is that the eyes are dirty. A soft cloth is all you need to clean them and try the door again.

If that doesn’t work, the eyes are likely out of alignment. Tie a piece of string between them, and measure it with a spirit level. If it isn’t level, then you’ll need to adjust them. Move the eyes until they’re in alignment with each other, and try again. This should solve the problem.

Conclusion

With these tips, you’ll be able to fix the most common problems with your commercial garage door. If the job is too big for you, or you’re not sure how to go about fixing it, then call in the experts. Call several companies, ask for recommendations, and pick a service that comes to check out the damage for you.

If you need help with your garage door repair, we’re Your Garage Door Guys and we’d be happy to help.

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Commercial Driveway Gates & Openers

If you want to increase the security of your commercial property, commercial driveway gates and openers will help you do just that.

In this article, we’re taking a closer look at commercial driveway gates and openers so you can make a more informed decision regarding which type of driveway gate is best for your business.

Commercial Driveway Gates & Openers

If you have a business with a parking lot, garage, or storage space, you may be interested in the benefits of commercial driveway gates. Similar to the way a garage door work, a driveway gate opens and closes by remote. This provides convenience, efficient operation, and increased security.

There is a variety of different types of driveway gates and gate openers available for businesses today. Unlike automatic driveway gates for residential properties, these types of gates and openers are designed for high-traffic areas, like parking garages, lots, and other facilities.

Here’s an overview of a few things to keep in mind while looking for commercial driveway gates and openers.

Finding the Right Gate for Your Business

There are a few things to consider when searching for the right gate and opener for your commercial property. Unlike selecting a gate for a residential property, there’s more to consider than the design and operation function.

You’re going to have vehicles driving in and out of the gate every day. You’ll have much larger vehicles coming in too. Then there’s the issue of security. You’ve got potentially thousands of dollars worth of stock and equipment on-site, so of course, you want to protect it.

Types of Gate Openers

There is a wide variety of commercial driveway gate openers designed for commercial installations. As mentioned above, the needs and type of your business will determine which type of gate and gate opener is right for you.

Here’s a quick overview of some of the different types of gate openers available.

1. Swing Gate Openers

Though swing gates are often used for residential installations due to the amount of space required to operate properly, swing gate openers will power a swing gate with ease so your traffic can keep moving.

2. Slide Gate Openers

The slide gate opener is one of the most popular and widely-used type of gate opener due to its compact size and exceptional performance. These units sit at the base of the fence line, efficiently saving space and powering your gate.

3. Overhead Gate Opener

An overhead gate opener is engineered to increase up-time and provide the most reliable performance available. These heavy-duty gate openers are designed to handle frequent use for commercial buildings in need of dependable performance.

4. Barrier Gate Openers

A barrier gate is ideal for high-traffic areas, like parking garages and parking lots. These are light-weight and open and close quickly, reducing the amount of time it takes for traffic to pass through.

5. Manual Lift & Swing Gates

Similar to barrier gates a manual lift or swing gate is light-weight and operated manually. This makes them ideal for installations like airports, checkpoints, and guarded parking areas.

Gate Automation

The next thing you need to consider is the automation of your gate. Depending on how busy your property is, this is going to be essential. With a manual gate, drivers will need to get out of their vehicle and open the gate to drive through, and then close it behind them. If there’s a lot of people coming in and out, that’s going to eat up a lot of time. Some businesses with swing gates simply leave them open during business hours, which can reduce security.

The best thing to do is automate your gate. This allows drivers to come in and out of the gate, without having to get out of their vehicles. It saves a lot of time and effort on their part.

There are several ways you can automate your gate. One option is to use remotes to open the gate. These work when the button is pushed near the gate, opening it. These are a good option if you have a relatively small crew or regular drivers. You can give remotes to those who need them, so you know who has access to the gate at all times.

Another popular option is to use a keypad. The keypad will only let the gate open if the driver has the right code. This works very much like the remotes, in that you can give the code to whoever needs it. The benefit is you don’t need a physical remote to get in, so you can give the code to whoever needs it. You can also change the code out whenever you need to, to keep it secure.

If you’ll have lots of new drivers coming in and out and have the staff to manage this, you can use an intercom system on the gate. Have drivers announce themselves at the gate, and you can open the gate remotely if you want to let them in. This is a very secure option as you can very everyone before they come inside.

Power Supply Options

If you choose to add automation to your gate, you’ll need to consider whether you want the gate hooked up to the electrics on your property, or to use solar power to power it. Both have their advantages.

Hooking your gate up to the electrics means you’ll have a steady supply of power, and you won’t have to worry about it not working. Even if the power goes out, a backup battery will ensure you’re not much inside.

A solar-powered gate is another good option. The solar panel can be placed almost anywhere, as long as it can get direct sunlight. Again, a battery backup will ensure you have power to the gate, even when the sun goes down. Plus, having a solar panel means less work on your property, as you won’t have to have the ground dug up to connect electrics

Security

One of the most important reasons to install a driveway gate is to secure your business when you’re not there. A locked gate is another layer of security, and it helps delay and put off potential trespassers. When you add the gate to security lighting, alarms, and more, you know you’re doing your best to keep unwanted people out when you’re not there.

This is another reason why adding automation is such a good idea. When the gate is automated, it won’t just open to anyone. You need to give drivers permission in order to use it. That could mean giving them the code to the keypad or giving them a remote in order to open the gate. That way, you can track exactly who has access to the gate at all times.

Conclusion

Now that you know more about commercial driveway gates and openers, you can make a more informed decision regarding which options are right for your business.

When choosing a commercial gate, you’ve got a lot of options. You can choose the style of opening, and whether to automate it. There are several different ways to automate, as well as to power the automation, too. The choice is yours, so get the gate that works best for you.

If you need help with a commercial driveway gate, check out Your Garage Door Guys to learn more about our services, request an estimate, or schedule an appointment.

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Sliding Garage Door- A Reliable Choice

A sliding garage door is not the cheapest garage access option available, but it is undoubtedly one of the best, most reliable, and most comfortable systems to operate. It is the effortless and reliable doors you can have at your house. The following marks its importance:

Mechanism

A sliding garage door requires tracks and sprinters on which it moves to and fro to open and close the garage. It should have twin rollers at the bottom of the door in an adjusted floor rail. It allows the opening and closing actions of the garage to be smooth and easy. However, the ease is achievable only when the base is at an equal level too. The sliding levels should be strong so that they may not break with the intensity.

Slide up Garage Doors

A sliding garage door that has to be pushed up does not meddle with space before or behind the door’s limit. This style of sliding garage door offers an opening and shutting activity that is smooth and requires the least amount of physical exertion. It can also be mechanized and remotely controlled.

Side Sliding Garage Doors

The sliding garage doors can either be vertical or horizontal, depending upon the need of the owner. The side sliding sectional garage door offers favorable choices. These include the formation of garage roof space because the door opens to the side. One can utilize the whole roof of the garage and have quick access to it too. Side sliding garage sectional doors are an extraordinary answer to the simple problem of having to pull the door up.

By installing the sliding garage door, you can enjoy the opportunity of being free from the hassle of requiring extra space in your garage for opening and closing the door. Garage Door Doctor identifies your needs and makes sure to provide you the doors that would make your life comfortable. For further information call us on 281-855-9300 or 281-578-7659.

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source https://www.garagedoordoctor.biz/sliding-garage-door-a-reliable-choice

8 Garage Door Issues (and How to Fix them)

There is a wide range of garage door issues that may prevent you from opening and closing your garage door. While some garage door issues require a professional garage door repair service, there are several you may be able to fix yourself.

In this article, you will discover eight common garage door issues and how to fix them.

Garage Door Issues and How to Fix them

Your garage door works hard, day in and day out. You’ll use it to get in and out of the garage all the time, so over time, it’s going to need some repair. Sometimes, it’s a minor thing that you can handle yourself, other times, you’re going to need to call your local garage door repair company.

We thought it would be helpful to explore a few common garage door issues as well as their solutions so you know if you should call a professional or fix the problem yourself.

Here are eight common garage door issues and how to fix them.

1. Squealing Garage Door

Is your garage door making all kinds of noises when you open and close it?

Whether it’s squealing or scraping, the noise is an indication that something is not right. Don’t worry, this is a problem you can handle yourself. It could be that the tracks your garage door travels on have dented or bent, so you’ll need to put them back into shape.

You’ll need to unscrew the tracks from their brackets and find the spot that’s bent out of shape. Then, simply tap it back into shape with a rubber mallet. If your attempts aren’t working, or the bend is too great for you to repair on your own, call a local repair company to help you.

2. Dented Garage Door

It’s so easy to dent a garage door.

A stray football, a hailstorm, or simply a foot slipping onto the accelerator pedal can all cause a dent in the door. If you have a steel or aluminum door, then you can easily tap a dent out. Using a piece of wood and a mallet, simply place the wood over the dent and tap it to set the metal back into place.

If you’re unable to fix the dent yourself, contact a professional about replacing the damaged garage door panels or installing a new garage door.

Further reading:

• How to Fix A Bent Garage Door Panel

3. Garage Door Opener Doesn’t Work

There are multiple reasons why your garage door opener may not be working.

The first thing you should check is the batteries, as the batteries in the opener may be dead, or the connections corroded. Next, check to see the door hasn’t been locked manually. If this doesn’t work, you may find the opener has been unplugged, or the disconnect switch has been pulled.

Check all these things before talking to a professional.

Further reading:

• A Few Reasons Your Liftmaster Remote Isn’t Working

4. Garage Door Opens by Itself

Another garage door opener quirk is when it starts opening itself.

This is obviously concerning, as it’s a security issue for your home. If this is happening, don’t panic. It could actually be the fault of multiple garage door openers working on a similar frequency.

If this is happening, talk to your neighbors. Are they finding their garages won’t open when they press the button on their remote? It could be that the frequency is too similar to your home, so it’s opening yours instead. This is easily fixed, check your manual to see how to to change the radio frequency the opener works on.

Further reading:

• Reasons A Garage Door Opens by Itself

5. Auto-reversing Sensor Issues

The auto-reverse feature on your garage door is an important safety feature. If anything is in the way of the garage door, then it won’t shut on it. Instead, it’ll reverse back and open up until the obstruction is removed. This is good for the bodywork on your car and the safety of you and your family. You will need to find out what is causing the obstruction though, in order to correct it.

In most cases, there will be something obstructing the door, so simply remove it to correct the issue. If that’s not the case, then it could be that the photo eyes need to be cleaned. Any dirt blocking them will interrupt the beam they put out, much like an obstruction would. If that doesn’t work, check that the photo eyes are aligned correctly.

Further reading:

• How to Tell if Garage Door Sensor is Bad
• How to Repair Garage Door Sensors
• How to Align Garage Door Sensors

6. Broken Springs

Your springs are what give the garage door tension and allow it to open and close. Are you finding that your garage door has lost its balance, or can’t stay open on its own? That’s a sign that the springs are starting to wear out.

If the springs are left for longer than this, then they will eventually break. If you’re home when they do, it sounds like a loud banging coming from your garage. This is the springs snapping and sometimes even flying away from the door with the force of it. There’s a lot of tension in those springs, so it’s unsafe to replace them yourself. Instead, your garage door will be best in the hands of a professional.

Further reading:

• How to Replace Garage Door Torsion Springs
• Garage Door Spring Repair

7. Bent or Broken Tracks

Above we noted how you can fix the tracks on your garage door if they’re slightly dented or bent.

If they’re badly bent, you shouldn’t attempt that repair yourself. The garage door is under a lot of pressure, and it’s a lot of weight to fall on you if it does go wrong. The same goes if your door has totally come off the track.

Further reading:

• How to Fix A Garage Door Off Track

8. Old Rollers

If you discover your garage door isn’t opening or closing smoothly, you may need to replace the rollers. Garage door rollers are the wheels that allow the garage door to move and down the track smoothly.

As your rollers age, they may need to be replaced depending on how well they were maintained. Fortunately, a professional will be able to provide and install new rollers for your garage door at an affordable cost.

Further reading:

• Garage Door Roller Replacement

9. Broken Cables

Garage doors open and close using cables that are pass through a pulley system, allowing your garage door to open and close with ease. Though they’re made of metal, garage door cables may become damaged and need replacement over time.

Operating a garage door with damaged cables is dangerous so it’s best to contact a professional for help if you notice a problem.

Learn more:

• Garage Door Cable Replacement

10. Garage Door Replacement

Garage doors get old and will eventually need to be replaced.

This is something you just shouldn’t try to DIY. A garage door is full of moving parts that need to be put together correctly, and this is difficult to do if you’re not an expert. It’s better to call a company to handle the whole job for you.

Learn more:

• New Garage Doors
• Garage Door Installation
• Request an Estimate
• Garage Door Replacement Cost Recouped During Resale

Conclusion

Now that you’re more familiar with some of the most common garage door issues and how to fix them, you can make a more informed decision regarding whether or not you need a professional to fix the problem at hand.

If, however, you’re still not sure why your garage door isn’t working properly, you may want to contact a professional garage door service provider located near you.

The post 8 Garage Door Issues (and How to Fix them) appeared first on Your Garage Door Guys.

Trouble Shooting Garage Doors & Openers

Are you having problems with your garage door or garage door opener?

Discovering your garage door isn’t working properly can be frustrating, but there are a few things that will help you identify and fix the problem before calling a local garage door repair service.

In this article, you will learn what to check when trouble shooting garage doors and openers.

Trouble Shooting Garage Doors & Openers

There are several important parts that power your garage door. You have the power supply, the garage door opener, sensors, and remote to mention a few. The more you understand how your garage door works, the faster you will be able to troubleshoot a garage door or garage door opener problem.

To help you get started, we’re exploring several of the most common sources of problems.

Here are some tips to consider when trouble shooting garage doors and openers.

1. Check the Batteries

This is the very first thing you should do when you’re troubleshooting your garage door remotes. If you find the remote isn’t doing anything when you press the button, open it up and check the batteries. That sounds so obvious that most people wouldn’t even think to do it. This is especially true if you replaced the batteries recently. There’s no telling if the batteries were fully charged, so always check.

Change out the batteries and try the remote again. If that doesn’t work, take a look at the contacts. If they’ve started to rust, polish them and try the remote again. This will solve most problems with your opener.

Related: How to Change Battery in Liftmaster Garage Door Opener Keypad

2. Unlock the Garage Door

This is another very simple solution if the door isn’t opening when you use your remote. The remote itself may be fine, and the door is simply manually locked. Check the lock for yourself, and see if it was locked up before you came to use the door. If so, just unlock it and it should work as it should.

3. Check with Your Neighbors

Are you finding that your garage door is opening and closing when you’re not trying to use it? Alternatively, is your remote not working with your door? It may be time to talk to your neighbors.

Most garage door remotes work on radio wavelengths, and yours should be on a specific wavelength to you. That means only your remote should open your door. Sometimes though, neighbors get garage door openers that are on very similar wavelengths. That means when they go to open their door, they actually open someone else’s instead. Chat to your neighbors to see if this is happening. If it is, the wavelength can be changed to stop it happening again.

4. Realign the Sensor

If the garage door isn’t closing, your sensor may have fallen out of alignment. A garage door sensor consists of two units mounted at the foot of either side of your garage door. These units need to be aligned in a way that allows the invisible beam to connect between either unit.

A small nudge can force your sensors out of alignment, which then prevents the beam from connecting across the length of your garage. If you notice one or both of the sensor units look like they’re pointing upward or downward, you can try adjusting them so they look like they’re pointing at each other. In most cases, this should reconnect the beam but it depends on their position. If, for example, the sensors weren’t installed properly, you may need to reinstall them correctly.

To realign them, tie a string between the two eyes. If it’s not level, then they need to be adjusted. This is done by unscrewing one of the eyes slightly, and moving it until the string is level. You can check this using a spirit level. Once it is, tighten the screws back up and the eyes should be realigned.

Related: How to Align Garage Door Sensors

5. Clean the Garage Door Photo Eye

Are you finding that the garage door is lowering slightly, and then reversing back up before it touches the ground? You may find that it’s doing this because the photo eyes think your doorway is blocked. This is the auto-reverse feature, and it’s there to keep you and your family safe. If the photo eyes are blocked though, they won’t let the door shut even if you want it to.

Get down and check your photo eyes. It’s very easy for dirt to get onto them and block them. Use a soft cloth to clean them off, and try it again.

6. Adjust the Garage Door

Is your door making a rubbing or squealing noises when you open and close it? Can you see gaps between the track and the door itself? If so, the door is out of alignment with the track. If it’s still able to be operated you can fix it yourself, but you’ll want to do it ASAP. The longer you leave this problem, the worse and potentially more dangerous it gets.

Loosen the screws that hold your track to the frame. Then, find the section that’s bent and out of alignment. You can use a rubber mallet to gently tap the track back into place. Use a spirit level again to ensure that the track is totally level.

If the door won’t open at all, then you’ll need to look into calling a professional to handle the repair, as doing it yourself could be dangerous.

Related: How to Adjust a Garage Door

7. Change the Springs

Is your door suddenly just not working? Maybe you heard a loud crash in your garage, and now the door won’t work. If this is the case, then you may find the springs have broken on your door.

These springs are a vital part of your machine. They provide the tension needed for your door to be able to open and close. They wear out over time though, and eventually, they will stretch out and break. When they break, that means that your door won’t be able to open without them.

Check your springs and see if they’re stretched or broken. If they are, don’t attempt to repair them yourself. Springs are highly dangerous, so instead call a professional to help you with this.

Related: How to Replace Garage Door Torsion Springs

8. Flip the Disconnect Switch

When you press the button to open your door, do you hear the motor running even when the door doesn’t open? If the motor runs for the amount of time the door would take to open and then switches off, it’s likely the disconnect switch was flipped.

This switch is designed to disconnect your garage door from the opener, allowing you to open it in the event of a power cut. The switch is usually attached to a string, and so is easily flipped on. If you find the disconnect has been flipped on, flip the switch again in order to get your opener working.

These are some of the most common trouble shooting tips you’ll need for your garage door and opener. Many times, you’ll find the issue is very simple. If you’re ever unsure though, ensure you call an expert to help you out with your door.

Conclusion

Now that you have a better understanding of your garage door, you can rest assured you know where to look first when trouble shooting garage doors and openers.

If you aren’t able to identify the problem, it’s best to contact a garage door repair service sooner than later.

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