The use of home garages is no longer confined to simple car parking or storage of unused items. They are now essential additions to houses and serve multiple purposes. Because of their increased value, garages now require more careful maintenance. One of the most common aspects of this maintenance is garage door repair Agoura Hills CA. This is particularly true not only because garages are prone to damage but also because owners cannot afford these parts of the garage to remain broken. While garage repair is an essential maintenance procedure, there are some steps that need to precede it. In particular, there are preparations that you should take before engaging in the repair. Here are some of them. Learning the Mechanics Repairing a garage door cannot be possible if you do not fully understand its parts and mechanism. This is why the first step in preparing for this repair is to learn the fundamentals. You must learn the different parts of the door, which can be generally classified as either a moving or a non-moving part. In broad terms, though, the door can be broken down into two major parts: the opener and the actual door. Aside from this, you must also be familiar with the mechanics of the door, which involve the rolling of the door on metal tracks through the aid of heavy springs. Understanding the specific details of this mechanism may be necessary for some cases of garage repair. Examining the Tracks After getting to know the fundamental concepts of the garage door, the next step is to check the door for issues. To begin, you should examine the tracks to which the actual door rolls on. One important aspect to evaluate is the condition of the mounting brackets. If these brackets are only loosely holding the tracks in place, then there is a need to tighten certain bolts. The tracks must then be checked for malformations and dents. In addition, you need to determine if the tracks are leveled and perfectly aligned. You should also look for dirt, grease, and any debris that may cause an obstruction along the tracks. Finally, the lubrication of the tracks must be examined. If closing or opening the garage door causes a creaking sound, then that is an indication that the tracks need to be lubricated. Checking the Hardware Once the condition of the tracks has been evaluated, it is time to check the other mechanical parts of the garage door. In particular, you need to pay attention to the springs and hinges. You need to check whether or not these parts are tightly wound. If either side of the door is sagging, then that is a sign that the hinges are loose. The springs are meanwhile loose if the garage door does not open or close completely. On the other hand, enlarged screw holes are an indication that the bolts are not tightly fitted to their respective places. This issue can be remedied by replacing the old screws with larger ones so that the enlarged space can be filled appropriately. Article Source
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Think about the moving parts of your home. The largest of these is the garage door. If that door works well, all you have to do is push a remote control button and the door opens or closes with little effort on your part. The garage door is comprised of several parts. Some of these parts move each time the door closes or opens. To prevent garage door repair problems, you need to maintain the garage door on a regular basis.
Inspect the garage door regularly. Look at the rollers and hinges for loose or worn parts. Look for signs or rust or wear in these parts. Also check the mounting hardware. Vibrations will often cause bolts to loosen and a simple tightening with a wrench can prevent many problem down the road. If a part is worn beyond repair, purchase a replacement part at the local hardware store. Lubrication is necessary for each moving part. They should be oiled on a regular basis and at least once per year. Use any good penetrating oil and apply a few drops to each moving part. Allow to sit for about half an hour and wipe off any excess oil with a dry rag. This allows the oil to penetrate, but will keep you from spoiling clothing with oil stains. One key part of a garage door that will need regular replacement is the torsion spring. This spring is normally located above the door along the wall. The usable life of a torsion spring is only 4 to 7 years. These springs have will give an audible warning when they break. If you are inexperienced at replacing the torsion spring, this can be a very difficult task. There is a great amount of pressure required to install one of these springs. A mistake can cause great injury, so if you question your ability to do the job, consult with a professional garage door repair Glendale CO, Garage doors openers have become very popular in recent years. The door openers increase the security of items stored in the garage and your vehicles. A person cannot just pull the handle to open your door from the outside with the garage door opener. Additionally, you will not have to get out of your car in the snow or rain to open the door. Most people are very satisfied with their garage openers. Sometimes, a problem with the opener will arise. If you are having a problem with an electric garage opener, look at your owners manual for opener garage door repair directions on troubleshooting. If you have misplaced your manual, check on line. Most manufacturers will allow you to download a manual for your model garage opener. The directions you find in this manual will help you to get that door working in fine order very quickly. Electric garage opener problems are often caused by the photoelectric sensor. This is a safety sensor that prevents the door from closing on property or persons. Sometimes it just takes a quick adjustment of the reflector to solve your garage door problems. If the door will not close or closes only partially and then reopens, suspect this sensor. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2686550 Repairing your garage door can be dangerous. If you read through this article and have any doubts about your garage door repair safety, contact a professional service. It may save you money to do it yourself and you may enjoy learning a new skill. However, the hospital bills due to injuries sustained in the attempt won't be worth those savings. Above all, educate yourself thoroughly before attempting any do-it-yourself project to be sure you can complete it safely.
What Type of Door are You Dealing With? Some garage doors swing up in one piece. Some of them ease across the track in sections. Yours could operate with an electric garage door opener or it could be manual. Consider these factors at the beginning of your project. If your garage door operates with an electric opener, the problem could lay there instead of in the door itself. If you're having a problem with the door running smoothly on the track and it uses panels, there could be an issue with one of the panels instead of the track. Study your garage door. Be completely aware of how it works. Do your best to determine the problem before you begin because it could be something simple. Check for Loose Bolts and Screws There are mounting brackets and hinges that hold the track to the wall and guide the door along the track. These have bolts and screws that secure everything in place. A loose bolt or screw most likely won't be obvious, so you'll have to go through them all to be sure that they are tight. While doing this, it's also a good idea to give the mounting brackets a good cleaning. If you screw them into dirt, that dirt can lodge itself in between the screws and the brackets and loosen them again. The Track: A Main Part of Garage Door Repair The track is the part that guides the door up along the ceiling. The track could have accumulated or hardened grease inside of it that makes the door feel rough as it comes up. It could also be misaligned, which could cause the door to stop midway on its path. Inspect the entire track for grease buildup and clean it as you go. After it is clean, check the track with a level to ensure that no areas are misaligned. Inspect the Door You know that the track is running properly and that all of the hardware is well in place but the door is still not working correctly. If this is the case, your garage door repair Canoga Park CA problem is likely with the door itself. Inspect the panels, the windows, and all of the edging on the door. The edge is the part that runs along the track, but if there are breaks in the panels that can cause issues as well. If you have wooden doors, the cracks or breaks could probably be fixed with good wood glue. With other materials, you may have to replace the door or one of the panels. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8490387 Why should you go about adjusting tension on garage doors? Well, you have to realize that this factor has a lot to do with your overall satisfaction in using the product. Did you know that the garage door tension affects how easily the door opens and how safely it closes? Adjusting the tension could do a lot more than assure your safety. Undue tension can actually make the motor of a door opener work harder. This means it consumes more power. As a result, you might end up paying an unnecessary huge electricity bill. The first step would be to test the tension on the door if it really does need adjusting. What you should do first is to disconnect your door opener. This should be a pretty easy task, considering how a lot of garage door openers have quick disconnect features. You should then position the door so that it is half open. For this task, you might need a platform to support the weight of the door. When it is halfway open, try to see if the door is leveled. If the tension is balanced, it should be. You should then try to lower or raise it. If it does so quite easily, then you have just the right amount of tension. If not, then it's time for the actual adjustment. First, up, open your door fully. This is so that the springs are relieved from all tension. This makes the task a lot easier for you. After this, you need to use a pair of pliers or a block just bellow the rollers on the side track to lock the door into place. Make sure that the door is fully locked. A slip may cause it to come crashing down and could lead to an accident. The lifting cable should then be disconnected. This is disconnected from the bend of the track, at the brace. You will see a lot of similar holes. In order to go about adjusting tension on the garage door, you can move the cable to a hole that is farther from or closer to the door. Moving it closer will increase the tension while moving it farther will decrease the tension. Remove the stops. Try to raise or lower the door. If it still is not level, then you should adjust one side. When it is level, then you should make sure that you adjust both sides equally. Try it and readjust it until the door operates the way you want it to. Here are a few tips to help you make sure that the process goes smoothly: 1) Have someone help you when you adjust the spring. Have him or her support the spring while you are disconnecting or connecting it. This makes sure that an accidental slip on your part will not cause an accident. 2) Get a professional to help you if you want the torsion springs replaced or adjusted. Replacing and adjusting these parts have been known to cause accidents. Cases often involve maiming and even death. DIY of this part of the door is taboo. 3) Wear safety equipment - it is always important to make sure that you wear the proper safety equipment, even in performing such seemingly simple tasks as adjusting tension on garage doors. Gloves and goggles are essential, as the spring can pinch your hand and could strike your eye. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2950113 There are many types and brands of residential and commercial garage doors on the market using a variety of styles of counterbalance systems. All the different spring systems are designed to assist with balancing the doors weight allowing the average person to easily lift even the heaviest of door manually. In the event you have a garage door opener it takes some of the burden off the motor and drive system. Electric openers are only designed to guide the door up and down not to actually lift the door's weight. Torsion springs are by far and away the most popular style and are used by about 90% of all manufacturers in one form or another. They are mounted on a 1" shaft directly above the door in a single or double configuration. On most doors the spring will be centered in the middle of the door but on rare occasions they are mounted directly to the cable drums or located near the back of the door tracks for cases where there is a low clearance situation. This system provides a very calculate lift amount measured by inch pounds per turn (IPPT) based on the weight of the door, it's height, the track configuration, cable drum size and cycle life. Cycle life is the number of times you can open and close your door before you would expect your spring to break. Torsion springs can be bought with a variety of different exterior coatings from your standard oil tempered, galvanized, stainless steel or the most popular which is a rust inhibiting black coating. Torsion springs can be very dangerous and should be handled with extreme care. If you are looking to repair or replace your torsion spring yourself they can be tricky to locate and typically will require you to purchase them online. You can expect to pay between $20-$50 per spring based on its lifting capacity and cycle life. Most online places that you can buy springs from also provide a good online source that will guide you through the process on how to simply measure your garage door spring. Don't forget to order your spring winding bars when you order your springs. There is no substitute for having the right tools. The next most popular spring system is probably the garage door extension spring. The stretch spring lifting system has been around for a very long time. These springs are generally located just above the horizontal door tracks. The spring gets its lifting capacity from being pulled or stretched as the garage door closes. Most garage doors use a single spring system utilizing one spring on each side of the garage door track. The springs will have a cable pulley secured at one end of the spring and the other end will be anchored where the door tracks are supported. A cable will run from the garage doors bottom bracket up to a cable located just above the door around the pulley that is secured to the spring and back to the front track area. Garage door stretch springs are rated by there lifting capacity usually using a weight. If you need to purchase springs for a door weighing 160 lbs you would order 160lb springs. The pair together would be capable of lifting the 160lb door. If you are unsure of the doors weight simply get the assistant of a strong neighbor lift the door slightly and slide a bathroom scale under it. Typically this style spring or spring components can be replaced relatively easily with the door secured in the open position. You can buy extension springs online and also on occasion find a small selection at a hardware store. You will pay somewhere between $15-$29 per spring for most extension springs depending on its lift capacity. Lastly we cannot leave you without mentioning the newest latest and greatest system to hit the market. The Wayne Dalton Torquemaster Spring is extremely safe and easy to install and repair with basic hand tools. The spring is actually located inside the tube and tension added to the spring with a standard power drill or wrench. The torquemaster spring system uses all the same calculations and engineering that goes into a torsion spring but is neatly slide inside a teardrop shaped tube out of the elements. Generally these springs last approximately 10,000 cycles or so and provide a very smooth quite operation. Unfortunately Wayne Dalton is the only garage door that comes with this system. If you are looking for a DIY door to install it's the door I would recommend for the safety reasons alone. If you are looking to buy a replacement Torquemaster garage door spring they are a little hard to come by and can only be bought through a Wayne Dalton garage door dealer or a online retailer. You can expect to pay between $50-$75 for one spring or $90-$120 for a pair of springs. Hopefully you gained some basic knowledge and understanding of garage door counterbalance systems and can identify your lifting system. Remember garage door repairs are dangerous and you always need to wear safety glasses gloves and use the proper tools when working on your garage door. If you do not feel comfortable performing the repair or are of unsure of the procedures always call your local garage door technician. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3638768 The door to your garage works simply and has only two functions: to open and close. But one day, it might stop out of the blue. The problems people often encounter with their garage doors are also very simple in nature. Fortunately, most problems with these doors can be fixed without the help of a professional garage door repair service. Do-It-Yourself Tips for Garage Door Repair Quick Fix: If the door isn't opening or closing as usual, then it is time for some maintenance. Examine the rollers and tracks, looking for loose spots and signs of damage. If you haven't cleaned the door in a long time and they look dusty, take some grease and brush the tracks along with a lubricant. This should get your door back up and running. If this doesn't fix the problem, contact a door installer. Address the Noise: Old garage doors make a loud creaking noise, alerting your entire neighborhood that you've arrived home. Noisy doors can be easily fixed by simply lubricating them. You should lubricate the tracks and the sides of the door every 6 months. Do this especially before the winter months arrive. Take some time off to clean and lubricate the door. Jammed Doors: Do you feel like your garage door repair has turned into a block of ice and wouldn't move? Cold weather can do this to your door. The moisture during the winter season causes the wood on the door to swell and also freezes the tracks. The solution is to increase the heat in the garage for about 30 minutes to loosen the tracks and the door as well. The heat will take away the moisture. If there is no heating equipment in the garage, use a blow drier or vacuum blower to do the job. After opening the door, clear the ice and water that has collected beneath the door. Check the Safety Features: Every once in a while, ensure that the safety features of the door are working properly. Modern garage doors are built with cutting edge technology for safety, such as alarms and closing/opening features that cannot be breached. If the safety features are not functioning properly, the door itself will not work. Check the settings of the door using the manufacturer's manual. Routinely Check the Opener: You may be using a remote, voice recognition, or vision recognition technologies for opening the door. Sometimes when the door refuses to open, the problem may lie with the opener. Conduct routine checks to ensure that the opener is working properly, especially after returning from a holiday, or when you have not used the garage for a long time. If there is a problem, then you need to contact a garage door repair service. Never attempt to replace the door, tracks and the springs by yourself. These are definitely not a do-it-yourself kind of job. It's safest in this situation to call on professional garage door repair services. Your safety, as well as that of your family, is paramount. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8495474 One maintenance job that most homeowners overlook is garage door repair. Even the most conscientious owners frequently forget to inspect their garage doors for wear and tear. However, it is important to occasionally check your garage door, as failures like broken springs can be dangerous as well as inconvenient. Before you check your garage door system, be sure to keep a few safety issues in mind. First, as whenever operating a garage door, be sure that everyone, especially children, is away from the door. Keep your hands away from moving parts such as springs, and be careful not to pinch your fingers between the panels of the door. Also, it's important to be aware that the majority of garage door problems need to be fixed by a professional garage door service, so when you do find an issue call an expert instead of tackling it yourself. Begin your garage door inspection by examining the springs. You'll find them above the door opening or along each side of the roller track. Look them over, checking for cracks or other evidence of wear. Squeaking can easily be eliminated with a spray-on lubricant, but if the squeaking persists or other damage is apparent, it's time to call in the professionals. These large springs are under high tension and can be dangerous, so this isn't a job for amateurs. Next, check the brackets that connect the cables to the springs. They should be securely attached to the door. If the brackets are loose, they'll need to be tightened. You can do this yourself, although bear in mind that they are under a lot of pressure. Some newer model garage doors have tamper-resistant brackets; these will need to be adjusted by a professional garage door technician. Now inspect the cables themselves for deterioration. These metal cables should not be frayed or excessively worn. If they are, they must be replaced immediately by a professional. Don't wait until the cable breaks; it could cause serious injury or damage. If you have a newer style garage door, it is equipped with sensors that prevent the door from shutting when something is under it. These tiny electronic eyes are located near ground level, one on each side of the door opening. Make sure both eyes are clear of debris. It is important that theses sensors function properly to ensure that this safety feature is working. Finally, check the weather stripping at the bottom of your garage door. Cracks and holes can lead to inefficient temperature control, as well as allow insects into your garage. Replace the weather stripping if necessary to ensure a good seal on your garage door. By taking five or ten minutes to inspect these five components of your garage door, you'll ensure that everything is in good working order. Any major problems can be quickly fixed by a professional garage door company, and you'll be able to rest assured, knowing your garage door poses no danger to you or your family. If garage door devices such as openers and springs, cables and levers or the main door frame are functioning well, never make any attempts of touching or fixing it unnecessarily. Otherwise, adjusting these devices could only lead to device problems that ultimately become a nightmare for homeowners. Here are 5 wise ways of properly adjusting the devices of your garage. 1. Old door springs should be replaced and inspected by a professional technician if possible. 2. Cables and springs should be checked manually and inspected visually. Springs attached to the bottom brackets of the garage door must be well-maintained. Regular cleaning should be made. Worn out cables that are in danger of breaking should be taken off from the wall opener. 3. A spray-on lubricant is best to address problems of squeaky and rusty springs. Call professional help if the squeaking persists even after the spray application. 4. Provide monthly safety checks and maintenance to your garage door system and a yearly visit from a trained technician is helpful. Regular Service is a must in order to make garage door devices operate safely and smoothly for a long period of time. If you do the fixing yourself, watch your fingers! Never place your fingers between the door sections. If you manually open or close the door, use the handles or the safe gripping points. 5. Homeowners should keep owner's manuals or have it photocopied and place near the door and opener for emergency purposes. One should be responsible enough to strictly follow the manual's instruction as this would truly help in properly installing and adjusting garage door devices. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1746798 |
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