Your New Garage Door Opener
A garage door opener in Las Vegas should be powerful enough to lift the garage door to which it is attached and rugged enough to last for years. A high-quality opener should also be backed by a warranty that is at least the industry standard. How Powerful? The first thing you should do is find out how heavy your garage door is. Most residential and light commercial garage doors weigh between 200 and 400 pounds, depending on size and materials. As a rule, a door that weighs 200 pounds will require at least a 0.5-horsepower motor. Similarly, doors that weigh 400 pounds or so will require at least a 1-horsepower motor. For the garage doors in between, there are 0.75-horsepower motors. What Kind of Opener? The three main kinds of garage door openers are chain-driven, belt-driven and screw-driven. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, chain-driven openers are usually the most powerful; however, they are also the loudest. Conversely, belt-driven openers are quiet and are the best choice for garages that are close to your living space. They cannot lift as much as their chain-driven counterparts, however. Screw-driven openers are specially designed for garage doors that tilt instead of go up in sections. They are quieter than chain-driven openers but not as quiet as those that are belt-driven. Check the Warranty In many cases, garage door openers have lifetime warranties on the motor but not on the moving parts. Some offer limited parts coverage. Some might even offer maintenance and service calls as part of the warranty, but this is rare. It is always wise to check all of the “fine print” thoroughly before making a decision on which garage door opener to buy.
Signs You Need Your Garage Door Fixed
You expect your garage door to open when you need it to open. Whether you use your car to keep the sun and other elements off your car, or use that space for storage, you want to know that the door will open and close perfectly every time. Some common signs and issues may indicate that you need professionals capable of repairing that door for you. Garage Door Opener Issues Many garage doors come with a small opener that fits over the visor in your car. You can use the buttons on that device to raise and lower your door. Some systems also come with a keypad that sits on the door or the side of the garage. Entering a numeric code in that keypad opens and closes the door. Openers use a specific frequency that works with the electronic device attached to the door inside your garage. If you keep pressing the buttons without the door moving, you may need a new battery or a more serious repair. When the opener stops responding, you may need to adjust the frequency or replace that opener. Constant Struggles Locals sometimes call for Las Vegas garage door repair after noticing that they struggle to open their doors. A typical garage door can weigh as much as 400 pounds or more, but the door sits on a metal track that lets you quickly and conveniently raise and lower that door. When you constantly struggle to open that door, you may have a problem with the door coming off its track or broken springs. A good repair company can fix that door, replace the track, put it back on its track or replace the worn-out springs. Fast and Convenient Opening Fast and convenient opening of your garage door is something you expect to experience every day but something that will not happen when your door warps or slides off its track. Call for help getting your door working again.
Three Ways Bird Droppings Could Damage Your Garage Door
While birds are fun to watch, their droppings can damage any surface onto which they land. Bird droppings and the waste products of other animals are acidic. Over time, exposure to these acids can cause damage to your home, including the garage door. These tips can help you to protect the appearance and structural integrity of your garage door. If damage does develop, an experienced company that does garage repair in Las Vegas can fix the problem. Surface Stains If your garage door is painted or seal coated, bird droppings could leave unsightly stains on the surface. When the droppings are not removed, they may penetrate deep into the wood or metal, causing permanent stains and discoloration. Prompt removal of the bird droppings can minimize the appearance of surface stains on the garage door. Corrosion The acids in bird droppings can cause metal garage doors to corrode. The longer the droppings sit on the surface of the door, the more damage they can cause. Over time, the areas will begin to rust. A rusted garage door may not open or close properly. Its panels may begin flaking and peeling away from the framing. Removing the droppings and sealing any small areas of corrosion can stop the damage from getting worse. Rotting Bird droppings left on wood surfaces on or around a garage door may cause the wood to rot. The moisture in the droppings weakens the wood and keeps it damp. This situation can worsen if birds build a nest in the wooden framing around a garage door. Moist wood can also become warped. If the garage door or its frame is warped, it may no longer close properly. If a large area of wood has rotted, it will need to be replaced. The new wood should be sealed and painted to protect to ward off a recurrence.
How to Identify and Repair Garage Door Damage from Storms
Severe thunderstorms can leave every exterior surface of a home with damage. The garage door is no exception. It does not matter if a garage door is made of steel, wood or aluminum. If you notice damage to your garage door after a storm, a prompt garage door repair in Henderson can help to keep your home and belongings safe. Dents and Pits Dents and pits are a common type of damage that can happen after a severe storm. If the storm involved hailstones, the impact of each stone can leave a new dent. The dented and pitted areas may cause water to penetrate through wood garage doors. If the door is made from metal, the dented areas may rust. The denting is also a visual eyesore. Bent Framing Strong winds in a severe storm may bend the framing of a garage door. Most garage doors have metal frames that allow the door to operate on a track. Strong wind gusts can bend the frames, causing the door to not open or close properly. The wind can also pick up objects such as tree branches and blow them into the door. These impacts can also bend the metal frames. Prompt repairs are needed so that the garage door can close tightly. If the framing was severely bent, the garage door may need to be replaced. Scratches Tree branches and particles of dirt or sand can scratch the finish on a garage door. If the door is made of metal, scratching off the paint may hasten the corrosion process. A garage door with many scratches can rust out and break before the end of its expected life span. Garage door technicians can apply a new coat of paint or sealant over the scratched areas in order to protect the door from oxidation.
When to Invest in a New Garage Opener
Your home’s garage door opener is a critical component in your home’s functionality, providing you with a convenient and easy way to open the garage door when you want to access your vehicle or other items stored in it. Garage openers will break from time to time, and this is a great time to invest in a new opener. However, there are other times when you also may want to invest in a new opener for your home in Las Vegas. After You Upgrade Your Garage Door If you have recently upgraded your garage door or if you have plans to do so in the near future, now may be a great time to make an upgrade to a new opener as well. The speed or horsepower of the engine in the opener will determine how much weight the motor can reasonably lift. The last thing you may want is for your motor to burn out because your door is too heavy, so it is wise to invest in a more powerful opener if your new door is heavier than your previous door. When You Need More Functionality Some garage doors are far more functional than others. All are designed to open and close your door at the push of a button, but some also offer other usage options. For example, some have a touch pad for walk-up accessibility from the exterior of the home. Some have a mobile app connection which enables you to check on the status of the door and even to raise or lower it remotely from an app on your smart phone. How to Decide Which Door Opener to Buy If you have made the decision to purchase a new opener, you may not be certain which option is best for you or how much horsepower you need. A smart idea is to reach out to a consultant for customized guidance and recommendations.