How Safe Is Your Garage Door?
If properly utilized, a garage can be one of the most functional, reliable parts of your home. But how safe is it really? From aging garage doors to faulty sensors, to other safety issues that can put your family and home in harm’s way, there are many factors to consider. Here’s how to determine just how safe your garage door is: Are the Photo Eyes Working? A dirty sensor, faulty connection, or misaligned photo eye can prevent the garage door from stopping and reversing if something gets in its path. Periodically check the sensors for problems. If the garage door behaves erratically, such as not closing, partially closing and reopening, or there’s a flashing light or clicking sound, check the photo eyes for issues that can be fixed with or without a garage door installation professional. Are There Signs You Need Garage Door Replacement? Worn springs, cables, pulleys, rollers, and tracks should be replaced as soon as possible. Always hire a trained technician to adjust and replace these components. If your garage door is making a lot of noise, shudders, or shows signs of damage such as cracks, large dents, or sagging, have it replaced to avoid serious safety issues that can cause substantial injury and property damage. How Do I Know How Safe My Garage Door Is? You can periodically test the auto-reverse feature by placing an object in the path of a closing door. It should reverse upon contact; if not, check the sensors or contact a repair professional. A garage door balance test can also help. Release the emergency lever and lift the door by hand. It should remain even and steady, but if the door falls or does anything unexpected, it’s time to have a technician look at it. How Do I Ensure My Garage Is Safe? By following a few safety tips, you can protect anyone who uses your garage. Here are a few you need to consider: Keep the main garage door opener controller or remote control out of reach of children. Every month, perform a visual inspection of high-tension components such as springs and cables. Never keep your garage door open, which can invite intruders or cause objects in its path to be damaged when the door closes. If you go on vacation, unplug the garage door opener or lock it if possible, so no remote can operate the door. Never leave a garage door opener remote control in your car; if it’s stolen, the thief can gain access to your home (a key chain remote is best). Don’t leave the control with a parking attendant. Newer garage door openers change their codes every time they’re used. This prevents thieves from accessing a code to gain entry to your garage. If your opener does not have this feature, change the standard access codes routinely (on both the opener and remote control), or purchase a newer garage door opener with standard safety and security features. Precision Door Service Can Help Maintain Garage Door Safety At Precision Door Service of Las Vegas, our trained technicians can perform a 25-point safety inspection and full diagnostic to determine the safety of your garage door and whether it needs to be serviced. We can address any repair and stock Precision parts you can rely on when replacement springs, rollers and cables, and other components are needed. Our team specializes in garage door installation and replacement, so when you need a new door or quality parts, contact our Las Vegas office at 702-553-4621.
How Insulated Garage Doors Help in Extreme Weather
Garage door insulation can have far-reaching benefits, whether it’s hot or cold outside. Insulation provides a thermal boundary. It can maintain conditioned indoor air, which is beneficial whether you have an attached garage and rooms adjacent to the garage space, or a detached garage where a variety of activities may take place inside. Insulation has long been known to improve energy efficiency. Although construction standards don’t completely address air leakage in garage spaces, insulated garage doors can benefit you during any season, for the following reasons: Make the Garage Suitable as an Indoor Workspace Insulation keeps in cooled air; it can also raise the indoor temperature over 20°F compared to outside. This can mean the difference between a chilly room and one comfortable to work in. Homeowners use their garages for everything from DIY workshops to complete home offices. Garage door insulation can keep out blistering heat and freezing cold, so you can work more comfortably and productively. A Cold Garage Can Transfer Cold Air to Adjacent Rooms Cold air can seep in through gaps in the garage door. It can also transfer through walls to rooms next to the garage. If your thermostat is set to a comfortable temperature, your HVAC system will have to work harder to maintain that setting. You might have a hard time achieving any comfort. This scenario not only wastes energy; it also strains your heating system to the point it can break down much sooner than expected, meaning you’ll have to pay to fix or replace it potentially years earlier than necessary. At the very least, you’ll likely have higher energy bills. Your Car Is Protected in Freezing Weather Freezing conditions can shorten car battery life, lower air pressure in tires, and cause engine, transmission, and brake fluids to thicken. Spark plugs and wiring can be negatively affected as well. An insulated garage door can therefore help your car run more reliably. Extreme heat can be a problem as well, as it can damage tires and batteries and shorten the life of engine oil and coolant. Also, fuel evaporates faster in high heat, so an insulated garage can contribute to improved fuel economy. Your Storage Is Better Protected Whether you store paint, oil, or even food or beverage products in your garage, protecting them from temperature extremes can keep them viable. A garage is a convenient place to store utility items. Paints, oils, and, other goods have recommended storage temperatures to maintain their quality. If you store perishable food items, improper temperatures will lead to spoilage, so you could be wasting them without knowing it. Tools and Equipment Can Last Longer Car batteries work best in temperatures between 30 and 90°F. Temperature extremes affect other mechanical components as well. If liquids in a lawnmower or power washer freeze, the equipment can be damaged beyond repair. Components in power tools can be affected by extreme temperatures as well. In-Garage Refrigerators Can Work More Efficiently Refrigerators are typically designed to operate in a moderate temperature environment. In extremely hot conditions, a refrigerator will require more effort to keep things cold, which can wear out critical components such as the compressor. Freezing outside temperatures can cause the refrigerator to reduce its workload to the point the freezer thaws out. Moderate temperatures enable the appliance to work more efficiently. If you’re thinking of adding insulation to your garage door or are interested in an upgrade or new garage door installation, contact Precision Door Service of Las Vegas at 877-301-7474 today.
Boost Property Value by Updating Your Garage Door
Replacing your garage door can have a significant impact on property value. In 2014, U.S. News and World Report estimated homeowners can get an 83.7% return on investment, while the Remodeling 2019 Cost vs. Value Report noted a possible 95.5% ROI. This means new garage door installation now has a near-perfect return. Garage doors come with significant aesthetic and functional characteristics. They can take up to a third of your exterior façade and are used every time you drive out of or into the garage. But a garage door system’s purpose isn’t the only factor that contributes to property value. By updating your garage door, you address several factors potential homebuyers tend to put on their checklist, including: Bolsters Security and Safety New garage doors must comply with the most recent federal regulations. These set rules for everything from the design of automatic garage door openers to electronic sensors that detect objects in the way. If your garage door doesn’t have an auto-reverse feature, then it is not up to code and is a safety hazard. Newer models also have a closed-spring design that contributes to safety and that can be adjusted more easily. All you need are a drill or ratchet to turn a bolt without ever touching the spring. Allows You to Save Energy Any new homeowner can benefit from energy efficiency. After all, who wants to spend more on the bills after purchasing a home? New garage doors can be fitted with insulation to prevent heat from escaping your home and cooler air from leaking in. An insulated door means your HVAC system can work less yet keep your home just as comfortable. Efficient solutions can also help your heating and cooling system last longer, while electric bills don’t increase due to excess energy usage. Helps to Increase Curb Appeal Updating your garage door doesn’t only remove dents, scratches, and other visual distractions. You also have an opportunity to choose a door that matches your home’s façade or surroundings. For example, custom wood doors help accentuate the charm of Victorian and Colonial homes or houses in wooded areas. Aluminum and glass garage doors are more suited for modern houses. Be sure to match the color and material with the style and location of your home. A new garage door can increase your home’s value by up to 4%. Plus, a garage door can last from 15 to 30 years. If you’ve recently installed the door, it’s a bonus for potential home buyers because they won’t have to pay to replace the door for possibly decades. Automatic garage door openers can last up to 15 years, so a recent installation here can add additional points for anyone looking at your home. New garage doors offer other benefits too, as they tend to operate more smoothly, reliably, and quietly. These are great selling points. Another is that any new property owner will have fewer maintenance costs to deal with. Constant maintenance is a burden on your time and bank account. If a garage door is relatively new, the cost of maintenance is generally not much of a concern. Contact Precision Door Service of Las Vegas We offer many options if you are considering garage door replacement in Las Vegas. Choose from the most suitable styles, sizes, colors, and materials as well as insulation and decorative elements such as windows or raised panels. For assistance, use our interactive Garage Door Designer or contact us directly at 877-301-7474. Our garage door installation experts can answer your questions or schedule a free in-home estimate.
2019 Innovations in Garage Door Technology
There was a time when a garage door was simple. You’d open it up to drive away, press the button to close it, and repeat the process when you came home. Garage doors are no longer that simple, as numerous smart devices have flooded the market. Smart controllers with a variety of convenient functions are available; many of them connect to your home network via Wi-Fi. Here is a look at some of the latest devices: Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub This system doesn’t even need wires. Just attach the base station to a bracket that bolts to the ceiling, while the sensor unit adheres to the door. MyQ lets you open or close the garage door remotely using a smartphone app. Compatible with iOS and Android, it even lets you check the status of the door. The system is compatible with Google Assistant. Garadget In addition to remote access, Garadget also provides voice control, at a reasonably low cost. Its sensor system consists of a reflective tag that sits on the top panel of a garage door. A laser contacts this tag to indicate the door is closed. The device even comes with its own Amazon Alexa skill and supports custom commands via Google Assistant. Gogogate2 A device that supports up to three doors. Wired to the garage door opener, it can connect to third-party cameras to deliver live images via a proprietary app on your mobile device. It works with cameras from brands such as Insteon and Nest. A tilt sensor, which attaches to the top of the garage door, is used for position detection. The sensor is powered by two AAA batteries. Alcidae Garager 2 The two-in-one camera/door controller can be managed from a smartphone app and works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa using Wi-Fi. Attached via a magnet to the bottom of the garage door, the surveillance camera offers 1080p color resolution, night vision video, and two-way audio. Voice commands open and close the door, while you can monitor your garage on video any time. Tailwind iQ3 Tailwind iQ3 can control up to three doors and offers the reliability of a wired setup. Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, the device is an automation system that supports automatic opening and closing of garage doors as well as scheduling using voice commands. It also integrates user management. On the downside, installation requires running wires through your garage and, to use it with an iPhone, a separate vehicle sensor package must be installed. Nexx Garage Nexx Garage allows automatic garage door operation and remote access from iOS and Android devices. You can use voice commands to control your door, without installing IFTT applets on your device. Installation requires attaching two sensors to the door, precisely within ¼ inch of one another. The top sensor includes a wire that is strung across the garage space. Otherwise, setup and voice-assistant integration are simple. Contact Precision Door Service of Las Vegas for Garage Door Installation We specialize in garage door opener and garage door installation in Las Vegas. In addition to garage doors of various materials, sizes, and designs, we can install the latest Wi-Fi, smartphone, digital assistant, and Homelink compatible garage door openers. This can make installing the newest garage door gadgets easier. If you’re looking to take advantage of the latest garage door automation systems, Precision Door Services offers same-day service and can provide expert advice. Request an appointment online or call our Las Vegas team at 702-553-4621 today.