How Often Should I Get a Garage Door Tune-Up?
It’s a good idea to get a garage door tune-up once every six months. Garage doors consist of many mechanical parts that work hard every day and that wear over time. After all, they’re used as much as several times per day. A damaged garage door component can lead to many avoidable problems, and even dangerous situations. In the worst case, complete failure of the door can cause major damage to your home or vehicle, and put you and your family in harm’s way. Thousands of people are seriously injured every year due to garage door mishaps. There’s often little or no warning before a part goes bad. Regular tune-ups can spot any problems before they get worse or are even detectable with normal use. Purpose of a Garage Door Tune-Up A garage door tune-up is one of the most effective forms of preventative maintenance. It is a detailed process in which a professional technician checks the garage door opener, the tracks, the condition of the door panel, and the tightness of hinges, springs, cables, and screws. Worn rollers can cause a door to go off the track, so a close examination of them will detect any problems. A technician can also lubricate parts and test cable tension. Bad hinges can eventually cause damage that requires replacing the entire door. But a regular tune-up can spot worn hinges that can be replaced by your technician on the spot. This is much easier and more affordable than replacing a neglected garage door. A tune-up can entirely prevent common serious garage door problems that can happen suddenly without any warning. Routine maintenance also helps increase longevity. The more wear your garage door has over time, the greater the risk of failure. Door sections may bow or crease in areas where there is high stress. As time goes by, these areas get weaker and require costly repairs. A tune-up can address signs of an issue early and prevent more serious consequences, such as garage door failure. The painless process can prevent a garage door from eventually crashing down on cars, equipment, or people. Tune-Ups Maintain Your Garage Door Opener Too Homeowners rely on their garage door openers to get in and out of their garage. If the opener malfunctions, some doors cannot be opened, which is extremely inconvenient. The device consists of many components, which work hard to move a door weighing up to several hundred pounds. A garage door tune-up may be required by your state or local municipality. In addition to meeting safety regulations, it is often required to sell a home. Routine maintenance has many advantages, including the possibility of your garage door lasting as many as 30 years. Precision Helps Maintain and Repair Garage Doors Customers depend on Precision Door Service of Las Vegas to provide tune ups and other routine maintenance. We are committed to quality service and customer satisfaction. Awarded by FranchiseBusinessREVIEW™ and Entrepreneur Magazine, we service all brands and can repair any garage door or garage door opener problem. Technicians arrive in fully stocked trucks, so if you need any repairs or parts replaced during a tune-up, they can do so quickly and effectively. To request maintenance or 24/7 emergency service, call us at 702-553-4621 or request an appointment online.
What Are the Strange Noises Coming from My Garage Door?
Garage doors have a way of letting us know something is wrong. A little noise may not be something urgent to worry about. But keep in mind garage doors and their components wear over time, so taking a strange noise seriously can save trouble later. You can narrow down the list of potential problems by listening to how your garage door sounds. Loud Thumps or Clunks Clunks, thumps, and even booms when the door opens and closes often signal a garage door opener problem. The noise may be caused by the opener struggling to lift and lower the door. Oftentimes this is due to a broken torsion spring. You can safely check the spring while the door is closed; if it has broken into two pieces, a repair technician should replace the spring to restore your garage door’s function. Clinking Hearing a “clink, clink, clink” while your garage door is operating can mean different things. Most often, it’s from the spring coils rubbing against one another after they dry out and develop rust. This is something to look for in a cool, humid garage. A defective roller can make a clinking sound as well; if so, it is nearing the end of its life and may fall off if not repaired or replaced soon. Squeaking A squeak is a much sharper sound than a clink. The door will squeak constantly when it opens and closes, meaning its PVC components are not properly lubricated. To fix the problem, apply lubrication to the weather stripping on the exterior frame and between each garage door section. Grinding Metallic grinding sounds often involve an electric garage door opener’s chain or belt. The grinding is often due to a loose chain/belt or one that should be adjusted by a professional. A chain or belt problem can cause the opener to work harder than normal. It can also affect the gear pinions, which may skip links as a result of the issue. Determine the Source of the Noise As we know, garage doors make noise for a reason. The issue might not be that serious if metal parts need to be lubricated. You can do this yourself applying a petroleum-based oil to rollers, hinges, and springs that are in working condition. Silicone-based lubricants can be used for weather stripping. But if you notice a broken spring, it is a serious matter. Operating a garage door with a broken spring can lead to more catastrophic damage to the system, your vehicle, or belongings stored in your garage, as well as serious injuries. The springs, and the lifting mechanism, are under high tension so if a spring breaks off, pieces can be flung at high velocities. Never change a broken spring yourself. Call a garage door repair professional to address the problem with the appropriate equipment. They are experienced in these types of matters and can fix the issue quickly while avoiding serious dangers. Call Precision Garage Door Service of Las Vegas to Address Garage Door Noise Our commitment to provide fast and effective service in Las Vegas is backed by the expertise of a nationwide organization. We can repair any brand of garage door opener and fix broken springs, cables, and rollers or off-track doors. Live operators are available 24/7 and we guarantee 2-hour service, with no overtime charges for night or weekend service calls. We also stock high-quality parts in our trucks for when immediate replacements are needed. If your garage door is making noise, call us at 702-553-4621 today! [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
Garage Door Backup Systems
Battery backup is now a requirement for all newly installed garage door openers in California. As of July 2019, all residents who replace their garage door/opener must have it or face a penalty of up to $1,000 per violation (per SB 969). Battery backup systems for garage doors operate during power outages and allow residents to safely evacuate during an emergency, such as a fire, earthquake, severe storm, or any other urgent situation. Without battery backup during a power outage, your only option is to open the garage door manually. This is not only difficult, but also dangerous if you’re not familiar with the process or there’s little time to escape. If using battery backup, you have two installation options: Battery Backup Accessories A backup battery that can be installed separately, after the garage door opener has been installed. Many models can run up to 50 cycles in one day after an outage and fully charge within 48 hours. One model offered by Genie can be added to certain models, but not all garage door openers can be retrofit. Also, battery longevity depends on several factors including environmental temperature and frequency of use. Built-In Battery Backup A range of leading-brand garage door openers include built-in batteries. Genie, LiftMaster, Chamberlian, Mastercraft, and other brands include a 12-volt battery as an option when purchasing an opener. LiftMaster introduced the option in 2003. These backup options provide enough standby power to operate a door for 20 open/close cycles in 24 hours. Some garage door backup batteries are installed as an additional component outside the main opener, while others are built into the motor housing. Built-in batteries are smaller than ones installed over the motor. Each battery is unique to its respective garage door opener, so is not interchangeable with other products. How to Know a Battery Backup Is Working Knowing how to use your battery backup is important for safety reasons. It will only power your garage door if it is functioning. You can test the unit by listening for a warning tone that indicates a low battery life. The battery life indicator on the wall panel can provide insights into system status as well. Also, you can test the garage door opener by unplugging it and operating the door manually. If the door does not work, you can suspect a problem with the battery backup system. Other Things to Know For LiftMaster and Chamberlain garage door openers, the battery backup system provides indicators on how it is functioning. Solid green means the battery is fully charged while flashing green means it is charging. If the opener has lost power, the light will be solid orange. Flashing orange means power is low and solid red means the battery should be replaced. It’s important to stay on top of your garage door opener backup battery’s status. Battery backups tend to last two to three years and may not last as long as designed. Like a garage door and opener, the backup must also be maintained. Battery backup is an additional consideration required of all garage door owners, but it is run on openers with a DC motor. You can therefore expect quieter and smoother operation. Consult with Precision Door Service of Las Vegas Our experienced technicians install all types of garage doors, openers, and accessories. Contact us today if you’re not sure if your garage door opener has battery backup or you need a backup system installed. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 702-553-4621.