By Now that winter is upon us we frequently find that our old reliable garage door is no longer reliable especially when temperatures dip well below freezing. If your garage door is starting to have problems like being excessively noisy during operation or stopping mid function it is time to start looking for someone to make repairs before your door fails to operate at all. If you are handy with tools and have access to YouTube, you can probably make the necessary repairs yourself. However if this not the case then a professional is the way to go.
Finding a reliable and knowledgeable garage door repairman can be a problem depending where you live. A good place to start is the Better Business Bureau. Another good choice is asking the garage specialist at one of the big box stores like Lowes or Home Depot. They frequently have a list of garage door installers that are vetted by them. In most cases an installer will also do garage door repairs as well.
Not taking the time to do a little research can lead to excessive or unreasonable charges or even unnecessary charges and poor workmanship. Take the time to watch the video below to see just what we mean.
As you can see not all garage door repair operations are the same. Getting a good estimate of the cost of repairs is very important. It is Ok to pay for an inspection to get an accurate cost estimate. Ensure it is an itemized estimate that includes cost of parts and labor and the time to complete the repair. If the cost appears to be high then it is time to do some research. Again it is time to use YouTube to do the research as there is a video of just about every garage door repair there is. Feel free to call another garage door repair or installation company and ask them for an estimate of the work to be done. This is why good estimate of work is critical.
When it is time to do the work and you have the time you should be present when the repairs are being done. If not then a family member that is also a handy man should be present when the repair is being done. You should always get an estimate prior to the work being done. When it comes to garage door repair and installation, knowledge is the power you need to get the work done correctly at a good price.
There are at least four types of garage doors available in the market these days. They are made up of three types of materials which are as follows;
- The first type of garage door is the traditional. The material used for this type is the side-hung opener. They can be fitted right on to the garage door’s brick or wooden frame.
- The next type is the sectional which can be opened vertically. They work best to maximize a space-limited garage.
- The third type is the rolling garage doors. As the name suggests, they simply roll up into the cylindrical drum located above the opening of the garage. Like the sectional, they work best where space is limited.
- The fourth type is the sliding. Usually made from steel and GPR materials or timber, they can be automatic or manual. They are also easy to install.
Safety Features
It is important for door garage to have safety features. Later-generation models have special safety features that prevent them from squashing and crushing objects or people with their automatic contrary motion whenever it hits something. This safety feature, mandated by law and passed through quality control is activated by a very sensitive electronic beam which sets them on contrary motion once a thing is hit.
Remote Control
Remote controlled door garage opener has security features that can be found in later generation models. They use random codes that prevent the user from opening another’s garage, and vice-versa. This security feature works best with someone who has more than one garage. Having a multiple-buttoned remote control can allow one to have more than one garage.
Prices
Once your door garage has failed to serve its purpose as an easy but secure opening, you should consider replacing it immediately. The companies can easily do it for you at very affordable prices. The manufacturers usually base their product prices on the following factors;
The Type of Power Used
The motor power determines how fast the door garage opens. It has to have sufficient power to raise or open the panels. Large motors are necessarily needed for large ones.
Speed
One that opens fast with the use of a remote control will cost more. But for the safety of this type, it closes slower than it opens.
Opener
Garage doors have several types of chain systems for its function. These types usually fit the owner’s purpose for the garage. These systems are as follows;
- Computer controlled system which is maneuvered with the use of a remote control.
- The door garage with a screw-drive system works by sliding along the length of a steel mechanism that lifts the door garage.
- The chain-drive system works with the use of a chain that mechanically moves the garage door panels along a track. The chain-drive system is the most inexpensive type of system and is the most commonly used among the three.
Opener Parts
There are several and knowing them will help you assess which parts need repair and which need replacement.
- Remote control
- Remote control transmitter
- Receivers
- Keypads
- Circuit boards
- Safety sensors
- Brackets
- Rollers
- Lock kit
- Gear kit
- Sequencer board
- Wall buttons
- Logic board
- Monitor
Most companies and manufacturers have spare parts for sale in case some parts need repair or replacement and they also provide personal or online assistance.
