A little garage door maintenance will keep your Antioch garage door operating smoother, steadier and quieter longer

With some appropriate garage door
maintenance, this Antioch garage door will
work smoother, quieter and more reliably
longer.

It happened slowly and over time. It took so long, in fact, you almost don’t remember how the garage door at your Antioch home used to work. But, now, it’s gotten so bad you can’t help but notice.

Before, you’d hit the button on your garage door opener and, smooth and steady, the garage door would rise or descend. Now its motion is jerky, unsteady and, above all, loud. What has happened to your Antioch garage door and garage door opener?

Most likely, it’s not so much what has happened as what hasn’t happened. What hasn’t happened is that you probably haven’t done anything with your garage door other than to raise it or lower it when you wanted to enter and leave the garage.

The Universal Rule applies to garage doors, too

There is a universal rule – mechanical things require maintenance. And that includes your garage door.

Every time you use your garage door the movement loosens nuts and bolts that hold things together. The amount of tension in the garage door springs begin to change little by little. Grease and lubricant is lost. Belts and chains stretch. Joints that once fit tightly together lose their cohesion.

In the meantime, dirt and foreign particles are introduced into the mechanism. Moisture also launches an invasion of the mechanical parts of the garage door. The combined effects of these factors breakdown the ability of the garage door to operate the way it once operated.

When the garage door was new, and everything worked like a Swiss watch, the strain of operation was also minimized. But, as parts loosen, as dirt and moisture invade, as belts and chains stretch, the strain of operation is increased. This causes additional wear. Parts loosen even more rapidly. The garage door is on a path to an inevitable outcome.

That outcome is called breakage. Something gives under the strain. The belts, chains, hinges, springs, joints: something breaks and the garage door no longer works. Before that occurs, you’ve long-since noticed that the garage door is not smooth, steady and quiet.

Is your garage door trying to tell you something?

You might say that, when the garage door is loud, it’s trying to tell you something. It’s crying out for a little maintenance.

Garage door maintenance is not a big deal. Performed by a professional, it is sure to extend the life of your garage door and forestall that point where something breaks. In the process, garage door maintenance will save you money on expensive garage door repairs. And it will ensure that your Antioch garage door operates smoother, steadier and quieter than it otherwise would for a long time.

A garage door stuck open puts elder neighbor at risk

Lois is 79 years old and, except for her cats, Bitters and Mr. Boots, she lives alone. Her daughter, Brenda, lives in California and worries about her mother. She’s asked Lois to move out to California where she can stay at her daughter’s house but Lois prefers the independence of living on her own. Besides, all her friends are out here in the area.


When the subject comes up, Lois reassures Brenda that everything is fine. She even explains how the neighbors help out from time to time though the young men who moved in and are renting the house next door to the north don’t actually appear entirely reliable, having frequent parties and such. Still, Bob next door, on the south, has taken it on himself keep an eye out for Lois. He’s cut her grass once or twice and, the other day, he even raked her leaves in the front yard.


Bob doesn’t mind helping Lois when he has the chance. He says she reminds him of his own late mother. However, he works long hours and the actual opportunities to help are infrequent. Bob has his own family and his life is already busy.


One day recently, Bob was pulling out of his driveway on his way to work and glanced over at Lois’ house as he did many a day when pulling in or out of his driveway. He could tell that there was something wrong with this picture but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Later in the day, he overheard the foreman telling Kevin, a young coworker, to take the garbage out back to the dumpster. He heard the foreman say, “And don’t forget to close the door this time.” That’s when it struck Bob what was wrong over at Lois’ house; her garage door was wide open.


That the garage door was wide open wasn’t so surprising on occasion, but Bob realized that it had been that way all week. When he arrived home that evening, he noticed that it was still open. Bob walked over and knocked on the door.


When Lois came to the door, he asked her if there was something wrong with the garage door.


“The door is stuck,” said Lois. “I opened it the other day but it won’t come down again.”


Bob looked alarmed. It wasn’t just that the lawnmower, car and other items stored in the garage, including Lois’ deceased husband’s large assortment of power tools that someone could come in and walk away with; the problem was that the garage is attached to the house. If someone had access to the garage, they might have easy access to the house, too.


Bob went out to the garage with Lois and checked the garage door. He hoped it was something simple but nothing seemed to work. He just couldn’t get the garage door to come down again. And Lois was concerned that, if he did get the garage door down again, it might not go back up. “If it gets stuck down my car will be stuck in the garage,” she said.


Realizing that he couldn’t fix the garage door there and then, Bob went and checked the door inside the garage that led to the house. As he suspected, the door was unlocked.


“Boy, you really have to lock this door until we can get the garage door fixed,” he said to Lois.


“Oh, that’s a good idea,” she said. “I didn’t think of that.”


Bob then told Lois that he knows someone who works with garage doors. “I’ll give him a call this evening and ask him to come out,” Bob said.


The next day, the garage door technician came out and discovered a problem with the wiring. Within half an hour, he had the garage door working just fine again. He also checked the operation of the garage door and garage door opener and lubricated the guides and hinges.

When Bob came home from work the next day, he noticed that the garage door was still open. He went over and knocked on the front door again.


When Lois came to the door she explained, “Oh yes, he was out here this morning. I went to the store a while ago and didn’t close the door yet because I’m going to meet some friends for cards this evening.”


Bob was glad to hear that the garage door was back in working order. “I’m sure your daughter will be happy to hear the garage door is working right again,” he said.


“Oh no,” said Lois. “I think it’s better that I don’t tell her anything about it. She’ll just get all worried all over again.”

Maintenance is good for your vehicle and it’s good for your garage door and garage door opener, too

Hopefully, you do a good job of maintaining your car, SUV or pickup truck. If you do, it probably rewards you by running well and not breaking down often, if at all. But, if you don’t maintain that expensive vehicle it can rebel cause a serious pain in the wallet, as well as other places.

It’s surprising, however, how many people who are diligent about maintaining their car, SUV or pickup truck have no idea that their garage door and garage door opener deserve the same kind of diligent maintenance.

With your car, SUV or pickup truck, maintenance starts with oil changes, rotating the tires, checking the belts and hoses, winterizing the vehicle when winter approaches and preparing the vehicle for summer when winter is over.

With your garage door, maintenance includes oiling the hinges, rollers and tracks. It also includes looking for damaged rubber gaskets and seals, checking for gaps in the springs and gunpowder-like residue near the hinges.

Maintaining the garage door opener includes checking wire connections for corrosion, checking the force adjustments and the alignment of the beams and safety eyes. Checking the force adjustments is crucial since this is more than just a matter of extending the life of smooth operation of the garage door; it’s also a safety matter.

If the force adjustment is not set right, if the garage door comes down on the car, it could damage the car rather than reversing course as designed. And if it comes down on someone’s head, such as a youngster, it could cause injury because the force adjustment isn’t set correctly.

Have a dent or scratch in your car because the garage door opener wasn’t set right is maddening. Having someone you care about hurt because the settings are wrong is beyond maddening.

If someone maintains their vehicle, not only will they avoid breakdowns, they’ll also save money on the cost of operating their car, SUV or pickup truck. Maintenance will extend the life of the engine and other mechanical parts of the vehicle. And those unnecessary repairs are often costly.

The same holds true for the garage door and garage door opener. If you maintain your garage door and garage door opener you’ll have years of trouble-free service from them. If not, you’ll spend money you wouldn’t otherwise have to spend.

Inspecting your Antioch Garage Door is a very good idea that could save you money

It can pay dividends for Antioch homeowners to inspect their garage doors. 
It can also ensure that the garage doors operate safely.

To maintain safety and effectiveness of your Antioch garage door and your garage door opener, it is recommended that you conduct regular, routine inspections. Most homeowners can do this themselves. If you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself, or you are uncertain what to look for, don’t hesitate to call in a trusted garage door professional. They can perform this service on your behalf. However, this guide should help you conduct your own inspection.

The best time to do an inspection in Antioch is during the warmer months. It’s simply not as convenient in the winter when the weather can make it uncomfortable for you while affecting the way the garage door operates. Perform this as you handle your annual maintenance of oiling and lubing the garage door assembly, another good idea mentioned in an earlier article. Doing this once a year suffices unless performance of the garage door falters, or noises give you cause for concern.

Key things to check in a garage door inspection:

• Look for gunpowder-like residue near hinges
• Check for cracked or damaged rubber parts and seals
• Check for gaps in springs
• Check the balance of the garage door
• Check force adjustments
• Check beams and safety eyes
• Don’t worry – below you’ll find an explanation of the points above.

A black powdery residue that looks like gunpowder will appear just below the hinges when something wears excessively. This indicates that something no longer works properly and is wearing down the metal parts. This is a situation where it is absolutely better to contact a professional.

Flexibility matters with the rubber parts in your garage door assembly, such as the seals along the bottom and sides of your garage door. If they feel hard or brittle, they need to be replaced. Wear and replacement of this part is a normal process. Most homeowners can do this repair themselves.

As springs get worn, you will notice gaps in the spring. This means that they need to be replaced. This is more noticeable on extension springs than on torsion springs. However, even a worn garage door spring is loaded with enough pressure to seriously hurt someone who doesn’t know how to replace the spring. CONTACT A PROFESSIONAL garage door technician for anything to do with your garage door springs.

Refer to your owner’s manual for instructions on how to check the force adjustments.

Most of the garage door and garage door opener repairs found during these inspections can be handled by a homeowner. If anything feels too hard or if it is something you just don't want to deal with, once again, call a garage door professional.

These repairs are better handled by a professional to ensure safety and performance:

• Spring replacement
• Adjusting spring tension
• Door balancing
• Resetting force adjustment

Routine garage door and garage door opener inspections can increase the effectiveness and safety of garage door operation and help reduce utility costs in Northern Illinois. In the process, you can extend the life of the garage door and garage door opener.

Garage Doors are designed to reverse direction – you should check your Antioch garage door’s reversal function

Homeowners in Antioch should check the reversal function of their garage door opener about once a month. That may seem excessive as, for most people, once the garage door is setup, they assume they can forget it. Considering that this is the most crucial safety feature of your garage door, a feature than can prevent your child or pet from being crushed, it’s not something to take lightly.

All garage doors have bolts at the top and bottom that are set to prevent them from crashing into the floor or the header. But, these bolts are the last resort, not the preferred method to stop for the motion of your Antioch garage door. Mechanically, limits are set. When the garage door reaches these limits it stops. When these limits aren’t functioning properly, the garage door reaches the bolts putting more wear on the garage door and the garage door opener.

When testing the reversal function of your garage door, check the movement up and down. You should reverse the garage door’s motion if you encounter resistance in either direction.

Testing your garage door’s reversal function is fairly easy

To test the downward reversal:

• Set a 2X4 stud flat on the floor below the door (to ensure that your door can reach about an inch and a half from the floor for this test).
• Use your remote to close the door.
• When the door reaches the board, it should reverse and start going back up.

To test the upward reversal:

• Close the garage door.
• Grab hold of the handle and push your remote to open the garage door while holding down on the handle.
• The garage door will start to rise.
• Once it encounters enough resistance from your grip on the handle, it will reverse and return to its closed position.
• The normal amount resistance required to trigger the reversal function is about 10 pounds of pressure.
•  If you want greater safety, you can change the setting to about five pounds of pressure.

These tests apply to both mechanical and electric garage door openers. If you have an electric garage door opener, you can test the reversal function anywhere in the raising and lowering cycle. The system checks the amount of pressure through the entire movement of the garage door. Five to 10 pounds of pressure, depending on your settings, will be enough to reverse the movement of the garage door.

Refer to your manual for instructions on how to set the reversal limit. If it is unclear or you feel uncomfortable with the process, contact a garage door professional for help.

Remember to do this on a regular basis - at least once a month - to keep your garage door safe for you, your children and your pets.

Should you put windows in your garage door?

So, the years have finally caught up with your garage door. Bailing wire and patch-work repairs only go so far. At some point, you had to call in a professional. And they’ve presented you with the bad news; your garage door isn’t really worth the expense of additional repairs. It’s time for a new garage door.

Once you’ve decided to replace the garage door you’ll find yourself faced with another decision – what style of garage door do you want? Within this question is another question – do you want garage door windows?

In terms of the style of garage door, cost and quality generally go hand in hand. Garage door windows are a slight upgrade, too, and with a small additional cost. But, there are good reasons to install a garage door with windows, such as:

• The garage door windows will add natural lighting inside the garage
• Garage door windows are usually aesthetically pleasing
• They can give the garage a look that is coordinated with the appearance of the house

Garage doors are generally made of wood, metal of Polypropylene. They come insulated or un-insulated. They come with windows or without windows.

When adding a garage door with garage door windows, you may want to take some time to consider where you’ll install them. Yes, in the garage door but where in the garage door? If privacy is an issue, which is often the case with garages, you may want garage door windows higher in the garage door so that most people can’t see inside. You don’t want them to see your expensive tools, the air compressor or your boat, motorcycle or RV. The wrong people might get ideas.

Once you’ve decided where to install the garage door windows, you’ll want to consider the size and number of garage door windows. You’ll also want to consider the style of glass. For instance, you can install garage door windows with the following styles of glass:

• Clear
• Tinted
• Frosted
• Divided with a Grid (there are different Grid patterns to choose from)
• Stained Glass
• Sand-Blasted
• Contoured

Adding garage door windows to the garage door will usually raise the cost of the door. However, windows can add a lot to a garage door and the aesthetic appeal of the garage. Since you’ll probably live with that garage door for a while you may find that it’s worth the expense. And, with the options listed above, you’ll also find you have a lot of options, to do a lot, with your garage door.

Screen-in your garage – the quick and easy screened-in-porch alternative

Beau, of Garage Doors and More, installs the finishing touches on a customer's new garage screen.

Driving home one day you find yourself jealously looking at neighbors a few blocks away who are relaxing in their screened-in porch. You can’t really see but you imagine them sipping tall, cool drinks with umbrellas. The sight may sufficiently motivate you to make some calls to area builders to find out what it would cost to add a screened-in porch to your home. Dialing the phone, you have sense of enthusiasm. Now you can picture yourself with that Mai Tai, Banana Daiquiri or Bahama Mama – something cool and refreshing. Then, the builder gives you the bad news.

“IT’S GOING TO COST HOW MUCH?” you holler reflexively, and then you go back to enviously glancing at the neighbor’s screened-in porch.

The idea dies a slow death as you stack the cost up against other priorities. But, wait just a minute. Put that idea on life support for a while. There is another way to save this worthy patient; turn your garage into your summer-time screened-in porch.

“WHAT?”

What's a screened garage
without easy access?

No, this isn’t silly nonsense from the desperate files of a lover of summer. This is a real and cost-effective alternative to a screened-in porch that could easily run more than $20,000.

The premise is simple and the tools readily available; you simply need to install a removable screen in the large opening of the garage where cars otherwise move in and out.

Yes, you may have a little additional work to do, such as cleaning out the garage and making it hospitable for summer lounging.  And the screen does need to be properly sized and properly installed.

You can purchase some patio furniture and a small rug to cover where the oil has dripped from the car. You might even want to purchase some potted plants to decorate the garage and bring the stereo out there so you can relax to the mellow sounds of Jimmy Buffett singing “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

Without too much effort, you can probably build a small bar or purchase a portable bar and a small refrigerator. A little tactically applied lighting and you’re in business. Of course, if you need a little help with the project, a garage-door professional can probably help you with the installation. But, either way, there’s no need to look on with envy at your neighbor’s screened-in porch when yours is waiting out in the garage. In fact, once they see how easily, and cost effectively, you’ve turned your garage into a screened-in porch, they may be the ones driving by and looking on enviously.

Inside view after this garage receives the screened-in treatment.

View of the screened-in garage from the outside.

Time to replace your Lindenhurst garage door?

Is that garage door on your Lindenhurst garage getting a bit shabby? It goes up and down in a jerky motion while making all kinds of noise. The panels in the door are loose to the extent you can even see light around their edges. The bottom of the door is ‘starting’ to rot and the garage door opener is running slower and slower.

These are some of the symptoms you’ll notice when it’s time to consider replacing your Lindenhurst garage door. Of course, if someone has driven the car into the garage door, that could be another explanation.  There is even another reason to consider replacing your garage door – it simply looks like heck.

A garage door can fail your aesthetic test if it’s simply showing its years. But, it can also fail that test if style has left your garage door in the dustpan of yesteryear. One example is the flat-panel garage door. When it’s down, it looks like a flat wall with horizontal grooves.

While some liked that style years ago, and fewer do today, it was always your essential basic garage door – no frills and nothing fancy. Today, there are garage doors that are simply stylistically outstanding. They put WOW! in the style of a garage door and really enhance the property in general. For instance, there are garage doors that are natural and stained wood that appear as though designed for use in a country estate.

Some overhead garage doors even have the appearance of stable doors that would swing out to open.

Metal (usually aluminum) and fiberglass garage doors are also more stylish today. And they come insulated, as well. An insulated garage door is a must if you’re planning to insulate the garage to get more use out of it in the winter – a key factor to consider here in Lindenhurst where winters get darn cold.

Once you’ve decided to replace the garage door, it’s time to consider which type of new garage door you’ll purchase and how you’ll install it. You may want to resist the urge to do it yourself. You can go to a big, home-supply box store to buy a garage door. It will come with instructions and, if you follow them carefully, you may do relatively OK. But it’s not that good of an idea.

First of all, installing a garage door has a significant element of danger. Garage doors are generally heavy. To make it easier to raise and lower the door, whether by hand or with a garage door opener, there are large springs that assist in lifting the garage door and controlling its descent when closing (you don’t want the garage door to come slamming to the ground when you close it).

That spring is under substantial tension. If that tension is unleashed, someone will probably get hurt. This is why it’s best to call in a professional for this type of project. Garage door repair and replacement simply don't make for good DIY projects.

A professional, a professional you’ve thoroughly vetted, will also help you to choose the appropriate garage door of the style you want and will make sure that you have a garage door opener that is up to the task properly installed.

Screw drive, chain drive or belt drive: choose your Vernon Hills garage door opener carefully

Is it time to replace that garage door on your Vernon Hills garage? Maybe the garage door is looking a bit shabby. Maybe the garage door doesn’t operate nice and smoothly, the way it used to. Maybe you had a total failure of the garage door and it no longer works at all. Even if you’ve just built the garage and are ready to install its first garage door, you’ll want to get a garage door you can trust – that will last a while.

The first thing to keep in mind about how long your Vernon Hills garage door will last is that it will last longer if you maintain it properly. The other thing you can do to ensure your garage door lasts longer, and operates better during its lifespan, is to purchase a quality garage door opener. This starts with choosing the right type of garage door opener.

There are three primary types of garage door openers:

• Screw Drive Garage Door Opener: With a screw-drive garage door opener, there is a threaded steel rod that moves a trolley to open and lower your garage door. The elements from adverse weather can affect the operation of a screw-drive garage door opener. If you live in Vernon Hills, this is something to consider.
• Chain Drive Garage Door Opener: This is the most common and the least expensive style of garage door opener. Just as a bicycle has a chain that moves when sprockets are turned as you pedal, this style of garage door opener moves the door with a chain that is attached to gears on two sprockets.
• Belt Drive Garage Door Opener: This style of garage door opener operates much the same as the chain drive garage door opener only, instead of a chain moving the trolley to raise and lower the door, this uses a belt. It tends to run quieter and is considered, by many, as the top end in garage door openers.

For many people, the driving factor when they choose a garage door opener is cost at the time of purchase. But, if you extend that cost over time, for instance, the belt drive garage door opener is often less expensive than a garage door opener that cost less at the time of installation.

The chains on the chain drive garage door openers tend to wear out and replacement chains are more expensive than belts. Additionally, the belt drive, by its very design, absorbs vibration and abuse better. In the long run, the belt drive garage door opener is probably the best bet for someone in Vernon Hills.

Don’t let thieves use ‘fishing’ technique to break into your Libertyville garage

Libertyville is a nice town. Nice people, not much crime: you couldn’t almost leave your doors unlocked, almost. Unfortunately, crime does come to Libertyville from time to time and you’re better off keeping the doors locked, not just on the house but the garage, too.

Locks may keep the amateur thieves out but, with the pros, it only slows them down a little. When a pro wants to break into your Libertyville garage, the most common way is for the thief to go ‘fishing.’ Yes, fishing, but not in the sense where you go out on a lake in a boat.

Fishing is a technique thieves use to break into a garage. It’s really rather simple; the thief pushes back on the top panel of the garage door. Then, using a wire or, maybe, a coat hanger, they snag the disconnect cord on the inside of the garage door.

You’ve probably used that disconnect cord yourself, at one time or another. You were inside the garage and wanted to open the garage door. You turned the handle in the middle of the inside of the garage and the cables pulled tabs out of the way by the tracks on either side so the garage door would open.

A thief will come into Libertyville and, if they want to get into your garage, they’ll use the same cable but they’ll access the cable from the outside, which defeats its purpose.

Fortunately, there is a solution that will keep the thieves from using this technique. The technique is to have the garage door installed properly in the first place. This means setting the stop points when opening and closing the garage correctly.

This is how the garage door settings are done so that that it is virtually impossible to get in by ‘fishing.’

• Run the garage door opener until the garage door is all the way down
• Keep running it for a few seconds 
• Set the lower stop point

When this is done right, J.J. Watt probably couldn’t open the garage door by fishing.

Unfortunately, there are other ways that a thief might try to break into your garage. That’s why a good security system isn’t a bad idea, particularly if you have valuables in the garage or if it is attached to the house.

Hopefully, no one is going to try breaking into your Libertyville home or garage. If they do, however, you don’t want to make it easier for them and taking away the technique of ‘fishing’ is one way to stop them.

The light goes on but your Northern Illinois garage door doesn’t move

It’s frustrating when you press the button on your remote control but the garage door on your Northern Illinois garage doesn't go up or down. It just sits there. There is more than one potential issue causing this problem.

The Wall Station can cause garage door opener problems

Pushing the button and nothing happens at all - no light, no sound - typically means that there is a short in either the button or the wiring between the wall station (the control panel on the wall) and the garage door opener. No signal is getting through.

When the light does come on, but you don’t hear any noises from the garage door opener, it suggests that power isn’t reaching the motor. This could be the result of a broken wire or a blown computer board.

You can also have a problem where you push the wall station button and your garage door opener lights up and makes noise but the door doesn't move. This could mean several things. A gear may have worn enough that its teeth are bad. The same may happen to the carriage assembly. These prevent the garage door opener from moving the garage door even though the motor is turning. You could also have a bad capacitor.

In all of these situations, the best bet is to call a garage door professional to resolve your problem. There are some garage door and garage door opener repairs you may want to try yourself, if you are handy. But can you risk severe electrical injury as well as severe injury from the excessive force created by the springs that help to raise and lower the garage door?

The Remote is another possible garage door opener culprit

If you have a problem with the door not raising when you push the button on your remote, it basically involves two potential problems. The first thing to do is to check the battery in the remote. This is a quick and easy fix. If it's bad, replace it.

If the battery in the remote is good or new, then, chances are, you need a new remote control for your garage door opener. Universal remotes typically work well with most brands and models of garage door openers and replacement is probably your best move.

Homeowners in Northern Illinois can find help with garage door openers that don’t work by calling a trusted garage door professional.

What are the effects of power outages on your Northern Illinois Garage Door Opener

The weather in Northern Illinois can, invariably, cause a power outage. You can count on it happening. It's just a matter of when. When Mother Nature overpowers Com Ed, what does that mean for your garage door opener?


Obviously, your garage door opener needs power to operate: no electricity and the garage door opener can't work. But, just because the utility can’t provide power doesn't mean you have to go without.


Consider the following options:

• Link your garage door opener to your home’s back-up generator
• Install a garage door opener with a dedicated battery back-up system

The best solution is to have a back-up generator that kicks in when the big storm hits and lines go down. Typically, these are set to operate vital appliances, such as a fridge full of groceries you just bought, when a storm hits. Most people don't think to include their garage door opener in this loop.

Since the garage door opener is a relatively low-wattage consumer, and it only uses that electricity when raising and lowering your garage door, it doesn’t steal significant and vital energy from other appliances. Tying the garage door opener to the back-up generator will go a long way to keeping you operational in a blackout.


Another solution is to get a garage door opener that has its own battery back-up for just such an emergency. Most newer models come with this feature. If you are in the marker for a new garage door opener in Northern Illinois, whether you are upgrading, or your garage door opener is part of a new-construction project, consider getting this option.


If you have a garage door opener that lacks this feature, don't worry. You can retrofit most garage door openers with this option. Ask your garage door service provider to install this for you and you will be ready for the fury of Northern Illinois storms.


No Back Up Power Source

In the instances that your back-up device fails or you just don't have one, you can still use your garage door. All garage door openers feature a manual release latch, on the inside of the garage, so that you can operate your door without power (if you’re stuck outside, this is a problem).

You have to do the lifting yourself, but you can get your car in and out of the garage. When you get your power back, you just reconnect the release to let your garage door opener do the work for you again. If you have problems reconnecting, call your garage door professional for guidance on how to do this with your particular model.


Problems Caused by Outages

A power surge or power outage from a storm can damage your garage door and garage door opener. Manually raising and lowering your garage door puts more wear on the hardware than having the garage door opener do the work. The computer board in your garage door opener makes this process happen in a smooth and constant fashion that increases the lifespan of your garage door hardware.


A big surge can affect the electronics in your garage door opener. That may mean that the lights on the sensors may burn out, or the overhead light. This can cause inconvenience and a malfunction. A big enough surge could take out the computer board in the garage door opener, preventing it from working. Call your garage door professional if this occurs.


Can't Get In

The last thing to consider when the power goes out is how you can get in your house if the garage door opener fails to work? Most homeowners in Northern Illinois enter and exit their homes only through their garage door. That can be a problem if you don’t carry a key for another door.


Mother Nature can rage all she wants, but you and your garage door opener can withstand her worst if you plan to keep your garage door opener working when the power goes out. And then you’ll always have a way to get yourself in when the power is out.

When is it time to get a new garage door?

There are three factors that drive the decision to get a new garage door. Typically, they do not overlap. You will base your choice on one of these factors: aesthetics, lifestyle change or damage.

Replacing your garage door based on damage: When making your decision about replacing your garage door based on damage, the first thing to consider is do you trust those advising you? Some contractors will sell you a door you don't really need, convincing you that it is better to replace than repair. When possible, however, it is often better to repair what you already have rather than to spend the money to replace that garage door.

One way to avoid unnecessary up-selling is to develop a solid, working relationship with a garage repair company for general service before you need a major repair. That way you can get to know them and decide if you trust them on the bigger decisions, such as when to replace your garage door.

As mentioned in an earlier post from this blog, there is a point where the cost of repairing the garage door approaches the cost of replacing it. If you are repairing only a few panels, it typically is less expensive to go that way. If you are replacing four panels or a significant amount of the hardware for the garage door opener the cost of a new door may make more sense.

Older doors deteriorate over time and need replacing. Wood panels eventually rot. They provide a great look to the door but if not cared for correctly, they deteriorate. Steel panels will rust, especially older designed steel panels. In these instances, replacement is the only real option.


Replacing your garage door based on aesthetics: Sometimes homeowners will want to update the look of their house and/or garage. Replacing your garage doors can provide a significant cosmetic upgrade to a home. With many homes in Northern Illinois the garage doors make up 30-to-40 percent of the front view of the home. An update to the garage doors creates quick curb appeal; this is something to consider if you are planning to sell your home.

In the realm of cosmetic or aesthetic choices, the garage door may be structurally fine, but the desire for a new look may drive the decision to replace it. For instance, the desire to add window panels to the garage door will require replacing the whole door not just the panel that would have the window. This also increases the weight of the door which will require upgrading hardware for your garage door opener, which will also drive up price.

Replacing your garage door based on changes in lifestyle: Sometimes lifestyle changes convince homeowners to replace their garage doors. For instance, a homeowner may decide they want to use the garage more frequently such as in the winter. Doing so will probably compel them to insulate the garage, which will lead to the logical conclusion to also insulate the garage door.

While it is possible to insulate an existing garage door, this is not always the best option. Insulating an existing garage door can diminish the effectiveness of the insulation in the rest of the garage.

Whatever your reason for replacing your garage door, make sure you use a reputable installer to ensure that you are getting the best fit for your garage and that the garage door opener operates properly when raising and lowering the door.

Some basic tips on care and replacement of garage door sensors

You press the button on your remote but your garage door doesn't lower. Concern floods your mind that something big might be wrong with your garage door opener. Relax, more likely it is something simple, such as the garage door sensors are misaligned.

This is something that happens all the time. A garbage bin bumps a sensor when taking out the garbage. A broom or a shovel stored in the corner is grabbed too quickly and knocks the sensor out of line. A child may think that the sensor is a play thing and turn it in a different direction. Any of these scenarios, or similar scenarios, can cause your garage door not to close because the garage door opener is reading that an obstruction is in the way.

Homeowners sometimes express frustration with the inconvenience of sensors being placed so close to the ground and that their sensitivity stops the garage door opener from operating when a mild misalignment occurs. But, by law, the sensors are required to be placed where they are – three inches to six inches from the ground. The reason for this is to protect infants and small pets you might not see. In the process, the placement of the sensors helps to prevent serious injury, or even death from the weight of a garage door.

The good news is that most maintenance, and even replacement of the garage door sensors, is something many homeowners can do themselves. If your garage door opener cannot close your garage door because the sensors are misaligned, it is easy to resolve. Ensure the light, that little red dot, is square in the bracket and that the bracket is square to the floor. Then use a measuring tape to check the distance from the floor to the center of the photo eye. Repeat the process on the other side, ensuring the second photo eye is the same height. Your garage door opener should now complete the close cycle.

Your sensors should last as long as the for the life of the garage door opener system. On occasion, however, they may fail before that but this is unlikely. If you feel you are mechanically inclined, to some degree, then this repair is something you can probably handle. It is basically disconnecting two wires from the old sensor and reconnecting them to the new.

There are some simple things to keep in mind to avoid issues with your garage door sensors. Set up a system to store your tools away from the door. Keep the salt that gets you through your Northern Illinois winters away from the corner of your garage. Make sure you clean up the leaves and cobwebs that collect near your sensors. All of this will keep your garage door opener raising and lowering your garage door as you expect it to.

Remember to maintain your garage door sensors so they operate properly. Realignment and replacement are simple projects most homeowners can do. If you feel uncomfortable with that, or you find that it isn't as easy as you thought, call in a professional you know you can trust.