Saturday, October 7, 2017

Garage door opens or closes on its own

Yes, it happens! Your garage door can actually open or close on its own. No, it’s not possessed by some evil power; there’s a natural and very innocent reason for this strange garage door behavior. Our Kennesaw Garage Door Repair crew offers these handy tips to correct these garage door antics and prevent them from happening to you again.

Imagine coming home from work for a quick lunch before heading back to the office. You’ve just made your sandwich when you hear your garage door open. You assume it’s your spouse or one of your teen kids coming home for a fast bite, too. Only it’s not. When no one enters the house, you go and look. Behold; your garage door is wide open and no other car than yours is inside! Strange as this scenario is, it happens, not only here in Kennesaw, Georgia but all over the country.

Coming home to an open garage door!

Have you ever driven up to your home and noticed that your garage door is already open? At first you are annoyed that someone in your home was too lazy to shut it and then you notice; no cars are in the garage. Usually, this is caused by the same phenomenon as the previous example; a shared garage door opener frequency!

A what?

Garage door openers and remotes have a certain frequency that they use to communicate with each other so that you simply tap a button and your garage door opens, or closes. When a neighbor has the same garage door frequency as you, his or her garage door will respond to the same command to open or close. Newer remotes and openers use rolling frequencies so this unusual garage door activity won’t happen with those. It’s the pre 1993 openers that have remotes that allow you to set and change your frequency. On these older remotes, the frequency options are limited and it is not that rare for a neighbor to set his garage door opener frequency to yours, quite by accident. It’s important to remember that if you are experiencing unassisted garage door activity when your neighbor uses his remote, then he is when you are using yours. It works both ways! This is why it behooves the both of you to find out who this neighbor is and coordinate your remote codes together.

What if you DON’T have an older remote; what then?

Don’t worry; there are still do-it-yourself steps to take to remedy this problem; even if you have a newer style opener with revolving codes. Firstly, check your remote’s battery. Many assume that either your battery works or it doesn’t. It’s really not that simple. You can have a drained battery inside your remote that still has enough power to send a weakened signal that can disrupt your frequency. If you have a home battery tester, use it and see how much “juice” your remote’s battery still has. If it is weak; replace it and your mysterious garage door opening and closing should stop. If you don’t have a battery tester, you can buy one most anywhere in town or online. Another option is to simply take your remote’s battery to a local department or home improvement store for free battery testing. You are under no obligation to actually buy a new battery in return for the free test but it’s always nice to do business with that establishment when the time comes to really buy a replacement.

Electrical short in your transmitter

This one is easy to check for, but you won’t be able to fix it yourself. You might have an electrical short in the transmitter. You can test for this by removing the battery from your opener remote. Now, is your remote empty? (Free of the battery?). Good, now try and operate the garage door by using the wall button and not the remote. Does it work? Does it stay closed or open? If this works, the problem was the short in the transmitter. If not, there are other areas where your electrical short may be. You will need to test each location and do a process of elimination that will reveal the true source of your short. Be sure to check your garage door opener circuit board, wall switch, the wired keypad and the wall button itself. For these tests and checks, refer to your garage door opener owner’s manual. If you don’t have it you can probably find it online. Use your favorite search engine to find the make and model number of your opener system. Use the keywords that match these and add “owner’s manual” to the search. Most owner’s manuals are now online in PDF form and all you need to do to access them is look them up and either refer to them via the web or print them out for hands-on reference.

Probably your best remedy

If you’ve tried the above methods to fix your mysteriously opening and closing garage door, and it hasn’t worked, try this; call our shop or if you don’t live in the area, try working with an established, full service garage door repair shop. Let them know the symptoms that your garage door and opener are showing and let them fix the problem. After all; how much is your time worth? If you love do it yourself projects and have the time necessary to go through the above steps; great! But if you are busy or have better uses for your waking hours, let the garage door professionals handle this.

Using a local garage door repair shop to correct unassisted opening and closing of your garage door is not only a good use of your time, but it also allows you to have your garage door, springs and opener maintained by a professional. Don’t look at this as an added expense but as an investment in your home’s maintenance. Your garage door professional can fix the problem and also spot any other problem areas that might cause you issues down the road!




Article source here: Garage door opens or closes on its own

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

GARAGE DOOR WON’T OPEN OR CLOSE WITH REMOTE CONTROL

Your remote control has one job to do; open or close your garage door, whenever you need it done. Is that so much to ask? Not for most of the time, but once in a while that trusty remote just doesn’t seem to work. Have you noticed? It’s always at the wrong time! Maybe you are coming home during a rain storm and can’t wait to get inside where it’s dry and warm. Or, you might be trying to open your garage up to accept a furniture delivery. No matter what your reason, your garage door opener is expected to work on demand and with no issues. When it doesn’t it can throw your schedule (and your nerves) off! That’s why Kennesaw Garage Door Repair has put together this post. We are sure that you’ll find our opener remote tips helpful and easy to follow!

Your remote is NOT your opener!

You’d be surprised how many folks actually think that it is! Your remote control sends a signal to your opener system and tells it to open or close; that’s it. So if your opener stops working, you aren’t in for a complete opener replacement – you just need to make a few simple adjustments that are easy and not expensive.

Do this first

This one is a real “no-brainer” and the most logical choice for finding the cause of your non-working remote; the battery! Most people know this and will check the battery’s condition first. Use your home battery tester if you have one. If not, don’t stress, there’s an easy and free way to get it done. Simply take your remote battery to a nearby Kennesaw, GAWal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe’s or Best Buy and they will test it for you on the spot while you wait. There’s no charge and no obligation to buy anything; it’s just a courtesy.

Ok, next!

Your next step is to check your battery terminals. These are inside the remote and in older units, they sometimes become slightly loose. This is due to many battery replacements done over time. You can press them together a bit so that they hold the battery better and tighter. You are looking for good, solid contact with the battery so that it works like it should. While you are doing this, check your terminals for leaky battery fluid. Older batteries sometimes leak and the resulting fluid from this can easily affect your remote’s ability to work. Keep the terminals clean, pressed together and fluid-free.

Sticky remote buttons

Remotes get dirty too. Over time they can become caked with grime, food particles, mud and any number of items that can make them stick. They also are often dropped on the ground or fall hard on driveways so that they not only become dirty, they can get damaged, too. If your remote buttons are sticky, clean them as best as you can. If this doesn’t help, you may need to replace your worn out remote with a new one.

Don’t forget this!

The problem may not be your remote at all; it may be that a garage door lock is in place! Be careful; continued use of your opener can result in a burned out opener system. Sometimes, a roommate or family member locks the garage door using a simple slide lock. This is usually done when no one is expected home, or after hours. Always be sure to check for a garage door lock and save yourself from having to replace your entire opener motor!

Safety eyes

Often, the culprit is your garage door safety sensors. If these are out of alignment and their signals are not corresponding they won’t work and again, the problem is NOT your remote; it just seems like it is. While you are checking, look for loose, unplugged or frayed wires. Also check to see if anything is in the way and blocking the LED light’s signal. In our winter months sometimes spiders build webs and other insects build nests on or very near your photoelectric safety eyes. Make sure your lights work, are aligned and clean at all times. Next, check your brackets. These should be securely fastened and not loose. If they are, the beams will not align and you will experience garage door opening problems. For further details and advice on how to do any of the above, simply call Kennesaw Garage Door Repair or your favorite local, full service garage door repair shop and get some advice. Many garage door pros offer free consultations and almost all make house calls when you become a customer. Don’t forget online sources like YouTube, Vimeo and Google search. You can find helpful videos on literally any component of your home or business garage door, including remote care, service and replacement.

Another possible solution…

Be sure to check your wall station inside the garage. On some models, there is a lock button that allows you to lock your garage door when it is activated. The very purpose of this lock is to stop anyone from opening or closing your garage door with a remote. It is most often used when the occupants are leaving on vacation or for a trip and don’t want their garage door opened by ANY remote, theirs included. Many opener systems don’t have this locking feature so, if yours does not; don’t worry about it, as your remote problem is caused by something else.

Call a pro

If the above methods fail to produce a better working remote, it may be time to call in the pros. Most garage door repair experts will be able to pinpoint the problem and fix it right away. Don’t be afraid to rely on experienced and skilled garage door professionals. Many offer fast, same day service, affordable prices, 24-hour emergency help and fine quality garage door and opener brands that offer the very best in performance, convenience and reliability.




Article source here: GARAGE DOOR WON’T OPEN OR CLOSE WITH REMOTE CONTROL

Thursday, June 15, 2017

ARE YOU HAVING GARAGE DOOR TROUBLES? HERE’S WHAT TO DO!

After it opens and shuts thousands of times as the years go by, your garage door is bound to need some close attention at some point. There are numerous reasons for garage door problems. Here are some of the most likely possibilities and solutions.

 

 

Simple Problems

 

Check the transmitter batteries. Maybe they just need replacing, and the garage door will work now.

 

Does the garage door opener run for a few seconds, but then turn off? If your garage door still won’t move, the door motor is repeatedly attempting yet failing to lift the door. Inspect the springs. If that isn’t the issue, check the track for any obstacles. If neither of these is the culprit, then see if your garage door is the type that has a built-in lock, because it could be engaging by accident. This commonly occurs with older garage doors.

 

Does your garage door go all the way down, yet open again? The open-and-close limit settings of your garage door opener are probably on the blink. Read the operating manual for how to set the open-and-close limits. These settings tell the garage door opener how far the garage door should move before it completely shuts. If the settings are too high, the door will touch the ground before the opener assumes it ought to, presuming that the door is hitting something in its path. It will automatically reverse, to stop from smashing it.

 

Does your garage door opener run, but the garage door won’t move? If there’s a power failure, your garage door opener has a disconnect switch, which permits you to open or close your garage door by hand. This switch is attached to a rope or knob, which can accidentally come unhooked. Open or close the door manually all the way, and then securely reattach the hook. Then, with the transmitter, try again to open or close the garage door, and it should work now.

 

Does the garage door not close at all? Your garage door has a photo eye on each side, and between them is an invisible beam, which, when broken, prevents the door from closing. See whether these sensors are misaligned or grimy.

 

Does your garage door shut and open at random? If the garage door is opening or closing by itself, that’s unsafe as well as a nuisance. The solution may be that all you have to do is check the transmitter. Be sure it’s not stuck under an object that may be pushing the control mechanism inadvertently. For instance, the transmitter might be beneath some item you forgot inside your car, or somewhere else close by. Examine the transmitter’s frequency, too. It’s possible your neighbor has the exact same frequency as yours.

 

 

Complicated Problems

 

Does the garage door close part way, but open again? A garage door is designed with a reversing mechanism to keep it from crushing something in its path. The reversing instruction is triggered by anything on the floor blocking the door’s path, such as a garbage can, box, or bicycle. But there could also be a buildup of debris on the garage door’s tracks ~ a minute object, or grime ~ which will stop the rollers from moving forward. This is serious, calling for professional attention.

 

Your garage door track may be out of alignment. Your garage door’s metal track won’t budge unless it’s aligned correctly. This is bad. Look for possible bends in the rails, or gaps between the rollers and the rail. Over time, the garage door’s weight can compound these issues, so don’t procrastinate; investigate! Before your garage door becomes hazardous, hire a professional.

 

Is the garage door not opening at all? It’s probably garage door spring malfunction. Your garage door could be the kind with one or two torsion springs. If either of these is broken, the door will fail. Hire a professional to carry out spring repair or replacement.

 

Does the garage door slam down with a bang? There is likely a broken tension spring, which should be countering the door’s weight. Or, the cables connected to the tension spring have broken. Either problem is dangerous. Contact a garage door expert.

 

Finally, don’t adjust your garage door yourself, unless you’re an engineer! If not serviced correctly, a garage door spring can cause injury or even death. The garage door bottom brackets, cables, and drums may also require adjusting. It’s time to hire a local reputable garage door repair company. If you’re in Kennesaw, Georgia, consider Kennesaw Garage Door Repair, where free consultations are available.

 

 

Prevent Future Problems

 

Every two years, clean your garage door to prolong its life. Wash it on both sides with a sponge using mild dish soap and water. Rinse it well. Don’t forget the garage door opener sensor eyes; clean them off with a dry, fresh cloth. Keep the perimeter around the sensors free of dirt and cobwebs. If your garage door is made of steel, apply car wax for cold-weather protection. If you have a wooden garage door, if you see peeling or chipping, apply a new coat of paint.

 

Schedule an annual inspection with a dependable local garage door repair company. Springs, pulleys, cables, and wires need additional attention from an expert garage door technician.

 

Each month, thoroughly examine the components of your garage door system. Replace any worn parts. Tighten any loose bolts. If you hear any strange noises when you open or close the door, don’t ignore it.

 

Establish a garage door maintenance schedule. It’s wise to keep your garage door in tiptop shape to make it last longer. If your garage doubles as a game room, office, or shop, then all the more reason to keep it particularly well-maintained.

 

Lubricate the garage door hinges, springs, and rollers, with just a light coating ~ each year before winter comes. Without lubrication, the springs will ultimately rust, and the coils will bind. Use a top brand, so it won’t dry out.

 

Garage door maintenance actually takes minimal effort, but it’s definitely worth it. You’ll spend a lot less on any repairs that do come up, and you won’t have to replace it for a good long time.




Article source here: ARE YOU HAVING GARAGE DOOR TROUBLES? HERE’S WHAT TO DO!

Monday, May 29, 2017

Kennesaw Garage Door Repair: Garage Door Won’t Stay Open

Garage doors at a glance are simply the gateway into your garage. However, as any expert will tell you, the garage door is a rather complicated mechanism that needs regular attention or will eventually prove to be the most costly repair you can have in a home. Occasionally, you may move your garage door up just a bit and for some reason, the garage door won’t stay open. While many people may put this off as just the garage door acting normally, this is actually a sign of a failing door.

Don’t be alarmed however, just because a door has started to fail doesn’t mean it’s time to replace it outright, as Kennesaw Garage Door Repair in Kennesaw, GA would tell you, there are a few things you can do to possibly fix the problem without having to replace it completely.

Debris In The Track

One of the major issues that can cause a garage door to not stay open has to do with debris in the track. Luckily, this has a very easy evaluation and fix to try and you can actually do this regularly.

To understand why this could cause a problem, you’ll need to know a bit more about how garage doors operate. Essentially, garage doors are made up of a few key components: the garage door itself, the garage door springs, and a track and roller system. When any of these are out of whack, the problem of your garage staying open will arise and will need to be fixed.

To begin to see if you have any issues with debris in your tracks, close your garage door and from within the garage, look for any warping or issues in the track. If you see anything on the metal that looks out of the ordinary, this requires a different step but as long as they look the same on both sides, you can begin to look for debris.

Debris can come in the form of dirt, spider webs, or even insect nests. These accumulate overtime and if not cleaned correctly, can prevent proper garage door function. To fix this issue, you can clean the tracks using a Swiffer or broom to knock anything down and clean them as best you can. From there, try to open your garage again and see if it begins sliding down on its own. If it does, that means that debris was not the issue and it may be something a little more important.

Garage Door Springs

The garage door springs are, in most garage door specialist’s opinion, the most important part of the garage door. The springs actually provide “spring force” equal to the weight of the garage door and keep it supported while moving up and down correctly. If there is any issue with them, this can easily cause the problem of keeping the garage door open.

To check for this, with the garage door closed, look to see if the springs located near the top of the door are damaged in any way. Typically the garage door springs look like giant coiled metal and in older houses may be rusted. They are meant to be in one complete piece and clearly connected to the door mechanism on the cable.

When looking at the garage door spring, if you notice a snap that makes it look like two distinct pieces or that it is significantly NOT connected to the door, this is cause to worry.

Unfortunately, no matter how savvy you are with tools, unless you are certified as a garage door repair service technician, it’s advised to not try and replace or repair a spring on your own. The spring, as mentioned earlier, is essentially the life force of the door itself. When they go, the door goes, and you’ll have to replace the whole mechanism. A specialist is capable of evaluating the spring and can maintain it perfectly so you can avoid any unnecessary damage to yourself or the door.

Garage Is Unbalanced / Misaligned

Finally, one of the hardest methods to fix on your own is an unbalanced or misaligned garage. Misalignment occurs when maintenance is neglected for an extended period of time and instead, many cycles are run on a garage door that is already in a failing state.

For instance, if you have noticed an issue in your garage door springs or debris in the track and continued to use it, your door becomes worse and worse the longer this goes on and can actually cause warping of the metal on the tracks, brackets, or even the rollers themselves.

To test for this, try to carefully do the following two tests.

First, raise your garage door to the mid height level and take a step back. If it is sliding down, that is a bad sign but you may also see that the bottom of the door itself is angled upwards or downwards. The side that is typically lower is the one with the worst spring and needs service ASAP. The other test you can do is to sit inside the garage during the day and look for any gaps in the garage, especially under the bottom. If you see a lot of light coming in from gaps in the door, this is not what is supposed to normally happen. The garage door is meant to form a seal so if a significant amount of light is seeping in from the bottom, chances are there is something wrong with your tracks that is not forming a firm seal with the ground.

What’s The Next Step?

After you’ve tried this and identified the possible cause of your door not staying open, speak with an expert. There are many technicians out there trained in garage door repair and service who are more than happy to speak with you and evaluate exactly what the issue with your door may be.

By taking a proactive approach to garage door maintenance, you can prevent any costly repairs in the future when the whole thing comes crashing down because you put it off till tomorrow. Keep your home running at its best and make sure to look for any of these telling signs today!




Article source here: Kennesaw Garage Door Repair: Garage Door Won’t Stay Open

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Choose the Right Garage Door for Your House

When you are in the market for a new garage door, you’ll need to give it a considerable amount of consideration; this is a major investment. If you select the right door, it will add a lot of character to your home. You should think about how your garage is used. Those who use their garage as an extension of their home for a home gym or office will need a different type of door from someone who uses it simply to store their car and some of their belongings. You will also need to consider the material, style, R-values, price, safety features, construction and the amount of curb appeal that your door will provide. A garage door ranges in price from $300 for just a standard, insulated double garage door to over $10,000 for a custom-made garage door. The price of your garage door will vary based on where you live. The estimate that you will receive for your door should also include springs, vinyl stops, tracks and hardware expenses. If you are simply replacing your garage door, you might be responsible for the removal of the door and its disposal. You’ll likely be responsible for paying for the technician to reattach the garage door opener. In some instances, depending on the type of door you have, you might even have to purchase a different type of opener. You might be charged $75-80 to install your garage door inside of a new opening.

 

When it comes to asking the right questions, make sure you inquire about glass inserts, insulation and panel styles. These are some of the things that will ultimately affect the appearance of your door and can also inflate the cost. If you do not anticipate living in the home for a long time, you may simply choose a less expensive type of garage door. However, if you are having a home built, you will certainly want to invest in something more solid and durable of high-quality construction.

 

At Kennesaw Garage Door Repair in Kennesaw, GA, we want our customers to be happy with what they purchase. This is why we are discussing the things you should look for when choosing a new garage door for your home.

 

Tips for Choosing a New Garage Door

 

  • Size

It is important that you know the size of your garage door opening. There are standard doors that can be fit inside of any opening but it is always better and more cost-effective when you have a door fitted to the exact measurements of your garage opening. Once you have measured the opening, have it ready for our sales associates so that they can help you find the right door.

 

  • Appearance

Even if you invest in a simple garage door, you can still give it some pizzazz by adding double-paned windows or window panels. You can also tint the windows or hand decorative handles to the outside of the door.

 

  • Panels

When you select panel designs, you are changing the appearance of your home and adding interest. You can choose a flush panel that has the texture that will complement your home but not draw too much attention to the door. Painted panels add flair to any plain garage door. Long raised panels offer a more sophisticated look to your home. If you have a Victorian-style house, we would suggest you have a door with short raised panels installed. There are plenty of panel designs to choose from depending on the type of garage door that you choose.

 

  • Construction

You can choose from vinyl, steel, metal, wood or aluminum when you are choosing a garage door. If you don’t want to pay the high price for a wood door, you can opt for a door with raised doors to look like a high-end wooden garage door. If you invest in a wood door, you can get several types. Some can be painted and stained, while there are some that cannot. Make sure you purchase the right type to get the look you desire.

 

  • Cost-effective

It is a steel garage door that tends to be the most cost-effective. It is also the most common garage door sold today for its many benefits. They come in various colors or can be painted a color that you approve of. The steel door is offered in a single layer, stamped from galvanized steel and will fit even the most meager budget. You can also choose a double layer door with galvanized steel skin on one side and polystyrene on the back. The double layer door offers great insulation and soundproofing. Finally, there is the triple layer door, which is constructed of galvanized skin, polystyrene with another layer of steel on the outside. If you have a triple-layer steel door installed, you can choose a thermal resistance rating.

 

  • Purpose of Space

When you are purchasing a new garage door, make sure you keep in mind exactly how you intend on using the space. Will your garage serve as an extension of your home? Are you planning on making it into your studio for painting or a home gym, office or a space for arts and crafts? If you’re planning on using it for anything other than storing your car, it will undoubtedly change the type of door you’ll have installed. You’ll need a garage door with an R-factor in order to use it as an extension of your home. You should have an R-value of at least 3 if the temperature is moderate, however, if you live in a colder climate area, an R-factor of 10 is best.

 

Choosing a new garage door doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience. Just take your time and make sure you ask the right questions before you take the leap. You can get a great door for your home at a price that will fit your budget if you do your research. Choose a door that suits your needs and your personality.

 




Article source here: Choose the Right Garage Door for Your House