Garage Door Maintenance Tips for the New Year

broke garage door

Hopefully your garage doesn’t look like any of these, but if it does, we can fix it for you! Even if the broken part is not obvious, there could still be an issue.  A garage door opener and garage door are the biggest operating parts of your home, and they are constantly used each day, throughout every season. In order to keep them running smoothly, there are a few maintenance tips home owners should keep in mind. These are simple, brief tests that should be performed monthly in order to make sure your door lasts for many more decades. When in doubt, check the owner’s manual for upkeep and safety tips!

Garage Door Opener

Reversal test – (If your door has a reversal feature). Place a block of wood in the center of the door on the ground where the garage door would touch. Press the opener’s transmitter or wall button to close the door. When the door comes into contact with the block of wood, it should immediately go into reverse and open back up. If it does not, your door will need servicing.

Force setting test – (If your door has an automatic opener system). Push up against the bottom of the door as it mechanically closes. If it does not reverse and open easily, the force setting may be too strong and needs to be adjusted.

Additional safety devices – If your garage door opener has additional safety features, such as a photo eye or edge sensor, be sure to check that those are functioning properly.

Garage Door

Garage door parts

Visual inspection – Look at the many hardware pieces of the door. This includes the: cables, tracks, springs, weatherstripping, rollers, pulleys, mounting hardware, etc. Make sure there is not any noticeable damage or wear to these pieces. Is the mounting hardware tight? Are the cables fraying in any way? Does the door make any noise when it opens or closes? Be sure to look at each part. It’s always better to fix the small issues than ignoring them and needing to fix a more serious issue.

**Many of these parts can be easily fixed by the homeowner, however, the springs, cables, brackets, and other hardware attached to the springs are very high tension. If these are handled badly, they can result in serious injury. Any fixing or replacing should be done by a qualified professional or mechanically experienced person! Contact us for help you may need!

Lubrication – This is one of the easiest ways to increase the life of you garage door. Regularly lubricate the moving parts of the door. Grease is best for the opener’s chain or screw and a spray lubricant to coat the hinges, rollers, overhead springs, and tracks. This is not a monthly task, but looking at it each month, just in case, will only help you.

Door balance – Use the manual release on your door so you are in control rather than it being mechanically operated. Open and close the door a few times. Does it open without resistance? Does it open smoothly? Does the door stay opened? If you answered “no” to any of those questions, your door may be out of balance and need servicing.

Garage door itself – Check the door for signs of water damage, warp, chipped or peeling paint. The best garage doors are in good working condition!

Using this maintenance checklist, any homeowner can lengthen the life of a garage door and garage door opener. If you have any questions about this checklist or further maintenance, be sure to give us a call at (620)275-4602 or contact us and we’ll help you with your garage door needs!

Quick Tips: Winter-Ready Garage Door

As we’ve seen in the last couple weeks, winter has only just begun. And it’s not going to be an “easy” year. With a few warm days in our forecast, it’s a great idea to prepare your garage and garage door for the full-force of winter, winterize your garage, if you haven’t done so already. These may be a little bit of a hassle, but the time and money you’ll save in the long run are well worth it!

Insulate Your Garage Door and Garage Walls.

The insulation type will vary based on the material of the door you have. If you have a steel door, any type of insulation will work. But, batt insulation is the simplest and most adaptable. This is usually made out of fiberglass any may be backed with paper or foil. This can be stuffed into the frames around the door. Batt insulation should have a snug fit but not jammed tightly. The R-value of batt insulation is about three to four per inch. The more the merrier.  All insulation is rated with a R-value; the higher the R-value the better a material’s insulation abilities.   

            gd bladd insul2 GD blatt insul

If your garage door is wood frame-and-panel or a flat garage door, one without panels, rigid insulation like foam board is best. This can be placed in between the door and the frame. If you’d like extra protection, another layer can be added. The R-value is between three and six. 

foam insulfoam insul sliver

Insulate the garage door walls as well. The door and walls are the weakest points in insulation. Doubling over what you may have will help you greatly. Whichever material you end up using can be used on the walls as well.

Update the Weather Stripping.

As with any other part in the garage, weatherstripping needs to be replaced from time to time. If yours in cracked, ineffective, and letting air in. Remove the existing weatherstripping and any sealant that is still there. The new weatherstripping will be much simpler to install if the old stuff is removed well; and it will seal better!

Cover and Seal your Windows, Switches, and Outlets.

Check the sealing and weatherstripping around all entry points into your garage, no matter how small they may be. Use weather-resistant caulk or masonry sealer to protect your home’s exterior walls and siding.

Above are the three most important things you can do for your garage this winter. Whether you are out working in the garage all the time or it’s just a place to pass from your house to your car, a warm garage is always better. And it will help with the overall costs of your home’s heating. Want to winterize your garage but don’t feel like going out in the cold? Give us a call at (620)275-4602 and we can take care of it for you! Contact us with any questions you may have! 

Garage Security -Tips to Prevent Break-Ins

Have you ever had someone steal something from you and/or invade your personal space? Whether it’s a car or purse there’s always that terrible feeling of personal invasion. When it’s something even larger, like your garage and home, feelings of unrest increase. The “how did this happen to me?” sets in and the sense of serious danger hangs over your head. The garage door can be a weak point in your home’s security, but not if you are careful. Don’t let this happen to you!

There are numerous tips out there to help prevent break-ins through your garage door, but it would be hard to do them all. We’ve picked out the top 10 tips from around the web and from our own personal practices. Read through them carefully, if possible complete them all, and your garage door will not be an easy entrance point!

  1. Do not leave your garage door open, even if you are at home. It seems obvious, but break-ins are much easier if the door is unlocked and opened.
  2. The door in the garage leading to your home should be strong and locked. This is usually a door that remains unlocked because the garage door will keep it safe. However, if the garage door is able to be manipulated, easy access to the home will encourage more damage.
  3. Black out or frost over the windows on your garage doors, if it has any. An intruder can glance through the windows to see if anyone is home and what’s inside the garage.
  4. Consider using a keychain garage remote. A garage remote keychain allows you to have the opener on your person at all times, rather than leave it attached to the visor in your car.
  5. Make sure your garage door closes all the way when you are leaving or headed inside. Just a few extra seconds spent in the driveway will create a greater peace of mind.
  6. If your car is not parked in the garage, ensure that your doors are locked and the garage door opener is hidden or bring it inside with you. The garage door opener should not be visible from outside the car.
  7. If you are going out of town, you have three options. If it’s possible to do all three, go for it. Better safe than sorry.
    1. Manually lock your garage door (if you have the capability), or
    2. Unplug the automatic garage door opener, or
    3. Padlock the throw latch on your garage door.
  8. Any valuables that may be stored in your garage should be secured and put away. When the door is open they should not be visible.
  9. Keep up on maintenance of your garage door and any points of entry, both into both your garage and home. Regularly check for erosion, loose screws, broken parts, etc. This is an easy step to prevent devastation.
  10. Allow us to come help you make sure your garage door is safe and secure. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about your garage door or garage door opener! Contact us for help!

We wish you the very best and hope you never have to live through a home invasion or garage break-in. Put one or more of these tips to use and you should be free to relax knowing you and your home are safe. Are you thinking of purchasing a new garage door? Read our recent article about the various options you have. If you have questions, we are here to help! (620) 275-4602.

How to Measure Your Garage Door

You’ve decided to take on the task of replacing your garage door. Way to go! Replacing your home’s garage door can value and add curb appeal to your home, instantly after the work is done. In order to make this process as simple as possible, here is a guide to taking the measurements you will need to know when looking at new garage doors!

A helpful hint, as we’ve all heard: measure twice, cut once. In this case, measure twice and order once! It will be best to take each measurement in two, or more, different spots – to account for wear and tear. If you notice that one side of your garage is particularly worn, measure in other spots as well. You’ll feel confident in the numbers you have are for the correct size and quote for your new garage door!

Tools you will need: tape measure, a way to record the results and notes, and a helping hand!

Garage measuring

  1. Measure Height & Width. Measure the horizontal width of the garage door, left to right. And the height, up & down. These measurement should be the opening of the garage door. If you see any irregularities such as an unleveled side, make note those.
  2. Measure Side Room. Measure the width of the areas beside the openings of the garage door on both the left and right side. Is there anything in the way such as wires, light switches, etc.? Be sure to note any barriers that could get in the way of installation.
  3. Measure Headroom. The area between the top of the door opening and the ceiling is called the headroom. Depending on the type of garage door, it might need larger headroom.
  4. Measure Backroom/Ceiling. This is the distance from the opening of the garage door to the rear of the garage or nearest wall. Note any irregularities or obstructions. Typically the height of the door plus 18” is required.

Garage door sizes are usually unique to each house. There are a few standard sizes that may be a starting point but the measurements you obtain will help you know the specifics.

Please give us a call at Overhead Door of Garden City at (620) 275-4602 if you have any questions or contact us for installation help. We are happy to help you with your garage door measurements.