Why Won’t My Garage Door Open?

Posted on March 26, 2020 - 8:14 pm by krisadmin

As residential and commercial garage
door professionals,
we’ve come across every issue you can think of when it comes to garage door service and repair. The most common issue we run into
is when a garage door just won’t open. We understand this can be frustrating,
and there are numerous reasons as to why your garage door might not be
operating properly. There are a lot of moving parts to be considered in a garage door system, and each of them must be in good working order for
your garage door to open. Here are a few
common reasons why your garage door might not be
opening:

Transmitter Batteries Are Dead: This may sound obvious, but if the batteries in your garage
door transmitter are dead, the transmitter won’t be able to send a signal to
your garage door to open. Check the transmitter inside your garage manually. If
this opens your garage door, then you’ll likely need to replace the batteries
in your car transmitter.
Unaligned Tracks: If your garage door tracks are unaligned, this could be a serious issue
regarding the functionality of your door. The metal tracks your garage door
runs on needs to be aligned for your door to move. If you see gaps between the
rollers and rail, you should contact a garage door professional to inspect the
situation.
Broken Garage Door Springs: If your garage door is not opening, but the motor is
running then it might be an issue with your garage door springs. Each spring has a maximum number of cycles, and once it has
exhausted its cycles, it needs to be replaced.

If you notice your garage door isn’t operating normally, the problem should be inspected as soon as possible. A1 Door Company provides garage door service for homes in Chester, VA, and the surrounding communities. Contact A1 Door Company whenever you need service for your garage door!

What Causes Garage Doors to Become Off-Balance?

Posted on August 30, 2019 - 2:04 pm by krisadmin

As it is often said, living a life of
balance is key when it comes to your health, harmony, and happiness. For some,
it could mean the right repetition of self-care. For others, it could mean a
home that serves as a well-organized safe haven. That said, your garage door
needs proper care too in order to provide you and your family with assurance of
safety. So, in this blog post we will be discussing garage door balance.

A standard garage door can weigh up
to 400 lbs. – which is a lot of weight working against you if a problem should
arise! Garage doors are equipped with two springs; one spring being on either
side of the door. When a garage door closes, these springs are under very high
tension. So, any time there is movement of the garage door, the springs need to
adjust in order to balance the weight of the door. In other words, it is
crucial that the springs be in balance in order to maintain efficient and safe
operation.

The balance of the springs is
what maintains level movement of your garage door. If one spring becomes loose,
that side of the garage door will move at a different speed which then leads to
disproportionate wear (and a lot of noise!) while the door opens and closes.

With any high functioning piece of
machinery, a garage door will experience wear and tear over time which is why
we can’t stress the importance of maintenance enough! Most indications of
garage door repairs can be visible to the eye which is why visual
inspections can sometimes be done by a homeowner.

However, if your garage door
springs are already broken, there are safety issues involved that you should be
aware of! First, you should never pull the emergency release handle when
the door is open because it will come down fast and hard. With the spring being
broken, there is nothing that will slow the door down. Another safety concern
is that if the door is left open, it can fall at any time or someone may try to
close it without realizing that there is an issue. If you must leave the door
open, you should place something sturdy underneath the door on both sides to
help support it, and make sure children and/or pets do not go near it. You
could also have a couple of people hold the door up while you disconnect it
from the garage door opener, and then close it manually.

A garage door that is balanced feels neither too heavy nor too light and remains at whichever level that you choose to leave it at. If a garage door is noticeably out of place it means your door is off-balance. If that’s the case, a garage door professional can come out and assess the springs. Generally, your garage door will call for spring replacement in order to work properly.

It’s imperative to have the balance
of your garage door checked regularly so that it can be adjusted when
required. If you notice any signs that suggest your garage door springs
have become off-balance, please do not hesitate to call A1 Door Company for repairs!

All about Garage Door Springs

Posted on June 28, 2019 - 5:33 pm by krisadmin

Garage door springs play a vital role in the efficiency of
your garage door system. Many home and business owners understand the need to
repair a broken spring, yet they don’t quite understand the function of the
springs – or where they’re even located in the garage! That’s why we’re
dedicating this blog post to garage door springs. Here
we will explain what the springs are, what they do, and how they get fixed or replaced…

What are they?

The first thing to know about your garage door springs is that there are two different types. Torsion springs are situated above the closed door, and the extension springs are located right above he upper tracks on both sides. While each type has its differences, both torsion and extension are very tightly wound – meaning they are under an immense amount of pressure. It’s for this reason that repairs should only be done by professionals, as the springs possess the capability to cause severe harm.

What do they do?

Springs are both very involved in the opening and closing of your garage doors. If your garage doors buckle as they move or raise/lower slower than usual, this is typically a sign that your springs may be damaged.

Extension springs are the lesser common model of garage door
spring. If you have these, you should notice long springs that are stretched
parallel to the tracks when the doors are closed. The springs generate energy
from this pressure, which helps to raise your door smoothly.

Torsion springs are the most commonly encountered type of system in garages. Typically mounted above the door opening and horizontal, these springs also help to open your doors through pressurized energy. When you activate your garage door opener, the tension in the stretched springs helps lift the door.

How to Fix Garage Door Springs?

The more you open and close your garage doors, the weaker the steel in the springs becomes – regardless of whether you have torsion or extension. This can lead to your springs becoming damaged or even broken. A garage door with broken springs can fall rapidly and poses severe risks, like injury or death. The more common spring-related injuries, however, occur when an inexperienced DIYer (Do It Yourself) decides to take on this project on their own.

With a system that is under as much pressure as garage door
springs, it’s important to make fixes and replacements with a careful eye and
precise maneuvers. Failure to do so puts you at great risk. This is why any job
relating to your springs should only be completed by a licensed, insured professional. They
can repair or replace your springs in a safe way that guarantees that no damage
will be done to you or your property.

For all of your garage door spring needs, please call the experienced technicians
at A1 Door Company. We’re here
to help!