Keep your Garage door well-maintained with these tips

September 23, 2019 By C Town Doors

Your garage door is opened and closed multiple times a day, and through the course of a year this can add up to over a thousand open/close cycles. Wear and tear is inevitable with such rigorous use and a breakdown is essentially guaranteed. A broken garage door can easily throw off your daily routine, leading to schedule delays and other inconveniences. This is why keeping yours it in the best possible shape is one of the most important things to do for your home. Here are a few maintenance tips that Calgary homeowners can do to keep their garage door going for as long as possible.

Observe Your Garage Door

The first and foremost thing you can do for your garage door is to look and listen to it as it moves up and down to open and close your garage. Take note of anything that squeaks or rattles; also keep an eye on how the garage door opens. Does it move in a jerky manner that looks like something might have gotten stuck? Do the tracks shake as your garage door moves? All these may be signals that something is wrong with your garage door, the tracks, rollers, or even the automatic garage opener itself.

Some Things You can do to Maintain Garage Door Parts

1. Bolts and Fasteners

Each time your garage door opens or closes, it causes vibrations that can eventually lead to bolts loosening on your roller brackets. If you spot any of them starting to come loose, make sure to tighten them back again using a socket wrench. Also check the bolts and fasteners keeping your automatic garage door opener secure. While these don’t receive as much vibration from the garage door’s motions, they are still liable to loosen up as time progresses. Be careful when tightening the bolts on the bottom rollers as well, as these are where the cables are attached.

2. Garage Door Roller Tracks

Keeping the tracks your garage door rollers run on is extremely important. If your rollers run over any debris left inside the tracks, it may lead to some misalignment. A properly clear track can also ease the strain caused by your garage door openers working just a bit harder during the cold Calgary winters. You can keep your track clear with either a cloth or perhaps even by running a vacuum cleaner through the top and bottom of the track. Make sure as well that your tracks are vertically level as this can also lead it issues. Use a carpenter’s level to check the plumb. If there’s a problem with the alignment of the tracks, make sure you have a professional fix the issue for you.

3. Garage Door Rollers

Properly working rollers are essential to the continued working of your garage door. Make sure to inspect these regularly for any chips, cracks, or the beginnings of rust. Make sure you replace these rollers whenever you spot issues. Replacement rollers come in different materials and each one has their own advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic rollers are cheap but would last at most 2-3 years before needing replacement.

Steel rollers are more durable and can last from anywhere between 4,000-15,000 cycles depending on the type; but these types of rollers can be very noisy which isn’t really ideal for suburban or residential settings. These also require regular lubrication.

Nylon rollers are the most expensive choice but runs along the tracks a lot more quietly than steel rollers and have comparable or even superior lifetimes, with some of the high end varieties lasting over 100,000 cycles before needing to be replaced. Ask a garage door servicing company for advice when choosing the type of roller you should use.

4. Garage Door Cables and Springs

The mechanism that runs your garage door opener consists of a number of cables and springs, as well as a band or chain on a track in the center that leads to the garage door opener motor that actually does the work of pulling up the garage door when you press that button on your garage door remote.

Garage doors usually use one of two types of springs: extension, or torsion springs. Extension spring garage doors consist of two springs installed above the two horizontal sections of the roller tracks of your garage door. Torsion spring garage doors usually have one spring installed right above the door itself. In both cases, the force is stored in the spring when the garage door is closed and released when the door is opened to help the garage door opener pull the door up. The difference is that extension springs extend to store energy while torsion springs coil tighter to do the same.

Regardless of spring type significant forces are stored inside the springs and cables that make up your garage door. Attempting to fix these yourself is very dangerous and can lead to severe injury. If you spot worn out springs or fraying cables, make sure you call a garage door specialists to perform the installation of new cables.

5. Garage Door Safety Features

Modern garage doors have 2 primary safety features: mechanical and sensors. To test the mechanical safety feature, just place a piece of wood or brick on the ground in the way of the garage door. The door should immediately raise itself back up if it hits the obstruction.

To test the sensor, it’s as simple as breaking the line of sight between the sensors as the door comes down. The garage door should stop and open itself up immediately if the line of sight is broken.

Lubricate, Lubricate, Lubricate

Lubrication is the most important form of maintenance the Calgary homeowner can do for their garage. Especially when preparing for the winter. Unlubricated garage rollers and hinges run the risk of freezing over and stiffening up in sub-zero temperatures, this forces your automatic garage door opener to exert more force trying to open your garage door and in some cases can lead to your it being stuck altogether.

The type of lubricant you should use is also important. We suggest using a silicon or lithium-based lubricant spray rather than your typical mechanical grease or oil. The primary reason for this is that typical grease or oil is prone to having dust and other particulates cling to it, which would be counter intuitive to the proper functioning of your garage door.

The important places for you to lubricate your garage door are the rollers, the springs, the hinges of your garage door panels if they are made of metal, as well as the lock to your garage door.

Your Garage Door Itself

1. Test the Balance of your Garage Door

An unbalanced garage door can lead to significant difficult to the proper functioning of your garage door opener. Unbalanced rollers can lead to the cables having to strain themselves more than they should; mainly because the cables on both sides not have to exert unequal amounts of force to open or close the garage door. An unbalanced garage door can also lead to gaps at the bottom, letting in the elements.

To test your garage door’s balance disconnect the garage door from the opener and manually lift it halfway. There should be minimal movement by the door when you release your grip on t

he door. If there’s any movement up or down, that may be a sign that your door is unbalanced. It’s advisable that you call garage door repair specialists to re-balance your garage door as the forces exerted by the cables on the door itself are very dangerous.

2. Weather stripping

Weather stripping is the lining at the bottom of your garage door. It keeps elements away from the inside of your garage by forming a seal between the door and the ground itself. This is especially important for Calgary homeowners during the cold winters as it prevents snow from reaching the garage floor.

Weather stripping deteriorates over time but unlike balancing your garage door, replacing it is a far less involved affair. You can purchase weather stripping from Canadian Tire or other hardware and home supply stores, cut it to the length of your garage door and install it to the bottom of your garage door yourself for relatively cheap.

3. Maintain the Garage Door Material

Just as important as the mechanisms of your garage door is the garage door itself. As time goes on, your garage door will see some deterioration. Paint might start to chip off or rust might start appearing. The type of material your garage door is made with informs how you should maintain it. If your garage door is made of wood it can warp and water damage is a major problem so make sure you inspect your garage door annually for these issues and have them fixed before repainting. Steel garage doors can rust so you’ll have to sand the rust out before priming and painting. Fiberglass garage doors are a bit simpler to clean as they can be washed with an all purpose cleaner.

When you’re repainting your garage door, make sure you choose a weatherproof paint. Living in Calgary, you’ll be dealing with humid summers and cold winters so choosing a paint meant to withstand these conditions is important.

If you’re experiencing Other Issues with your Garage Door Opener…

We at C-town have prepared a troubleshooting guide that covers most typical issues you may face. Now if you’re looking for a new garage door installation, or hoping to have your garage door repaired, we’ve got your back!

Just Contact Us at 403-668-6686.

Is Your Garage Door Safe? Follow These Garage Door Safety and Maintenance Tips

April 25, 2019 By C Town Doors

Most homeowners don’t think a lot about their garage door unless the need arises for garage doors repair. And that’s understandable on some level. But a garage door is more than just that thing that goes up and down when you hit the remote. First, it’s the largest moving part of the house. And second, it likely weighs several hundred pounds. As such, if something goes wrong with the door it can have potentially devastating consequences. The job of the Calgary homeowner then is to look beyond the remote and ask themselves “What do I have to do to ensure those devastating consequences don’t occur?” Below we’ll provide some key safety and maintenance tips.

8 Tips to Ward Off Accidents and Garage Doors Repair

A poorly maintained garage door is an accident waiting to happen. The best way to stave off catastrophic accidents and keep the repair man at bay at the same time is to follow these tips:

Keep your eyes and ears open – The first step in avoiding big problems is to recognize them when they’re still small and have them dealt with. This will not only safeguard you and your loved ones, it will also minimize the amount of money you pay for garage doors repair work. So keep your eyes and ears open when operating the door. Does it sound normal? Is it making any scraping or screeching noises? Is it vibrating while it opens? Is it closing all the way? If you see anything out of the ordinary call C Town Doors in Calgary for help.
Check the hardware – The rest of these safety and maintenance tips require you spending some time with the door. You can do this on the week, or perhaps one Saturday a month. That said the first thing to do is to look at the various hinges, bolts and brackets. Tighten any screws and, if you find any loose bolts, tighten them down as well. This will only take a few minutes and will stave off lots of potential problems.
Check the balance – You don’t have to be a technician to do this. But if you don’t have time we’ll be happy to send someone out to perform this and any other tests. To check the balance disconnect the motor by pulling the red release cord above the door, inside the garage. Once the motor is disengaged lift the door about waist high, stop it there and let go of it. If it’s properly balanced it will stay where it is. If it’s not it will either rise or fall after you let go. If you find it’s unbalanced give us a call.
Inspect the weatherstripping – While you have the door open to check the balance look at the bottom of it. Is the weatherstripping still intact? If it’s not it could cause the door to sit unevenly when it closes. Plus frigid air will blow in under the door during the cold weather months and turn your cold garage into an ice box. If the weatherstripping is old and worn it’s relatively easy to remove and replace it. If you’d like us to do if for you just give us a call.
Check the garage door safety sensor – In the days prior to the auto reverse system dozens of people, including children, were killed every year when doors would accidentally close on them. The auto reverse – also called the garage door safety sensor – sends a beam of light across the width of the door when it’s in motion. If anything breaks that beam the door should stop and return automatically to the open position. Likewise, if the door touches anything on the way down it should also stop and then reverse. To test the beam simply wait until the door begins to close and then break the beam with a broom. The door should stop and go back to open. To test the contact feature place a chair under the door. When the door touches the chair it should stop and return to the open position. If your garage door safety sensor doesn’t work, give C Town Doors a call ASAP.
Inspect the rollers – The door rides up and down in the tracks. But it’s held in the tracks by the rollers. If the rollers are broken or so dirty they can’t roll it’s going to cause a cascade of problems throughout the entire door mechanism. The safest way to check the rollers is to disconnect the motor and have someone lift and lower the door slowly while you stand to the side and observe the rollers. Look and listen for any that might be dragging in the track. Look at the way the door is moving too. Is it being held back on one side? Or is the motion nice and smooth? Check the tracks too while you’re at it. Are the clean and clear? If you have roller or track problems call the pros at C Town Doors.
Inspect the springs – While the garage door opener gets all the press it’s the springs that actually lift the door. So it’s important that they’re always properly lubricated. But working on torsion or extension springs is not something homeowners should ever do. They harbor vast amounts of pent up energy and are extremely dangerous. Do a visual only inspection from a safe distance. What you’re looking for is whether they are properly lubricated or if they’re rusting, dry and corroded. If they need lubrication call C Town Doors. We’ll send someone out.
Arrange for regular maintenance – The simplest and best way to ensure your door is always in optimal working order and to stave off expensive garage doors repair is to have the pros from C Town Doors in Calgary perform regular maintenance on your door. It’s the affordable, common sense way to ensure the convenience of the garage door doesn’t turn into a potential hazard for you and your loved ones.

Call us today on 403-668-6686 for free estimate on your garage door

Fixing Garage Door Openers: 10 Troubleshooting Tips

March 11, 2019 By C Town Doors

Automatic garage doors are a godsend in Calgary and other areas where the winters can be cruelly cold. However, it is often only when they malfunction that we realize how much we rely on them to protect us from the elements. Whether you are currently experiencing problems with the automatic door opener on your integral garage or you are interested in finding out how to troubleshoot some of the most common issues that local homeowners encounter, we hope you will find the information in this article useful. In the event you identify a problem that cannot safely be fixed without the help of a qualified professional, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time to request assistance: we offer a 24/7 garage door opener repair and replacement service in the city and surrounding area.

Table Of Contents

Problems You May Encounter with Your Garage Door Opener in Calgary

10 Problems You May Encounter with Your Garage Door Opener in Calgary

A couple of the issues listed below may safely be rectified by homeowners without any outside assistance but most will require the services of an experienced garage door opener repair specialist. If you have any doubts about your ability to safely tackle a problem with your garage door opener, we urge you to contact us at the earliest opportunity rather than take any unnecessary risks.

Dead Transmitter Batteries

If your garage door opener is not responding at all when you press the buttons on your remote control, one possible reason is that the batteries are flat and need to be replaced. Obviously this is a very simple procedure that can safely be carried out without professional assistance so this is something you can try for yourself if you think it may solve your problem.

Trying to Use Transmitter Out of Range

Another common reason that garage door openers in Calgary and elsewhere fail to respond to remote control signals is because the remote control is too far from the antenna that is affixed to the motor unit of the opener. The simplest solution is to wait until you are nearer to your property before attempting to open your garage door but sometimes the effective range of your transmitter may decrease as its batteries drain so following the advice above may also solve your issue.

Damaged Antenna on Motor Unit

Yet another reason that automatic garage doors sometimes fail to respond to remote control signals is a damaged antenna on the motor unit attached to the opening mechanism.

Broken or Worn Torsion Springs

If your garage door will not open, even though you have replaced the batteries in the remote control and you can hear the motor running, you may find that the torsion springs that provide the energy to open the door are broken or badly worn. If they are not compressing properly as the door closes, and storing enough energy to open it, they will need to be replaced. A garage door opener service engineer will be able to verify whether this is the problem with a visual inspection.

To repair and replace your garage door springs contact us at 403-668-6686

Misaligned Safety Sensors

Some automatic garage doors open fine but refuse to close and this is often due to misaligned safety sensors. On either side of a garage door frame that is fitted with an automatic door opener are electronic photo eye sensors that are pointing towards each other, creating an invisible beam that prevents your garage door from closing if it is broken. This is a safety feature that has been included in the design of all automatic garage door openers since the early 1990s. In the event your sensors are misaligned and therefore not pointing directly at each other, your garage door will not close.

Dirty Safety Sensors

If one or both of your safety sensors are very dirty, they may be unable to see each other, leading to the same problem discussed above. For this reason, it is always a good idea to wipe them clean before calling a local professional to check for alignment issues.

Debris in the Tracks

If your garage door starts to open or close but is unable to complete the operation, this could be due to debris in the tracks along which the rollers travel. The easiest solution is to call our Calgary service centre and have a qualified engineer inspect the tracks before removing any debris that may have collected in them.

Bent or Misaligned Tracks

If you encounter a similar problem to the one listed above but there is no debris that could be blocking the path of the rollers, it could be that the tracks themselves are bent or have shifted out of alignment. If this the case, a garage door opener repair specialist will be able to resolve the problem in short order.

To get the best garage door repair service contact us at 403-668-6686

Incorrectly Calibrated Range Limits

If your garage door closes then immediately opens again, it could be due to incorrectly calibrated range limits. Automatic garage door openers have open and close limit settings that should be calibrated by the installation team when the doors are fitted so if you have just had a new door fitted, call the company responsible for the installation and ask them to resolve the problem for you. If you have an older garage door that has recently started behaving in this manner, we will be more than happy to recalibrate the open and close limits.

Incorrectly adjusted closing force

When a garage door starts to open again before it has fully closed, one possible cause is a poorly adjusted closing-force screw. The closing-force screw on your garage door opener can quickly and easily be adjusted by an experienced engineer.

Whatever problems you may be experiencing with your garage door opener in Calgary, please feel free to call us at any time. We operate a round-the-clock service and our engineers are intimately familiar with the internal workings of all common types of garage door openers on the market today, along with many of the less common older units that may still be in use.

Contact C Town Doors for any garage door repair service in Calgary @ 403-668-6686

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