Top FAQs on Garage Doors and Openers
What Type of Opener Do I Need to Purchase?
There are 3 basic openers. the chain, screw, and belt drives. The belt drive is
the most quiet. When there is a bedroom above or near the garage and noise is a
factor, a belt drive is the best choice. However, the chain drive is built tough
for continuous strain over years of the garage door openers life.
Who Should I Buy the Garage Door Opener From?
A garage door opener purchased from a professional is a bit different than those from a box store.
Garage door openers from a professional come with a solid rail to avoid buckling and
bending over time. The rails from the box stores come in 3 or 5 pieces so they can get it into
a box. These openers retail between $150.00 and $220.00, plus around $100.00 to $125.00
for installation. The average cost of an opener purchased and installed by a professional
is around $300.00 to $400.00, depending on the accessories and includes installation.
We can install an opener in about an hour and 30 minutes.
Wind Load Doors
Everyone remembers Hurricane Ike. A wind load door is certified to withstand winds up to 140 mph.
The garage door is the primary entry point for high winds to come through and can literally lift
the roof off your home.
FACT: About 80% of residential wind damage starts with entry through the garage door. (1)
FACT: About 80% of residential wind damage starts with wind damage through the garage door. (2)
FACT: Less than 30% of homes in hurricane prone areas have adequate garage door wind load
reinforcement systems. (3)
"Wind Pressure is often the most devastating culprit in a hurricane. A category 3 hurricane
with winds of 130 mph exerts pressure equivalent to the weight of a typical car on a two-car
garage door." Dr. Steve Lyons, The Weather Channel
Sources: 1. Copyright 2007, Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. 2. August 2006, Electronic Answers
Amarr Garage Door Hurricane Preparedness Study. 3. Revised August 2001, Hurricanes…Unleashing
Natures Fury: A Preparedness Guide, U.S.Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, National Weather Service
What Maintenance Should I Perform?
Visually inspect the cables that attach the spring system to the bottom brackets
on both sides of the door. If these cables are frayed, worn, or rusted on the bottom
brackets, they are in danger of breaking, which can cause injury. While the door is
down, SLOWLY run two fingers down the length of the cable. You will feel a strand if
it is broken. Replace the cables.
Check your door balance. Having a "HEAVY" door wears out you garage door opener. Every
so often, operate your door manually to make sure that your spring is lifting the door
weight properly. A 10-year-old child should be able to lift the door easily. If you
have a hard time lifting it, you need to have your springs tensioned.
Doors SHOULD NOT BE NOISY! A noisy door is a problem waiting to happen. Worn out roller
bearings or bent tracks are signs of problems. If your door is noisy, the rollers might need
to be replaced on the door to preserve your opener. Try to lubricate your rollers and hinges
3 to 4 times a year with a lithium-based garage door lubricant. We don't like WD-40™ or grease
on the door at all because grease soon turns to grit as it picks up the particulates that float
around in everyones garage. Silicone-based lubricants, such as WD-40™, go on wet and stay wet, also
picking up particulates that get in the bearings and eat them up.
If, My Garage Door Has 2 Springs & 1 Breaks, Should I Replace Both?
YES. If your door has 2 springs, then they both should be replaced even if one is
not broken. All springs are made out of metal and the average torsion spring has
an expected lifespan of 10,000 cycles or 7-10 years. Every time a garage door cycles
up and down, these steel springs encounter tremendous force and stress. Eventually
with time and use, the steel weakens and will crack, causing the spring to break
and release all of its stored energy with a loud bang. When the first spring breaks,
the mate is likely to fail shortly afterwards as it's probably just as old and weak
as the first one. Therefore, any potential savings in parts by just replacing one
spring isn't worth the effort to repeat the work later.