SPRINGS

• Weak Springs: Most double or two-car garage doors use two springs to produce enough torque to counterbalance the weight gravity of the door, enabling easy lifting by hand or electric garage door opener. The average lifespan of a spring is approximately 10,000 cycles (open and close). That sounds like a lot, but consider that most homeowners use the garage door for everything from checking the mail to grabbing the morning paper, taking out the trash, letting the dog out or a number of other uses. Like any mechanical device, these springs gradually weaken and eventually break. A weak spring puts additional stress on your opener that can result in balance problems.
• Broken Springs: While you may not visually notice that a spring is worn, if broken you can tell that they break in half. You’ll quickly realize something’s wrong when the garage door won’t open. Most people believe the problem is with the opener and will try repeatedly to open the door, which only causes more damage, wear and tear on the opener. Should the door raise only partially, please DO NOT pull the emergency release cord. Should a spring actually be broken, serious injury could result as the weight of the door brings it down rapidly. The emergency cord should only be used when the door is fully closed. Remember: if you can’t lift the door, neither can your garage door opener.
• Replacing Springs: For garage doors that utilize a two-or-more spring system it is always recommended to replace all springs at the same time. Since the springs work in tandem, when one breaks, the others generally follow suit fairly soon. It’s less expensive to replace all the springs at once, thus avoiding multiple service calls.

Is your garage door off track? If your door has magically just jumped off its track, you know it’s not only annoying, but it leaves your house unsecured until you can get it repaired. You can always call RTS All American Garage Doors but if you want to try to do the garage door repair yourself in a short amount of time, you can. So with a few simple tools, so you don’t have to wait for a repairperson to schedule a visit. Since this does not involve the door’s tension spring, it’s a project you can do safely.

5 Ways to Fix a Garage Door off Track

Disconnect the garage door from the opener. Reach overhead and pull the rope that releases the door from the opener.

Open the door manually. Once you locate where the wheels on the door are jumping off the track, snap locking pliers underneath the door on one of the tracks. The pliers act as a stop.

Pull the outside edge of the track open with a pair of pliers so you can easily get the wheels back on track. Once the door is back on track, knock the track back into position with a rubber mallet. Remove the locking pliers.

Raise and lower the door manually to ensure it is operating properly. Use the door’s remote control to operate the door opener. As the door opener moves through its cycle, it should catch and secure the door’s release mechanism again and begin to operate the door.

TEST DOOR BALANCE

As springtime approaches, you will see garage door use increase. Here are a few Garage Door Maintenance Tips. Testing the evenness or balance of your garage door is also a telltale way of examining if other areas of the garage door unit are starting to fail. The steps for testing a door’s balance include:

• Closing the garage door
• Disconnecting the door from the opener, generally by pulling the red release cord.
• Opening and closing the door by hand to see if it opens smoothly and naturally. Lubricating the rollers or springs may help with the opening and closing transition.
• Open the door hallway and let it go of it. The door shouldn’t rise or slam to the ground. It is off balance if it does.

INSPECT BOLTS, HINGES, CABLES

The bolts, hinges, and cables of your garage door should also be checked for any impeding defects. A bolt simply breaking off is rare, but it happens. Cables can lose tension and hinges can come unscrewed, so give it all a good detailed glance. These garage door maintenance tips are helpful to make sure that your bolts and other items haven’t rusted, or locked up during the winter season.

Garage doors play a very important role in our homes. In addition to being a key piece of a home’s visual appearance, garage doors protect your vehicles and other property, and in some cases, block an entrance into your home. Without a working garage door, your car and other belongings can either be trapped or vulnerable to theft, damage, or other consequences. Also, having a garage door that doesn’t shut all the way can cause a substantial increase in your heating or cooling bill.

When you do encounter issues with your garage door opener, how do you determine whether or not you need a professional’s help? Let’s take a look at what you should inspect to diagnose your garage door problem, and if you need professional and reliable help from RTS All American Garage Doors!

What To Check

If you’re experiencing issues with your garage door opener, whether it won’t close, open, or seems to be having other difficulties, it could just be a minor problem that can be easily fixed. Being by troubleshooting the problem with your garage door by checking the following:

Garage Opener Batteries

To start, if your garage door is electric, and the remote to open and close it doesn’t seem to be working, quickly check to see if they batteries are in good working condition. The batteries may need to be replaced or repositioned. Believe it or not, this is the most common reason that people’s garage doors stop operating.

If you’re a homeowner, you may have wondered about what simple, affordable, and beneficial investments you can make to upgrade your home. Whether you’re thinking about adding a home theater or maybe that kitchen you’ve always dreamed of, it’s more than likely that you won’t be thinking about your garage door.

Garage doors play an important role in your home. It is most likely one of the largest exterior elements of your home, and more and more homeowners are using them, whether they use them as car storage and protection, workout area — the possibilities are endless! As a homeowner, it may be difficult to recognize why you need a new garage door. Check out some common signs that indicate you’re ready to upgrade your garage door.

INCREASED CURB APPEAL

If you have an older garage door, replacing it with a new one can significantly improve the value of your home, increasing the likelihood of attracting buyers when (and if) you decide to sell. When it comes to real estate, home buyers are searching for new and trending designs, and having a new garage door is something that may influence their purchase. By removing a bland and boring garage door and replacing it with a modern model and design, you can completely transform the exterior of your home.

Install A Security System

When it comes to security, there are plenty of options available. On the simpler side, installing a door sensor can serve as a hindrance to potential thieves. Certain door sensors will send out an audible alarm when the garage door is open, so you will immediately know if someone is trying to attempt a break-in. In addition, many modern garage door openers have built-in security features, like the ability to monitor when the door is opened or closed, or a self-closing system.

If you want to take your garage security to the next level you could consider adding motion sensor cameras. These save on energy consumption and offer a high level of security. When cameras are present, burglars will be hesitant to attempt a break-in and will avoid them at all costs.

Install a Reliable Garage Door

Older garage doors are much easier to break into. You should have a garage door that serves as a strong, durable obstacle between the interior and the outdoors. Choosing a garage that is built with high-quality materials while still bringing a modern aesthetic to your home. A stronger garage door with an opener that features modern technology will help reduce the risk of break-ins.

Starting in the 1980’s, do-it-yourself, or DIY has come a long way. DIY is a term that is used by multiple communities of professions that focus on people creating things for themselves, without having to pay for the actual product or service. It was not before long that people across the nation were taking part in the money-saving movement. People were choosing to do a variety of DIY projects, whether it’s creating Halloween costumes for your kids so you don’t have to spend a small fortune at the store or watching free cooking tutorials to make a delicious meal you would usually go to a restaurant for. One popular trend that developed in the DIY movement was home improvement and repairs. Homeowners found that they could save money by doing home improvement projects themselves. While do-it-yourself is great and all, there are some jobs that are more complex than most people believe and should be left to trained and experienced professionals — and trying to do a DIY garage door repair is one of those jobs.

Yes, you can find plenty of instructions and tutorials online that make garage door repair seem like a piece of cake, it is not a DIY project you should pursue. In fact, the job should be left to a garage door repair company. Not to mention, trying to repair a garage door yourself can not only risk injury and other damages, it can actually cost more than hiring a professional garage door company. Don’t believe us? Check out some reasons why doing garage door yourself is a dangerous and unwise idea.

At RTS All American Garage Doors, we’re committed to quality in everything that we do. That’s why, in addition to a team of experienced, knowledgeable garage door technicians, we also offering garage doors, garage door openers, and other products made by the leading manufacturers in the industry to ensure that those in our community get the durability and long-term value out of an investment like a garage door system. While there are many quality garage doors that we offer for garage door installation, you cannot go wrong when choosing Wayne Dalton Garage Doors! In today’s post, we’re going to focus on the quality, craftsmanship, and features that these garage doors bring!

About Wayne Dalton Garage Doors

Since 1954, Wayne Dalton has been proudly manufacturing garage doors. While maintaining a focus on craftsmanship and quality, Wayne Dalton has continually innovated through many over six decades of service to create and distribute garage doors that not only showcase design, but functionality too, eventually leading to becoming one of the largest garage door manufacturers in the country.

At RTS, you can choose from a variety of styles of residential doors, including the following:

Of course, if you could, you would prefer to avoid garage door problems altogether. Unfortunately, just like any other machine with multiple moving components, garage doors and garage door openers are susceptible to wear, damage, and other issues that can cause your garage door system to not work the way it should be, leading to unsafe and inconvenient situations.

Luckily, RTS All American Garage Door offers quality and reliable emergency garage door repairs that residents in Pensacola, Navarre, Gulf Breeze, and the surrounding areas always turn to in urgent situations. Although we offer 24/7 garage door services , it would still be best to keep your garage door in prime shape at all times to reduce the risk of problems with your garage door at inconvenient times, such as when you’re trying to get your stuck vehicle out of your garage just before you’re about to leave for work. To help you avoid these inconvenient situations, we’ve compiled a list of tips that will help you avoid emergency garage door repairs.

Contact a Garage Door Company

No matter how big or small the issue, as soon as you notice a problem with your garage door system, contact a garage door technician as soon as possible. Ignoring the issue will allow it to get worse and cost more in repairs. Garage door professionals will be able to fix the problem quickly to ensure your garage door will be reliable.

Automatic garage door openers are a great convenience. Not only do they allow you to quickly gain access and entry to your home, but they also provide a shelter for your vehicles and other investments that are stored inside your garage. Typically, garage door openers are highly reliable, which is why many homeowners become frustrated when they have a malfunctioning or broken garage door. Fortunately, many garage door opener issues can easily be fixed on your home.

Troubleshooting Common Garage Door Opener Problems

Each garage door opener model is different, so when a problem presents itself, your first move should be to crack open the owner’s manual if the fix is not obvious. If you are unable to figure out the issue, you may have to contact a garage door contractor for garage door opener repair. But first, make sure the following issues below are not the culprit:

Unresponsive Garage Door Openers

If your garage door opener is not responding to the remote in your vehicle or the button on the wall, more likely than not, it is because the machine is not receiving power. To fix this, inspect the motor plug to make sure it is properly inserted. If that doesn’t fix the issue, check your home’s circuit breaker to see if the issue lies with the fuse. If your garage door opener is battery operated, the solution may be as simple as swapping the batteries.

There are a number of garage door repairs that you should not and cannot do on your own, even if you consider yourself a handy person. Far too many homeowners think garage door full of intricate parts that sometimes aren’t always apparent at first glance.

Of course, not being able to get your car out of your garage is very frustrating, and that frustration only increases when you find out your garage door is essentially stuck until the proper repairs are made.

With the right garage door repair service, you’ll get timely repairs. At RTS All American Garage Doors, we understand the urgency of a malfunctioning or broken garage door, which is why we make it a priority to get your door working again. In one of our recent blogs, we shared six reasons why DIY garage door repair is a bad idea. Today, we are going to reveal three garage door repairs in Pensacola that require help from our experienced garage door technicians – for the sake of your door and your safety.

Broken Garage Door Springs

If you have had your garage door for a number of years, it is normal for some parts to undergo some wear and tear. After all, you probably use your garage door every day. Garage door springs can break after years of extended use, especially if they are not properly maintained. Since the garage door springs hold up the weight of your garage door, there is a lot of stress put on them. When garage door springs break they can cause the door to become unbalanced, and an unbalanced door can be dangerous and cause extra wear and tear on the garage door opener, as well as damage the top of the door where the opener arm attaches.

If you have ever dealt with broken garage door springs, you likely understand their importance to your garage door system. Garage door springs are used to counteract the heavy weight of the door. In essence, this means a garage door spring is supposed to make your door light enough for you to be able to lift it on your own, or for the power of the garage door opener to easily lift it.

When your garage door is not opening or closing properly, it’s likely due to a broken or worn out spring that will require garage door spring repair or replacement. If you know a thing or two about your garage door system, you may know that there are two different types of garage door springs; torsion springs and extension springs. While you may initially think they are the same, they are actually quite different, and many garage door contractors favor one over the other.

Garage Door Springs: Torsion vs. Extension

Breaking down the two types of garage door springs, torsion springs are the large springs that are found in a shaft above your garage door. Extension springs, on the other hand, are smaller and are attached to the sides of your garage door. Out of the two, extension springs are the most common for residential garage doors.

While garage doors typically last 15-30 years — (almost) indefinitely with the proper care and sparingly use — there may come a time when you need a new garage door. Whether it’s because of damage or wanting to add a little spice to your curb appeal, new garage door installation requires more than you would typically think. You want your new door to be as attractive and functional as possible, therefore, choosing a garage door takes some serious thoughts and consideration.

At RTS American Garage Door, we have installed countless garage doors for homeowners in Pensacola and the surrounding areas. Your garage door can comprise as much as a third of your home’s exterior, and to help you make the best choice for your home, below, our garage door contractors share a few factors you should consider when choosing a new garage door for your home.

Materials

Today, garage doors are available in a variety of high-quality materials. Typically, the most popular residential garage door materials include vinyl, aluminum, galvanized steel, fiberglass, and wood. The good thing about galvanized steel or aluminum garage doors is that they are very durable — they do not wrap, crack, or delaminate, and they are less likely to rust. Vinyl garage doors are fairly inexpensive, but they can crack with age or extreme temperature fluctuation. In Florida, high winds, rainstorms, and other extreme weather conditions can negatively affect your garage door. Different garage door materials withstand weather conditions differently, so it’s important to choose a garage door material that will be able to stand up to the weather in the Sunshine State.

When it comes to protecting something as serious of your home, you don’t want to risk hiring the wrong garage door company. Whether you are thinking about buying a new garage door or having your current door repaired, one of the most important parts of the process is finding a garage door company you can rely on. Unfortunately, there are a lot of repair companies that are not qualified to handle the job properly.

With that being said, it’s essential that you know what to look for when hiring a reputable garage door company. Below, we shared a few tips to help you choose the best garage door company in your area.

Regardless of the industry, there are always companies and so-called ‘professionals’ who are focused on taking advantage of customers rather than take the time to provide them with a quality solution to their needs. In industries highly technical and specialized such as garage door services, the threat becomes even more prevalent. In order to help you discern between manipulative companies and trusted professionals, follow the smart tips for choosing the right garage door company.

Tip #1: Know What You Need

Before you begin your quest searching for local garage door contractors or companies, first determine exactly what your needs are. Are you wanting to replace your old and outdated garage door and opener with a brand new system? Maybe you are just looking for garage door maintenance services to ensure your garage door remains in tip-top shape. Identifying your needs first will help you find some potential companies that are the best fit. While most garage door companies offer complete services, from repair and maintenance to replacement and installation, some contractors choose to only focus on specific services, so it is worth taking the time to ensure that a company will be able to help you with your needs.