Safety Tips for Garage Doors

A garage door is a convenient addition to any home, allowing safe, convenient entry and protecting your garage space and the contents from the elements. It’s important to utilize proper maintenance and operating procedures to ensure it’s safe to use your garage door. Here are a few tips to follow to make garage doors as safe as possible. 

Periodically Test the Electronic Controls

Electric sensors and control units enable modern garage doors to open and close safely. However, if these devices malfunction, your garage door may not sense that a person or animal is in its path.

When a garage door’s electronic controls sense that something is in its path, it reverses course as a safety feature. A garage door without functional electronic controls is a huge safety hazard and can cause serious injury. 

Test the sensors by passing an object in front of them when your garage door is closing; it should immediately stop closing. Your sensors are mounted to the side rails a few inches from the ground. 

Regularly Examine Your Garage Door for Signs of Wear or Damage

Each month, examine the components of your garage door, like the rollers, hardware, springs, and cables, to confirm that nothing is stretched or broken. If something looks broken or worn out, don’t use your garage door until a professional examines and fixes the damaged component. 

Encourage Safe Habits

Make sure that your kids and family members understand safe garage door habits. Your family should understand that the garage door remote isn’t a toy or something for kids to use. Store the remote where it isn’t easily accessible to ensure children don’t accidentally gain access to it.

Teach your kids to stay away from the springs and garage door hardware, as these components can cause injury. Tell them to wait until the garage door is completely open and finished moving before going underneath it. 

Increase the Safety of Your Garage Door

Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors, Inc. has the experience and knowledge to fix any issues that cause your garage door to pose a safety risk. Contact us at 724-443-1437 to get started. 

Why Fall is a Great Time to Replace Garage Doors

If your garage door is starting to show signs of wear and tear or it just doesn’t work properly, it may be time to replace it. While it might seem inconvenient to replace your garage door, fall is a terrific time for garage door replacement for a few different reasons.

You’ll Better Insulate Your Home Against Chilly Winter Temperatures

Your garage door plays an important role in insulating your commercial or residential space. A door with poor insulating properties or damaged areas will make it harder and more expensive to keep your garage at a comfortable temperature. This will also cause rooms beside or above the garage to be less energy efficient. 

It’s Easier to Install a Garage Door in the Fall

Replacing a garage door exposes the garage to outside temperatures during the replacement period. Installing your new garage door in the fall means that you won’t be exposing your garage space to ultra-cold temperatures. 

Winter is a less-than-ideal time to install a new garage door. Unexpected precipitation and frigid weather can affect your garage space, and unfavorable travel conditions can delay the arrival of your new door.

Fall is less likely to have weather-related delays, and if delays do occur, they’ll have less disruption on your home or business. 

You’ll Have More Convenient Access to Your Home

The fall and winter months are busy times for homes and businesses. You may have a host of holiday gatherings to attend or expect high customer volume. A new garage door makes it fast and convenient for you to open, close, and access your garage.

Thanks to smart garage technology, you can even open and close your gatrage door when you’re away from your home. If out-of-town holiday guests show up early or you need to allow employees unexpected access to the space, you can do so remotely. 

Get Started on Your Garage Door Replacement

Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors, Inc. is ready to help with your residential or commercial garage door replacement. Contact us at 724-443-1437 to get started. 

Solutions for Loud Garage Doors

When you open or close your garage door, it’s worrisome to hear a lot of noises or screeching when it’s operating. If you have a residential garage, you may worry that the noise is disruptive to your neighbors. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to fix a loud garage door. 

Adjust the Chain Drive

If your garage door opener uses a chain drive, you should check that the chain is properly adjusted. Though chain-drive garage door openers tend to be a bit noisier than other alternatives, tightening the chain may reduce the noise that it makes. 

Replace Worn-Out Rollers

The rollers are attached to the sides of your garage door and sit inside of the track. They help your garage door move smoothly when you open and close it.

When the rollers start to wear out, they make more noise. If worn-out rollers are the cause of your loud garage door, replacing them will solve this issue. Consider replacing your rollers with nylon rollers; nylon rollers are the quietest roller option for your residential garage door. 

Check the Placement of Your Garage Door Opener

It’s normal for a garage door opener to vibrate a little when it opens or closes your garage door. If your garage door opener isn’t installed in the correct location, these vibrations will cause your garage door opener to rattle against your ceiling.

You can solve this issue by installing anti-vibration pads that stifle the vibrations. Another option is to reinstall your garage door opener so that it doesn’t come into contact with your ceiling. 

Lubricate Your Door

Without proper lubrication, your garage door’s components will rub against each other and cause excessive noise. Regular lubrication will help the hinges, springs, and roller bearings operate smoothly and quietly. 

Get Help with Your Loud Garage Door

Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors, Inc. is ready to help you diagnose and fix the source of noisy residential garage doors. We also offer garage replacement. Contact us at 724-443-1437.