Having automatic garage doors is something that most often we take for granted amidst our busy lives. While they provide us with easy access to our homes, and protection for our vehicles, do you know how to operate your door in case the power goes out?

Some people might panic, trying to figure out how they will get their car in or out. Forget about your vehicle, others might be concerned with trying to figure out how they will gain access to their home. Are you going to have to pay a service charge to have a professional garage door service company come out and open your door? Thankfully, the answer is no! Once you know what to do, opening your automatic door when the power is out is easy!

Enable the Bypass

Most automatic doors are equipped with a bypass function, that allows you to disengage the automatic opener and operate the door manually. For most doors, the bypass function is a rope that is hanging down from your doors opener system.

When you pull down on this rope, the opener is then disengaged from the automatic system that is rendered useless due to the power outage. It is recommended that you only engage the bypass when your garage door is in the closed position, as the weight of the door could cause it to slam down; potentially injuring or damaging to objects, animals, or people that are standing nearby.

Once you have enabled your doors bypass, you are then able to operate your door manually. While this is not ideal, and requires more effort on your part, don’t let the power outage prevent you from using your garage as you normally would.

What to do when the power is restored?

When the power is restored to your home, you’ll need to reattach your garage door to the automatic opener. Just like when you enabled the bypass, you’ll need to pull down on the rope again. Once you have pulled on the rope, you’ll need to pull up on the door until you hear or feel it snap back into place. If you prefer, you can also push the button on your remote. This option will allow for you to see the spring attachment reconnect once the opener reaches a certain point.

When the power goes out, there is a possibility that your door may fail to engage with the operator again. If this happens it is important to call a professional garage door repair technician to hook your door back up.

Safety First

Even with the power out, your garage doors are still an extremely heavy object in your home. It is important to practice safety measures around your door, especially when manually operating the door. While it is possible to disengage and engage your door, never put your safety or the safety of others above a working garage door. A few hours of inconvenience are not worth the potential risk to your safety.

At Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors we have expert technicians who are able to help with any garage door problems that you might be experiences. Whether you are needing service, maintenance, repair or a complete replacement, we have the knowledge to get you what you need. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for all your garage door needs!

Having a garage door that opens and closes on command with the push of a button is something that most homeowners take for granted. In fact, relying on your garage door to always open when you need it to, can result in some serious problems when something breaks and doesn’t work the way that it should. When a mechanical garage door breaks, there is the possibility that you could get locked out of your home when you lose access to a working garage door. While garage door problems are not that unheard of, some problems are more common than others. We’ve outlined three of the most common Pittsburgh garage door repair that we encounter.

Garage Door Won’t Open at All

When you push the button on your garage door controller, you expect your door to respond to the coordinating command. While this is expected, this doesn’t mean that it always happens which could be the result of a number of different reasons. The first thing to check is the batteries in your remote to ensure that they are still good and working. If your batteries need to be replaced, and your door still isn’t working, you could have problems with your cables, tracks, the motor or sensor. To get your door repaired and back to fully working condition, contact Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors.

Loud Screeching and Grinding when Opening or Closing Your Door

When your garage door starts to make loud screeching, and grinding noises it is generally annoying. While it might be tempting to ignore the sounds, and try to get used to them, there is generally a simple solution to fix the problem. The cause of the noise is generally caused by dirt or debris that has collected in the tracks, or a lack of lubrication. To fix the problem, clean the tracks and lubricate the relevant parts with an oil or lubrication that is specifically designed for garage doors. If you would prefer not to perform your Pittsburgh garage door repair yourself, the professional technicians at Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors are happy to assist!

Broken Torsion Spring

When your torsion spring breaks, you will know it! When torsion springs break, they sound like a loud firework that has been set off in your garage. It is natural for springs to break, due to the limited number of uses that each spring is designed to withstand. When your torsion spring breaks, do not attempt to repair it yourself. Always call a professional to come and do the repair work for you, as torsion springs are very dangerous to work with, due to the high amount of tension they contain when wound.

At Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors , we have years of experience in helping homeowners will all of their garage door repair needs. If you are in need of a new garage door, or repair for any type of garage door, call the professionals today!

As any homeowner will know, overhead doors are the largest, heaviest, moving object in your home. These doors are generally used multiple times a day, giving you enough reason to pay attention to the general care and maintenance of each door in your home. Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors, knows that large rolling doors can be extremely dangerous when not well maintained, and in proper working order. Therefore, we’ve provided a list of safety tips to ensure that you and your family are protected.

Garage Door Safety Tips

• Mount garage door openers and control buttons out of reach of small children. It is recommended they be placed at least 5 feet from the floor, and in a location where you can have a clear view of the door at all times.
• Garage door remotes are not toys; therefore, it is imperative that young children do not play with the remotes.
• Set a good example for small children, show and explain to them how to operate a door safely.
• Know how to use your doors emergency release feature.
• Do not attempt to perform repairs to your door yourself. This could lead to serious injury and damage.
• Visually inspect your door on a regular basis. Check the springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys for signs of wear. If you spot any areas of concern contact the professionals at Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors for service and repairs.

While garage doors provide easy access to your home, they can also pose a security risk when not properly secured. We’ve provided a list of tips on how to secure your garage door, to protect your home and your possessions.

Garage Door Security Tips

• When leaving for an extended period of time on vacation, be sure to unplug the garage door opener unit, or use the vacation mode. This will prevent your garage door from being opened by remotes and unwanted visitors.
• For enhanced security, consider purchasing a garage door opener with rolling code technology. This technology changes the access code for the garage door opener each time the transmitter is used.
• Wireless keypads allow for users to open the overhead door with the use of a PIN. This feature allows for family and those with the PIN to open the door without the use of a key or remote. It is important to never share your PIN with anyone other than family. Don’t leave the PIN written down where it can be found and used by anyone.
• Do not leave your garage remote in your car, or with a parking attendant. It is important to treat your garage remote with the same level of security as your house key.
• Be sure that the door leading from your garage into your home is always locked. This will provide you with greater security and safety.
• Before going to bed for the night, check to make sure that your garage door is closed and your entry door is locked.

By following these simple safety and security tips, your garage door can serve a useful purpose in protecting your home. If you are ever looking to upgrade your garage door, or needs repairs or service, contact the professionals at Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors !

While most garage door openers have similar designs and functions, there are different options available. All garage doors are equipped with a trolley that is attached to the door, pulling the door open, or pushing it closed. Each trolley is also connected to a motor that drives the trolley along a rail. The biggest difference between the different models of openers is how the motor moves the trolley up and down the rail. There are three main types of openers that are commonly found on residential garage doors.

Chain-Drive: this particular model uses a metal chain to drive the trolley, opening and closing the garage door. While this option tends to be the most economical choice available, they also create noise and vibrations that can become irritating over time if the garage is connected to the home, located next to or under living space. For a garage that is not attached to the home, this model is a great choice!

Belt-Drive: this model is very similar to that of a chain-driven model, except it uses a belt rather than a chain to move the trolley. This model is also quieter than the chain model, and consists of fewer moving parts. With fewer moving parts to worry about, the belt drive model requires less maintenance than other models.

Screw-Drive: Instead of relying on a chain or belt to move the trolley along the rail, the screw-drive model uses a threaded steel rod. The rod’s rotation is what moves the trolley along the rail, raising and lowering the door as it moves along. This model is generally quieter than the chain-drive model, and like that of the belt-drive, has fewer moving parts, thus less maintenance. But it is much louder than the belt/chain driven machines.

Depending on the model of garage door opener that you select, there are added features that can make one model more appealing than another. To learn what options are going to work best for your specific needs, visit with the professionals at Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors and get the opener that you’ll be satisfied with for years to come!

When it is time to purchase a new garage door, do you know what to look for to ensure that you are getting the right garage door for your home? When it comes to garage doors Pittsburgh , there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’, so it is important to think about what you need before you have a new one installed. A garage door is an essential part of your home. Therefore, it is imperative that you find one that not only looks good with your home, but also provides the security that you are looking for in a garage door. We’ve compiled a list of things to consider before you purchase the first garage door you find.

Security

For homeowners, security is the most important feature to consider. Finding a garage door that is equipped with the latest security features to protect your home could be the best decision you make for home security. Some garage doors are now equipped with a rolling-code technology security feature. This feature changes the security code for the garage door each time the remote is used.

Safety

For those homes that have high traffic, small children, or pets, a garage door that is equipped with a laser light sensor is essential. When a laser light sensor detects an object or person in the path of the door while closing, the door will either stop or reverse direction.

Materials

Garage doors are made out of either wood, steel, aluminum, vinyl, or fiberglass. Depending on the look and style you are going for, this will be a determining factor for the material that will give you the look you want.

• Wood: Homeowners who want a visual statement piece usually opt for wood garage doors. However, wood is not as durable as other materials.
• Steel: Steel is the most common, least expensive material for garage doors. Not only is steel more durable, but it also provides an increased level of security.
• Fiberglass: Fiberglass is durable, but when exposed to extreme cold temperatures, fiberglass doors are prone to cracks.
• Aluminum: Aluminum is the material of choice in areas that are prone to moisture-causing issues. Aluminum doors resist corrosion and rust caused by excessive amounts of moisture.
• Vinyl: Vinyl is a relatively new garage door material making its debut. Vinyl offers homeowners an affordable, durable, and low-maintenance option when selecting a garage door.

Styles

For some homeowners, the ability to select a style of garage door is news to them! Garage doors are available in tilt-up, sectionals, and roll -up styles. Each style comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. For roll-up doors, they are more expensive than other styles of doors available and typically require more maintenance to ensure proper functionality. On the other hand, roll-up doors consist of several small parts that connect to one large unit that roll overhead when opened. Sectional garage doors are similar to roll-up doors. They consist of three or four panels that are connected with hinges. Sectional doors take up more ceiling space than other styles of doors, and require regular maintenance to prevent mechanical difficulties. Tilt-up garage doors are made of a single panel that opens and closes with a ceiling-mounted track.

Motors

When shopping for garage doors, pay attention to the horsepower’s listed on the various motors available. Heavier garage doors will require more horsepower to operate, whereas having a motor with higher horsepower on a lightweight door could be unnecessary. Find the motor with the right amount of horsepower for your particular needs.

Aesthetics

A garage door is a big investment for any homeowner, one that they will have to live with for years to come. When looking at the various styles and types available, it is important to decide if you want a door that will blend in with the rest of your home, or that will make a statement. What about the ambiance of the neighborhood? Would you prefer a door that has windows, or a solid door panel? Take the time to consider all of your options to ensure that you are getting a door that you will be happy with.

Cost

Depending on the type, style, and features that your door is equipped with, this will determine the final cost. When shopping for garage doors, having a budget set that you are comfortable paying will help in determining what features you can and cannot afford to have included in your garage door.

When you make a decision on a garage door, be sure that it is a decision that you will be happy with using for years to come. When considering all of the options listed above, you’ll be more prepared to make an informed decision and find the right garage doors Pittsburgh that is durable, beautiful, and functional for your needs. Contact Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors today to get started on finding the right garage door for your home!

Though you might think differently, commercial garage doors are not very different from residential garage doors. The only differences between commercial and residential garage doors are the styles and available sizes. Commercial doors are generally less ornate, and are available in larger sizes. When it comes to Pittsburgh commercial garage doors , there are two main types of doors: coiling roll-up doors and sectional garage doors.

Coiling roll-up doors, also known as service doors, are made from horizontal metal slats, usually steel. When the door is opened, the slats are rolled up into a coil above the door, just like their name implies. They can be manually operated by lifting up or pulling down the other options for operating include, chain hoists and electric motors. Service doors are generally found in industrial buildings, stores, and other commercial buildings. They are appealing to most business owners, because the metal slats serve as a great protection against break-ins and harsh weather elements.

Coiling roll-up doors, can be built to custom sizes, up to 24 feet wide, and are perfect for buildings that don’t have the required amount of backroom needed for a traditional-style garage door. The term “backroom” refers to how far back the wall is from the opening of the door. Service doors provide the perfect compact option for those who have limited space available, because of how the door coils above its opening. Even the operational components, such as the motors and chain hoists, are compacted into the same area as the door when it is rolled up.

Unlike coiling roll-up doors, or service doors, sectional garage doors do not roll into a compact coil. Sectional doors are similar to what you will typically find on most homes, just lacking the design and style aspects. Large sectional doors are operated by a motor, whereas smaller sectional doors are often hand-operated. They open with a system of springs and cables, moving the door upward, and then horizontally across the ceiling. This is where having adequate backroom space is essential, so that your door has somewhere to go when opened. The garage’s ceiling must also be strong enough to support the full weight of the garage door.

The advantage of having a sectional door installed rather than a coiling roll-up door is that sectional doors are significantly cheaper and are available in more styles. There are more options to customize your sectional door, including being able to add windows.

When looking for new Pittsburgh commercial garage doors, Giel Garage Doors offers a wide selection of commercial garage doors to fit your specific needs and budget. Contact us today about your commercial garage door needs, and we’ll make sure you get the right garage door for your business!

The opener is the electric appliance that opens and closes the garage door . They can be activated by push button, key switch or by a radio remote control. The radio frequencies have been refined to prevent the doors from automatically opening. Remember, the spring is actually the “motor” of the door. The electric opener or your arm is the “cruise control” of the door.

The weight of the door is supposed to be handled by the spring. If your door is becoming harder to open, it does not always mean you need new springs or an opener. Assuming there are no other impediments, you may only need a spring adjustment.

There are three types of drive mechanisms on openers: Belt, Chain, and Screw.

Openers having either a belt drive or chain drive move the belt/chain along a path between a gear on top of the motor of the opener and another gear located where the opener attaches to the door frame. You may not be able to see this on an installed opener, but it is there.

The garage door is attached by a “trolley” that moves along a track and is attached to the door by a bar called an arm. As the motor turns the gear, the belt or chain is moved by this rotating gear thus moving the trolley and opening or closing the door.

However, the screw drive has a steel screw inside aluminum housing. As the motor turns the screw in the housing, the trolley is drawn toward or pushed away from the motor, opening or closing the door. All three, when new, have the same strength in lifting ability. Therefore, the major determinant is quietness of operation over time.

The screw drive is very quiet for the first year or so but as the aluminum housing is worn by the friction against the steel, the housing becomes loose. What starts as a gentle whirring sound, soon becomes a deafening grinding sound, loud enough that a conversation is impossible while the opener is running. Lubrication will dampen the sound but it will return eventually.

The chain drive parts work with other metal parts and in time will wear. Metal gears driving a metal chain will get noisy quickly. Keeping the chain lubricated with petroleum jelly, or something similar, will increase its life but will not maintain quiet.

The belt drive is better than either. It is much quieter because there is no metal rubbing metal. The belt is the same material as the timing belt in your car but doesn’t experience the same RPMs. It is the only one of the three where a life time warranty is given by manufacturers.

One-third Horsepower openers will work on 95% of the doors out there, even ones 16 feet wide. Despite this, manufacturers put all of the bells and whistles on the one-half HP and higher doors such as timed lights and vacation switches. Most of the popular openers are three-fourths horsepower because they are not much more than the lower power openers, provide you with better features, and life time warranties.

There are also DC power motors on the market which allows for battery back-up systems that will open and close your door during power outages. Always makes sure that the locking mechanism on the door is disabled when your opener is operable. If it is not and someone accidentally locks the door, serious damage will be done to the opener and possibly to the door itself. Always makes sure the lift handle is on the bottom of the door inside and out in case the door needs to be worked by hand.

Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors serves a 50-mile radius around Pittsburgh. We handle all your needs when it comes to garage doors and openers! We also provide entry doors and storm doors that are installed in front of the entry door to protect it.

Weather can have different effects on your garage door based on the temperature, precipitation, and how both fluctuate. Here are the 3 ways the cold effects your garage door and what you can do to prevent the problems associated with them.

Problem #1: Steel Contracts

Garage Doors (mostly made of steel) contract in the cold weather. Anything on your garage door that’s made of metal (springs, hinges, track, etc.) can seize up or warp if not moved regularly in the cold.

So, that is why we suggest lubricating things like springs, hinges, rollers and other metal moving parts to keep them working properly. Regular maintenance is an important part of having a functional garage in your home.

Problem #2: Water freezes

The bottom of your garage door seals to the ground in an attempt to block weather and rodents. However, during the winter months when water freezes, this can create a problem if there is any sort of puddling at the bottom of your garage door. Some garage doors can freeze to the ground and will not open if this happens.

To help prevent this, make sure your gutters and any other part of your home surrounding the door is clog free and push away water from the bottom of your garage as much as possible!

Problem #3: Operator Issues

Garage door operators are also susceptible to changes in weather. The moving parts enclosed in garage door openers work best when lubricated and are kept moving regularly (especially during the winter months). In addition, your opener’s sensitivity may also play a factor, if the level is set to “light”. In this case, your operator may interpret the garage door hitting an object, which could halt the garage door suddenly (without anything being in the way at all).

Please make sure you check your operator sporadically to make sure it’s working properly and sensing items through the photo eyes like it should.

Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors serves a 50-mile radius around Pittsburgh. We handle all your needs when it comes to garage doors! We serve residential and commercial , and our maintenance programs help make sure your garage doors work over long periods of time. Contact us today.

Insulation in your residential or commercial garage door is essential if you want to make sure you keep the cold temperatures out of your house. There are two main types of insulation which are Polyurethane and Polystyrene.

Polyurethane

Polyurethane (right) is a polymer composed or organic units joined by urethane links. They were first made by Otto Bayer and his coworkers at IG Farben in Leverkusen, Germany in 1937. It is mostly used in construction, car seating, and furniture but it is used in many other applications.

Polyurethane is sprayed into each panel and makes a very tight fit which will add to the rigidity of the panel when it is new giving it a higher R-Value .

Polyurethane is the more expensive material of the two but doesn’t usually add too much more money to the price of the door. It is important to make sure that the steel skins of the door are not too thin because two things could happen. One, the door will dent easily or two, small waves will appear across the sections and can generally be seen within five feet. This will obviously make the door not look so hot.

Polystyrene

Polystyrene (left) is a synthetic aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene which is also known as Styrofoam. It is the white brittle material that is frequently used in shipping to protect the goods inside.

Polystyrene is pre-formed to the steel panels and is usually glued to both the front and back of the inside of the panel. It maintains it shape and fits better than open cell polyurethane over a long period of time and does not degrade, deform, or lose R-Value. Most manufactures use closed cell polyurethane negating many of the positives mentioned.

Polystyrene does not fit as tightly as the urethane foam in the end corners of each panel, leaving air pockets. Some manufacturers do not glue their polystyrene to the panels so it does not add to the stiffness of the panels. Generally, this foam results in a lower R-Value for the door.

Of the two materials, polyurethane is the better material. It does have a slight price increase and it’s up to you to decide if it is worth it or not. Regardless, getting insulation is a good choice no matter which material you use.

Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors serves a 50-mile radius around Pittsburgh. We handle all your needs when it comes to garage doors! We serve residential and commercial, and our maintenance programs help make sure your garage doors work over long periods of time. Contact us today!