Have You Inspected Your Garage Door And Opener Lately – If Not, You Should!

The size of a garage door, its regular use, and the fact that it is often opened and closes with an electrical remote, are all very good reasons why both the door and the electrical opener should be tested on a regular basis. There is a real risk of severe injury from a malfunctioning garage door or opener causing the door to close too quickly.

Inspecting both your garage door and opener on a monthly basis will kept them in top working condition. Your garage door opener should be equipped with a reversal feature. If it’s not; replace it; any garage door opener made after 1992 is required to have one.

Testing Your Garage Door Opener

Perform a monthly test on the garage door opener by first determining if your garage door is accurately balanced. You’ll do this by disengaging the garage door from the remote opener and attempting to raise it manually. If the garage door will not open easily and remain open at a height between three and four feet, it needs to be adjusted by a professional.

If you garage door passes the balance test, re-engage the electric opener and open the door completely. Place a two-by-four, about an inch and a half thick, flat on the garage floor at the door’s center. Operate the electrical opener and see if the door reverses when it hits the two-by-four. If it doesn’t, call a professional to see if it can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

Inspecting Your Garage Door

If you garage door opener checks out, go ahead and inspect the garage door itself. Your garage door springs are under extremely high tension, so they should be situated where they cannot harm anyone’s fingers or hands.

Usually the door springs are found close to the garage ceiling and should be equipped with central cables so that if they snap, they will be less apt to injure any bystanders. If you notice that your garage door springs do not have retaining cables, have some installed.

Even the brackets located at the garage door’s bottom and the doors lift cable to which they are attached are attached to the springs via the door’s lift cable are under high tension. The brackets should not have their screws loosened or even adjusted. Check the springs, brackets, and pulleys for wear and if they need replacing, again leave it to the professionals.

Finally, make sure the garage door is lubricated with heavy grease and that the roller shafts are not bent so that the rollers operate smoothly.

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Take some time to read on for more information about this tireless device that serves to make every home owner’s life a little easier.

Automatic Garage Door Openers Are A Great Investment

The concept of a garage door system arrived during the Second World War. Garage Door Openers have been saving Americans from back injuries for over 35 years, yet there have been few new modifications or major innovations in these garage door openers. Believe it or not some people have voice activated garage door openers instead of you having to place your finger over the button when you walk from your house to the garage.

Garage door can keep the home safe because when they close the doors are locked automatically, this way you don’t have to worry about locking the doors. Garage doors are important features in a security system for a number of reasons and those who use openers, however, need to be mindful of a few things. The main parts in a garage door opener system are: transmitter, the remote control, safety sensors, key pads, receiver/remote kits, screw drive and much more.

The garage door openers are automatic and so convenient they are standard in most garages today. An automatic garage door opener is not just a convenience; it’s an investment in your house, and an important home appliance that will get daily use for many years to come. An automatic garage door opener is a terrific convenience and it may give you a sense of security as well.

When building a home it is sometimes confusing when trying to figure out the opening of the garage door. The rough opening for a garage door, simply put, is the actual size of the door itself. You should make sure the garage door is properly balanced you can do this by slowly opening and closing the door, when the bottom of the door hits the floor evenly and the door doesn’t sway back and forth the door is balanced.

The reason garage door openers do not burn out is because the springs allow the door to open easily by pulling the door up so the opener has less strain on the motor, the springs also help if you need to open the door manually. Usually two types of springs are used linear expansion and tensional springs. The springs on your garage door can pose a safety hazard. These kinds of springs are installed over a shaft that helps roll the door up to the open position. Garage door springs are very dangerous, even when the garage is closed, as they contain large amounts of potential energy (that’s just waiting to be suddenly converted to kinetic energy, ie movement) and have killed or seriously injured many people.

Some garage door openers offer heavier steel or a sturdier design. Some garage door openers do not use the steel chain pulley system; they use a screw threaded steel rod that turns to move the garage door up and down. If you are deciding on which type of garage door to purchase keep in mind the differences between wood and metal, the wood doors need to be taken care of just like a deck, you need to stain or paint it so it doesn’t rot, a steel door is easier to maintain. If you decide to get a steel door the main thing to check is that it has been properly prepared to prevent rust.

The availability of accessories has increased as well like wireless keypads and keychain remotes. The article below brings you up to date on the latest features and some of the new security options that are recommended.

Latest Garage Door Opener Remote Technology Provides Security

Today’s garage door opener remotes use rolling code technology. The code changes each time you use your remote. Code grabbers are not able to acquire these new codes, only the one that was used. The last code no longer works since the system has already changed the code used.

The earliest remote transmitters were similar to remote bomb detonators used in WWII. They used a single radio frequency to activate the garage door opener. There was no security as anyone with a garage door opener remote could open any garage door equipped with an automatic door opener.

In the 1970′s “dip switch” transmitters were developed to provide some security. Remotes came with 8 dip switches to set the transmitter frequency. These 8 switches provided 256 possible code combinations.

This was still not a great deal of security but a much better solution than before.

Unfortunately, few owners took advantage of this security option by changing dip switch settings from the factory default settings. It was still easy for thieves to find operators they could activate with a transmitter set at factory default.

This problem was solved by providing remotes with rolling code technology. Codes change automatically every time the operator is used. Each time a code is transmitted the system automatically creates a new code using an encoder. With billions of code possibilities, the same code is never used twice.

When you buy a remote control for your garage door opener, all the installation and code setting instructions are included.

Your garage door opener owner’s manual provides instructions for reprogramming your devices. It also gives the steps to erase all code settings before reprogramming all your remotes in the event an operator is lost or stolen.

Don Stuart is a retired handyman who writes about garage door openers. Go to his website for more information about Garage Door Opener Accessories.

However, there are some basics that all automatic garage door opener systems have, and it’s well to have an understanding of them when it comes time to have one installed or if you’re among the do-it-yourself crowd. In the article that follows, you’ll find the basics you will need to know about these handy devices.

Some Considerations About Garage Door Openers

Did you ever have to get out of the car in a chilly winter night, or while a thunderous shower is pouring down, to open the garage door? Have you thought about how to make it possible to automatically open without having to leave the car? Installing a garage door open is the solution to such annoyances. A garage door opener is a motorized mechanism that helps in automatically opening and closing a garage door, without the application of manual labor. These automations can be controlled by switches installed on the garage walls, or by remote controls.

Once you have taken the decision to purchase a garage door opener, you need to take into consideration certain aspects of this invaluable device:

The Drive System

This is of tow types, the screw-drive system and the chain drive system. Some manufacturers also offer computer controlled drive appliances, but the availability of this system is limited.

• In a screw-drive system, the machinery for hoisting the door slides along a threaded shaft made of steel. Only a few rotating parts are used in the manufacture of these systems, so the maintenance is simple. The garage ceiling houses the body of the device.

• In a chain-drive system, the door is made to move upwards and downwards along its trails by the implementation of a metal chain. These are inexpensive and hence are most popular. However, these systems are noisy. The main unit is installed at the centre of the garage ceiling.

• A belt-drive structure makes the use of a rubber belt to maneuver the opener. This is the most expensive system.

• Computer-controlled drive machineries do not have the need of chains or screws. The article rests directly on top of the garage door thus the ceiling is left unoccupied. So this system is very useful for garages with limited headspace.

Power of the Motor

The larger motors with greater horsepower not only last longer, but also are absolutely necessary for maneuvering double doors. You should check if the motor starts and stops smoothly and makes the least noise while in operation.

Speed of Operation

The best quality garage door openers work at a high speed. This eliminates the need to wait at the garage door for long.

Safety

All garage door openers have features that cause the door to move in the reverse direction if it encounters some obstacle it in its path while in operation. This prevents the door from crushing any object under its weight. The inclusion of this feature is mandatory according to federal laws. An electronic infrared beam that activates the safety system when it meets an obstruction is used to direct these automatic reversion sensors.

To prevent the stealth of the transmission signals, the garage door openers use a technology that changes that emanating code every time the device is used.

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So, very beneficial advances have been made. A defective or improperly adjusted reversing mechanism on your garage door opener could cause damage, injury and possibly death. With that, there are a number of other considerations in choosing and installing an automatic garage door opener which are discussed at some length in the article that follows.

Garage Door Automation

There’s nothing more convenient than an automated garage door, especially when it’s raining. You can sit back and by the push of a simple button, open the garage door. Apart from the convenience of an automated garage door, it’s also a lot safer since you don’t have to leave the safety of your car, and there’s no chance of hurting your back when opening your garage.

Not so simple
Automation is the most complicated part of a garage door, and selecting the right machine is not always an easy decision. There are wide varieties to choose from, and new technology is allowing for better upgrades on a daily basis, but this doesn’t mean that you need to install a new garage door. Far from it!

If you are installing a new garage door, selecting your operator shouldn’t be a problem, since the option of automation should be readily made available. If, however, you are installing automation only, do a bit of research first, starting with a garage door company. They would not only have done their research on the different brands and products, but would know the specifics your garage door would require, giving some useful tips along the way.

Your garage door type
Whether you have a fully retractable one piece horizontal, sectional door with horizontal and vertical tracks, canopy type with vertical tracks on the door frame or a wooden hinged door that opens out, it can be fitted with automation. Even the canopy type garage door with no tracks and a Pivot Action on the door frame that has been deemed by many as a garage door that is not suitable for automation can be converted to horizontal tracks. While some installations are more complicated than others, a reputable and experienced company will have the expertise to perfectly automate your door.

For your security
For maximum safety, you will need automation that automatically reverses if the garage door senses an obstacle. Since a garage door is a heavy object, you need the motor to stop immediately shouldsomething obstruct the door. New safety regulations require that the automation system incorporates a self-learning safety stop protection device that can “learn” the operating characteristics such as weight and force that should be exerted when opening and closing the garage door. This way the automation can react quicker should there be any kind of obstacle in the way, guaranteeing better safety for you, your family, and your pets. For added security, use remotes with rolling codes that transmit a different opening signal each time you press them. In addition, some models may have features with separate buttons for the garage light, and security locks that disable remote opening when you leave on vacation.

Electricity consumption
On average it takes about 15 seconds for your automated garage door to open. You need to know how much electricity is being used during this time, as well as when the motor is on standby. Check to see whether the openers use a direct current (DC) motor or a standard alternating current (AC) motor. A DC motor uses less electricity and allows better speed control. It will allow the door to close more slowly at the start and end of its cycle, while operating at full speed mid-cycle. This simpler drive mechanism results in an efficient, quiet, and more reliable system.

The power
When choosing an operating system, choose one where the operating motor is able to handle the excess force of opening and closing the garage door. It’s no use if the motor is constantly working at the limits of its capabilities since this will only shorten the lifespan of your operating system, costing you more at the end of the day to maintain.

When the power is out
An emergency release is very important for when the electricity is out. You don’t want to struggle opening your garage door should this scenario occur. Your garage door automation should come with an emergency device that will allow you to open your garage door manually. Purchase a well designed garage door system that will allow this without compromising the security of your garage door.

Not a sound
Regardless of your garage door’s size, you need automation that will not wake the neighbourhood in the middle of the night. For quietest operation, select a belt drive operator with flexible rubber belts that dampen vibrations and eliminate the noisy clanking of chain and screw drives. Remember that a DC motor will also contribute to noiseless operation, as it enables soft starting and stopping.

Maintenance and Guarantee
When purchasing any kind of operating system, the longer the guarantee, the better the product. Remember that annual maintenance on your door’s operating system will ensure that your operator is working safely, quietly, and effectively. Regular maintenance will extend the lifetime of your system, saving significantly on repair costs.

This all said and done, finding a good garage door automation system should add to the luxury of your life. You may pay a little bit more now, but know that you have invested in something that will only add comfort and simplicity to your life.

Author Bio and Recommendations

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