To many Houstonians, their garage door is an essential part of their home. Many homeowners use their garage door as the front door and entrance into their home. So when you find you can’t get the garage door to open or close as it should, it can be frustrating and a hindrance to your daily life. If your garage door will not close, that could also pose a home security risk. If that has happened to you, don’t panic. Here are some common reasons your garage door is not working properly.
Your Garage Door Safety Sensors Are Not Working Properly.
If your garage door seems to be stuck open, one reason could be your safety sensor. Garage doors have a safety sensor on both the left and right sides, and they are usually designed with a special lighting sensor. When you are closing your garage door, if the sensors show some blinking lights, it means that it is sending the wrong signal to the opener about the alignment. In order to fix the issue, you can simply push against the metal bracket, and when the lights come back to solid, the opener should work accurately.
Also, with this being Houston, and since we have a huge dust and pollen problem as well as humidity, these things may settle on the sensor due to the wind. In this case, you may need to clean the sensor to prevent the issue.
Lack of Power to Motor.
One of the more common reasons your garage door has stopped working is the lack of power to the garage door motor. Check to make sure your operator is plugged in and there is no damage to the cord. You may also want to check to make sure the breaker the garage door opener is on has not tripped. If your garage door opener does not have a built-in battery backup, it would be a good idea to get a battery backup.
Damage Due to Power Surge.
The Houston area has a history of strong storms. An unexpected power surge due to a storm could cause a surge to a shared power grid. This can sometimes cause garage door openers to malfunction and cause the issue of unexpected opening and closing. If you do not have your garage door opener on a surge protector, this could cause damage to the circuit board or the opener. This power surge possibility is another good reason to look into battery backups for your garage door opener.
If your garage door movement is not aligned and has gotten stuck, it could possibly be that your garage door track has gotten bent or misaligned. If one of them is slanted towards the garage door, causing a hindrance to the normal operation, this issue can be adjusted with the help of a screwdriver and wrench.
You Have Rusty Rollers.
If your garage door stops before touching the ground, it could be that your rollers are rusted and need to be changed. Rusted rollers create friction, which can trick the garage door and makes it believe that the door has reached the ground before it touches it.
You Have a Heavy Garage Door.
Your garage door, especially if it’s a wooden door, can get swollen and heavier over time. It is possible that it has tried to close too hard for the sensors, causing the door to go back up. This could also cause the springs to wear out sooner.
Your Garage Door Springs May Have Given Out.
As just mentioned, it is possible that a heavy door, rust, or even just time may have done your garage door springs in. Your garage door springs are designed to counterbalance the weight of the door making the door almost weightless for both manual and opener operation. If the spring(s) is broken the door will become extremely heavy and difficult to open. This can lead to garage door opener motor damage as well.
Your Garage Door Opener Has Worn Out.
Though we would love for things to last forever, after about 10 to 15 years, a garage door opener just might give out. In this case, it might be best to just replace the garage door opener due to advancements in garage door technology that allows for features like garage door monitoring, and a quieter opener.
If you live in the Houston area and your garage door is not working, it could be one of these common problems. Now, truthfully you could try to chase down what is causing the problem and fix it yourself. However, that can take time and comes with the risk of making costly mistakes. Spectrum Overhead Door has been repairing garage doors in Houston since 2006 with award-winning service. We believe in fast, friendly service and reasonable pricing. Call for a free quote at 281-748-9542 or if you live in East Houston 713-557-3407.
Contact Us About Your Garage Door Issues and Get a FREE Quote Today :
Houston is a wet, humid climate. That can take a toll on parts of your home. One part of your home you may not think about is your garage door and garage door system. Your garage door and garage door parts are made of metal that can rust in the Houston weather. Even if you have a wooden garage door, you still have metal parts like garage door springs and hinges. If you are not careful, garage door rust can be a silent killer.
Your Garage Door.
If you have a steel garage door, any exposed metal of the garage door can rust. That is why it is best to check your garage door twice a year to make sure there are no chips or cracks on the outer paint coating. If you find that your paint has chipped or peeled away from your garage door, read How to Fix Chipped Paint on a Garage Door.
If your garage door has panels, it most likely has hinges. If not lubricated, these hinges can also rust. If the rust gets too bad, the hinges will break, causing all sorts of problems, like your door, not opening and closing. We also suggest lubricating your hinges twice a year with garage door lubricant.
Garage Door Springs.
Your garage door springs are made from steel as well and are exposed to the Houston weather. Rust on your garage door springs can cause the springs to either seize up or break, resulting in your garage door not opening or closing properly. If your garage door springs break due to rust, it can also put a strain on your garage door opener motor, causing it to wear out faster and possibly malfunction. We suggest, like the other parts mentioned, lubricate your garage door springs twice a year.
Garage Door Tracks.
Your tracks are also made from metal that can rust. Though less talked about than springs or hinges, if your tracks get rusted to the point the metal has corroded away in spots, your rollers can jump the garage door tracks, jamming your garage door. It is best to wipe them down twice a year and inspect them for rust. Do not grease the tracks. Greasing or lubricating the tracks attracts dirt and dust and that buildup will keep the door from operating smoothly.
Garage Door Rollers.
Garage door rollers can be made from three different types of material: plastic, metal, and nylon. Nylon garage door rollers are the ones we recommend as they have sealed ball bearings. Combine that with the fact you don’t have metal rolling on metal tracks, they are the quietest of the three. If you have metal rollers, you are going to want to lubricate them twice a year. Lubricate steel rollers by applying white lithium grease to the ball bearings, which are found at the innermost part of the roller, where it meets the shaft.
Garage Door Opener Chain and Rail.
If your garage door opener is chain-driven, that can rust too and need lubrication. Use a garage door lubrication and spray the chain twice a year. Your garage door opener also uses a metal rail. Use a lithium-based grease on the upper side of the rail from end to end by hand. Wipe off any excess from the sides of the rail with a rag.
Houston is known for its humid climate. That humid climate can cause rust on any of the metal parts of a garage door or garage door system made from or has steel. Proper lubrication and coverage of your garage door should help protect you from garage door rust. If you find the rust is there and has caused issues where you need garage door repair, Spectrum Overhead Door LLC has been providing garage door repair to Houston since 2006. Call us today and experience the award-winning service we have provided to hundreds of clients over the years. Call 281-748-9542 or if located in East Houston 713-557-3407 to schedule your appointment today!
With a tropical storm that just hit the Houston area, it is just another reminder of how turbulent our weather can be and how vulnerable homes are in the Houston area. When a storm comes through the Houston area, many homeowners remember to check their siding, windows, and roof after the storm. Yet checking your garage door for storm damage is just as important and not as often thought of.
Check for Dents
Tropical storms and hurricane winds can blow debris into your garage door. The same can be said for the smaller storms Houston seems to get as well. Now, if your garage door looks like your car went through it, it’s obvious you have problems, but don’t dismiss checking your garage door just because the dents aren’t so obvious. Garage door panel damage can cause all sorts of problems, later on, even the smaller dents. Ignoring garage door panel damage can make the door resistant to closing over time and forcing the garage door closed can make the rollers come out of the track.
If the dents are minor, you can use a garage door strut brace to shore up your garage door. The trick is to make sure you catch the damage early enough.
Scratches and Exposed Metal
Along with checking for dents, you want to check for scratches and chipped paint that exposes the metal underneath. Catching these early is important. If they’re left alone, the more likely water, and thus rust, will eat away at the exposed metal.
Check Your Weather Seal
All the wind and rain can give your weather seal a beating. Many times, your weather seal can dry out in the hot sun right after a storm and cause it to weaken and crack. If your weather seal prevented water from getting into your garage from the tropical or other storms, you will want to check it again to make sure it did not take damage, check for any cracking, or for if it is falling off. This will help in prevention from future storms.
A Word About Prevention.
This is Houston, storms occur fairly often here, which means both tropical and non-tropical in nature. So just because you might have escaped without damage this time, unless you are prepared, the next major storm you might not be so lucky. Always keep your trees and bushes well-trimmed to avoid unexpected projectiles from hitting your garage door as well as the rest of your home. If your garage door does sustain any damage, take care of it well before the next major storm. If your garage door sustained only small damage this last storm (like hurricane Nicholas), you don’t want to wait to get it fixed. More damage could cause the garage door to fail completely and force you to replace your garage door. If your garage door sustained major damage, it might be best to go ahead and replace the garage door before the next major storm. Consider getting a wind-rated garage door that is tested to stand up to the damage a hurricane can throw at it.
If your garage door sustains damage in a storm here in the Houston area, Spectrum Overhead Door LLC can deliver fast, friendly service to you in the way that is the most helpful to you. If you have only suffered minor panel damage, we can replace the garage door panel instead of the whole door, saving you money. Call us at 281-748-9542 or if in East Houston 713-557-3407 to schedule your free quote today!
Many people use their garage door as the front door of their home. This added to the fact the garage door can cover up to 40% of one side of your home, which makes your garage door is an important part of your home. Garage doors and garage door openers can last 10-15 years or more, and your garage door springs up to 20,000 cycles (an open and close is considered one cycle). Normal wear and tear, coupled with neglect can shorten the lifespan of your garage door or any of the garage door parts. So here is some tips on how to increase the lifespan of your garage door and garage door parts.
Your Vehicles.
While there are plenty of garage door maintenance blogs online (we have even written a couple) one thing that is not touch on enough by many of these blogs is the main cause of dented garage door panels, vehicles. Nothing can shorten the life span of a garage door faster than getting hit by one of your vehicles. There are a couple of common-sense ways to avoid this. One, wait until the garage door is fully open in order to pull in or back out of the garage. Two is to be mindful of the distance between your bumper and the door if you’re pulling in without opening your garage door.
Playing Near the Garage Door.
Many families have basketball hoops above their garage, but to avoid dents into the panels, they should have the door open if possible. Kids riding their bikes near the garage should also avoid banging their bikes into the door. Remember, the point is to keep any objects from hitting the garage door and putting dents into the garage door panels.
Biannual Garage Door Maintenance.
The first thing to know is that your garage door is like any other mechanical or structural element, you need to keep it maintained. This doesn’t mean just fix the issues when they arise. This means actively catching problems before they get worse. We suggest that because Houston weather is so taxing on the outside of your home, it’s best to do this both in the Fall and Spring.
The Garage Door Itself.
If you have an aluminum or steel garage door, you going to want to look for chips or cracks in the paint. If your door has chipped or cracked paint, follow our How to Fix Chipped Paint on a Garage Door guide. You’re also going to want to wash any dirt, debris, and pollen (especially in the springtime) so none of that gunk moves into your garage door tracks, henges, etc.
If you have a wooden garage door, one of the best ways to increase its lifespan is to keep it sealed. Otherwise, the humid Houston air will get soaked up into the wood, causing the door to get heavier, putting a strain on your springs and garage door opener. Also, your garage door could start to rot and splinter in places. Use a good oil base seal to seal your garage door every one to two years.
Clean and Wipe Down Garage Door Tracks.
Your garage door tracks are what the rollers sit into and what helps guide the garage door to open and close evenly. That it is important there are no obstructions in the garage door track. Wipe down the track so that excess dirt and debris don’t become a problem later on.
Lubrication.
Your garage door system consists of several metal parts including your springs, henges, chain (if you have a chain drive garage door opener). Humid Houston air can make that metal rust. Any exposed metal part should be lubricated twice a year to extend the life of the garage door part.
Avoiding bumping and hitting your garage door, and simple biannual maintenance should help you extend the life of your garage door and garage door parts. To go further into detail about garage door maintenance, read 10 Tips for Garage Door maintenance. We have also created this downloadable garage door maintenance checklist to help you.
When you do run into a garage door issue that needs repair, Spectrum Overhead Door LLC has been performing garage door repair in Houston for over 15 years. With hundreds of satisfied customers over the years, Spectrum Overhead Door LLC has been given service awards by the likes of Home Advisor, Angie’s, and Best Pick Reports. Call one of our two locations, Main Office: 281-748-9542 or East Houston 713-557-3407 to schedule a free quote. Same-day appointments are available.
Your garage door is made up of several moving parts. The things most homeowners think of are the garage door itself, the garage door opener, and the garage door springs. Yet, your garage door tracks and rollers play a big part as well, so it is important to keep them clean and maintained. Here are a few tips into how to clean and maintain garage door tracks and rollers.
Brief Review of What are Garage Door Tracks and Rollers
On each side of your garage door, you have a metal track. Your garage door rollers are attached to the panels or sections of your garage door and go inside the track. The rollers inside the track guide the garage door open and close. It’s like the garage door tracks are the concreate medians of the highway that keep the cars (or in this case, rollers) on that section of the highway instead of jumping to the other section into oncoming traffic.
NOTE: Before working on your garage door, make sure it is closed, and if possible, your vehicles out of the garage.
Cleaning and Maintaining Garage Door Tracks
Using a damp cloth, clean out the tracks carefully. You want to remove all the debris, and you may wish to use a vacuum to reach and remove any trace of dirt. Apply a thin layer of clear lubricant spray. You will also want to make sure there are no bends or pinches in the garage door track. If there are, carefully use a pair of pliers to take out the bends on the garage door track.
Cleaning and Maintaining Your Garage Door Rollers
With all types of rollers, you are going to want to look for rust on the stems, excessive wear, or breakage. All rollers should always be perpendicular to the stem, rotating smoothly on the stem. If the roller is wobbly, it needs to be replaced. From there, it will depend a little on what type of garage door rollers you have. If you have steel rollers, use an old toothbrush to scrub the roller to remove any grease that may have built up, then use a rag to wipe the rollers clean. Lubricate them with a lithium-based grease. Nylon rollers, which are the ones we recommend, have sealed ball bearings, and do not need additional greasing. We recommend the nylon rollers because they last longer, have fewer parts to rust, and are quieter.
How Often Should I Clean and Maintain Garage Door Tracks and Rollers?
Performing maintenance on your garage door tracks and rollers should be a part of your Garage Door maintenance routine. We recommend once every six months to perform a maintenance check and do simple fixes to your garage door. We have prepared 10 Tips for Garage Door maintenance to help you maintain your garage door.
Spectrum Overhead Door is a local Houston Garage Door repair company that specializes in providing excellent garage door repair service that is fast and affordable. Being garage door repair experts for the last 15 years, we can be available for emergency garage door service usually within just one hour of your call. Call 281-748-9542 or if you are in East Houston 713-557-3407 to schedule your appointment today!
If you are having problems with your garage door closing, then the most likely culprit is the garage door sensor. The garage door sensor is the two eye-looking sensors that sit about 6 inches from the floor. They shoot a laser between the sender and the receiver. If the laser beam is interfered with or the sensor is not working, then the garage door will not close all the way. If this is happening to you, we have put together 7 step checklist on how to adjust sensors on your garage door.
Looking out to see if the signal is not connecting to the circuit board.
In dealing with a sensor issue, you should be on the lookout for one or more of these clues. If the garage door moves downward only an inch or so, OR the head unit blinks and makes a clicking noise, OR the lights on the sensors are off, blinking, or flickering. These symptoms are a result of the signal from the sensors not connecting to the circuit board of the head unit.
Closing the garage door while diagnosing and fixing the safety sensors.
NOTE- If you need to close the door for security reasons until the issue can be remedied, simply pull the red safety rope to release the door from the operator and close the door manually (SEE VIDEO). You may also be able to hold down the wall console button to begin closing- then release the button just as the door sets down (requires a bit of timing).
If you are having an issue, check to see if any of the following are true: the sensors are misaligned, there is an object in the way of the infrared beam, the wires are broken or corroded.
How to Adjust Sensors on Garage Door
.One of the first things to check is to make sure that there is nothing in the way of the invisible sensor beam. Look from left to right along a straight line in between the sensors, and move anything that may be in the way such as garden equipment, tools, boxes, and the like.
Next, check the sensor lenses and clean away dust and cobwebs as needed by using a paper towel or soft cloth.
Make sure that the sensors are accurately pointed at each other by eye-balling the path and adjusting, or redirecting if needed. Sensors may need slight adjustment even if the LED lights are illuminated on both sides. Sometimes the sensor may be just outside of the margin of error and will show a slight flicker that is not visible while standing. An adjustment can be made by loosening the butterfly nut, redirecting, and then re-tightening securely. (SEE VIDEO)
Measure from the ground to the garage door safety sensor on both sides and make sure they are at the same height. Also, measure from the wall the track connects to, and make sure the distance away from the wall is the same.
Make sure that the vertical track is fastened tightly to the wall and is not wobbly. A loose garage door track can also cause the sensors to vibrate or move slightly during operation of the door.
Corroded wiring, wires chewed by animals, poorly connected wires, or wires not connected into the head unit above, can also be a cause of the problem.
One allusive issue could also be that there is a fault in the circuit board or sensors as a result of a power surge, water damage, or another failure. If you are still having an issue after following the steps above, then complete failure is a possibility. This could call for the replacement of both safety sensors, and/or the replacement of the circuit board from the head unit.
Where to Buy Sensors on Garage Door in Houston
If you have determined that your best solution is to replace your garage door sensors, then you may be able to find compatible ones at The Home Depot, Lowes, Sears, or Houston’s “Parts 4 Garage Doors” at 832-834-3477. Make note of the manufacturer and year the unit was made (usually stamped on the motor itself).
Garage door sensor issues are quite common and fairly easy to troubleshoot by following the steps mentioned above. CAUTION- One should not bypass the safety sensors, as they are an important safety feature of your garage door opener. An occasional adjustment should not be something overwhelming to the homeowner and is a small price to pay for the benefit these sensors provide. Maintaining and fixing small garage door problems will help keep you from having to call a garage door repair company later.
Spectrum Overhead Door has been serving the greater Houston area since 2006 and is happy to assist you with both service and general information relating to your garage door or opener unit. We are recipients of Angie’s List “SUPER SERVICE AWARD” and “BEST OF HOME ADVISOR” awards year-after-year. We are one of two companies who have met strict guidelines to qualify for the “BEST PICK REPORT” publication, and the Check A Pro “GOLDEN HARD HAT” award. Finally in 2017, for maintaining an A+ rating on the BBB for multiple years, we recently received their esteemed “GOLD STAR CERTIFICATE.”Feel free to call our local Houston office at 281-748-9542.
Contact Us About Your Garage Door Issues and Get a FREE Quote Today :
