What to Do if Your Garage Door Freezes Shut

Will you need garage door repair? How do you cope until you can get things working again? A garage door company has the answers.

This post first appeared on https://www.doorpower.com

Do you need the help of a garage door company when it comes to enticing buyers? The garage door repair and installation pros weigh in.

This post first appeared on https://www.doorpower.com

Curb appeal is a term tossed around a ton, but what does it mean—and what does your garage door installation have to do with it?

This post first appeared on https://www.doorpower.com

All garage door installations need to get ready for the cold weather ahead. Luckily, with advice from a garage door repair company, it’s an easy job.

This post first appeared on https://www.doorpower.com

Whether you’re looking to invest in new garage doors or you need a reliable company to call for repairs, it can be challenging with so many companies in your area. Fortunately, by understanding the key qualities to look for in a great garage door company, you can choose one that will be trustworthy and experienced to assist you.

Specialty Area

In the garage door industry, there are a few specializations that you need to be aware of. The most common specialties are residential and commercial. Some companies will solely specialize in residential services while others will specialize in commercial garage door services. Additionally, some companies may focus solely on luxury residential doors. You’ll want to select a garage door company that specializes in the specific sub-set that you’re looking for.

Punctuality

A great way to help ensure that a potential company is the right choice is to see if they’re punctual. This means that they call you back in a reasonable amount of time and that they show up on time for your appointment. Most garage door companies will come out to your home to evaluate the state of your current garage door hardware and size up the space for your new door.

If they show up late for your initial consultation and they don’t call, it’s a likely indication that you may want to switch to a more reputable company. A business should be customer-focused and value your time as much as its own.

Warranty Coverage

Your new garage door should come with a warranty. Most warranties will last anywhere between one and five years, depending on the specific product that you purchase. Any reputable garage door company should provide you with physical warranty information so that you can review the coverage policy at your leisure.

Adequate Insurance

What happens if the garage door installer accidentally drops the door on your car? What happens if one of their employees gets injured while working at your house? It’s necessary to speak with any garage door installer about their insurance coverage.

You want to make sure that they’re adequately insured in the event that anything goes wrong during the installation process. Make sure that you’re verifying their limits as you want to ensure that their insurance policy is enough to cover the actual damages that may occur.

Proper Training

Your garage door installer should have technicians that are properly trained to do the job. Each garage door brand typically offers its own factory certification course that technicians can take to ensure they have the proper installation knowledge. Don’t be afraid to ask any garage door company how they train their technicians as you want to ensure they have adequate knowledge to get the job done right.

Notable Awards

Any good garage door company will have picked up awards and accommodations over their years in business. For example, the Expertise award for the Best Garage Door Repair Companies in Fishers points out that a company provides quality service that residents throughout the region trust. You’ll want to check for local, state, and even national awards.

Available 24/7

A good garage door company stands behind their work, and it meets the needs of their clients. Any company that you consider hiring should be available for all of your repair needs. This includes the overnight hours as we all know that when we’re having trouble with our garage, we don’t have time to waste. Whether it’s the inability to get your car out or the inability to close your door, you need an expert that is available 24/7 to respond to your service needs.

Years of Experience

One good way to determine whether or not a garage door company is worthy of your service is to look at their years of expertise. While supporting new companies is a great deed, it could come along with unwanted service mistakes that plague you.

Instead, select a garage door company that has years of experience, which shows that they know what they’re doing. It also ensures that they provide quality service. Companies that don’t provide great service aren’t likely to stay around for long in today’s online review environment.

Good Reviews

In this day and age, it’s so simple to jump online and find companies that have good reviews to their name. With the ability to review a company so easily, many people have jumped to these online platforms, like Yelp and Google Reviews, to provide their opinion about companies they love and hate.

Take a little bit of time and evaluate a company’s online reputation before contacting them. Ensure that they have good reviews from multiple people. If you notice multiple bad reviews that have similar stories, it’s a sign that you should avoid doing business with that garage door company.

They Answer Your Questions

As a consumer, it’s likely that you have various questions about your garage door installation process. Whether it’s determining the benefits of a wood door or understanding how the door functions, any good garage door company will take the time to fully answer your questions. If any company tries to speed through the process or skip over answering your questions, it’s time to consider contacting another garage door company.

They Showcase Prior Work

With pretty much every company having an online website and social media profiles, it’s easy to get the information you need about a company before you ever pick up the phone. Garage door companies that are proud of the jobs that they do will likely showcase their prior jobs. You can typically find these on their website or on social media pages. By reviewing a company’s prior jobs, you can ensure that they match what you’re looking for.

BBB Accreditation

Checking with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a way to help determine which garage door companies operate with integrity and ethics in a world with many potential options out there. When a company is accredited by the BBB, it shows that it has been properly vetted and is a trustworthy business to work with.

Additionally, when a business is BBB accredited, it means that they will work with the BBB to solve any complaints that you may have about the company. Businesses that have an A+ rating from the BBB are known to work with great integrity and ethics to ensure that all customer concerns and complaints are addressed quickly.

Transparency

Any good garage door company will operate with a high level of transparency. This means that they will be clear about any repair and installation costs from the start. You should never have to worry about hidden fees that get tacked on after a service is completed.

Professional Garage Door Installation

Garage Door Doctor is your professional garage door installer servicing the Indianapolis region. We’re here for all of your residential and commercial garage door installation and emergency repair needs. Our experts strive to provide excellent service and because of this, we’ve been featured in the top eight garage door repair companies in Fisher, IN. Call us today to get assistance with your garage doors!

The post Must-have Qualities for a Garage Door Company in Indianapolis appeared first on Garage Door Doctor.

This post first appeared on https://www.garagedoordoctorllc.com

Garage door cables are the strongmen of your garage door installation, but even they need a little TLC from time to time.

This post first appeared on https://www.doorpower.com

If you want to use your garage throughout the year for DIY projects, wood working, auto work, or any other task, keeping your garage door warm during the winter is a top priority. There are several different methods to keep your garage door warm during colder months of the year. 

Before starting the process of properly winterizing your garage, give it a thorough cleaning to prepare your space. Using a stiff broom to thoroughly sweep the floor, remove dirt, debris, mulch, leaves, and insects that have found their way into your garage during the warm months of the year. Clear walls of any cobwebs and dirt or dust. 

Insulating Your Garage Door and Garage

In areas where temperatures are milder, simply adding insulation to your garage door can help keep the garage more temperate. Adding weather-stripping to your garage door will help keep out cold air in any areas of your garage door that lets air drafts from outside through to your garage. Garage doors do not fit tightly in the framing around them–small gaps run all the way around the door. You can easily address these spots with an integrated weather-strip seal. The self-adhesive strips will help close the gaps in the door so that cold drafts don’t enter. 

Before investing in a garage heating system, make sure your garage has plenty of insulation. Insulate garage doors where possible, as well as walls and ceilings. You can easily add clear plastic shrink over windows for added protection against the cold. Once you get a heating system, you don’t want all of your warm air seeping out through cracks. 

Many garage doors are thin metal, which does nothing to keep the warm air inside the garage and the cold air out of it. If your garage door is not well-insulated, it will defeat the purpose of other heating efforts. To keep your garage toasty during the winter, you’ll want to insulate the garage door well. There are a variety of specialized kits on the market you can purchase, with options such as foam boards, fiberglass, and reflective barriers. 

A lot of garages have uninsulated walls. Although insulation itself won’t warm the garage, it does slow the transfer of heat to keep the warmth from escaping. Be sure to choose insulation that’s the proper thickness for your garage walls, and read the instructions to ensure it is a secure fit. 

Add a Heating Source to Your Garage

There are several different ways to heat your garage, as stated before you will want to clean and insulate your garage and garage door before adding any heat sources to your garage. Electric space heaters are great for supplemental heating during cold weather, if a space heater is the only source of heat in a garage, it should be a robust model. Radiant heaters emit heat via infrared energy without the risk of actual flames. Instead of blowing air like a forced-air unit, a tube heater radiates heat throughout your space. 

Wood-burning stoves are an economical way to heat your garage space in the winter. Just like you take steps to make your indoor wood-burning fireplace safe, you’ll want to do the same with your garage stove. Check for permits that may be required, and if they are allowed in your area. Check with your insurance company to make sure installation of a wood stove in the garage for cheap heat will not void your homeowner’s policy.

A propane heater is a great option for heating a garage because it offers a lot of warmth, it is mobile, and it is an affordable way to add heat. Make sure, however, to set the heater on a flat surface, far away from flammable materials, and that the exhaust is properly vented. 

Best Overall Steps for Keeping Your Garage Warm

Depending on the condition of your garage door overall, your best option may be to replace it with a new, insulated one. Replacing an old, uninsulated garage door with a new door is a good investment. It will help keep heat in your garage all winter long, and it will help reduce cooling costs in the summer. High-quality insulated garage doors will save you money in the long run. 

Adding weather-stripping to your garage door helps keep out cold air, other forms of weather, and even dirt. You can install weather-stripping yourself, or you can hire a professional. 

If you are interested in getting a new insulated garage door or adding insulation or weather-stripping to your garage door, message us for a free estimate. 

The post Garage Door Blog first appeared on A Plus Garage Doors. This post first appeared on https://utahgaragedoors.net

For whatever reason, you enjoy spending time in your garage, keeping your garage warm during winter months is very important. You will need to know the size of your garage and how much heat you need to stay warm during the winter months. 

To determine the right choice for your garage door, calculate the square footage of your garage, and choose a heater that would be suitable. 

Insulating Your Garage

The first step in ensuring your garage is ready for a heater is insulating your garage. Your garage door, if it is just a metal door with no insulation, will need insulating, as this is the surest way to lose any heat brought by a heater into your garage. You will want to ensure that any openings, whether around your garage door or windows, are sealed with weather-stripping. 

One of the times when garage heaters can be dangerous is when people try to make them do more than they should. If your garage is insulated, the heater won’t have to work as hard. Ensuring that your garage is insulated enough helps to hold the heat in, and keep your utility bills down. 

Before you invest in any kind of garage heating system, ensure that your garage has enough insulation. Insulate garage doors where possible, as well as walls and ceilings. Although insulation itself doesn’t warm the garage, it does slow the transfer of heat, keeping the warmth from escaping. 

Propane Heaters vs Other Heaters

With an indoor propane heater, you can work on your car in the garage, do projects in a workshop, turn your backyard shed into a man-cave or she-shed, or enjoy the view from your porch year-round. Propane heaters warm a space faster and more efficiently with lower energy costs than an electric heater. Your indoor propane heater should have features such as a low oxygen sensor, a high-temperature coated safety guard on the front, overheat protection, and automatic shutoff in case of it tipping over. 

Make sure the propane heater is installed on a non-combustible surface away from where people walk and is positioned safely away from combustible materials such as furniture, curtains, doors, bedding, and towels. If you use a wall-mounted room heater, make sure your wall material is non-combustible. 

Never leave a propane heater unattended. Turn the heater off when you leave the room, or are not around. If the propane heater has a yellow or orange flame instead of a blue one, stop using it immediately because the heat is not burning properly, and the heater can become dangerous. Vacuum up any dust on the outside of the propane indoor space heater and on the grills of the heater. 

If you use a natural gas heater, leave the garage door wide open to convert your space into a semi-open area. The ventilation in the working area should facilitate sufficient air circulation, proper ventilation in working areas help with avoiding excess carbon dioxide inhalation. A mounted electric heater is normally larger than a space heater and it will heat the garage easier. They are normally easier to install as well, and you may be able to install it yourself. A ductless heating system is great when you want to heat a single room, like a garage. With a ductless heater, you can warm your garage when you are using it, but will not waste money heating it when you aren’t in it. 

Warnings About Propane Heaters

Propane heaters are versatile and they come in many different sizes. This is overall a great way to heat your garage, but there are several safety precautions that need to be taken. 

• Keep the propane heater away from furniture and other combustible items
• Never leave anything on top of the heater itself
• Make sure that you have a carbon monoxide detector installed in your garage
• Do not leave the propane heater on or unattended when you leave the garage
• Keep area around propane heater free of dust and other debris
• Do not spray aerosols near the propane heater
• Make sure that you are able to get out of the garage safely if necessary

The best protection is to ensure that your propane heater is placed near a window or outdoor vent, install a carbon monoxide monitor in the garage. The propane heater you use should include low oxygen sensors, overheat protection, and automatic shutoff. 

The post Garage Door Blog first appeared on A Plus Garage Doors. This post first appeared on https://utahgaragedoors.net

Replacing a garage door is not an annual or even biannual investment. Instead, garage doors are designed to last for years on end and are expected to be in use for anywhere from 15 to 30 years. This means you may be unfamiliar with what to look for and consider when searching for a replacement. From material to insulation, there is a lot to keep in mind when finding the perfect fit for your home. 

To help you make a better-educated decision, we compiled a list of seven things to consider when deciding on a new garage door. Keep reading to learn more.

Is It Time to Replace or Buy a New Garage Door? 

A garage door opens 1,500 times on average every year. Because they are used so frequently, they endure a great amount of wear and tear that impacts their functionality. 

Signs it is time to buy a new garage door:

• Dents and damages: Having a dinged-up garage door can be more than a cosmetic issue. Cracks and rotting in the panels of a door can negatively affect everything from insulation to functionality. 
• Age: How long a garage door will last depends on maintenance, use, and other factors. It is generally suggested to replace your garage doors after about 15 years.  
• Mechanical issues: When your garage door breaks down repeatedly, consider buying a replacement. If sensors fail to work or your door is crooked, it is likely time for something new. 
• Inefficient: If your garage door is not insulated or it is inefficient in some way, you may want to explore other options that will save you money on energy costs. 
• Noises: A garage door should not wake up the neighborhood when it is opened and closed. If your door repeatedly makes strange noises, it is likely time to start looking for a garage door replacement.
• Style: A garage door contributes to the curb appeal and the overall design of a house. If your garage door looks outdated, it may be time for a new one. 

7 Things to Consider When Deciding on a New Garage Door

Before making a purchase for your new garage door, review the following factors that will impact your choice! 

1. Security and Door Openers

For homeowners, having a secure garage door is especially important. A secure garage door will keep out unwanted visitors like wild animals and thieves. Having a door opener is a great convenience, but choosing the right one can be confusing. 

For optimal protection, find an opener that works with a rolling code. These are harder for hackers to figure out and provide an extra level of security.

2. Safety

Garage doors are heavy and involve machinery that can be dangerous if the door is not operating properly. A malfunction or safety concern may be your reason for searching for a new garage door. 

There are a few safety-related features to consider while shopping. Having properly functioning sensors is crucial since these need to be properly aligned to operate and they reduce accidents by sensing people and pets below the door, keeping it from closing on them.  

3. Material

Before buying, consider what material or materials you want your new garage door to be made from as this will affect other factors like price and style. There are some common materials including:

• Wood
• Wood composites
• Steel
• Glass
• Aluminum 
• Fiberglass
• Vinyl

The material you choose will require different levels of maintenance. Your garage door’s materials will also impact how long the door will last before needing a replacement. For example, natural wood doors require a lot more maintenance than steel doors. 

4. Insulation

Something you may overlook when considering a new garage door is insulation. Having insulated garage doors helps save energy by keeping the garage warmer. The two materials used by manufacturers for insulation are polyurethane or polystyrene. Doors with polyurethane are rated by R-values in which the highest value is the best insulation. This rating system starts at 6.3 and goes through 20.4. The higher values are also related to higher savings on energy. 

5. Price Point

For most homeowners, a garage door is an investment expected to last for years. There are a few factors that should be considered that will impact the price point. These factors include:

• Material: The price will change depending on the door’s composition. Fiberglass and steel, for example, are typically cheaper than natural wood models. 
• Insulation: Choosing an insulated door will add costs. Each layer of insulation will contribute to higher prices. 
• Style: Different style garage doors will cost different amounts of money, whether it is an aesthetic or mechanical difference. 
• Technology: Any door opener or other technology you decide to pair with your new garage door will cost you more, but can be– worth the extra money for security and convenience. 
• Installation fees: When choosing the perfect garage door for your home, do not forget to factor in installation costs because having your door professionally installed is always preferable. 

6. Style

The style of garage door you choose will likely depend on the design style of your home. When it comes to the looks of the doors, everyone has a personal preference and taste. Consider the different types of doors and how they function as well before landing on a model. There are a few choices including:

• Roll-up: This type of door includes several smaller parts connected to one larger unit that rolls overhead into the garage to open the door.
• Tilt-up: In a single panel, this type of door opens and closes in one piece with a ceiling-mounted track.
• Sectional: Similar to a roll-up door, this style typically has three or four panels linked by hinges.

7. Professional Installation

Having your garage door professionally installed is always suggested. A garage door needs to be safely positioned and installed to lessen the chances of injury and malfunction. Professionals not only have the experience to properly install the door, but they also have the right tools for the job. Oftentimes, warranties for garage doors require them to be professionally installed.

Get Your New Garage Door From AAA Garage Door

Deciding on the right garage door for your home can feel a bit overwhelming without any guidance. Finding the perfect fit for your needs and preferences can be easier with this list of seven things to consider when deciding on a new garage door.  

If you are in the market for a replacement garage door, AAA Garage Door can help. Equipped with over 25 years of experience and a customer-driven approach, we can provide you with high-quality products and installation services. 

Request an estimate for a new garage door from AAA Garage Door today!

The post 7 Things to Consider When Deciding on a Garage Door appeared first on AAA Garage Door, Inc. | Husker Door.

The garage door is the largest entryway into your home, and it plays a role in your property’s curb appeal. You’ll want to keep it in good shape to withstand harsh weather conditions and maintain your home’s luxurious appearance. Instead of trying to repair it yourself, you should trust a professional to help prolong your garage door’s life span. Explore what a garage door technician does and why you need to hire one for your overhead door.

What Does a Garage Door Technician Do?

A garage door technician has the skills, equipment and experience to service, install and repair garage doors. After inspecting your garage door, they offer suggestions about whether to repair or replace it. They’ll fix anything, from broken springs to dented panels.

A certified overhead door specialist is responsible for the following:

• Inspection of all parts
• Assisting with the design of new doors
• Installing new doors
• Repairing electrical garage door openers
• Reviewing blueprints
• Troubleshooting broken doors
• Programming the access system
• Replacing the torsion springs
• Lubricating metal parts, such as the wheels or door tracks
• Inspecting your garage door’s safety features
• Checking and replacing weatherproofing

Garage door technicians are trained to handle all aspects of installing, repairing, and replacing your garage doors.

Why Is a Certified Garage Door Technician Important?

Hiring a certified garage door technician is the best way to ensure that your garage door is in proper working order and operates smoothly. Below, learn a few reasons why certified garage door technicians are critical.

Quality Results

Overhead garage door specialists go through rigorous training to install and maintain your garage door. When you hire a professional overhead door technician, you get trained professionals familiar with the latest techniques, technology and equipment. With this specialized training and knowledge, you can feel confident you’ll get quality results from your garage door technician. 

Experience

A certified overhead door technician has years of experience installing, maintaining and repairing garage doors. With experience and knowledge, a certified technician can help identify problems with your garage door and deliver helpful solutions. If you need a brand-new garage door, a specialist can go over your options to find the best one for your home. 

They can also teach you about the latest security and technology trends, such as smart garage door openers and motion-detector lighting.

Safety

One of the most important reasons to hire an overhead door technician is for safety. Your garage door plays an instrumental role in keeping your home and family protected from intruders. If your garage door isn’t properly installed or repaired, you run the risk of intruders targeting your home. An experienced technician can provide the proper repairs to ensure you keep your home, and those inside, protected.

Additionally, having a broken or malfunctioning garage door increases the risk of injury. If you try to fix it yourself, you could get hurt and potentially damage your property. For example, the torsion and extension springs are under intense pressure that, if you aren’t knowledgeable about how to fix these springs, they could cause injury while repairing. A professional overhead door technician knows how to fix the various components correctly and safely.

Time Savings

If you want to repair a garage door on your own, it takes time to learn how to do it properly. That means more time that your door isn’t repaired and more time of your free time spent learning how to do it. Instead of spending your free time trying to fix it yourself, you can trust a professional garage door technician to do it for you. 

An overhead garage door technician diagnoses issues promptly and repairs problems quickly. You can get your door fixed faster and spend less time worrying about fixing it.

Cost savings

Hiring a garage door technician helps you save money. If you try to repair your garage on your own, you may end up spending more money trying to get the right tools. You may spend all the money getting the equipment only to find that you can’t repair it yourself and need to hire a garage door technician anyway.

That’s why it’s best to hire an overhead door technician from the start. Garage door technicians have all the equipment necessary to repair and replace your garage door. Additionally, a certified technician can work with your budget to help you find a new garage door or door security system that works for you.

Extended Life Span

A certified garage door technician is critical for extending the life span of your garage door. Without proper maintenance, your garage door may not last as long as it should, which costs you more money in the long run. Hiring a certified garage door technician to inspect, repair, and maintain your garage door is key for extended life span.

A technician can spot problems and repair them quickly before they worsen and cause more damage to your garage door. They could also recommend when you need to replace your garage door.

Proper Tools

Garage doors are intricate mechanisms that require proper tools to fix and maintain. If you don’t have the right equipment at home, you can’t properly fix your garage door. A lack of proper equipment leads to an increased risk of injury from trying to repair your garage door. 

With a certified garage door technician, you’ll get a professional who already has all the necessary tools to repair your garage. You won’t need to worry about buying the tools yourself and figuring out how to use them properly.

Maintain Your Warranty

Many garage doors come with a warranty that can cover the cost of some repairs and maintenance, but it’s only valid when done by a professional. If you try to repair it yourself, you void the warranty and it covers no further repairs. Instead of voiding your warranty, trust a certified garage technician to make the repairs for you.

10 Questions to Ask Your Garage Door Technician

As you look for the right garage door technician, you’ll want to ask them questions to discover if they can provide what you need. Make sure that they’re a reputable company that installs, repairs and replaces garage doors. An experienced garage door technician will teach you how to take care of your garage door between visits. Ask your prospective garage door company the following questions:

1. What are your employees’ credentials?
2. How experienced are your technicians?
3. Do you offer any warranties on your new garage doors?
4. Can you offer an estimate for service or new products?
5. How often do you maintain garage doors for your customers?
6. What do you typically do during a service visit?
7. What should I do between your team’s visits to keep my door in good shape?
8. Will you call me before making further repairs or installing parts that cost extra money?
9. Do I need to be home when you’re working on my garage door?
10. Do you provide emergency repair services?

Quality Garage Doors and Service With AAA Garage Doors

AAA Garage Doors has a team of certified overhead door technicians in the Omaha, Nebraska area. We provide quality residential garage door repair services that include maintenance, repair, and replacement of garage doors. For more information about our products and services, contact us online or call us at 402-727-0789. Don’t put your garage door repairs off any longer!

Last Reviewed By Felipe Pinales on October 26th, 2021

The post The Importance of a Certified Garage Door Technician appeared first on AAA Garage Door, Inc. | Husker Door.