There are over 272.4 million privately owned vehicles in the U.S. While a garage door can make your daily life easier, it can also make it a lot more difficult if it doesn’t operate properly. So investing in a proper garage door opener is a very important step that you need to take.
The top reasons why you need a quality garage door opener are:
- It provides safety.
- It provides convenience.
- It offers comfort and peace of mind.
- It is easy to maintain.
There are several reasons why garage door openers can malfunction. Some of the most common reasons include:
- The sensors are blocked, misaligned, or dirty
- The garage door openers are not receiving adequate power.
- Your remote transmitter battery has expired.
- There’s a damaged or broken door torsion or extension springs
- There’s a faulty or snapped cables
In this blog, we’ll give you some tips to avoid costly garage door opener repairs and how to choose the right garage door opener for it.
How To Avoid Costly Garage Door Opener Repairs
Here are ten essential tips to reduce the cost of garage door opener repairs:
1. Invest in a high-quality garage door
Getting a good garage door can greatly help you save money in the long run. Getting a cheaper door might sound right, but it will require more frequent repairs in the long run. A good-quality garage door is more durable, needs fewer repairs, and offers better protection and security for your property.
2. Pay close attention to how it runs
Listen and watch closely to how the garage door sounds and looks when it is in motion. A proper door shouldn’t make any noise when it is activated. It should also not shake or jitter. If you see any jerky movement or hear any scraping noises, it’s time to call an electric garage door opener repair service.
3. Lubricate the moving parts
You should lubricate the garage door to ensure it and the garage door opener device operate at a healthy pace. You should lubricate the garage door at least once a year. Doing so will ensure that it works smoothly and silently.
4. Tighten the hardware
Most garage doors need to open and close multiple times daily. Regardless of its price or promised quality, continuous movement causes micro-vibrations that can loosen the nuts and bolts of the hardware over time. Make sure that you inspect and examine the basic moving components and use the right tools, like a socket wrench, to tighten any loose nuts and bolts.
5. Ensure the garage door is balanced
Check to see if the door and opener are properly balanced. If the door isn’t aligned evenly on both sides, the electric motor must work twice as hard. This could also end up damaging the motor itself. If the two sensors aren’t aligned properly, the garage door opener itself could malfunction and cease to function properly.
6. Maintain the weatherstripping
Clean and manage the weatherstripping at the bottom of the garage door. Conduct regular inspections to make sure that it is in good shape. Use a sealing adhesive or replace the rubber weatherstripping entirely if you notice any cracks.
7. Clean and clear the area around the door
Most garages are filled with tools, paint, gym equipment, and other items that can create a mess inside and around the garage door. Dust, oil, paint, etc., can settle on the mechanism causing it to malfunction and get damaged. Ensure you maintain a clean garage and sweep away any debris and dirt from the area around the garage door.
8. Inspect the cables
Regularly check whether they are worn out or broken. Ensure you take all the necessary precautions and keep a safe distance before inspecting them.
9. Replace the rollers
Professionals in the field suggest you check the garage door opener’s rollers twice yearly. You should also replace them every five to six years. If you see that the rollers are cracked or chipped, replace them right away.
10. Call an expert
If you have a problem with your garage door opener that you think you need to learn how to repair, you shouldn’t waste time calling an expert. Smaller issues like sealing or replacing the rubber weather seal are minor issues that don’t need specialized supervision. However, you should always call a garage door opener repair company when dealing with snapped cables or electrical problems.
How To Choose The Right Garage Door Opener
There are thousands of garage door openers available in the market today. Selecting the right option isn’t as easy as you think. While some are more durable or powerful than others, they come at the expense of low noise. Affordability can also come at the cost of quality.
When choosing the right garage door opener, these are some of the most important things to consider:
a. Drive options
While all garage door openers serve the same purpose of opening and choosing the garage door, one key difference between the various openers is how the motor moves the trolly. The three main types of driver options are chain, screw, and belt.
- The chain-drive doors raise and lower the garage door using a metal chain. While chain-drive openers are more affordable, they tend to make much more noise and vibrations.
- The screw-drive doors use threaded steel rods to push and pull the trolley. Screw-drive doors tend to make less noise and vibrations compared to chain-drive. But they are also pricier in comparison.
- The belt-drive operates the same way the chain drive does, but as the same implies, a belt drives the trolley instead of a chain. The strap allows the openers to open and close with no sound.
b. Horsepower options
Not all garage doors have the same power. They vary in terms of weight, size, material, etc. So based on these factors, you will primarily find three options:
- ⅓ horsepower is the most affordable option on the list. While this horsepower works well with lighter steel doors, they do not last as long as the other options.
- ½ horsepower is the most common horsepower option out of the three alternatives. This option is best for single and double doors of manageable weight.
- ¾ horsepower is best suited for garage doors that are heavy and durable, like that made of wood.
c. A.C. or D.C. power options
Not all garage doors are powered similarly. You must decide whether to opt for the A.C. or D.C. power option. While both options serve the same purpose, A.C. motors are less expensive, more durable, and need little maintenance. They are also most likely to run on a chain drive. In contrast, D.C. motors cost more than the A.C. alternative but use less energy.
d. Rolling code technology
A relatively new feature, rolling code technology creates a unique and secure code each time you use the garage door. Previously, your neighbor could have the same garage door code as you. So, if you value security and safety, the rolling code technology is an option that might be of interest to you.
e. WiFi connectivity
You can operate your garage door opener remotely using your phone and your home’s WiFi connection. You can monitor the status of your garage door (whether you left it open or closed). You can control the door’s movement from anywhere with a table connection.
How to Choose a Reliable Garage Door Repair Service
There are a lot of repair services that need more equipment to handle the job properly. Choosing the right garage door opener repair service is easy if you follow these tips:
a. Get multiple quotes
Getting quotes and bids from various services is a great way to understand the practiced rates for the repair service. You can also see if some companies are providing special offers for the same service. But make sure you compare the rates for the same or similar services.
b. Ask for recommendations
The best tip on the list is to ask your friends, families, and neighbors about their experience with a repair service. If it’s your first time repairing the opener, your friends and family probably have experience with maintaining their opener. A positive referral or warning from someone you trust can help you find the right company to fix your garage door opener.
c. Go through the service’s ratings and reviews
One of the best ways to know if the repair service is right for you is by going through business review sites and their social media profiles to see the experience their customers have had with them.
Hence this is how you can reduce or avoid costly garage door opener repairs to make your home safe and convenient.
