Replacing Vs. Repairing Your Garage Door

All garage doors will deteriorate over time; which is caused by weather conditions and constant use. A question many people face is whether they should repair or replace their garage door. Here are some pointers to help you decide:

Is it a Sudden or a Recurring Problem?

Often, a garage door will suddenly stop functioning. For example, it might stop opening and closing all of a sudden. This can be the result of a single issue that can easily be repaired.

If, however, your garage door has been facing issues over a long period of time and these issues continue to get worse, a simple repair may not do the trick. For example, if the garage door has been having trouble opening for a long time and seems too heavy, the springs may have been weakened to the point that they can no longer hold the garage door up. That can be dangerous, and they should be replaced.

Is it Cosmetic Damage or Structural Damage?

Cosmetic damage, while unsightly, usually won't necessitate replacing the garage door, especially if it isn't that old. A new coat of paint or a new finish can restore it so that it looks new.

If, however, there is structural damage, that's a different story. For example, if the door is warped, sagging or simply falling apart, you definitely need a new one.

Replace a Single Panel or the Entire Door?

A third option would be to replace only a single panel and not the whole door, as it is not as expensive as replacing the entire door. However, if there is a problem with the mechanism, this isn't a good option. In addition, if you find yourself having to replace a panel a second or third time, you might as well just get yourself a new door.

We encourage you to contact us with any questions and/or service needs that you might have. We’re here to help!

Replacing Vs. Repairing Your Garage Door

All garage doors will deteriorate over time; which is caused by weather conditions and constant use. A question many people face is whether they should repair or replace their garage door. Here are some pointers to help you decide:

Is it a Sudden or a Recurring Problem?

Often, a garage door will suddenly stop functioning. For example, it might stop opening and closing all of a sudden. This can be the result of a single issue that can easily be repaired.

If, however, your garage door has been facing issues over a long period of time and these issues continue to get worse, a simple repair may not do the trick. For example, if the garage door has been having trouble opening for a long time and seems too heavy, the springs may have been weakened to the point that they can no longer hold the garage door up. That can be dangerous, and they should be replaced.

Is it Cosmetic Damage or Structural Damage?

Cosmetic damage, while unsightly, usually won't necessitate replacing the garage door, especially if it isn't that old. A new coat of paint or a new finish can restore it so that it looks new.

If, however, there is structural damage, that's a different story. For example, if the door is warped, sagging or simply falling apart, you definitely need a new one.

Replace a Single Panel or the Entire Door?

A third option would be to replace only a single panel and not the whole door, as it is not as expensive as replacing the entire door. However, if there is a problem with the mechanism, this isn't a good option. In addition, if you find yourself having to replace a panel a second or third time, you might as well just get yourself a new door.

We encourage you to contact us with any questions and/or service needs that you might have. We’re here to help!

Simple Garage Door Repairs

Garage doors have a very simple task, opening and closing, so it is easy to overlook the garage door and forget about how essential it is until it stops working. A garage door that won't open and close properly or makes too much noise can cause a lot of annoyance in your life. Let's explore a few simple issues and tips to solve them, but please never hesitate to contact us so that a professional repairman from our team can come out assess the situation.

Garage Will Not Open With Hand or Wall Switch

Not being able to get in or out of your garage is a real problem; especially if it is raining or you are late to work! If your wall and hand switches do not work in opening your garage door, you may think you have a serious repair issue at hand. However, in most of these cases there is a simple fix. Usually, the motor unit that controls the door has just come unplugged. Plugging the motor unit in will fix this problem. Also, it is possible that a tripped or burnt out circuit has also caused this problem.

Door Won't Go All the Way Down

This common issue that is very annoying and will make you feel like you can't leave your house with the garage door slightly up. In most of the cases the problem is simply the close limit switch on your motor. This switch merely tells the motor when to cut off when going up or down. A simple adjustment to the close limit switch should be all it takes to get your garage door all the way down again.

Door Goes Up Again Before it Goes All the Way Down

This is another common issue that can be remedied by a simple adjustment to a sensor. There is a piece that controls the amount of force that the door has when the motor shuts off and the door closes. If your door is going up before it even closes all the way, you simply need to adjust your close force settings and the problem should be solved.

These are a few easy things you can fix yourself at home, but only if you feel comfortable and safe in doing so. If you are worried you may damage your door or opener by tinkering around, please be sure to contact us!

What to Look for in a Garage Door Installation Company

Your home's garage door is central to your family's security and comfort. This is why it's imperative to choose a garage door company that you can trust. By doing so, you can ensure that you have a quality garage business on your side for years to come. Not sure where to start? The following information will explain some qualities to look for when hiring a garage door installation company. 

1. Experience

The best garage door companies will have the experience to prove their reliability. When selecting a business to hire, read customer reviews and ask about the company's roll in your community. These details can help you learn about the company's reputation.

2. Family Focus

Since your garage door will provide safety for your family, it's important to hire an installation company that shares these same values. When speaking to a potential installation professional for the first time, be open about your family's needs.

3. Certifications

With any home improvement specialist, certifications are a plus. Look into whether the garage door installation company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Also ask about other credentials and specialties.

4. Customer Service

Attentive customer service is key to compliment quality products. By hiring a business with impeccable service, you can ensure a trustworthy relationship with your garage door installation professional. This way, you know that they can responsibly attend to your service needs in the future.

5. Quality

Even the most impressive companies are lacking without top quality. A garage door company should be able to tell you about the durability of their products and the accuracy of the installation process. Be sure to ask plenty of questions about their available products before choosing to purchase.

By hiring a garage door company that you can rely on, your family can enjoy a stable garage door for years to come. A trustworthy garage door installation can support the structural integrity of your home and gift you the peace of mind that comes with security.

We encourage you to contact us today with any questions and/or service needs that you might have. We’re here to help!

How Garage Door Springs End Up Breaking

If you are the owner of a garage door with a broken spring, you might end up wondering how it happened. Garage door springs can be dangerous when they break, so in that regard you might wonder if there was something you could have done differently to prevent the break. Unfortunately, if your garage door spring has broken, it was most likely nothing you did that caused the break, except for opening your garage door a repeatedly over time.

Think of garage door springs like a piece of wire. It can bend two different directions a fair amount of times. However, after enough time of the wire being bent in only those two directions, it will break. The garage door spring are the same way, it expands and contracts to help open your garage door. After enough use, the springs will begin to wear out which can cause breakage.

A broken garage door spring is something that comes about over time; however, you can help slow it down by keeping the springs clean, lubricated, and rust-free! Furthermore, if your springs start to look damaged, such as no longer coiling up nicely or having worn areas, you can have them replaced before they break. As a garage door spring releases a lot of force when it does break, which can cause serious harm.

Speaking of the harm in which a broken spring can cause to either you or a loved one, we ask that you never attempt to change the spring on your own as it is a job for a trained professional. No matter the type of spring, it is coiled with a lot of force, which is what makes it so unsafe when it breaks and should always be handled with a professional’s care.

If you have a broken or near-broken garage door spring that needs replaced, we encourage you to contact us here at Roadrunner Garage Doors. Also, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Our team of trained garage door technicians takes pride in keeping you safe.

Have you Experienced Changes in your Garage Door’s Keypad?

Having a keypad for your garage door can be a great thing! By inputting a code, it can allow the people you trust to gain access of your garage, and likely your home, while keeping everyone else out with a sturdy lock.

Side note: they are particularly useful while you’re on vacation and didn’t have the time to have another house key made beforehand to give your neighbor that has agreed to water your plants.
However, a keypad, just like your garage door opener remote, runs on a battery. While that battery can last quite a long time, eventually it will need to be replaced. Nevertheless, many people run into the same issue when they do replace the battery - the code no longer works. Don't panic if your key code doesn't work after replacing the keypad battery, it happens to a lot of people and it is easy to fix!
 
While every keypad is a little different, most will have a learn button somewhere on the device. In many models, you simply need to hold the learn button, release, and then type in your code.
Afterwards, hold down the enter button and it should store your new code with no issue. However, it is best to find the manual for your keypad for learning how to specifically reprogram it since, as a rather glaring security flaw, every system is different in order to protect you and your home. Many manuals are found online these days if you cannot find the physical copy, or a repair technician will have the knowledge to help you reprogram the device.

However, it is important to remember that while this is common, if you reprogram the keypad and is still doesn't work, it can mean other issues with your garage door. We encourage you to contact us so that we can help to ensure that all is running as it should.

Checking your Garage Door for Heat Loss

When it comes to garage doors, you want them to have a certain amount of insulation. When it gets cold, you want your garage to be warm. When it gets hot, you want your garage to be cool. Having that said, consistent temperatures are very important. However, if you are not getting consistent temperatures in a garage, your insulation might be to blame.

If your garage door is already insulated and it is not maintaining consistent temperatures, it’s possible you’re having temperature loss somewhere – the source just needs to be found.

Often, when it comes to finding temperature loss in a garage, much of that can be done via the feel of your own hands. If you were testing the insulation in your garage walls, for example, you would touch the walls to feel for hot or cold spots where the insulation wouldn't be working.

However, it is different when it comes to garage doors. The insulation is something you can see, so that you know it is still intact. Instead, you will want to feel for air flow through gaps. Common culprits for temperature loss on garage doors include:

Weather Stripping - Just like on any door, the weather stripping on the bottom of a garage door serves to seal the door to the floor when closed so air cannot get through. If you can feel the breeze at the bottom of the door or even see light underneath it, your weather stripping may be worn or cracked.

Loose Hinges - If there is no visible damage to the garage door insulation, gaps could have manifested through loose hinges. When hinges come loose, it can create gaps in the panels where temperature can escape.

Gaps in the Wall - At times, the problem lies not with the door but the walls that surround it. If the walls begin to warp for some reason, it can lead to heat loss.

Do you have questions? Are you in need of service? We encourage you to contact us, as we are happy to help you out.