How to Extend the Life of Your Garage Doors

Your garage doors are the largest moving part in your entire home, so you want to be sure they stay in good working order for as long as possible. Premium Garage Door fixes and installs garage doors in Oakdale and the surrounding areas, and we have a few tips on how to make sure yours stay in good shape for years to come.

The best thing you can do is take a look at your garage doors on a regular basis. Make sure there are not any parts that are missing or in need of repair or replacement. Tighten up any loose nuts and bolts. If you see anything that does not look right, call in a company that specializes in garage doors, like Premium Garage Door Service.

Then you should open and close your garage doors. Listen to them closely. Do they sound normal to you? Or are you hearing any odd noises? If you hear anything that is unusual, call us and we can come out and take a look at your garage doors to make sure they are still running safely and properly.

Test your garage doors to make sure they are balanced. You can do this by disconnecting the opener by pulling the release handle. Then move the door halfway up by hand. See if the door stays where you put it. If it does not, then call us for help with your garage doors. Balancing them and getting them back on track is a job for professionals like us. This is definitely not a do it yourself project!

Make sure your garage doors are properly lubricated too. This is another important part of making sure your garage doors work for as long as possible. Garage doors can get expensive to replace, so making sure yours stay in good shape can help save you time, money and hassle in the long run.

Finally, check all of the garage door cables and look for signs of wear or tearing. If you spot anything amiss, call us. We can come out and take a look and make any repairs that are necessary.

If you see anything that does not look right, do not hesitate to call us. We will come to your home or business and look at your garage doors to ensure they are working like they should be.

Do you want to learn more about garage doors in Oakdale? Call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or you can contact us and Request Service.

June is Garage Door Safety Month

Did you know that June is Garage Door Safety Month? This annual awareness event is held to remind people that there are plenty of ways to help ensure that your garage door is in good working order and is safe to use. Here are a few safety tips from the professionals here at Premium Garage Door Service.

  • About once a week or so, go to your garage and take a look at all of its parts. Make sure everything is properly lubricated, and make sure there are no missing or damaged parts. If you see any parts that are missing, damaged or broken, especially any springs or cables, call a professional garage door repair company. Do not attempt to fix anything on your own.
  • If your area is prone to severe weather, make sure your garage door opener has a battery back-up. Most Americans with garages use their garage door as their main exit and entrance in and out of their homes. So if you lose power, you want to be sure your garage door will still function until your electricity is restored.
  • Make sure your garage is clear of clutter and debris. Clutter and debris can present a fire hazard. Be sure you have a fire extinguisher near your garage at all times too, just in case.
  • Make sure any children in your home know the basics of garage door safety. They should know that they are not allowed to touch the garage door opener, and they should know that they should never run underneath the garage door while it is still in motion. Keep your garage door opener out of the reach of children too.
  • If you are leaving for vacation, make sure you unplug your garage door opener or make sure you use the vacation lock security switch, which is usually on the wall console. This will render your garage door remote unusable.
  • Never leave your garage door partially open. Not only is this a safety risk, but it could also leave your home vulnerable to a break in and theft.
  • Learn how to use your garage door opener’s emergency release feature. See your garage door opener manual for instructions on how to do this.

Are you interested in learning more about garage door safety, or do you need a professional garage door company in the Twin Cities area? Call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or you can contact us and Request Service.

Garage Door Parts Defined

Your garage door is the largest moving mechanism in your home, and it is made up of several different parts. When you are looking for garage door parts in Oakdale, some of the terminology might be confusing. So here is a rundown of the various garage door parts and their functions.

Astragal

This is the technical name of the weather stripping that is placed along the bottom of a garage door. It helps keep drafts and rain from entering your garage.

Backroom

This refers to the amount of space needed to install a garage door. It is measured from the door to the back of the horizontal track.

Bottom bracket

These garage door parts are also known as corner brackets. This is where the lifting cables are attached on most sectional doors.

Cable

This is what connects the bottom bracket to the counterbalance mechanism and is what helps lift the garage door.

Cable drums

These are important because they keep the lifting cable in line as the garage door is opening. They are part of the tension spring system.

Cable safety device

These are some of the most important garage door parts because they are what keep the garage door from falling if a cable breaks.

Center hinge

This is a flat hinge that is put on the door section and allows it to pass through the curve between the horizontal tracks and the vertical tracks.

Extension springs

These garage door parts are incredibly important because they carry the weight of the door as it lifts. They run from a pulley that is attached to the door to the rear track hanger.

Hinges

These connect the sections of a garage door and allow it to bend as it runs up the vertical track and onto the horizontal track.

Horizontal track

This is the track that runs parallel to the garage ceiling.

Pane

This is one section of a garage door.

Rear track hangers

These garage door parts attach to the horizontal track of a garage door and stabilize it.

Spring assembly

These are the garage door parts that transfer the garage door’s weight to the counterbalance system.

Vertical track

This is the garage door track that runs perpendicular to the garage door ceiling and floor.

Are you interested in learning more about garage door parts in Oakdale? Call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or you can contact us and Request Service.

Hidden Hazards in Your Garage

Your garage is one of the most important parts of your home. You park your car in there, you use it for storage and more. But many people are not aware of the hidden hazards that can be present in your garage. As experts in garage door repair in Lino Lakes, we know about these hidden dangers all too well. So here are some suggestions on how to keep you and your family safe from harm.

Automatic garage door opener

Automatic garage door openers are a great convenience. You don’t have to leave your car on a rainy day to open your garage door. You simply click a button and your garage door opens and closes on its own. However, you should be sure to keep up with any needed garage door repair, especially if you have one of these gadgets. When you open and close your garage door, you should always pay attention to who and what are nearby. Make sure you fully open or close your garage door. You should never leave it partially open.

Stairwells and poor lighting

Depending on the layout of your home, you might have a set of steps in your garage that lead in and out of your home. Make sure they are always well lit, and make sure you do not allow clutter to build up on them. Poor lighting can make it hard to see the stairs and other hazards, and that could lead to someone getting injured. Be sure to have lighting in your garage that properly illuminates your garage so you and everyone else can see where you are going. Now is a great time to inspect your garage to check on the lighting and for any needed garage door repair.

Storing chemicals and tools

Kids are naturally curious, so if you have children or if children somehow have access to your garage, be sure you properly store chemicals and tools. They should be tucked away and, if possible, under lock and key. Chemicals can also be a fire hazard, so make sure you keep an eye on them. If you notice that a container is leaking fluids, you should make sure to clean up anything that has spilled and get a new container.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

You should always have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your garage and throughout the rest of your home. These can save lives and alert you to any potential dangers, like high levels of carbon monoxide or a fire.

If you need garage door repair in Lino Lakes, call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or Request Service.

Why Won’t My Garage Door Opener Work in the Winter?

This is a common question our garage door company in Forest Lake gets this time of year. Temperatures plummet and, all of a sudden, gadgets and mechanisms that normally function just fine in the warm weather are not working properly! Here are a few quick troubleshooting tips.

There are a few ways you can figure out what the problem is with your garage door not opening or closing properly. The first thing to check is the most obvious: make sure your garage door opener has fresh batteries in it. Old batteries could transmit a weak signal, and that could be the problem.

If this does not work, disconnect your garage door opener when your garage door is in the down position. Then try to manually raise the door and see if it is sticking in any spots. If so, grease could be built up. If you are unsure of how to clean the grease build-up, call our garage door company for help.

If you didn’t notice any sticky spots, reconnect your garage door opener and then do a visual inspection for broken springs. If you see any that are broken, please do not try to repair them at home. This is a fix that requires a professional hand, so call our garage door company and get on our schedule. We offer same-day service, so you won’t have to wait too long for one of our technicians to respond.

Remember that metal contracts when it is cold outside, so make sure that your garage door’s springs, rollers, hinges and other moving parts have the right amount of lubrication. It should be silicone-based. Also, grease tends to harden during the winter too. So you will need to remove the old grease and reapply new lubricant. And, again, if you are unsure about how to do this or the right kind of lubricant to buy, contact our garage door company and we can assist.

Two other parts to look at are the garage door tracks: the horizontal track and the vertical track. Do a visual inspection of both and see if they are warped, worn or misaligned. If this is the case, this will warrant a call to our garage door company because these are parts only professionals like us should repair or replace.

If none of these ideas work, or if you notice faulty parts that need to be fixed or replaced, call our garage door company today!

For more information about our garage door company in Forest Lake, call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or Request Service.