What to Look for in a Garage Door Opener

In the market for a new garage door opener? Choosing a garage door opener can be confusing if you’re not sure what to look for. You might be wondering about the different kinds out there, what benefits they have and what safety features are essential. At Premium Garage Door Service, we know a thing or two about garage door openers and would like to offer a rundown of what to look out for when choosing the right one for you. And, when you’re ready for a new garage door or garage door opener for your Oakdale home, contact the experts at Premium Garage Door Service.

What’s Included

When you purchase a garage door opener, you usually get a three-button keypad, about two remote controls, a light-delay feature, a control panel and about two lights with an output of 200 watts. Some garage door openers also feature a keyless entry pad.

Types of Garage Door Openers

Screw-drive. A lifting mechanism moves along a threaded steel rod. The rods are very powerful, but these systems do not require a lot of maintenance because they have the fewest moving parts.

Belt-drive. Very quiet and smooth. As strong as a steel-belted tire and it can lift even the heaviest garage doors. A great garage door opener for garages that are adjacent to or below living spaces that you want to keep quiet.

Chain-drive. Uses a metal chain to lift and lower the garage door up and down along its tracks. The most common and the most cost-effective and budget-friendly garage door opener. Can be noisier than the belt-drive system or the screw-drive system.

Safety Features

Your new garage door opener should have a locked and unlocked mode. It should have a manual release of some sort. You should also make sure you have one with an automatic reverse function. This safety feature has been a requirement for decades, so you should have no problem finding a garage door opener with this function. It detects when an object is underneath the garage door if it is trying to close.

You should also look into a garage door opener that has a rolling code feature. This means that it will be harder for a thief to break into your home through your garage.

Warranties

You should see at least a three-year warranty on the garage door opener, and it will usually cover the motor, the belt and the chain.

And, this is just some of what to consider with your new garage door opener. For more information about a garage door opener in Oakdale, call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or contact us and Request Service.

Garage Door Opener FAQ

When it comes to a garage door opener, there are many issues and questions that can arise. Not only can it be difficult to know what garage door opener to choose in the first place with so many to choose from; troubleshooting a broken one can present even more questions. So, when you need a new garage door opener for your Maplewood home or if your current garage door opener is having issues, it’s best to enlist the experts. As a professional garage door company, the experts at Premium Garage Door Service have heard a few reoccurring questions when it comes to the garage door opener. We’ve provided a few of the most common questions we’ve received and we hope this helps you choose a new garage door opener and know what to look for in terms of garage door opener repair.

Home Garage Door Openers

Q: Why won’t my garage door close all the way?
A: The close limit switch likely needs to be readjusted. Give us a call and we can come out and see what needs to be done.

Q: Why won’t my garage door opener work?
A: Try moving closer to your garage door when you hit the button to open or close it because you might be out of range. Make sure the antenna that is on the motor unit is hanging down. Check the remote’s batteries and change them. Or maybe the remote needs to be reprogrammed. Premium Garage Door Service can help pinpoint the issue and provide any needed repairs.

Q: Why won’t my garage door opener work with my remote or wall switch?
A: It is likely the power source has been disrupted. Make sure the unit is fully plugged in and make sure you didn’t accidentally blow a fuse. If neither of these solutions work, call our garage door company to come out and take a look.

Q: What should I look for in a warranty?
A: You will usually see at least a three-year warranty on the opener for your garage doors, and it will usually cover the motor, the belt and the chain. Some brands even offer a lifetime warranty! Just be sure you read all of the fine print so you fully understand what is covered and what is not and for how long.

Q: Why does my garage door immediately close after it opens?
A: The close limit switch should be looked at. To be on the safe side and to make sure no accidents occur, give our garage door company a call to schedule an appointment.

If you don’t see your question here or for more information on a garage door opener for your Maplewood home, call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or Contact Us to 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.

Choosing a Garage Door Opener: What to Look For

Choosing a garage door opener can be somewhat confusing if you aren’t sure what to look for. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are looking for an opener for your garage doors in Hudson WI.

Warranty

You should look at the garage door opener’s warranty. You will usually see at least a three-year warranty on the opener for your garage doors, and it will usually cover the motor, the belt and the chain. Some brands even offer a lifetime warranty! Just be sure you read all of the fine print so you fully understand what is covered and what is not and for how long.

Hardware

When you buy a garage door opener, you usually get a three-button keypad, about two remote controls, a light-delay feature, a control panel and about two lights with an output of 200 watts. Some openers of garage doors also feature a keyless entry pad.

Safety

Your new garage door opener should have a locked and unlocked mode. It should have a manual release of some sort. You should also make sure you have one with an automatic reverse function. This safety feature has been a requirement since 1993, so you should not have a problem finding a garage door opener with this function. It works with an infrared beam that will detect when an object is underneath the garage door if it is trying to close.

These are just a few of the things to keep in mind while you are looking for an automatic garage door opener. There are several other things you should think about too. How quiet you want the garage door opener to be, where your garage is in relation to the rest of your home and how often you are going to need to use it are a few more things to keep in mind.

Of course, if you are still confused or unsure, you can always call Premium Garage Door Service. We will be happy to walk you through the decision-making process so you get the best opener for you garage doors and one that will suit your want and needs. Making sure you have the best garage door opener for your home could save you time, money and hassle in the long run!

For more information on garage doors in Hudson WI, call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or contact us and Request Service.

Three Types of Garage Door Openers

If you are in the market for a new garage door opener, you might be wondering about the different kinds that are for sale these days and what benefits they have. As a garage door company serving Hugo, we are often asked about garage door openers and how to pick the best one. Here is a brief rundown of the different types and their advantages. And you can always call our garage door company if you have any questions or want to have one of these installed.

Belt-drive system

This type of garage door opener is increasing in popularity because it is very quiet and smooth. It is as strong as a steel-belted tire, and it can lift even the heaviest garage doors. This is a great garage door opener for garages that are adjacent to or below living spaces like bedrooms or any other room you want to keep quiet. They operate with a rubber belt, and they are just a bit more expensive than any other type on the market.

Screw-drive system

A screw-drive system uses a lifting mechanism. The mechanism moves along a threaded steel rod. The rods are very powerful, but these systems do not require a lot of maintenance because they have the fewest moving parts. These are also the easiest ones to install.

Chain-drive system

This system uses a metal chain to lift and lower the garage door up and down along its tracks. These are the most common and the most cost-effective and budget-friendly garage door opener. However, they can be noisier than the belt-drive system or the screw-drive system. These are also the oldest type of garage door opener system.

Since 1993, all garage door openers have been required by law to have a safety mechanism installed that will stop and reverse the closing garage door if the system detects an object moving underneath it. This is a great safety feature because it could save you a lot of money on potential damage to your vehicle, not to mention it’s a great safety feature that could also save you potential injury or worse.

You should also look into garage door openers that have a rolling code feature. This means that it will be harder for a thief to break into your home through your garage. The remote to your garage door uses a code to open and close it. A rolling code means it does not always use the same code.

Are you interested in learning more about our garage door company serving Hugo? Call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or you can Request Service.