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.

It’s Winter, So You Want Your Garage Doors to Open ASAP!

When you’re arriving home and it’s cold outside you want your garage door to open. No one wants to find themselves out in the cold. That’s why it’s so important to get the garage door repair you need when you need it. And, as experts in garage door repair for Maplewood and the surrounding areas, we’ve come up with a few troubleshooting tips to help you get your garage doors back up and running. And, if you are still having issues with your garage doors, don’t hesitate to call the experts here at Premium Garage Door Service! You may not be able to fix the problem on your own, but you can help narrow down the root of the issues for your garage door repair.

garage door repair

There are many different reasons why you may be experiencing this problem at your home. Many of the solutions will take a professional’s help to fix, but you can check a few simple things on your own if your garage door won’t open.

  • Do a visual inspection of your garage doors. Pay close attention to the springs. If any of them are broken, a garage door repair may be in order.
  • It may seem obvious but make sure your garage door motor is plugged in, and make sure it’s plugged into a working outlet.
  • Check to see if it’s the garage door opener, not the garage door itself. Trying changing the batteries and making sure your garage door opener is clean.
  • Also check the cable. It is possible that it will break when a spring does.

If none of these work then it may be time to call in the experts for garage door repair. We’ll be able to give you better insight into what’s going on and suggest the proper protocol for fixing your doors. Faulty springs and a bad motor are also problems that an expert needs to look at and adjust. Buying the wrong kind of spring or improperly fixing the motor could lead to damage and injuries later down the road. It’s best to get someone who knows what they are doing to come out for professional garage door repair.

For all of your Maplewood garage door repair needs, call Premium Garage Door Service. Call us at 651.344.0489 or you can contact us online. We proudly serve Maplewood and the surrounding areas.

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.

Common Garage Door Issues to Look Out For

You depend on your garage door to function as it should and keep your home safe every day of the week. You park your car in your garage; you use it for storage, as an entrance and exit to your home and more. But many people are not aware of the hidden hazards and issues that can arise. As experts in garage door repair in Stillwater, we know about these unpredictable issues and hazards all too well. So here are some garage door issues to look out for and a few suggestions on how to keep you and your family safe from harm.

Garage Doors Lino Lakes Premium Garage Door ServiceBent Garage Doors

There are a few issues that may cause a damaged, bent garage door such as severe weather and high winds. Storm-proofing your garage and garage doors when you know there is bad weather on the way could be the difference between major and minor damage. You can brace the doors with a heavy-duty brace, which will add another level of support to the middle of the garage doors.

 

garage doors repair

Garage Door Fallen Off Track

When your garage door falls off the track, there can be a few different causes. For example, accidentally hitting the garage door with your vehicle could be one. Or maybe a torsion spring broke and caused the entire door to go off track. Regardless of the cause, professional garage door repair is needed to get your garage door back up and running as it should.

Faulty Hardware

Garage doors go through a lot over the years, so it’s important to check on the hardware every so often. Check the bolts and hinges to ensure they are still properly attached and haven’t gotten loose over the years. Garage door repair experts like those at Premium Garage Door Service can pinpoint any hardware issues and recommend any necessary repairs or replacement.

Balance Issues

Disengage the garage door opener and pull the opener release handle. Lower the door to about the halfway point and see what happens. If it holds this position, it is properly balanced. If it rides back up, there is too much tension. If it falls, then there isn’t enough tension.

Springs, Rods, Rollers & More

Do a visual inspection of the springs, rods and rollers. If you notice any broken pieces, it’s time to call in a garage door repair company like ours for garage door repair.

For more information on garage door repair in Stillwater, call us at 612-234-4812 or Request Service.

Common Garage Door Parts

premium garage door service garage door parts eaganFor those who aren’t too familiar with garage doors and the way they work, sometimes it can seem like garage door professionals like us are speaking a different language. We sell garage door parts near Eagan, so we thought we would take the time to define some of the parts that we sell and repair the most often.

Astragal: The weather stripping that runs along the bottom of your garage door. It keeps drafts and rain from coming into your garage.

Bottom bracket: The lifting cables are attached to the two bottom brackets on most types of sectional doors. There is one bracket on the right and one on the left of your garage door.

Cable drums: The piece that keeps the lifting cable in line and from getting tangled. This is one of the most important parts of a tensions spring system.

Cable safety device: This keeps the garage door from falling if the cable ever breaks.

Cable stop: A safety device similar to the cable safety device. This is attached to the end of the cable and keeps it from slipping through the drum.

Cable: Also known as the lifting cable, this part connects to the bottom bracket to the counterbalance mechanism.

Clearances: Refers to how much backroom, headroom and side room (the distance around the walls of your garage) is needed to properly install your garage door.

Curtain: The face of your garage door that goes up and down or side to side.

Cycle: Refers to when your garage door goes from fully closed to fully open and then back to fully closed. Parts like torsion springs are rated for how many of these cycles they can safely complete in their lifetime.

Extension springs: These carry the weight of the garage door as it is lifted. They run from a pulley that is attached to the door and stretch on either side of the door to the rear track hanger.

Gauge: Refers to steel thickness. The thinner the steel, the higher the number.

Horizontal track: Runs parallel to the garage ceiling and it supports and guides the door as it opens.

Jambs and jamb seal: Jambs are vertical pieces on either side of the garage door frame and the jamb seal is the weather stripping that runs around the jamb and helps keep drafts and rain from getting into your garage.

Photo-electric sensor: These are a safety feature that is required by law and reverse the direction of your garage door if it comes into contact with some type of obstruction.

Torsion springs: Another type of spring system that help raise and lower your garage door.

Track: This part holds and guides the roller assembly and runs vertically to the top of the garage door and then horizontally and parallel to the garage’s ceiling.

For more information on garage door parts in Eagan or the surrounding areas, call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489, or you can contact us and Request Service.