Here are some good reasons to replace your old garage door opener

Does your garage door opener look like something used by Fred Flintstone? Do you have to go through all sorts of contortions with your opener to finally get your door to open or close? Then here are some good reasons that make you think seriously about changing your old garage door opener.

First of all, some facts

To start, it is good to take note of some everyday realities concerning garage doors that often go unnoticed:

• • Did you know that almost 70% of people use their garage door as a point of access their house?
    • It may be when your kids leave for school in the morning or come home at the end of the day at times when you’re not around.
    • Sometimes it’s when you are doing outdoor work around the house.
    • If could be simply when parking your car.

• • Did you know that a garage door is the largest moving object in a home?
    • And that its inherent weight is considerable, even with a spring system that acts as a counterbalance to this mass.
    • This means that it’s your electric garage door opener that becomes the way to secure your safety, and that of your family, by controlling this immense object, day in and day out.

• If your old garage door opener uses a remote programmed with dip switches that you move up and down into +, 0 and – positions, then it is missing a second automatic reversal system, one based on photoelectric sensors (UL 325 standard).
  • Electric door openers manufactured before 1993 are also not equipped with a system to prevent the copying of the code of your remote.
  • In addition, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find replacement parts for these door openers as safety standards and manufacturing techniques have changed significantly.

So then, what is out there on the garage door opener market today?

Electric garage door openers have come a long way since 1993. They provide more safety and, since 2014, they come with the latest technology in regards to intercommunication.

• • Safety comes first
    • Since 1993, it has been mandatory for garage door openers to come with two automatic reversal systems. The first one is mechanical and the second is based on photoelectric eyes. For the first, if it is adjusted correctly, when the bottom of the descending edge touches an object or person, the door must reverse automatically. In the case of the second, it consists of two units installed on each side of the door with an invisible light beam being sent across the threshold of the door, a similar technology to that used to open entry doors on supermarkets. If a person or an object breaks the beam as the door descends, it automatically reverses direction.
    • Starting in 1996, garage door openers have used what is called “rolling code” protection in their operation. This system, called Security+ by LiftMaster (or Chamberlain’s labels), stops anyone from stealing the communication code between your remote (the transmitter) and the opener motor (the receiver). How does it work? It’s simple. Each time you use your remote, it automatically changes its access code. There are more than a billion possible codes thus making it impossible for someone to pick up your signal and get into your garage with a stolen code.
    • If you live in an area where power outages happen more often than you’d like, be aware that you can equip your door opener with a backup battery.

 

• • Quieter than ever
    • Instead of door openers using a chain drive (or a combination of chain and steel cable), there are door openers equipped with a rubber belt reinforced with metal fibers, like used for manufacturing tires. As you might imagine, this choice is much quieter, and is definitely preferred if you have a bedroom over the garage.
    • Another new development that has been added in recent years is DC-type motors for door openers instead of the AC-type we were normally used to. This follows the European trend where manufacturers use DCmotors for reliability and quietness. With AC motors, there is a jarring jerk when the door begins moving versus DC motors that start slowly, increase to regular speed, then slow before stopping to prevent the door from slamming.

• Increasingly “intelligent”
  • Since 2014, LiftMaster has offered its MyQ® technology – its contribution to Internet connectivity – which allows you to open and close your garage door from your smartphone, tablet or laptop, no matter where you are in the world
  • It is also possible to get email or text alerts informing you if someone is using your garage door, or if you had forgotten to close it earlier for whatever reason.
  • Tied into these functions is the ability for you to operate your door long distance and allow someone you have confidence in to access your garage via the garage door.

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Garage Door Opener Troubleshooting Tips

Garage doors are without a doubt a valuable addition to any type of home. Nevertheless they are also vulnerable to damage from the elements. With regard to this, one component that is commonly affected is the garage door opener. It is however never a good idea to call a technician each time there’s a little squeaking or issue. That may lead to a waste of money and time. There are some minor repairs you can handle on your own; however you must also remember that some tasks are best done by the professionals. This article offers some troubleshooting tips for typical garage door opener issues.

To be able to troubleshoot garage door problems, you need to understand the various components that the system is made up of as well as how the system really works. The garage door device comprises of transmitters, wiring, sensors, tracks, remote control, motor, rollers, door, chains, and so forth. A garage door has a very simple mechanism. The motor rotates clockwise to open the garage door. Then the limit switches causes the motor to rotate counter-clockwise, which results in the door closing. The limit switches are configured to accurately regulate the door’s opening and closing. The chains transfer the rotational motion into mechanical energy, which results in the door opening. Below are the common issues that homeowners may encounter.

• • Garage Door Remote Control Does Not Work

If you can open your door using the interior button, however cannot do so using the remote control, then the issue certainly lies with the door’s remote control. First, change the batteries to see if that will solve the problem. If that does not work, examine the program. Study the instruction codes provided by the manufacturer and then reprogram it. If the problem persists, buy a new remote because the remote itself may possibly have a defect.

• • Garage Door Closes and Opens by itself

If your door starts to open and close by itself, then chances are that there is a short circuit within the transmitters or within the wiring. First, look for the short circuit within the transmitter. The transmitter will send continuous signals when it has a short circuit. The garage door will seem to close completely, however once the carriage and arm run go beyond the down limit and strike the header, the door starts to open due to reversal in action. Remove the batteries from the transmitters and then try again. If the issue is not resolved, it means the wiring has a short circuit somewhere and it needs to be replaced.

• • The Garage door opener makes whirring, scrapping or grinding sounds during operation

The sounds may be an indication of a number of issues connected to a variety of components in the system. These noises can be caused by problems with motors, wheel tracks or the gears. Thus, if you’re not exactly certain regarding the cause of the problem, hire an expert to examine your door instead of fiddling with the entire device.

Nevertheless, at times you might be able to solve the problem by lubricating some of the rollers or hinges. You can prevent this problem from occurring through regular application of low viscosity oil to these components. At times, springs can groan and squeak due to constant use. Even though there is no test to determine how long the springs will last, you can be sure that your garage door will not fall while open as a result of malfunctioning springs. This is because there’s no tension on the spring when the garage door is raised. One simple way to determine if your garage door opener springs are in good condition is to disengage the opener and manually raise the door. Your springs are fine if you can perform this task with little or no difficulty.

• • Garage door will not open

What if your garage door fails to open even after the interior button is pushed? For this problem, you’ll have to ensure that the opener is appropriately powered and that the motor is functioning. Check to see if tracks have debris on them which might be obstructing the movement of the door. If everything appears to be fine and still the problem is not resolved, then you should consider getting professional assistance. Your garage door opener has a fault and it may require some repair work.

• • Garage door does not close after opening

A door that will not close after opening can easily be fixed by giving the photo eye a thorough cleaning. The photo eye is situated on the floor close to the door. If the eye is covered by debris, the mechanism can be fooled into thinking that there are items beneath the door. When this occurs, your garage door will fail to close as a safety measure. If you find that the photo eye is not obstructed by debris, get in touch with an expert garage door repair technician within your locality. The photo eye might be misaligned or defective.

• • The garage door opener makes a grinding sound however the door does not move

If your garage door opener makes a grinding sound however the door does not move, then chances are that the main drive gear (the plastic gear which connects directly with the worm drive gear on top of the motor) is defective. The main drive gear is the component that most often fails on most garage door openers.

To solve this problem, you will need to replace the damaged main gear drive. There are a number of components that you have to remove before you can reach the damaged gear. Follow the instructions in your owner manual to perform this task. Make sure you lubricate it properly when you are done.

Even though there are several other problems that can be encountered with the various garage door openers, the ones mentioned in this article are the most common, also these problems can easily be fixed. Always remember that the best method to prevent problems is to carryout proper scheduled maintenance.

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The Hidden Benefits of Insulating Your Garage

Is it required that you insulate your garage? Not quite. Building standards are somewhat murky on the subject, even if some government organizations claim that common walls must have a certain level of R-value for houses with an attached garage. By the same token, a garage with rooms above it must have a minimum R-value on the ceiling, according to these same organizations. There are no requirements for the other walls or the garage door itself, while a detached garage has no R-value rules binding it at all.

So why bother? Well, comfort is a big part of it. If you’re a person who likes to work in your garage, having a humid or freezing space in which to work is no joy. And the warmth from space heaters would easily escape uninsulated walls.

Beyond that, there are hidden benefits to having your garage walls insulated. Let’s take a look at six of them.

That Garage Isn’t Just for Storage Anymore

 A nice, roomy garage need not be just a place to park your car or fill with old paint cans. Many amateur contractors and woodworkers use their garage as a workspace. Workout equipment can fit in there as well, or the kids can use it as a makeshift playroom where they don’t have to worry so much about breaking things.

None of those things would be as pleasant without a comfortable temperature level inside the garage. So insulating it will only inspire you to utilize it as much as possible.

The Creeping Cold Air

 Maybe you’re fortunate enough to have a door separating the house from the garage that’s insulated and features adequate weather-stripping. Yet every time you head out the door to enter your garage, all of the cold air quickly rushes in, which can cause quite a sudden chill. The same goes for a humid garage in the summer.

This is a two-way street. Any heat coming from the inside of the house won’t last very long in an icy garage without some insulation to act as a buffer.

Protecting The Plumbing and the Slumbering

 Perhaps you don’t spend enough time in your garage to worry about the temperature or humidity. But what if the garage is the location for your washer and dryer? That means plumbing is involved, and, as anyone who has ever been involved with them knows, frozen pipes are no fun at all.

Consider also a house where a bedroom sits above the garage. Again, an uninsulated garage will mean a lot of cold air seeping up into a room where someone is trying to sleep.

Keeping Rust at Bay

 If you’re storing your personal belongings or equipment in the garage, you’ll want them to stay as pristine as possible. Humidity is your enemy in that process, since it can lead to rust. Again, an insulated and heated garage will prevent against that.

Safety First

Many cars use remote starters, which can accidentally be activated from inside the house very easily. A car that’s started inside a garage will produce deadly carbon monoxide.

Although a carbon monoxide detector is the best way to keep safe in an instance like that, an insulated garage would help as well. It would keep the gas from easily spreading into the rooms of your home.

Quiet It Down

 Those amateur contractors mentioned above sometimes like to get the work started early on a weekend morning. Your neighbor who decided to sleep in might not be so thrilled with the buzzing and screeching of motorized tools blaring through the neighborhood (nor will the rest of your family inside the house.) If the walls of your garage are insulated, there is far less chance the sound will go far beyond those walls.

What About the Door?

 Remember that your garage door is essentially another wall. Those who insulate the walls to meet energy conservation requirements and leave the garage door unattended are only doing a portion of the necessary work.

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