Are you looking for a garage door repair in Alexandria VA or a garage door repair in Arlington VA? Do you need a rolling gate steel garage door installed in Washington DC? Look no further than Next Day Garage Door, a garage door repair company that prides itself on expert professionals and top-notch service. We’ve been in the business for over 10 years, and we’re hoping to help out homeowners that are struggling with common garage door repair or installation issues. Our goal is to ensure that all our potential customers are well-informed homeowners so that they can make both intuitive decisions and understand the value of their selections.
If your garage door opener is old enough to remember the Ed Sullivan Show, then it’s probably the time to think very seriously about getting an update. We’ve put together five reasons why this is the safest course of action. It all comes down to making sure your garage door system is safe, as well as being able to take advantage of new technologies that will simplify your life.
Improve your safety with a new garage door opener
If you have an attached garage, you likely use the garage as the main entry point for your home. If you use your attached garage to park a car, to have a workshop, or to access lawn and garden accessories, you are definitely making use out of this living space.
That doesn’t even count kids coming and going from school.Taking all of that into consideration, it’s evident that the garage door opener is very safe and not liable to hit or injure anyone. Did you know that before 1993 door openers had only one automatic reversal system, the one we call “mechanical”? This system meant that if the door touched something on the way down, it would reverse right away.
Lift Master opener
There were many accidents involving children across the U.S. and Canada due to negligence with this system. That is why authorities added a second safety system, this one using photo eyes. This system consists of 2 units placed on each side of the door, about 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) from the ground with one sending a beam of light to the other. If anything runs under the garage door and breaks that beam, the door reverses.
If your garage door is older than a decade, there is a very good chance it lacks that second safety system – and that could be dangerous.
Keep your home safe from intruders
Did you know that the signal of a garage door opener can be “hacked” by others with a handheld remote programmed using DIP switches set in either a +, 0, or ‑ position? This is how many criminals get into homes to burglarize them.
However, since 1993, most door openers have used the much more advanced technology of rolling codes. This means that each time you press on the remote, an entirely new code is generated for the subsequent use. In 1993, Chamberlain Group (including the brands Chamberlain, LiftMaster, and Craftsman) started equipping its remotes with the Security+ system which allowed for many millions of codes. This was followed by its Security+ 2.0 system in 1996 offering more than 1 billion possible codes.
Now we have connected homes
These days, we’ve even gone beyond the remote, and now we have smartphones, tablets or laptops to open and close our garage doors from anywhere. Chamberlain Group (LiftMaster and Craftsman) have offered the technology MyQ since 2013.
And since August 2017, new garage door openers have come with Wi‑Fi technology, meaning you can use your voice to open and close the garage door. This all makes a garage door safer against intruders.
Reduce noisy garage door openers
If your garage door is older, then it likely uses chain belts to raise and lower the door. This can be very noisy. Today, there are door openers that use rubber belts (reinforced with metal fibers similar to the way car tires are made) that are proven to be much quieter.
If you want to make the door even quieter, there are nylon rollers that you can use to replace the chain. In addition, there is even a vibration isolator system which uses rubber placed between the opener motor and the metal brackets holding it to the ceiling to further quiet operation.
Avoid getting locked out in a power outage
Many models of new garage door openers come with a backup battery in the event of a power outage, specifically the models 8500, 8500W, 8550W and 8360W from Lift Master. In the event of a prolonged outage, you are able to use your door opener 20 or so times. That could come in handy!
How many types of door openers are available on the market today?
For door openers which come with a trolley, you will find there are two different models to choose from. The first is a chain drive, which can come as a continuous chain or a combination of metal cable and chain. With this type of door, the version that is made of all chain is the higher quality.
The other model type is the belt drive. These use a rubber belt, reinforced with metal, to do their job. This is the quietest option and preferred if there is a living space located above the garage.
What types of motor sizes are there to choose from?
In North America, motors are available in ½ and ¾ horsepower. In Europe, motors provide 500‑or 700‑newtons of power, which corresponds to the‑½ and ¾‑horsepower motors. Make sure you are aware that a garage door which is balanced correctly should only weight about 10 pounds (4.5‑kilos). The electric door opener takes over the human strength for you by opening the door like you would with a single hand. However, a ¾‑horsepower opener can be set to lift up to 350‑pounds (160‑kilo). It can also push this amount of weight down.
What is the best location to purchase a door opener?
If you don’t use your garage door on a regular basis, less than once a day, you can acquire a door opener with a three-part trolley from any big box store or chain hardware store. This is not the most quality option but will work from a technical standpoint if your use is limited. For those who use their garage door on a regular basis, purchasing an opener with a one-piece trolley mechanism is the best option.
Garage door specialists will have installation and repair experience that makes them educated about many types and brands of door openers. If you seek a recommendation from them about your best option, you will be pointed in the right direction. In some cases, they can also provide you with special door openers that come already equipped with all the standard components that will match your specific needs.
Is installation of the product something I can do myself?
If you have some skill with basic tools and your installation isn’t unique, you can often install the device on your own. If you prefer to let someone else handle it or want the reassurance of having an expert install the opener, an experienced garage door technician can do the job. This person will also be sure that the automatic safety reversal system and other components are all working as they should be.
Is there a way to prevent someone from opening my garage door if I am on a trip?
Some control panels for garage door openers allow you to block the use of a remote control to open the door. You will still be able to use the control panel to open and close the door.
If you are planning to be gone for more than a few days, you can also choose to unplug the garage door opener while you are out of town. This is the most effective way to reassure yourself that nobody can make it into your garage. After you return home, you will only need to reprogram the remote, which takes only a few minutes.
There was a power outage, how can I reprogram my door opener remote?
Depending on the remote you have purchased, it can simple and straightforward to reprogram it. You’ll want to get a ladder and use it climb up by the opener housing. On the back of the device you will find proper instructions for the model you own.
My door no longer goes all the way down. Instead, it reverses and comes back up. Why is this happening?
Assuming your garage door opener was bought since 1993, it will have dual automatic reversal systems. One of them is a photocell system while the other is mechanical. The former is installed on each side of your garage door, six inches or so from the floor of the garage. If your door is no longer going all the way down, the beam is likely no longer aligned. Realigning it will make your garage door opener work again.
Are there backup batteries that can be used?
Certain door openers, such as the 8550W‑model from LiftMaster, come with backup batteries installed. This battery will offer you a way to operate your garage door for 20 hours of operation if there is a major power outage that sticks around.
What does the MyQ application allow me to do?
What if someone else is opening your garage door? Perhaps you live alone, or other family members are out of town. You’re not home, so you know there’s no way your garage door should be open. You can actually configure the app to notify you, either by means of an alert on your smartphone or an email message, if anything changes with your garage door. It’s open and it shouldn’t be? You’ll know, and you can call the police to report a possible break‑in.
Are you expecting a package? You know that the delivery service isn’t going to come around at your convenience, so all you have to do is call them and ask to be contacted when they’re at your door. You can open up the garage door for the driver, and then close it after he or she leaves – all from anywhere at all in the entire world!
Okay, let’s say that you forgot your smartphone at home. It’s not the end of the world. By going to the MyQ web page, you can use all the features that you’d have been able to access your phone to control and monitor your garage door, your lighting, and your appliances. You can also use your Android, Blackberry or Apple device to control your home’s lighting when you’re not around. To say the least, it adds a whole new dimension to home security.
What can I expect an average garage door opener to be priced at?
The price of your door opener will vary depending on the brand and model that you choose. A ½-HP, belt-drive, high-quality model may cost anywhere from‑$350 to‑$400, excluding the price of installation. Installation itself may cost around $100‑provided the installation is done when your new garage door is installed.
At Next Day Garage Door, we promise to provide the very best service possible and offer a myriad of affordable options to help you make the smartest choice possible. Our ultimate goal is for all our customers to be informed homeowners. As this blog progresses, we will continue to help homeowners diagnose and perhaps even fix their garage door repair on their own. We offer Garage Door Repair Maryland and Roll Up Garage Door Washington DC. We also serve Garage Door Repairs all over Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We have technicians available 24/7 to service any of your garage door repair needs. Garage Door Repair Cost can be high; however, we promise to offer professional top-notch garage door repairs at an affordable price guaranteed. Please feel free to give us a call or text at (301)-500-0475 or (571)-327-6285 if you have any questions or inquiries.
