How to Find the Best Garage Door Repair in Scottsdale, AZ
You notice that your garage door is not working quite like it used to. Perhaps it is making weird noises or will not close/open properly. Quite naturally, you begin to look for a garage repair company. Not all companies are created equal, so you do want to thoroughly evaluate prospective companies before making a final decision.
Do Your Research
It is important that you receive multiple bids from various companies. This allows you to gauge who is really offering the best deal and who is overpriced. Multiple bids will likewise expose lower caliber companies, too. If their prices are significantly lower than everyone else's, this may be an indicator that their work is also subpar quality.
The Internet and Google allow access to information on nearly anything. Use your resources to check the critical information for any garage door service you are considering. Verify the company's physical address online with Google Maps and Google Street View.
Additionally, you should Google search the company to see what customers had to say. While a garage door repair Scottsdale provider may not have the fanciest website, most reputable companies at least have some form of online presence.
Another thing you want to do to find the best Scottsdale garage door repair is asking for referrals from friends and family. Referrals are great because you get to ask them about their personal experience with the company.
Plus, you know their answers are genuine because they are someone close to you. They would not want to see you waste money on a poor garage door service just to turn around and pay someone else to correct the bad work.
Take the liberty yourself to check each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating. Not only should your selected company be accredited, but they should have a long track record with a strong rating.
The Internet and Google allow access to information on nearly anything. Use your resources to check the critical information for any garage door service you are considering. Verify the company's physical address online with Google Maps and Google Street View.
Additionally, you should Google search the company to see what customers had to say. While a garage door repair Scottsdale provider may not have the fanciest website, most reputable companies at least have some form of online presence.
Another thing you want to do to find the best Scottsdale garage door repair is asking for referrals from friends and family. Referrals are great because you get to ask them about their personal experience with the company.
Plus, you know their answers are genuine because they are someone close to you. They would not want to see you waste money on a poor garage door service just to turn around and pay someone else to correct the bad work.
Take the liberty yourself to check each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating. Not only should your selected company be accredited, but they should have a long track record with a strong rating.
Peep the Red Flags
Do not ignore any red flags. If you notice a company uses excessive advertising, this can signal higher prices for customers to recoup those costs.
You should be wary of any company that has more than one name. If you hear one name from the technician, another from customer service, and you see still another name on their trucks, steer clear of that company.
You should be wary of any company that has more than one name. If you hear one name from the technician, another from customer service, and you see still another name on their trucks, steer clear of that company.
Why do garage door springs break?
Garage door torsion strings are essentially responsible for lifting the garage door. Torsion springs contain a counterbalance system of one or two tightly wound springs. Each spring has a stationary cone at one aend and a winding cone at the opposing end.
When the garage door is lifted, the springs unwind and release stored tension. The stored tension causes the torsion spring shaft to turn followed by the cable drums. Torsion springs return to full tension mode after the cable unwraps from the cable drums when lowered.
Unfortunately, torsion springs become faulty over time. Some of the primary reasons springs break include rust, wear and tear, cold weather and other factors.
Rust: Rust significantly decreases the lifespan of springs. Not only does it cause an increase in friction while the coil moves, but rust is naturally corrosive. This means it weakens the coil over time.
Wear and Tear: As with all things, springs just eventually wear out over time. Wear and tear is the major cause of spring failure. Most springs last for 10,000 cycles. It takes one cycle to open a garage and another cycle to close it.
Hence, the majority of people go through at least two cycles per day. Frequent garage door users should consider extended lifespan torsion springs. You only pay double the price for springs that last four times as long.
Technician Took the Cheap Route: If your technician chose to use one extra-long spring across your garage door, it may be susceptible to breaking. Garage doors generally require one torsion spring on each side to lift the door.
However, some technicians opt to use one long spring to cut costs. These havea much shorter lifespan than double springs. Invest in two springs to have more cycles before you must seek garage door repair services.
Improper Maintenance: It is important to spray your springs a few times a year with WD-40 to keep them in good shape and prevent rusting. Overmore, you should check your garage door balance once a season.
To check your balance, lift the door up halfway and let it go. Springs in good condition should keep the door completel still. If you notice your door sags or falls, it is a sign of worn torsion springs. It may be time for you to seek a Scottsdale garage door repair service.
Cold Weather: Garage door springs are more likely to break during cold weather. The cold, coiled stells is under a lot of pressure, which causes it to break. If you live in a colder area, you may have to replace your springs more often.
Other Potential Factors:
-Loose Tracks
-Grease build-up on garage door tracks
Signs Your Spring is Broken
1) Why does my garage door shake when opening and closing?
Pulleys are often the culprit with shaking doors. Press fit pulleys, which last around five years, begin to rivet and separate as they get older. The cables may fray and eventually become stuck. Ball bearings rub together and become wobbly.The end result is ball bearings that crush against each other due to dirt and dust.
Cast iron pulleys should not cause your door to shake since they keep out dust and dirt. These pulleys only contain one piece, so your cables should fray. Always remember that you should replace your cables anytime you replace your pulleys. Reach out to a professional instead of trying to do-it-yourself.
2)Why won't my garage door open?
The issues that keep a garage door from opening can be separated into a mechanical or motor issue. Broken springs, worn cables and the lock handle are the most prevalent mechanical issues. Broken springs must be replaced to allow the motor to lift your garage door. Worn cables often break at the same time as springs, in which case both need to be replaced.
The lock handle is a safety precaution. Make sure your door is not locked before deciding there is a malfunction. Motor issues involve the remote, stripped gears and lock mode. Make sure your remote batteries are not low.
Stripped gears can be fixed with a new gear or whole opener. Be sure not to hold down the opener button too long on your remote, as it can activate (or deactivate) the lock mode.
3. Why does my garage door go down a few inches before reversing?
Door openers made after 1993 include an infrared safety eye system. This means the door reverse if anything is in its way while closing. Sometimes, however, the blockage may not be caused by a physical object. It may be a broom handle or spider web that blocks the light beam.
Misaligned sensors can also cause the door to reverse immediately. Make sure the sending and receiving lights are lit on your sensor. Lights that are out or blinking can indicate the need for a realignment. A slight misalignment can likewise cause the door to go down only a few inches before reversing.
4. Why won't the garage door opener transmitter work?
Some garage wall consoles or push buttons have a vacation switch or lock button. If this function is activated, your wall console will usually blink. Inactivate the function by holding down the button for about five seconds. The transmitter should now work if that was the issue.
If the transmitter still does not work, try a new battery. It is important to be mindful of the coding switches while changing the battery. You do not want to disturb them. If batteries do not fix the issue, feel free to check if the coding switches on the transmitter match the switches on th power unit mounted on the ceiling.
5. Can I repair my own garage door spring?
It is just a spring, we know. However, it is best to seek a qualified door mechanic to change the springs for you, unless you have extensive prior experience. Torsion springs lift doors weighing over 300 pounds. These springs generate significant amounts of torque. Not to mention, wound springs contain mounds of stored potential energy.
A wrong move can cause you to release this stored energy and cause serious bodily harm. Your property may be subject to damage, too. Avoid do it yourself torsion spring repairs at all cost as an inexperienced individual. Call a qualified Scottsdale garage repair service to help you through the process. We can answer any questions you may have while maintaining safe conditions for you and your family.
6. Is my garage door properly balanced?
Balanced garage doors should pass four tests with no issues. Firstly, you door should lower in a controlled manner without slamming. You should check to see if your door raises at a controlled pace as well. Thirdly, your garage door should stay in place when lifted halfway. A fourth test is to check the alignment when your door is lifted. The bottom of the door should align with the bottom of the header when in a lifted position.
7. What is the R-value of garage doors?
R-values are a measure of the product's energy efficiency. Values are calculated based on the thickness and chemical properties of the insulation materials. Most R-values only reflect sections instead of the entire door. Door insulation capabilities are highly dependent on the door’s construction. For example, polyurethane is more energy efficient than polystyrene as an insulator.
When the garage door is lifted, the springs unwind and release stored tension. The stored tension causes the torsion spring shaft to turn followed by the cable drums. Torsion springs return to full tension mode after the cable unwraps from the cable drums when lowered.
Unfortunately, torsion springs become faulty over time. Some of the primary reasons springs break include rust, wear and tear, cold weather and other factors.
Rust: Rust significantly decreases the lifespan of springs. Not only does it cause an increase in friction while the coil moves, but rust is naturally corrosive. This means it weakens the coil over time.
Wear and Tear: As with all things, springs just eventually wear out over time. Wear and tear is the major cause of spring failure. Most springs last for 10,000 cycles. It takes one cycle to open a garage and another cycle to close it.
Hence, the majority of people go through at least two cycles per day. Frequent garage door users should consider extended lifespan torsion springs. You only pay double the price for springs that last four times as long.
Technician Took the Cheap Route: If your technician chose to use one extra-long spring across your garage door, it may be susceptible to breaking. Garage doors generally require one torsion spring on each side to lift the door.
However, some technicians opt to use one long spring to cut costs. These havea much shorter lifespan than double springs. Invest in two springs to have more cycles before you must seek garage door repair services.
Improper Maintenance: It is important to spray your springs a few times a year with WD-40 to keep them in good shape and prevent rusting. Overmore, you should check your garage door balance once a season.
To check your balance, lift the door up halfway and let it go. Springs in good condition should keep the door completel still. If you notice your door sags or falls, it is a sign of worn torsion springs. It may be time for you to seek a Scottsdale garage door repair service.
Cold Weather: Garage door springs are more likely to break during cold weather. The cold, coiled stells is under a lot of pressure, which causes it to break. If you live in a colder area, you may have to replace your springs more often.
Other Potential Factors:
-Loose Tracks
-Grease build-up on garage door tracks
Signs Your Spring is Broken
- Garage door cables seem broken: garage will go up but not back down
- Garage door only raises 6" and stops: safety mechanism to prevent damage to your garage door and opener
- Loud 'bang' noise in the garage: spring unwinds in less than a second. The loud noise is the coils spinning on the shaft. It may sound as though someone is trying to break in.
- Top section of garage door is bent: door may bend as the electric garage door opener tries to open a door with a broken spring
- Garage door closes faster than usual: can signal an unbalanced garage door and broken spring
- Emergency release rope fails to open the door: pulling the red emergency release rope on automatic openers should cause your garage door to open. If the counterbalance spring is broken, the door will not open.
- Door makes jerky movements when opening and closing: jerky movements signal that you may have one broken spring, as the door will still lift with one spring intact.
1) Why does my garage door shake when opening and closing?
Pulleys are often the culprit with shaking doors. Press fit pulleys, which last around five years, begin to rivet and separate as they get older. The cables may fray and eventually become stuck. Ball bearings rub together and become wobbly.The end result is ball bearings that crush against each other due to dirt and dust.
Cast iron pulleys should not cause your door to shake since they keep out dust and dirt. These pulleys only contain one piece, so your cables should fray. Always remember that you should replace your cables anytime you replace your pulleys. Reach out to a professional instead of trying to do-it-yourself.
2)Why won't my garage door open?
The issues that keep a garage door from opening can be separated into a mechanical or motor issue. Broken springs, worn cables and the lock handle are the most prevalent mechanical issues. Broken springs must be replaced to allow the motor to lift your garage door. Worn cables often break at the same time as springs, in which case both need to be replaced.
The lock handle is a safety precaution. Make sure your door is not locked before deciding there is a malfunction. Motor issues involve the remote, stripped gears and lock mode. Make sure your remote batteries are not low.
Stripped gears can be fixed with a new gear or whole opener. Be sure not to hold down the opener button too long on your remote, as it can activate (or deactivate) the lock mode.
3. Why does my garage door go down a few inches before reversing?
Door openers made after 1993 include an infrared safety eye system. This means the door reverse if anything is in its way while closing. Sometimes, however, the blockage may not be caused by a physical object. It may be a broom handle or spider web that blocks the light beam.
Misaligned sensors can also cause the door to reverse immediately. Make sure the sending and receiving lights are lit on your sensor. Lights that are out or blinking can indicate the need for a realignment. A slight misalignment can likewise cause the door to go down only a few inches before reversing.
4. Why won't the garage door opener transmitter work?
Some garage wall consoles or push buttons have a vacation switch or lock button. If this function is activated, your wall console will usually blink. Inactivate the function by holding down the button for about five seconds. The transmitter should now work if that was the issue.
If the transmitter still does not work, try a new battery. It is important to be mindful of the coding switches while changing the battery. You do not want to disturb them. If batteries do not fix the issue, feel free to check if the coding switches on the transmitter match the switches on th power unit mounted on the ceiling.
5. Can I repair my own garage door spring?
It is just a spring, we know. However, it is best to seek a qualified door mechanic to change the springs for you, unless you have extensive prior experience. Torsion springs lift doors weighing over 300 pounds. These springs generate significant amounts of torque. Not to mention, wound springs contain mounds of stored potential energy.
A wrong move can cause you to release this stored energy and cause serious bodily harm. Your property may be subject to damage, too. Avoid do it yourself torsion spring repairs at all cost as an inexperienced individual. Call a qualified Scottsdale garage repair service to help you through the process. We can answer any questions you may have while maintaining safe conditions for you and your family.
6. Is my garage door properly balanced?
Balanced garage doors should pass four tests with no issues. Firstly, you door should lower in a controlled manner without slamming. You should check to see if your door raises at a controlled pace as well. Thirdly, your garage door should stay in place when lifted halfway. A fourth test is to check the alignment when your door is lifted. The bottom of the door should align with the bottom of the header when in a lifted position.
7. What is the R-value of garage doors?
R-values are a measure of the product's energy efficiency. Values are calculated based on the thickness and chemical properties of the insulation materials. Most R-values only reflect sections instead of the entire door. Door insulation capabilities are highly dependent on the door’s construction. For example, polyurethane is more energy efficient than polystyrene as an insulator.