Quick Fixes for Common Issues with Garage Doors

Certain garage door problems require the intervention of a specialist. If you come home from work to find your door hanging askew on its hinges, you may want to call a professional to take a look at the problem before you break out your toolbox. But most common garage door problems can be solved in a matter of minutes with a little bit of light troubleshooting. If you can learn to fix the following problems yourself, you’ll save yourself a lot of time, money, and frustration.

Garage Door Will Not Open or Close

A garage door becomes a garage wall when it won’t open, and it turns your garage into a carport when it won’t close. There are several things that can cause a door to stick, so tackle the troubleshooting in a logical, orderly fashion until you identify the problem

• Check your remote opener batteries and also make sure there is nothing blocking the safety sensors
• Look for anything in the tracks preventing the door from traveling smoothly
• Clean any gunky lubricant slowing the door’s progress

If the lubricant turned out to be the problem, consider looking for a different brand that can hold up against a variety of weather conditions.

Garage Door Won’t Open and Close Evenly

Most home owners that have garage doors utilizing extension or stretch style springs have faced this problem at least once. You try to open or close the door, and it’s like trying to close a difficult set of blinds. First one side drops and then the other. This can be frustrating, but there are some factors you can check before calling a repairman. First, make sure there aren’t any obstructions in the way by cleaning off your tracks. If that doesn’t work, try the following steps:

• Check spring quality – they should all be of equal length and flexibility
• Identify your sticking points – check those points for visible damage
• Check garage door cables – look for frying, breakage and signs of wear

Relentlessly Noisy Garage Door

You don’t want to wake up your neighbors with a squealing garage door, and noisy operation can be symptomatic of a serious problem. More often than not, however, it merely signifies the need for additional lubrication. Oil your tracks with proper lube to put an end to the screeching. If you already keep up with that aspect of maintenance, clean off your tracks to make sure debris in the oil isn’t the source of the noise. One important note: use only oils specifically made for garage doors or general-purpose lubricants like JB80 or one of our specialty lubes. Using heavy weight grease or machine oils can slow your door down and cause more problems.

Remote Control No Longer Works

If you can’t get your remote control to open the door, your first order of business should be to replace the batteries. Brand names and generics are interchangeable in many areas of life, but reputable, brand-name batteries are typically superior to generics. If those are not the source of the problem, check the following:

• Battery contacts – make sure your battery contacts aren’t too dirty to establish a connection.
• Reprogram the remote – directions to reprogram your remote to your garage door opener can be found on the manufactures webpage.
• Do a reset – take the batteries out of your remote and unplug your garage door opener, for about a minute each, to initiate a full reset. Often, this is all it takes to get a garage door remote control working again.

If you are uncomfortable with performing any of these repairs or maintenance items please call a garage door technician.

How to Update Your Garage Door’s Look

When looking for ways to enhance the curb appeal of their home, people often overlook one component that can make a dramatic difference: the garage door. Regardless of the size of your garage door, it has a major impact on the outward appearance of your home. Replacing it entirely is expensive, but there are ways to update and upgrade it to make it look fresh and new. We've rounded up five of the best options for updating your garage door’s look:

Repaint It: Repainting your garage door will have a very positive impact on the overall appearance of your home. Simply giving it a fresh coat of the same color paint can work wonders. If you're really looking to mix things up, you should consider trying an entirely different color. For an even more dramatic look, switch to a two-tone design. It's easy to find complementary shades that look great on garage doors. Always use exterior paint that works with whatever material your garage door is made out of, and remember to wash, sand and prime the door first to ensure that the new paint looks as vibrant and stylish as possible.

Add a Trellis Topper: This isn't something you see every day, but some especially handy homeowners have taken to mounting beautiful trellises just above their garage doors. If you have a green thumb, you may even be able to convince some climbing plants to grow up there too. There aren't kits available for this kind of thing, so you'll have to come up with a design yourself. It's a fun DIY project that really refreshes the style of your home.

Add Windows: If your garage door is made out of easy-to-remove panels, you're in luck. You can easily add new windows to the door to liven up its appearance. There are kits available to help and they include everything you need. In terms of style, you can take your pick from windows made out of translucent glass, plexiglass, plain glass and other materials. Some styles include texturing, inlays and other eye-catching features, so the sky is really the limit.

Try a Garage Door Poster: Like most people, you've probably never seen a garage door poster in action. That doesn't mean they don't work or aren't worthwhile options to consider. Garage door posters are kind of like wallpaper for your garage door. Many styles, colors and patterns are available when it comes to these weather-resistant posters, which are typically sold in kits that have everything you need to mount them.

Install New Hardware: Transform your basic garage door into one that looks downright fancy with new garage door hardware. Your local home improvement store should carry hardware kits that are specifically designed for garage doors. They're often called decorative garage door hardware kits, and many styles are available. At the very most, you'll have to drill a few small holes. From there, just screw in the hardware, and you'll be all set!

Whether you try one or several of these suggestions, you're sure to love the way your garage door and home look when you're done!

Tips to Quiet Down Your Garage Door

A loud garage door can be quite annoying, especially for people who may be trying to sleep nearby. Fortunately, in many cases, noisy garage doors can be fixed easily and quickly. If you’d like to quiet down your garage door, the following useful tips may be able to help:

1. Tighten the Hardware. When a garage door is activated, it vibrates. This can cause screws and bolts to loosen in the system, which can lead to a noisy door. You can remedy this problem by using a socket or adjustable wrench to tighten all of the screws and bolts in the system. When tightening hardware, be sure to check for any worn out parts that may need to be replaced.
 
2. Lubricate Moving Parts. Rusty parts and/or a lack of lubrication can also lead to noisy garage doors. To prevent this, you can apply a garage door lubricant onto your system's moving parts about two or three times per year. Be sure to wipe away any old grease before applying new lubricant. Some of the areas you will want to lubricate are:
• Roller Stems
• Steel Rollers
• Springs
• Pivoting Portions of Garage Door Hinges
• End Fixture Area Bearings
3. Replace the Rollers. Metal rollers can make a lot of noise when they roll up and down the tracks of your garage door. If this is what is causing your door to be loud, consider replacing your metal rollers with rollers made out of nylon. Nylon rollers are much quieter and they don’t need to be lubricated regularly. However, since replacing rollers can be a bit tricky, you may want to have a professional do this for you.
 
4. Replace the Hinges or Springs. Many garage doors become loud due to worn-out hinges or springs. In some cases, greasing the hinges will help. If it doesn’t help, you may need to replace them. Additionally, if the coils in the springs become bent, they will rub together and cause an annoying noise. In this case, the only solution is to replace them.

However, if you need to replace your torsion springs located at the top of the door, you should have a professional handle the problem. Replacing or adjusting these springs can be very difficult and dangerous if you don’t know exactly what you are doing.  Do not attempt to repair or adjust torsion springs yourself.

If you have a noisy garage door in your home, you have probably found that it can be very annoying. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to remedy your problem. In fact, if you follow the useful tips described above, you will have a quiet garage door in no time at all!

If you are uncomfortable with performing any of these repairs or maintenance items please call a garage door technician.

Spring Garage Door Tune Up

As you work your way down your spring home maintenance to-do’s, don’t forget to add spring garage door tune ups to the list. Annual inspections help ensure reliable, quiet operation of the door as well as home safety. A neglected garage door can become noisy and pose significant security and safety risks to you and your family. The average garage door does up and down over 1000 times a year! So you can only imagine the wear and tear that occurs from regular use. Some things to focus on during your garage door tune up are:
Inspect Your Door’s Hardware:

1. Tighten Nuts and Bolts- Garage door hardware can loosen. Inspect and tighten any loose roller brackets as well as the bolts that hold the rails to the support brackets.
2. Inspect Rollers for Wear and Tear- Nylon rollers crack and chip as they deteriorate while steel rollers tend to tilt as they weather. We recommend buying replacements if they are worn but do not remove the bottom roller bracket as this is under high tension and should only be replaced by a professional.
3. Inspect the Lift Cable for Wear- Look for broken cable strands but do not replace it yourself. This cable is under very high tension and should only be replaced by a professional.

Maintain Springs, Chains and Seals:

1. Lubricate Springs, Chains and Screws- Apply a small amount of spray lubricant to the door’s hinges, rollers, torsion springs, end bearings, center bearings, locks and tracks as needed. By lubricating your garage door in the appropriate places, it will make the opener operate quieter and smoother. This can also help extend the life of both the opener and the door.
2. Replace Weather Seal- Over the harsh winter, your weather seals have been tested and can become brittle and worn. Replace the seal to ensure another year’s worth of protection. Through weather proofing and insulating the garage door, it can save you on your utility bill and remain drier throughout the winter months and cooler during summer.

Test Your Door’s Capabilities:

1. Balance- Disconnect the automatic opener from the door by pulling the opener release handle. Then manually lift the door halfway. A well balanced garage door will hold that position. If it rides up, the springs are under too much tension. If it falls, the tension needs to be increased.
2. Auto Reverse- Place a 2" x 4" board (laid flat) under the middle of your garage door and try to close it. As it impacts the board it should stop and reverse within 2 seconds. If your door does not reverse please refer to your garage door openers manual for instructions.

Keeping your garage door safe and functional is an important part of owning a home. Use spring as a time to inspect and replace any pieces of your door that may not be functioning or are weathered from the winter. It will not only save you money in the long run, but also give you piece of mind as you drive your car into your garage each night.

If you are uncomfortable with performing any of these repairs or maintenance items please call a garage door technician.

Having Trouble Programming your Overhead Door 111663 Series Remote?

If so, read on!  Here are Star Door Parts our employees have years of experience troubleshooting just about any remote or transmitter problem you can encounter.  Here is our trip on how to program your Overhead Door garage door opener when the factory instructions just don't seem to help.

Overhead Door Remote Programming Tip
First,start by taking the cover off the remote and with one finger depress the button that you depress to open the door and keep it depressed. The red light and the green light will illuminate. Then, with the other hand, depress the other button and the green light will blink twice. Finally, release both buttons and that will activate the remote.

For Overhead Door remotes, keypads garage door and openerparts and accessories, please visit us at www.stardoorparts.com

Garage Door Decorative Hardware

Did you know that one of the fastest and most cost effective ways to add curb appeal to your home is simply by adding some decorative rustic hinges and handles to you garage door.  Although this is not a look that will work for every home it is a option for many.  You can purchase various kits and individual pieces to match your homes style.  These overhead door accessories are easy to install with simple hand tools and relatively inexpensive.  Use our coupon code FASTFIVE to save an additional 5% when you order online from www.stardoorparts.com  

Garage Security Tips

One of the top mistakes people make is leaving the garage door remote in their vehicle. Thieves break into your car and take the remote giving them direct access to your home. The best way to prevent this from happening and still have easy access to your garage door opener is to simply purchase a keychain style remote.

Keep GPS devices stowed away when parking at shopping malls, movie theaters or sporting events. Criminals will break into your car steal your GPS and your garage door remote control and then hit the “home” button on the GPS and it leads them to your unoccupied home where they will have access for several hours while you are enjoying your entertainment. If your transmitter does get stolen be sure to immediately clear all the codes in your opener and reprogram all your remotes and keypads. This prevents that stolen device from opening your door. If you do not know how to clear your codes please contact the door opener manufacturer for assistance.

Secure your garage door emergency release mechanism by using a zip tie or product designed to prevent the “six second” break-in. Products like the no-entry latch guard are easy to install and are typically under $20 and make this break-in technique almost impossible. Criminals will use a wedge and coat hanger to grab the disconnect mechanism on your garage door opener and can be in your garage (and house if your door to your house is unlocked) in seconds.

Keep the door locked between your garage and house. We suggest using a deadbolt. Also make sure the door from the garage to your home is as sturdy as your front door. A steel door is the best and anti kick devices are also recommended. It really is not that big of an inconvenience to unlock the door when you consider the piece of mind you will have knowing your home is safe. Another helpful hint is to install a good wide-angle peephole to look into your garage from safely inside the house incase you do hear strange noises coming from your garage.

Do not make it easy on the criminals and forget to shut your door when you go to bed or leave for work. This gives them free access to anything in your garage and if they shut your door behind them plenty of time to also break into your house without being seen. There are a couple products on the market like a garage door monitor that can tell you if your garage door is open or closed from your bedside or anywhere in your home. Genie now has a garage door opener that can be fitted with a device called a closed confirm remote that will tell you if your garage door closed properly behind you.

If you do have windows in garage door or side windows in your garage be sure to get obscure glass or frosted glass to prevent thieves from looking in to see what good stuff you have to offer or more importantly if someone may be home or not. Keep expensive items like golf clubs, bikes and power tools out of site. These are items easy to sell and pawn.

Always padlock the slide lock on your door when traveling or away from your home for long periods of time. If you do not have a slide lock on your garage door they can be purchased for under $10 from a hardware store or online garage door parts retailer. This ensures no one will be able to open your garage door manually or with a remote. This will give you a piece of mind that your garage is secured while traveling. A little tip though be sure to either unplug your opener or turn the vacation switch on your wall station to prevent you from accidently pressing the button when you return home and damage your door, opener or both due to it being locked down.

Making sure your garage door and opener are maintained properly and installed correctly is also an important part of the security of your home. The drawbar arm that connects your garage door to your door opener should be as close to vertical when the door is closed and sealing the door at the floor. This helps prevent someone from prying your garage door open. If your drawbar arm is angled it can be back driven in some cases allowing access to your door. Be sure to keep the area around your photo safety sensors clean and free from debris. This is the reason most doors do not close when you activated.