How to choose the best Garage Door Company for your needs

If your garage door goes on the blink, there are a good number of reasons you’re having trouble. It’s usually not a good idea to attempt to repair the garage door yourself, but there are some problems you may be able to handle yourself. Most others will require a garage door repair professional. Your garage door is a big part of your property’s value and curb appeal, so it’s vital that you hire a garage door expert you can rely on. Choose a dependable individual who will be honest with you about your garage door - whether or not repairs are needed, and if so, what’s actually required; or, if you should buy a brand-new garage door instead.

Fixing a garage door or hanging a new one - and ensuring that every wire, cable, and track is installed correctly, with the utmost safety and precision, is no simple job. Torsion springs, found on many garage doors, can cause major injury, and can even be deadly, if not dealt with properly.

Don’t despair. Here’s what you can do yourself. There are certainly steps you can take before you have to call a garage door professional to service your garage door.

Does your garage door stay open? The photo eyes are likely out of alignment. The garage door has a photo eye on each side, and in between them is an invisible beam, which, when broken, stops your garage door from closing. Check whether they’re misaligned or grimy.

Is your garage door staying closed? The transmitter batteries are probably low. Maybe all you have to do is replace them for the garage door to open.

Does the garage door opener run, but it still won’t open? If there’s a power failure, then your garage door opener has a disconnect switch, which allows you to shut or open your garage door by hand. This switch, typically attached to a rope or knob, can accidently come undone. Here’s what you can do:

• First, open or close the garage door all the way.
• Then, fasten the hook securely.
• Finally, try opening or closing the garage door again with the transmitter. It should work now.

Does the garage door go all the way down, and then open up again? The open-and-close limit settings of your garage door opener are bound to be on the fritz. The settings tell the garage door opener how far to go before it’s totally shut. If set too high, the garage door will hit the ground before the opener presumes it should, assuming that it’s touching an object in its path. If that’s the case, it will reverse so as not to crush the object. Your operator’s manual will instruct you on how to set the open-and-close limits yourself.

Does the garage door opener run for a few seconds, but then turn off? If the garage door just won’t budge, this happens when it’s closed. The motor tries unsuccessfully to lift it. Try this:

• First, inspect the springs.
• Now, examine the track for any possible minute obstacles.
• Then, see if maybe your garage door has a built-in lock that’s engaging inadvertently. This frequently occurs on older garage doors.

Does the garage door slam with a loud bang? It’s time to hire a professional garage door repair technician.

Does the garage door shut and open randomly? If your garage door opens or closes by itself, even while you’re away, this is both a security risk and a nuisance. Be sure the transmitters aren’t stuck under an object that’s unintentionally pressing down on the control mechanism. For example, the transmitters could be beneath some forgotten items in your vehicle, or something else nearby. If not, determine what the frequency of the transmitters is. A neighbor might have the same exact frequency as yours.

Is something more serious happening with your garage door? Then hire a garage door repair specialist. Here’s how to find the right one.

• Ask friends, colleagues, and family for their recommendations. Word of mouth from a satisfied customer is your best bet.
• Do your research. Open your local phone book and surf the Internet to explore garage door companies in your area. Note down the phone numbers and addresses. Verify that the street address truly belongs to that company, so you know that it’s a local business. Using the Web, match addresses with phone numbers. If the individual who answers won’t say the full business name and the physical address, cross it off your list.
• Once you’ve compiled your list of viable garage door companies, investigate each one. Ask folks you trust if they know anything about any of the companies on your list. The Website for each company alone will give you helpful information, along with a first impression. You can also ask the Better Business Bureau whether there are complaints on file. You can also consult your local consumer protection agency as well as your state’s attorney general.
• When you’ve narrowed it down to three, ask each one for specific advice about your specific garage door problems, and note what each one says. It’s essential that you feel comfortable with the person you choose who’s going to be repairing or replacing your garage door and/or its components.
• Request your three formal estimates, analyze all the details, check references, and get answers to all of your questions. Compare prices. Remember, you get what you pay for. Go with your gut, and you’ll be choosing the one garage door company you can always count on.