Most of us start thinking about our garage doors only after something goes awry—but that’s a dangerous mistake to make. At Door Doctor, we know that every garage door has a finite life. With routine maintenance and repairs, you can keep the door safe and functional, but you can’t put off new garage door installation forever. If you think your garage door might be approaching the end of its operational life, keep an eye out for the following signs: 

Deteriorating Appearance

While it’s always nice to have a visually appealing garage door, there’s more to your door’s appearance than meets the eye. Minor dents usually won’t compromise the door’s performance, but significant damage certainly will. 

To maintain your curb appeal and to keep your vehicle protected from outside elements, replace your garage door as soon as you notice damage to it.

Unusually Noisy Operation

Every garage door makes some noise during operation, that’s normal. But when the noise level starts to climb a few decibels, it’s time for an inspection. Unusually loud operation is a clear sign of deterioration, and in some cases, a simple component replacement might solve the problem.

However, if you hear any excessive creaking, cracking, shaking, squealing, or grinding during operation, don’t ignore this issue! Contact us for your garage door inspection as soon as you notice strange noises. We at Door Doctor can advise you on the best course of action.  

Missing Safety Features

Modern garage doors come equipped with a multitude of valuable safety features that keep you and your loved ones out of harm’s way. But if you own an older garage door, it probably doesn’t have the safety mechanisms that you and your family desperately need. Here are the safety components every garage door should have: 

• Auto-reverse functionality
• Motion detection
• Manual override controls 
• Photo-eye sensors

Having remote access along with a security keypad is also desirable, and paramount for safety. If your garage door lacks any of these features, it’s time to start shopping for a replacement. You can also call our garage door repair technicians to retrofit your door with the appropriate features. 

Irreparable Damage

Damaged garage doors are always dangerous, so if you’re dealing with more than one broken component, that’s a sure sign that your door is past the point of repair. With regular daily use, the average garage door has a lifespan of around 15–30 years. As it approaches the end of its life, you will likely notice signs of damage and deterioration, so keep an eye out for: 

• Broken springs
• Damaged or rusting hinges
• Damaged or dented garage door tracks 
• Deteriorating cables or wires
• Damaged or broken door handles
• Rusty screws and other hardware

Something as harmless as rust can cause your garage door to malfunction. And when you’re dealing with an extremely heavy door that can injure you in the event of a fault, don’t ever allow deterioration to persist unchecked. Instead of replacing all the aging components on an old garage door, it’s best to opt for a new one, as your safety is at stake. 

LOOKING FOR RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR INSTALLATION? CONTACT DOOR DOCTOR TODAY

Many homeowners use their garage doors as their main entrance to their homes, making garage doors and openers one of the most essential, useful systems in the house. On average, garage door openers can dependably open and close your door for at least ten years, but many operate for much longer with proper care. Besides, even if your garage door opener is still working, it is nonetheless a good idea to upgrade to take advantage of improvements in-home safety and day-to-day convenience.

WHY SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR GARAGE DOOR OPENER?

Do you even remember the last time you replaced your garage door opener? Many electrical garage door openers can function much longer than their expected lifespans with proper care and regular maintenance. However, many older models, especially those manufactured before the 1990s, lack upgraded features that improve the overall safety and functionality of your garage door opener.

If you’re confused about whether you should purchase a new garage door opener, then consider these improvements that are only offered with modern and updated machines:

• Improved Safety Upgrades: In your younger days, you most likely saw those old garage door opener models where you would click the wall-mounted controls then run to slip under the garage door before it closed. However, after 1993 garage door openers were manufactured with photo-eye sensors mounted at the base of the door. So, if a child, pet, or object interrupts that signal, then the sensors instruct the door to rise. These sensors are essential as they prevent property damage and personal harm.
• Increased Home Security: Older opener machines used a set remote code to control door operations. Because the code never changed, intruders could easily copy this code to their remotes and gain entrance to homes. Modern garage door openers use a rolling code feature that changes the code each time the opener is used.
• Quieter Operation: Older chain drive openers are very noisy during operation, which can be disruptive to those inside your home or your neighbourhood.
• Battery Backup: If you ever experienced a power outage with your old garage door opener, then you understand the frustration that comes from being unable to open or close your garage door. However, an updated garage door opener with battery backup capabilities allows the door to open or close without power.
• Added Features: Not only are newer opener models safer and more secure, but they also feature the latest technology, such as Wi-Fi. Now you can control your door and lights from anywhere, as they are smartphone-controlled and have whole-home connectivity.

CONTACT DOOR DOCTOR’S GARAGE DOOR REPAIR TODAY

If you need a new garage door opener, get in touch with our highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals at Door Doctor who will assist you in selecting and installing a quality, convenient electric garage door opener. We’re a locally owned and operated company serving homeowners and commercial outlets throughout the Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Kingston areas with all of their garage door and opener maintenance and installation needs. We offer same-day services and competitive pricing models for all our customers.

Most families use their garage about 3–4 times a day. This means that they open their garage door by moving it up and down around 1,000 to 1,500 times throughout a year. Within these 1,000–1,500 times, there are a lot of opportunities for an accident to happen. Garage doors can quickly become a major safety concern if you do not take care of them properly.

The NEISS (National Electronic Injury Surveillance System) reports that ERs (emergency rooms) treat over 15,000 people suffering from garage door injuries every year. Avoid becoming another statistic at all costs by using these proven garage door tips to keep your entire family safe.

Check the Safety Sensors

Checking safety sensors is very important. First, find the safety sensors. They will be about six inches off the ground attached to the rails where the garage door goes up and down. These sensors should be in optimum condition, as their primary job is to prevent the garage door from closing if it senses a person or animal walking underneath it. 

You can test your garage door safety sensors by first pushing the button to close the garage door, and then placing an object in front of one of the sensors before the door closes. If your safety sensors are working correctly, they should stop immediately and reverse once the beam is blocked. If this does not happen, call Door Doctor’s professionals in Montreal or Toronto to schedule an appointment for any needed repairs.

Watch Your Fingers

NEISS further reports that over 7,500 injuries happen yearly from fingers getting stuck between the panels of garage doors. While some newer garage doors come with “pinch protection” that dramatically reduces the risk of these injuries, it is still important to teach kids not to stick their hands between the panels of a garage door when it’s closing.

Inspect Your Garage Door Monthly

Garage door springs should always be strong enough to lift the door and hold it up so that it does not fall. Look them over about once a month to make sure the springs are not rusted. If they look like they are in poor condition, call us for a garage door spring replacement. 

Moreover, you should check how the pulley system is holding up at least once a month. This will help prevent your garage door spring from accidentally snapping and causing a severe injury. Remember that the main garage door springs are under a ton of tension, and should only be adjusted by a trained and licensed garage door repair technician.

Hire a Garage Door Repair Professional

Of course, you want your garage door to be safe and reliable. Here at Door Doctor, we want the same thing. Our crew consists of highly skilled professionals that have all the latest garage door safety training and are licensed in garage door services. Plus, they are up to date with all the new products when it comes to garage door repairs.

If you are still concerned about the safety of your garage door, our technicians will be more than happy to perform an inspection and make any necessary repairs. All you have to do is call us; we’ll sort out all your garage door problems.

Millions of homes in Canada have garages. Your garage door is a highly visible and hard-working surface that is subjected to all sorts of use and daily wear and tear. And yet, during summer, we often neglect our garage doors and don’t provide them with the care we offer our homes, patios, windows, and other exterior areas. But now’s a good time to expand your spring and summer cleaning checklist to include your garage door. Here are some spring cleaning tips that you should use.

For optimal results, while washing the door:

• Wash the door surface and windows of your garage with mild liquid soap and water. Wash both the interior and exterior using a sponge, cloth, and soft brush.
• Don’t use harsh or abrasive detergents. They can damage the painted surface of the garage door or the seals.
• Rinse thoroughly using a hose, and do not use a pressure washer. This, too, can damage the surface.
• If you are cleaning something more stubborn than dirt or road salt—for instance, oil stains—you can spot-clean the area with a solution of water and diluted bleach. Rinse all surfaces thoroughly immediately after spot cleaning. Be sure never to mix bleach with other cleansers because the mixture will cause harmful fumes.
• Your door should be waxed every six months to protect the door’s finish. Always wash the door first and use a good quality car wax.
• If you detect surface rust, immediately contact us for inspection and repair options.
• Also, inspect and clean the weatherstrip at the bottom of the door. Applying a vinyl protectant can prolong its life. Also, we can easily replace it if it shows signs of wear or cracking. This bottom strip must be in good condition and in full contact with the garage floor. It helps to insulate your garage as well as to keep insects and rodents out.
• Finally, you should clean and organize the areas around the garage door as well. Additionally, remove any stacks or objects that could fall over and obstruct the path of the garage door or damage the track.

Clean the Interior Too

Follow the tips above for optimum results, and also try to remove any dirt or grime you can see on the interior of your garage door. One of the critical areas to pay attention to is the tracks on which the door operates. Remove any dirt or debris that you find in the tracks to prevent potential problems from occurring in the future.

While it is true that no one will be able to see the inside of your garage door from outside, keeping it well-maintained will help improve its overall durability.

Finally, contact us today if you need help with your garage door that is not cleaning related. We can help with that too. If you are in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, or Kingston, give Door Doctor’s garage door repair technicians a call to find out what we can do for you.