A garage door has many components working together, but none are more important than the garage door spring.  The primary function of a garage door spring is to store mechanical energy to open and close your garage door smoothly.  The torsion spring must properly match the garage door itself and must be in good condition.  As the garage door lifts to open and close the torsion springs are wound and unwound to counterbalance the weight of the door.  Depending on the type and size of the garage door the weight can vary between 150 and 600 pounds. 

How Many Types of Garage Door Springs are There?

There are two main categories of garage door springs:  Extension Springs and Torsion Springs

Extension Springs:  Extension Springs generally run along the sides of the sectional door and are commonly found in older homes.  Along the walls of the garage are pulleys that the extension springs connect to along with cables.  They are designed with a clip system, single or double loop. 

Torsion Springs:  Torsion Springs are coils made by large gauge steel wire that tightens when the door is closed and unwinds on opening.  Torsion springs are mounted horizontally above the opening of the door and help lift the door. 

Which Spring Type is Better?

Torsion Springs lifespan is longer than Extension Springs.  They are stronger and need fewer adjustments.  Torsion Springs allow for smoother motion and are safer than Extension Springs. 

What Is the Lifespan of Garage Door Springs?

The average garage door opens and closes 3 to 5 times a day.  If correctly installed torsion springs should last about 10,000 cycles of opening and closing which is between 6 to 10 years.  Some last longer and some last less depending on different factors of weather conditions and maintenance. 

What are the Common Signs of Worn Springs?

Look for:  Door closes too fast, door appears misaligned, gaps in springs, rusty springs or stretched out and lots of noise when operating. 

Do not attempt to repair or replace your garage door spring.  It’s best to leave it to the professionals who have the knowledge and tools to fix the problem. 

Contact A1 Affordable Garage door services for all your garage door repair needs Serving most of Dfw and surroudning aresa like Mckinney, Melissa, Princeton, Plano and more.

Garage doors are constructed to last for a long period of time, but their lifespan depends on the frequency and quality of maintenance along with external conditions.  Even if it lasts for many years, the moving parts eventually wear out and some other parts will need to be replaced.  At some point the following components will most likely need to be repaired or replaced during the lifespan of your garage door. 

Springs:  Garage door springs are responsible for helping the door open and close.  The average life expectancy of a garage door spring is around 10,000 open and close cycles which in most garages averages out to be seven to nine years.  A few problems can occur if the springs are damaged, one being the door opening automatically or falling.  Replacing a garage door spring can be dangerous and should be left to the professionals to deal with.

Photo Eye Sensors:  Photo eye sensors, also called electric eyes are about six inches off the ground and fixed on either side of the garage door.  These sensors ensure that the garage door stops and reverses direction if an object comes into its path while the garage door is closing.  Well maintained sensors can last for many years by keeping them clear of debris and tightening the screws. 

Hinges:  Most garage doors have hinges that hold the panels and keep them together.  Hinges ensure the doors roll-up while opening and are a vital part of the structural assembly of the garage door.  They often wear or become damaged because of improper maintenance or a harsh impact.  It’s best to hire a professional to replace the hinges properly. 

Garage Door Openers:   Automatic garage door openers are motorized devices that allow you to open and close the garage door.  The average lifespan of a garage door opener is around 10 to 15 years.  Proper care and attention can keep your garage door openers functioning for a long time.  If you have problems such as the garage door closing, opening slowly, or stopping midway contact a professional to come and service it. 

Tracks:  Garage door tracks are found on either side of the garage door and above the door.  The tracks help guide the door when opening and closing.  If your garage door opens slowly or roughly, the tracks could be slightly bent.  Bending tends to happen from wear and tear and may need to be replaced.

A1 Affordable Garage Door Service provides expert service and repairs.  Give us a call today at 972-877-5774. Serving Plano and surrounding areas like Mckinney, Melissa, Murphy and more.

Home Maintenance Tips for Garage Doors and Garage Door Rollers

In this article we will discuss some easy ways to ensure your garage door and garage door rollers are working properly.  Routine maintenance can help keep your garage door working for years with rollers being one of the most important parts to watch.  Garage door rollers, also known as wheels, play an important role in the functioning of your garage door.  The following steps will help you maintain your garage door rollers, so your garage door is always running smoothly.

Tighten Nuts and Bolts – Because your garage door moves, the hardware can loosen overtime.  Loose nuts and bolts can cause your garage door rollers to malfunction, which can eventually result in the derailing of the garage door.  All roller brackets and bolts that hold the rails to the support bracket should be inspected and tightened every few months.

Check Hinges and Rollers – Garage door hinges can often become broken or just worn out due to damage or improper maintenance.  Rollers with worn out bearings tend to get damaged after some time causing the garage door to drag in the track becoming unbalanced and derail.

Check Garage Door Springs – Visually check your garage door springs for signs of a broken or faulty spring at least once a month.  Never attempt to replace the garage door rollers if your garage door uses torsion springs fixed on the header.  Call a garage door specialist to fix the springs.

Check the Opener Chain – The drive chain on your garage door opener overtime can suffer a slackening or loosening chain.  This can lead to several issues including garage door rollers being pressed against the tracks.  To help avoid the rollers from being damaged it’s important to lubricate the garage door track and tighten the chain. 

A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair Services provides expert service and repairs.  If your garage door rollers or any other garage door part is broken or damaged give us a call today at 972-877-5774.

A1 Affordable Garage Door Services can repair your garage door, replace your garage door or even install a custom garage door. Serving most of the Dallas  and surrounding areas like Little Elm, McKinney, Frisco, Melissa, Plano, Murphy and more! 

Regular maintenance can help keep your garage door functioning for years to come.  Garage door rollers play an important role in the operation of garage doors.  A garage door malfunction can occur with a single faulty roller that can result in all the other rollers becoming out of balance.  There are many factors that can lead to damage to garage door rollers such as irregular maintenance or low-quality rollers.  Let’s look at some simple techniques to fix garage door rollers.

Check for Loose Nuts and Bolts – Overtime the vibrations from the garage door opening and closing can loosen the nuts and bolts that keep the garage door parts in place leading to the malfunctioning of garage door rollers.  Eventually this will derail the garage door off the track.  It is essential to tighten all nuts and bolts after every few months.

Check for Damaged Rollers and Hinges – Check rollers for signs of deterioration.  Look for rust, cracks, uneven wear around the bearings or other signs of damage.  Keep your rollers properly lubricated and replace any damaged rollers.  Check hinges for loose or missing screws.  Fixed or replaced any hinges that are damaged. 

Check Garage Door Springs – Check for any visual indicators that the spring is worn out.  Check for separation or gaps in the torsion spring.  Springs are supposed to be connected from end to end.  Hiring a garage door professional is recommended to fix any issues concerning the torsion springs. 

Check the Opener Chain – Check for loose or malfunctioning garage door opener chain.  This can cause jerky garage door movements that results in the rollers being pushed against the tracks.  To avoid any damage to the rollers, lubricate the opener track and tighten the chain if loose. 

Bring in a Professional – Preventive maintenance is cheaper than emergency repairs but it’s crucial that you leave any repairs to the professionals.  A1 Affordable Garage Door Services provide quality service to our customers.  Give us a call today at 972-877-5774

A1 Affordable Garage Door Services can repair your garage door, replace your garage door or even install a custom garage door. Serving most of the Dallas  and surrounding areas like Little Elm, McKinney, Frisco, Melissa, Plano, Murphy and more!

A large portion of your home’s exterior design can be your garage door.  You can easily transform the appearance and improve the curb appeal of your home with a new garage door.  Let’s look at some design options that can enhance the appearance of your home.

Carriage Style Garage Doors:  Carriage Style garage doors open and close by swinging in and out of the doorway.  They remain a popular design, especially for luxury homes.  Carriage style garage doors complement a variety of home styles.  They have elegant patterns options that work beautifully with modern homes also.  Tudor style houses are perfect for carriage style garage doors because the iron handles and hinges give them a vintage look.  These garage doors are available in different colors and panel options.

Modern Style Garage Doors:  Modern Style garage doors can complement your home’s aesthetic with their stylish features.  They use simple details and clean lines that blend well with contemporary homes.  These door types are absent of elaborate details and embellishments.  Modern style garage doors come with stunning finishes with the benefit of customizing glass treatments and color options.    

Tradition Style Garage Doors:  Homeowners typically choose a traditional garage door style for a classic timeless look.  Traditional Garage doors typically feature customized raised rectangular panels.  These panels come in a wide variety of panel styles which the buyer can choose from.  The traditional style garage door is compatible with a variety of home styles and comes at an affordable price.

Customized Garage Doors:  Elevate your home’s style with a customized garage door.  The garage door types listed above can be easily customized by adding unique features, hardware, and windows to make the doors more appealing.  Adding the same type of window or hardware that is already part of your house will make your garage door more customized to fit your home’s design. 

A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair can repair your garage door problems, replace your garage door or install a custom garage door. We service most of the Dallas  and surrounding areas like Frisco, Little Elm, McKinney, Melissa, Murphy, Plano and more!

Garage door rollers are key components in garage doors functioning properly.  When the rollers are working correctly, they move along the tracks to keep your garage door working smoothly by reducing friction and dragging.  Every time your garage door is used, the rollers are always under stress.  A malfunction of even a single roller could lead to all the other rollers becoming out of balance and cause not only a malfunctioning garage door but also an inconvenience.  Let’s look at some techniques on how to fix garage doors rollers.

Tighten Nuts, Bolts and Screws:  All nuts, bolts, and screws are prone to loosen up over time.  This could lead to malfunctioning of garage door rollers resulting in the garage door coming off track.  It’s important to inspect your garage door on a frequent basis to tighten all nuts, bolts, and screws. 

Check Hinges and Rollers:  Rollers with worn out bearings will drag in the track causing the door to become unbalanced and derail.  Garage door hinges often wear out or become broken because of improper maintenance or damage. 

Check Garage Door Springs:  Never attempt to replace the garage door rollers if your garage door uses torsion springs fixed on the header.  The spring is under constant tension and sudden failure can cause the spring to break apart violently.  This can cause serious injuries to anyone nearby.  The safest way to replace your spring is to hire an expert. 

Check Opener Chain:  Over time, the drive chain on your garage door opener can suffer from a loosening and slackening of the chain that leads to a few issues including your garage door rollers being pushed against the tracks.  It’s important to lubricate the garage door track to help avoid the rollers being damaged and to tighten the chain. 

Consult a Garage Door Professional for Repairs!  Attempting to repair damaged parts yourself can lead to further damage to your garage door and could be dangerous.  If your garage door rollers, springs, or any other part is damaged or broken, leave it to the professionals to repair or replace it. 

A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair can repair your garage door issues, replace your garage door or install a custom garage door. We service most of the Dallas  and surrounding areas like Frisco, Little Elm, McKinney, Melissa, Murphy, Plano and more!

Your garage door coming off its track could be caused by a variety of reasons.  It’s important that you know what caused your garage door to come off its track so you can identify the problem and most importantly keeping your family from serious injury.  Identifying the problem also could help you to be able to prevent it from happening again. 

Severe Impact:  The most common reason for a garage door to come off its tracks is due to a severe impact.  This is normally due to homeowners pulling out of their garage too fast or driving in too fast before the garage door is completely open.  When this occurs, the brunt of the damage tends to be located on the bottom sections of the door.  Depending on the severity of the impact the whole door system may have suffered some damage.  Usually, a few rollers could have come off their tracks leaving your heavy garage door suspended by only the lift cables.  Do not attempt to repair it yourself, call a garage door specialist to get everything back in working order. 

Tracks That Are Misaligned:  Another common cause for a garage door to go off track is misaligned tracks.  This normally happens when the bolts become loose, that’s holding the horizontal tracks causing them to move from the vibration of the garage door.  The risk for rollers coming off the tracks also increases with misaligned tracks.  Poor-quality tracks are the second most common cause of garage doors coming off the tracks due to the tracks not being strong enough to support the weight of the door.  14-Gauge steel is what most garage doors should be made of and reinforced with vertical rails. 

Lift Cables Breaks:  This problem does not happen often unless you have an older opener, in that case your garage door could be at risk.  Lift Cables are located on each side of the door that operate by winding the cables around a drum that is attached to a steel shaft.  Any kind of damage or roller damage to the door can cause the cable to break due to sudden stress resulting in the whole weight of the door to be shifted to one side.  Lift cables are under extreme tension and should be serviced only by garage door specialist.

A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair can repair your garage door issues, replace your garage door or install a custom garage door. We service most of the Dallas  and surrounding areas like Frisco, Little Elm, McKinney, Melissa, Murphy, Plano and more!