As you pull into your driveway after working all day the last thing you want is your garage door not opening.  You have pressed the button on your garage door opener, and nothing is happening.  What could it be?  Well, it could be a problem with the torsion spring.  If this is the case, you need to contact a professional garage door repair company for help.   

Here are a few reasons why torsion springs break leading to the failure of your garage door.

Wear and Tear:

Wear and Tear is the most common reason for a garage door torsion spring to break.  Torsion springs are rated for around ten thousand cycles, which is one up and one down.  Most households go through more than two cycles a day.  So, in just a few years you would have used up the ten thousand cycles.  You could invest in extended lifespan torsion springs which will last up to four times longer.  It will cost more but may be worth the investment if your family uses the garage door a lot.

Rust:

Rust on the torsion spring causes friction and weakens the spring which results in spring failure.  Rust can be prevented by spraying the spring with a lubricant every three to four months.  This will keep it lubricated and prevent any rust buildup.

Poorly Maintained:

Wear and tear certainly will cause your garage door springs to eventually fail but practicing proper maintenance can prolong the lifespan of your torsion spring.  First, make sure to lubricate the spring at least three to four times a year.  In addition, check to make sure your garage door is balanced.  You can test the balance by lifting the door to the halfway point and then release.  If the door stays still without moving, then the springs are in balance.  If the door does fall a little, then the springs are beginning to show signs of wear and should be repaired soon.

Contact A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair for all your garage door repair needs. Serving Dallas and surrounding areas including Grapevine, Mckinney, Richardson, and more.

Why is my garage door so noisy and loud?  If your garage door makes a loud noise when opening and closing, this could be a sign that there’s a problem with your garage door mechanism.  Your garage door is full of moving parts with some parts being metal moving against metal.  Let’s look at some of the most common reasons for a noisy garage door.

Type of Garage Door Openers:

Chain Driven Garage Door Opener:

Many types of garage door openers come along with different ranges of noise levels. Chain-driven garage door openers are the less expensive option however are the noisiest options due to the chains banging against the metal rail as they pull the garage door open or close.  As the chain guides deteriorate with age, the chain will bounce and bang louder as the pieces break off.

Belt Drive Garage Door Opener:

Belt drive garage door openers do cost more upfront than chain drive openers but tend to last longer due to the trolley moving the belt.  Belt drives are the quietest openers due to the low-vibration belt made of either steel-reinforced rubber, polyurethane, or fiberglass.

Worn or Damaged Parts:

Rollers:

Garage doors need rollers to operate.  These rod and wheel systems connect the door to a set of tracks allowing it to open and close smoothly and swiftly.  Steel rollers will alert you like an alarm when they are damaged.  Popping, grinding, scraping, clicking, and wobbling are signs of worn-out or damaged rollers.

Hinges:

It’s not unusual for garage door hinges to wear out.  Listen for grinding or screeching noises to determine if the hinges are worn out or cracked.  Inspect them carefully, if they seem to be still in good condition you can usually use a lithium-based grease to quiet them down.

Nuts and Bolts:

The door vibration can cause screws, nuts, and bolts to become loose over time.  When the door is in use, it will rattle and vibrate the loose pieces.  All nuts and bolts should be tightened.

More Complex Issues:

The gear and sprocket assembly inside the garage door opener unit could be worn out.   It makes a buzzing or grinding noise when in need of repair.  Best to leave this to the garage door professionals to repair.

Call us today at A1 Affordable Garage Door Services for a complete Garage Door tune-up! We service Dallas and surrounding areas like Carrollton, Flower Mound, Mckinney and more.

As cars have grown to be an important part of our daily lives, the garage has become so central that many people use it as their primary entrance.  Advancements in technology have made it possible for garage door architects and manufacturers to improve the look as well as the ability to last over time, resisting wear, breakage, and deterioration.  Although garage door materials largely are personal preference, you have some practical factors to consider.  Such as maintenance, what better suits your budget and climate.  Below are some of the pros and cons of the 3 most common garage door materials.

STEEL:

Pros:  Due to its flexibility, durability, and overall valve, steel is a popular garage door material.  Steel garage doors are available in countless design choices and provide an inexpensive, more practical substitute for natural wood.  Steel is lighter weight by far and easier to maintain compared to garage doors manufactured from wood.  Steel garage doors are easier to maintain and are not damaged by extreme temperature changes, unlike wooden garage doors, they will not splinter, split or peel over time. 

Cons:  The downside of steel garage doors is that they can be easily dented.  Anything from a hailstorm or a basketball to simply pulling too far into your driveway can result in denting the door’s panels.  Steel also is susceptible to rust and corrosion.  Rust and corrosion are common along the bottom section of a steel garage door in winter months where excess salt is used for de-icing or in coastal areas.

WOOD:

Pros:  Wooden garage doors bear a timeless traditional beauty to them.  Wooden garage doors are available in a large selection of designs, and wood options and can be made into any garage shape or size.  Wooden garage doors can be painted or stained for extra curb appeal.  They are an excellent option for a custom and unique look.

Cons:  Wooden garage doors cost more and require regular maintenance.  Wooden garage doors frequently need to be repainted or stained.  Extreme changes in outside temperatures as well as moisture from the outside elements such as snow, rain, and humidity can cause wood to swell and rot.

VINYL: 

Pros:  Vinyl garage doors are highly resistant to damage, unlike steel garage doors that are prone to dents, vinyl garage doors are sturdier.  Vinyl garage doors are one color all the way through making it harder to see any scratches or marks that may occur.  Vinyl is entirely rust-proof, will not warp or rot, and can handle extreme weather conditions.

Cons:  Vinyl garage doors has the inability to change the color once installed.  Vinyl garage doors have fewer colors to choose from. 

A1 Affordable Garage door service can help you with all your garage door needs. We service Dallas and surrounding metroplex includng Plano, Mckinney, Garland and more!

When does a garage door need a weather seal replacement?  Whether or not you have a garage that’s built into your home or a detached garage, the garage door is a blockade between your vehicle and any unpleasantly cold or stormy weather conditions outside.  The garage is simply much more than a place to shelter cars but a place to fix, create and take pleasure in the things you own.  When it comes to protecting the internal part of the garage, the biggest factor is your garage door.  Having a good seal on the garage door will form a barrier against external threats. 

SIGNS THAT YOU MAY NEED A GARAGE DOOR WEATHER SEAL REPLACEMENT:

Damaged Weather Seal:

If your weather seal is damaged or just worn out, it’s time to get a replacement.  Check for cracks in bottom weatherstripping, signs of droopiness or it has dried out.  Look for any tears or splits in the weather seal. 

Drafts and Light around Seal:

 Another indication you need to replace the seal is if you notice any light passing from underneath the door.  You may also notice your garage has a lot of drafts when the garage door is shut.  This could be causing a breeze to get thru to the inside.

Invasion of Pests and Insects:

If you notice an invasion of pests and insects, it may be time for a weather strip replacement.  The slightest gap around your garage door opening can be an entrance for pests.  Snakes are known to slip thru these tiny gaps.  Also, mice and rats can easily squeeze through these spaces causing damage to belongings as well as spreading disease.    Once these rodents are inside the garage, you may have to hire pest control to get rid of them. 

Remember your garage door protects your garage and home from external threats.  A good garage door seal forms a tight, impenetrable barrier around the door keeping all those threats at bay. 

Call us today at A1 Affordable Garage Door Services for any repair needs.  Serving Dallas and surrouding cities like Rowlett, Mckinney and more.

To extend your garage door’s lifespan every 6 months to a year you should inspect and take the time to regularly perform preventative care and maintenance.  Follow these simple maintenance tips to ensure your garage door functions correctly and to spot any issues before they become serious.

Lubricate the Moving Parts:

Rollers, hinges, and other moving parts need to be kept well lubricated.  This will help extend the lifespan of your garage door system by limiting the amount of stress on the door and door opener.  Every six months apply a high-quality white lithium grease spray on the hinges, rollers, and tracks.  Clean off any excess grease.  You may need to use a penetrating spray to free any rollers or hinges that seem to be seized up.  After rollers or hinges are unseized, then apply the white lithium grease.

Inspect the Garage Door Tracks:

Your garage door opens and closes using tracks and rollers.  If your door seems to stick, make sure the track is clean from any debris and dirt.  Dirt can accumulate on the track causing the rollers, springs, and bearings to fail prematurely.  Lubricate the rollers with a garage door lubricant spray and then remove any excess lubricant using a damp cloth.  If your garage door stills seem to stick, then your garage door tracks or rollers could be off.  Any major track adjustments need to be performed by professionals.

Inspect the Weatherstripping:

Weatherstripping is the rubber tread running along the bottom and sides of your garage door.  It’s a way to protect the interior of your garage door from the elements outside in addition to stabilizing the home’s internal temperature.  Inspect the weatherstripping by closing your garage door and checking to see whether any light comes through the sides or bottom of the door.  Look over the stripping for any signs of obvious wear, such as cracked or it’s too rigid and is no longer flexible.

Test Your Garage Door Balance:

Regularly inspect the door balance to ensure the safety of your garage door and opener.  To perform your at-home balance test:  Close the door from inside the garage and detach the door from the garage door opener by pulling the manual release rope.  Move the door manually to open and close.  If it sticks, lubricate rollers and hinges.  It should move freely.  If it still sticks, contact help from a garage door professional.

Inspect Garage Door Opener for Safety:

Eye sensors are located on either side of the garage door.  Check to see if they are properly functioning by placing an object that is 6 inches tall at the edge of the door so that it blocks one of the sensors.  The garage door should not close if the sensors are working properly.  Test the mechanical reverse by placing an object at least 1.5 inches high at the edge of the door.  Press the garage door opener to close the garage door.  The door should close but then reverse and start opening once it touches the object.

Tighten All Hardware:

Inspect all track brackets and door fasteners making sure everything is tight.

Don’t have time for maintenance on your garage door? Contact A1 Affordable Garage Door Service and set up an appointment. Serving Dallas including Plano, Allen, Addison, McKinney and more.

Unfortunately, insects like the warm and dry climate of your garage. They tend to find their way into your garage when you least expect it. Though the good news is that there is a way to keep insects out of your garage. Do you want a bug-free garage? Follow these 4 ways how to keep insects out of your garage:

1. Don’t Keep Your Garage Door Open for Logn Periods of Time

An open garage door gives insects an easy way into your garage. Garage doors, of course, have to be open to get in and out or when you’re just doing a project. Though if you can keep from leaving your garage door open overnight or throughout the day, it will help to limit the number of bugs that try to invade.

• Inspect the Seal of your Garage Door

The garage door seal helps to keep the garage door from the elements of the weather outside and even works as a bug preventative. If the seal on your garage door is worn and damaged, or missing altogether it can allow bugs to freely come and go. Inspect your garage door’s seal to see if it looks like it needs replacement. A proper functioning seal is one of the best ways to keep insects out of your garage. Don’t know if your seal is worn out? Contact a garage door professional to inspect it for you and get you a new seal installed.

• Check the Alignment of your Garage Door

Maybe your seal is in excellent condition, but your issue is a misaligned garage door. Misaligned garage doors can still function for a time, though it can prevent your garage door from having a proper seal. Without a tight seal, bugs will be able to find a way into your garage. This is one of the many reasons why it is recommended to regularly get your garage door inspected and serviced. Misalignment is not always easy to notice, so it can help to have regular garage door maintenance.

• Search for Any Holes or Cracks Around Your Garage Door

Once you have checked and addressed all the previous steps, it is a good idea to look around your garage door for holes or cracks that bugs could fit through. Don’t discount very small holes either. Insects are small enough to fit through even the smallest of holes. To fix minor cracks and holes, you can choose to use something like mortar or expandable foam. There are many good options on the market to choose from at your local hardware store.

Don’t feel like following these steps for a bug-free garage? Don’t stress about it. You can call us at A1 Affordable Garage Doors to schedule an appointment to inspect and address issues that might be causing so many insects in your garage. Garage maintenance is recommended as a regular preventative, even if you don’t have a major bug issue, it is an excellent choice to regularly schedule preventative maintenance. We provide garage door repair services to Dallas an surrounding areas like Grapevine, Highland Village, Irving and more.

When a garage door has come off track it can cause uneven and partly-opened doors. It is best to stop using your garage door when it has come off track. Continuing to use an off-track garage door can result in more damage. Don’t delay in getting your off-track garage door fixed.

Here are some reasons for a garage door coming off track:

Damage to Your Garage Door

Sometimes a garage door can come off track from a vehicle incident, such as driving into the garage door. Though a damaged garage door doesn’t only occur through automotive accidents. Any damage to the top or bottom of any panel of a garage door can result in a malfunctioning door.

Broken Garage Door Spring

If you notice that your garage door looks to be uneven, you could have a broken spring. A broken spring will cause the weight of the garage door to shift to the side with the functional spring. This makes it very dangerous to continue to use. You should contact a garage door professional as soon as possible to prevent further damaging your garage door and for the safety of you and your family.

Loose Garage Door Parts

There are times your garage door needs maintenance. Loose garage door parts, such as bolts and nuts, can result in it becoming off-track. That is why is very important to get your garage door scheduled for regular maintenance as a preventive. When you have loose parts it can put stress on other parts of the garage door, which could majoring affect the function of your garage door.

Worn Garage Door Rollers

No matter how quality your garage door rollers are, they will eventually experience wear ‘n tear over time. Old, worn garage door rollers can become unsteady or stop rolling altogether. A garage door that is off track can be caused by one bad roller or even both of the rollers. If your garage door is having trouble opening or closing all the way, you may have worn-out rollers.

A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair is here to help get your garage door fixed. We service Dallas and surrouding areas including Rowlett, Mckinney, Grapvine and more.

Carriage House garage doors are a great choice for homeowners, especially if you are wanting an eye-catching appeal. Many people agree that carriage house garage doors are pretty to look at, but don’t want to spend the extra money to install one. Though they have a high price tag, there are some great benefits of installing a carriage house garage door.

Here are Three Benefits of Carriage House Garage Doors:

1. Carriage House Garage Doors have an Excellent Visual Appeal

Carriage house garage doors make a lasting statement. They are beautiful curb appeal. The carriage-style look, inspired by the 1800’s carriage houses, is unique and charming to any home, wherever your home is modern or traditional-style, or country or ranch-style. They are as customizable as you prefer, from the type of hardware to the color of the material.

• Carriage House Garage Doors can Increase the Value of Home

With the cost of carriage house garage doors comes an excellent return on investment. It can raise the overall value of your home and the aesthetic appeal alone can make your home stand out to homebuyers. If you plan you sell your homes in the future, carriage house garage doors are great for the resale value of your home.

• Carriage House Garage Doors are Durable

A carriage house garage door is made from high-quality materials. It can be made from either steel or wood. With their high-quality parts, they can handle extreme climate changes and weather. The durable design makes them low maintenance when it comes to heat or cold, and rainstorms or snowstorms. This is very important to consider if you live in extreme climate or experience inclement weather.

Are you interested in finding out more about carriage house garage doors? You can call us at A1 Affordable Garage Doors for an estimate of carriage house garage doors to see if they would be a perfect fit for your home. Serving Dallas and Surrounding areas like Mckinney, Melissa, Rowlett.

Durable and quality garage door parts are important for the function of your garage door. A steel garage door can provide durability, which makes it an excellent choice. Here are 4 benefits of steel garage doors:

1. Steel Garage Doors are Durable

Steel garage doors have an excellent lifespan—they can last for several years to decades. Steel is known for being a resistant material, which makes it the perfect material for a garage door. It can endure extreme weather with ease. Steel is strong enough to limit dent from flying debris in a storm.

• Steel Garage Doors are Rust Resistant

Unlike regular steel, steel garage doors are not prone to rusting, because manufacturers use polyester and primer to prevent rusting. This rust-resistant solution keeps your steel garage door looking its best with little to no maintenance. Also, you don’t have to worry about it rusting from rainy weather.  

• Steel Garage Doors are Energy Efficient

Steel garage doors are great at providing energy efficiency.  Steel material is one of the best energy-efficient options. Energy efficiency is an amazing benefit of steel garage doors—it benefits more than just your family.

• Steel Garage Doors Have Different Options

When it comes to buying a steel garage door, there are numerous options and variety. You can find both affordable and expensive steel garage doors. Even the more affordable steel garage has many of the same great benefits as the more costly options. Steel can be more expensive than other garage door materials, but the cost is a true investment considering the benefits. If you prefer to change the look of a standard steel garage door, you always have the option to paint it in different colors, use a wood grain finish, or add windows.

Are you wanting to install a steel garage door? A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair has variety of quality garage doors to choose from.  Still have questions about if a steel garage door is the right material for you? Give us a call at 972-877-5774. We are happy to serve you! We install and repair garage doors all over the Dallas Metroplex including Frisco, Addison, Plano and more.

A common malfunction of garage doors is when they come off track. An off track garage door is very dangerous and should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent further damage or injuries. Although there are several reasons why a garage door can come off-track, we will give you 3 reasons for an off-track garage door in this article.

1. Track Misalignment

A common reason for a garage door coming off track is misalignment. A misaligned track can be caused by loose bolts and brackets. Cheap garage door tracks have been known to bend over time, so that is why it is important to make sure your garage door is installed with high-quality gauge steel to keep your garage door track from bending from wear n’ tear.

• Damage to the Garage Door

You would be surprised how often garage doors can come off track after an impact of a vehicle. A vehicle incident can occur while backing out of the garage or ramming into the garage door from the exterior side. Garage door impacts will result in damage to the garage door itself and the parts and tracks of the garage door. A damaged garage door should be repaired by a professional to prevent making the issue worst or causing injury.

• Worn Out or Broken Garage Door Cables

This is most common to occur with an old garage door that doesn’t get used often. Worn out, old lift cables can break when you least expect it. A broken cable can cause the weight of the door to shift to the opposite side of the door. This result in extra work from the remaining lift cable. When cables are not aligned the cables may break out of the blue. Regular garage door maintenance can prevent dangerous situations like this.

A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair Service can help you with all your Garage needs. We service Dallas and surrounding areas like Frisco, Addison, Allen and more.