Garages are a great addition to have during extreme weather conditions, such as freezing weather. The downside to winter weather is that it can cause your garage door to malfunction. Garage doors and freezing winter is not a good mix. A few things can go wrong with garage doors in the winter.

Reasons Why Garage Doors Stop Working in the Winter

Metal Contracts in the Cold—

The springs on the garage door can freeze and break in the winter because the metal contracts when  cold. This results in broken springs, hinges, or rollers. These garage door parts commonly need to be replaced, which may even make them more likely to freeze.

It’s important to keep up with garage door maintenance throughout the year, especially if your garage door is several years old. As a freeze preventative, you can lubricate metal parts with a silicone-based lubricant. Be aware that grease-based lubricants can freeze parts in low temperatures, so opt for silicone-based.

Garage Door Can Be Frozen Shut—

Freezing and icy temperatures can win against garage doors. The mix of the two can cause the garage door to be frozen shut. If you are unable to open your garage door in the winter, be sure to not keep attempting to open it or it could result in extra damage to your garage door. When a garage door is frozen shut it means that the bottom of your garage door has ice holding it shut. Thankfully it is a relatively easy fix. Simply, hit against the bottom of the garage door with a hammer to crush the ice seal.

Has your garage door stopped working from the cold weather? Does your garage door need maintenance? Give us a call at A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair to get your garage door professional checked and repaired by one of our experienced garage door technicians.

We repair and replace garage door in Dallas and surrounding areas like Carrollton, Colleyville, Grapevine, Highland Village.

There are times you may be able to solve and fix the problem concerning your garage door yourself.  Knowing what the problem is will help you determine if you can fix it or need to contact garage door service professionals like us at A1 Affordable Garage Door to help.  Below are some tips on how to troubleshoot your garage door issues.

Batteries are Dead in Garage Door Opener Transmitter:

Replacing the batteries in your garage door transmitter is simple to do.  First, make sure that the transmitter on the wall inside your garage still works.  If it does, then most likely the transmitter in your car just requires a battery replacement.  Change the batteries by sliding the back of the transmitter open.  If it’s an older transmitter, you may need a screwdriver to remove the back.

Garage Door Sensor is out of Alignment or needs to be cleaned:

Photo-eye sensors are a safety feature that stops a garage door from closing if it detects an obstruction in its pathway.  Photo-eye sensors are typically about 6 inches above the ground on each side of the garage door.  One of the sensors directs a beam towards the other and if they become misaligned or an object interrupts the beam, the sensors prevent the garage door from closing. 

First, make sure that the sensors are clear of any obstructions or debris.  Next, check the wires leading to the sensors for any type of damage.  If everything still looks good, you can make slight adjustments to the photo-eye sensors by hand.  Make sure to be gentle when making these adjustments due to the delicate nature of the sensors.  Start with the sensor that is not lit.  Once it’s in the correct position the light should come back on.  Make sure the lens of each sensor is lightly wiped using a cloth to remove any dirt.  If your door still refuses to open contact us at A1 Affordable Garage Door to inspect your garage door.

Garage Door Track is out of Alignment:

Garage doors can become misaligned due to damaged hardware which can make opening and closing difficult.  If your garage door is out of alignment, it can be a serious issue and can be extremely dangerous.  Repairs should be performed by a professional to prevent any injury. 

For all your Garage Door needs call us at A1 Affordable Garage Doors for any garage repair or services you may need.  We service most of Dallas and surroudning areas including Melissa, Mckinney, Princeton and more.

If your garage door happens to come off its track the risk of serious injury greatly increases.  It is important to take the necessary steps to prevent any harm to you and your family.  The garage door is most likely the largest moving door in your home and can be extremely dangerous if it comes off its tracks.  Below are a few reasons why your garage door may come off its rails. 

Your Car:

The most common cause of a garage door coming off its tracks is due to the homeowners hitting their garage doors with their cars.  When a garage door is hit by a vehicle most often it’s the 2 lower sections that suffer the damage but also the whole door system.  The garage door itself can be extremely heavy starting at about 130 pounds for single doors and larger doors can weigh over 350 pounds.  The first and safest thing for you to do if this happens to you is to get out of your car and get out of the garage.  Do not try to repair it yourself.  Call your local garage door specialist to come out and repair the damaged door.

Tracks aren’t aligned properly or tracks are bent:

Garage doors can bend because of general wear and tear.  One common reason is due to the horizontal tracks not being made from steel strong enough to support the door, a slight impact to the door can cause the tracks to bend resulting in the door falling.  Also, improperly aligned tracks occur when the vertical tracks are not aligned parallel with the horizontal tracks.  The more the garage door is used, the bracket bolts come to lose which allows the tracks to bend.  Since the tracks are no longer properly aligned the leading rollers pop off the tracks.    

Rollers Wear out:

Rollers can break from extreme wear or lower quality.  It only takes one or two garage door rollers to break resulting in additional stress to be placed on the remaining rollers.  This can cause the other rollers to break or come off the tracks.  The extra weight put on the other rollers can cause the horizontal rails to bend.

Broken Lift Cables:

There are normally 2 lift cables, one on either side of the door.  If the garage door becomes out of line, the cables will not wind correctly which can lead to unraveling.  When this occurs the weight of the door is transferred to one side, resulting in rollers either breaking or coming off tracks.

Request your repair services today.  Call us at A1 Affordable Garage Doors for any questions concerning your garage door. 

Rodents like to seek out warm and safe environments, which unfortunately makes your home’s garage a popular choice. With rodents camping out in your garage, it can result in unwanted nests, damaged electrical wires, and unsanitary droppings. Rodents are an unwanted pest for a reason, not to mention the stress that comes with them.

Thankfully there are some preventative steps you can take to help keep out rodents from making your garage their home. Here are 5 ways to prevent rodents from taking over your garage:

Keep Your Garage Clean—

Although the cleanest garage can still be visited by a pest, a dirty, cluttery garage is more likely to have rodents. One rodent can result in multiple rodents rather quickly, so if you have spotted a rodent, it is a good time to consider the cleanliness and tidiness of your garage. Doing this can help address the issue and keep rodents at bay. Clutter gives mice and rats a place to hide, but if you remove the clutter then you expose the rodents.

Address All Potential Entry Points—

Check for openings on the exterior/interior side of your closed garage door. Common points of access are vents, ducts, pipes, drains, holes, and gaps. Damaged garage door sealants should be replaced to ensure your garage door is properly sealed. Sealants wear out over time. If you suspect that your garage door sealant is damaged or worn out, schedule a garage door professional to keep your garage from unwanted mice and rats.

Remove Food Sources—

There is no doubting that Rodents are attracted to food. To make your garage less appealing, keep all foods inside of your home (this includes pet food) and out of your garage. If you must have food storage in the garage, be sure to keep them in a plastic container to keep pests from nibbling through bags.

Check Your Attic—

Typically, if there are signs of pests in your attic, you are more likely to experience them in your garage. Since attics are usually connected to garages, it is a good idea to make sure all air ducts, piping, vents are properly sealed on both ends. Also taking care of the rodents in the attic will help reduce the chance of them entering your home or garage.

Address Garage Maintenance—

Rodents are likely to enter through your garage door. So, keeping your garage door properly sealed and working can help be a preventative for unwanted rodents. They can come in while it is opened or through holes or gaps near the bottom. Two ways to reinforce your garage door is to install Rodent Block Door Seals and Jamb Seals.

If you have rodents in your garage and need help reinforcing your garage door, you can contact us at A1 Affordable Garage Doors to inspect your garage and recommend the best route to prevent those unwanted rodents. We are readily available to help you with all your garage door repairs and installations. Call us today! Serving Dallas and Surrounding Areas like Frisco, Allen, Mckinney and more.

Your garage door gets used a lot throughout the year, which is why it is important to regularly get a tune-up. Common issues for a garage door can include bent tracks, frayed cables, loose springs, etc. Even without any signs of these common issues, there are things to look out for to know if your garage door needs a tune-up. Here are some reasons that your garage door may need a tune-up:

1. Your Garage Door is Going Slow

Is your garage door opening and closing slllloowly? It is time for a tune-up. Garage doors are made to open/close at a regular speed, if it is operating slowly, then something is not right. This is not an issue to delay, because it could eventually stop working altogether.

• Your Garage Door is Making Odd Noises

Strange noises coming from your garage door are not a good sign. If you notice strange sounds, such as a grinding or scraping sound, don’t be hesitant to get your garage door checked out. There may be an issue needing to be addressed. For example, a rusty part needing replacement or loose hardware in need of tightening. 

• Your Garage Affected by the Weather

Inclement weather can affect your garage if your weatherstripping is brittle or cracked. Without the proper function of the weatherstripping, heavy rain can flood the inside of your garage. If you experience flooding inside your garage during a rainstorm, your garage door needs a tune-up. Leaving this problem unaddressed can result in mold and mildew, which can negatively affect the safety of your garage.

• Your Garage Door is Not Working Properly

If your garage door shows signs of not operating properly, even if you aren’t sure if it has a problem or not, it is a good idea to get a tune-up. Regular maintenance is much more affordable than a major repair. Schedule a tune-up for regular maintenance as a preventative. If you have any questions about your garage door, feel free to give us a call to see if you should schedule an appointment. We are happy to help you with all of your garage door repairs and maintenances.

A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair Services Most of Dallas and Surrounding areas like Frisco, McKinney, Melissa and more!

Why is My Garage Door Off Track?

When a garage door comes off track it requires a garage door technician. Don’t operate it until it is addressed by a professional. An off-track garage door can cause major damage to the door if you continue to open and close it. There are several reasons for a garage door coming off the track, here are some possible problems that can cause it:

Your Garage Door Spring is Broken

A broken spring causes a garage door to carry the weight on one side. Once a spring break, the spring on the opposite side is left to support all the weight. This can result in the garage door coming off track. Garage door springs are under serious tension and must be resolved by a garage door technician. Do not attempt to replace the spring as a DIY project. Some projects are safer and smarter to leave it to the professionals. It’s safer and will save you time in the long run.

Your Garage Door Rollers are Worn

Other times, garage door springs may be functioning perfectly fine, but the rollers are worn out. Rollers allow your garage door to smoothly move up or down the tracks. When rollers are worn out, they no longer function properly and become wobbly. In a worst-case scenario, rollers can come off completely or get locked in place. 

Your Garage Door has a Loose Part

Garage doors open and close every day, multiple times a day. So, it is possible for a nut or bolt to come loose from simply daily use. Loose parts can cause a garage door to not operate properly. When a garage door is not working properly, it can have problems, such as coming off track.

Your Garage Door Experienced Damage

                Sometimes damage happens from an accident. For example, accidentally hitting the garage door while reversing out of the garage, something falling on the garage door tracks, or someone running a car into the garage door. These are common mistakes that can cause the garage door to come off track.

Contact A1 Affordable Garage Door repair today. Serving Dallas and Surrounding areas like Addison, Carrollton, Frisco and more! Contact us today!

There are multiple reasons why a garage door isn’t opening or closing. It’s a common sign of a garage door problem. First, determine if you have a broken garage door spring. If you already have verified that your garage door has a broken spring, you can skip ahead.

Wondering how to verify that your garage door has a broken spring? If your garage door is not opening or closing it could most likely indicate that you have a broken spring. Typically, a garage door with a broken spring may cause your garage door opener to sound like it is straining to open or close. If you heard a loud firecracker noise from the inside of your garage, there is a good chance that it was the sound of your garage door spring breaking.

Can You Open a Garage Door with a Broken Spring?

The question is more likely “Should you open your garage door with a broken spring?” It is certainly possible to open a garage door with a broken spring. You can open your garage door with a broken spring, but it is not recommended if you can avoid it. Doing so, can further damage your garage door and result in expensive repairs.

Do not attempt to open your garage door with your opener if you have a broken spring. Further problems can result, such as stripping gears in your garage door opener, burning up the motor of the opener, and damaging garage door panels or railings. Manually opening a broken garage door can be a hazard due to the weight and force.

It is best to call a garage door professional when your garage door has broken springs or other needed repairs. You can call our professionals at A1 Affordable Garage Doors Services to address your garage door issues. We are available 24/7 to help you with your garage door emergencies.

Manually Opening a Broken Garage Door

Safety and caution should be your priority when opening a garage door manually. If you must open your garage door with a broken spring, here is a way to open it manually:

1. Get assistance. Having a second person will not only help you lift the weight of the door, but it will also be a safer option.
2. Consider the weight of the door (around 500lb) and know that manually opening a garage without the help of properly functioning springs will be extremely heavy and challenging. This is NOT the same as opening a garage door during a power outage or from a damaged motor!
3. Be EXTREME CAREFUL! Watch out for your back, fingers, and feet. It is easy to pull your back when lifting 500lbs of weight. Don’t let your fingers get squashed between the panels or your feet squashed below the door.  
4. Disengage your garage door opener by pulling on the rope with a handle near the opener. Pull until you feel it unlatch.
5. Cautiously lift your garage door until you reach the horizontal rails at the top. If it is simply too heavy for the two for you to lift to the top, abort the attempt. 
6. If you opened it, you are all done! If you were unable to open it, you can give us a call at (972) 877-5774 for professional help.

At A1 Affordable Garage Doors Repair, we are experienced in all types of garage door services. If you have a broken garage door spring or any garage door repair that needs to be addressed, give us a call today.

We service Dallas and Surrounding areas including Frisco, McKinney, Princeton and more.

Your garage door springs are responsible for opening and closing your garage door. They do all the heavy lifting. When your garage door is closed, the springs have tension. When your garage door is opening, the tension of the springs is released to lift the weight of the door. This means that your garage door has the most tension when it is in the closed position.

 With all the weight of the garage door, it is no surprise that the spring can break, but what are the most common reasons for breakage?

Two Types of Springs

1. Torsion Spring

Torsion springs are the most common type of residential garage door springs. The system either has one or two springs. They are located horizontally on the shaft above the garage door. Each spring has a cable attached to either end of the spring.

• Extension Spring

Extension springs are located on each side of the garage door tracks, instead of horizontally above the door. When the garage door is in motion, the springs work by extending and contracting along the pulleys and cables.

2 Reasons for a Broken Garage Door Spring

1. General Wear-N-Tear

Wear-N-tear is known for being the most common reason for a broken spring. Depending on the quality of spring, they should last at least 10,000-20,000 cycles (1 cycle = opening and closing). If you are using your garage door excessively, you can expect your springs to experience wear.

• Rusting

Rust can ruin your springs relatively fast and significantly reduce its lifespan. Rust on your spring causes extra friction, which can weaken the strength and reliability of the coils. As a preventative, using a silicone-based lubricant on the springs a few times each year can help increase the lifespan of your springs.

If you have a broken spring and need it replaced or any other type of garage door repair. Contact us at A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair Service 24/7 emergency service available. Serving Dallas and surrounding areas like Addison, Rowlett, Southlake and More!

Are you considering if you should get your garage door insulated? If you are hunting out ways to make your house more energy-efficient, then getting your garage door insulated is a great way to start.

Insulated Garage Door – What Is It?

An insulated garage door is an insulation installed on the interior side of the door. Its purpose is to keep the outside elements, such as heat or cold, from easily getting through your garage. In other words, it acts as a buffer between the extreme outdoor temperatures of a freezing winter day or a scorching hot summer day.

An uninsulated garage door does a poor job at keeping out the extreme elements. Even to the point that it could be hotter or colder in your garage than the outside temperature. By insulating your garage door, you can lower the monthly expense for your energy bill, just by the simple choice to choose an insulated garage door.

Insulated Garage Door – How Does It Insulate?

Instead of having the standard one-layer steel for your garage door, most insulated garage doors have two panels of steel or aluminum that are filled with insulating material between the two panels. Some insulated garage doors only have a single panel with insulation on the interior side.

They are made with more quality materials than the standard garage door. This design makes it well worth the cost from the saving you will experience, and not to mention, can help increase the overall value of your home.

Since the insulated garage door is made with high-quality parts, it is more durable than the standard garage door. The added durability tends to have better resilience to harsh weather and minor incidences. This can result in an extended lifespan.

So, What Are the Benefits of an Insulated Garage Door?

1. Energy-Efficient Savings
2. High-Quality Material
3. Extended Life

If you are ready to achieve a more energy-efficient home, get an insulated garage door installed at your home. It is completely worth the change and your utility bill will thank you!

A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair and Service sell Dyi garage door installation kits and new garage doors with installation builted in to them. We service Plano and Surrouding areas like Frisco, Addison, Mckinney and more.