As the weather gets colder, make sure it does not wear on your garage door! Garage door torsion springs already wear over time, carrying the weight of your garage door. With lowering temperatures, your steel or aluminum garage door springs are at risk for breakage.

Because the lower temperatures cause the metal springs to shrink, especially aluminum springs, extra weight will be added to the shrinking spring, causing an increase of stress on the spring.While garage door springs are built to handle this sort of stress, they are not built to last for more than 30,000 garage door opening cycles. Many people do not realize the importance of replacing a worn garage door spring before it breaks, so diagnostic garage door checks are recommended periodically.

Here are some tips to prevent broken garage door springs this winter:

• Have you garage door springs checked for wear that could possibly turn into breakage
• Replace any old springs you may have by a professional technician
• Make sure any cables are not frayed or worn
• Prevent squeaky tracks and springs with a spray-on lubricant, and call a garage door company if squeaking persists
• Ensure your garage doors are properly insulated to prevent your garage door springs and other garage door parts from having to withstand the outdoor weather
• Prevent precipitation from entering into your garage door

Ensure that you’re your garage door springs and other garage door parts are running safely and efficiently this winter! Make sure you have consistent maintenance to prevent any sort of breakage or emergency situation. If you have broken garage springs this winter, do not attempt to fix it yourself. Call a professional technician such as Bayside Garage Door for garage door maintenance, repair, and emergency service.

Just as a preface this article is for anyone who wants to understand more about garage door repairs. We are trying to offer just an introduction to garage door repair. We don’t suggest you do any of these repairs if you have never tried it before as it is dangerous to repair a garage door on your own. This will benefit you by making you understand the mechanics behind a garage door as well as we have links for a more in depth look.

 A garage door is made up of two systems; the lift system or the garage door opener and the door mechanism.  In the case of a manual garage door, it only has the door mechanism which includes tracks with rollers on the sides that allows the garage door to roll open. The torsion springs of the garage door help to open the door in both door opener and manual applications and this assists in providing an effortless transition during the opening and closing on the garage door.

Repairing The Garage Door

Whether they swing up in a single piece or roll up in separate pieces, overhead garage doors are operated on spring tension.  On the walls of the garage are metal tracks on which the door moves and the power is provided by heavy springs.  In the majority of cases, whenever the door does not function normally, the repairs needed are fairly simple.  Below are a few helpful guidelines as to how to carry out garage door repair:

Step 1

Scrutinize the metal tracks that are inside of the garage as well as the mounting brackets which secure the tracks to the walls.  In the event that they are loose, make the screws or bolts tighter at the brackets.  From the inside of the garage while the door is closed, inspect the tracks for crimps, flat spots or dents.  In the event that there are any spots that are damaged, use a block of wood and a hammer or a rubber mallet to pound them out.  The tracks should be replaced in the event that they are badly damaged.

Tutorial Link: There is a more in depth video of how to replace your garage door rollers here. If you are a serious DIY person it is worth checking out that video as well as their site and tutorials.

Step 2

Ensure that the tracks are properly aligned by checking them with a level.  The horizontal tracks are supposed to slightly slant down toward the rear of the garage; as it relates to roll-up garage doors, the vertical tracks should be precisely plumb.  The two tracks have to be placed at the same elevation on the walls of the garage.  In case the tracks are not aligned properly, loosen the bolts or screws but do not take out the ones that are holding the mounting brackets; carefully tap the tracks into position.  Use the level to recheck the tracks to ensure that they are in the correct position, then on the mounting brackets tighten the bolts or screws.

Tutorial Link: If you are having a leveling issue with your garage and you are noticing some gaps that go beyond our hints then please check out this tutorial with a more in depth look at leveling here

Step 3

Use concentrated household cleaner to clean the tracks to get rid of hardened grease and dirt. Thoroughly clean the rollers and wipe both the rollers and the tracks dry.

Step 4

Look for loosened hardware and tighten them as required.  On swing-up garage doors, examine the plates on which the spring is mounted in order to ensure that the screws are rigid and tighten the screws if they are loose.  As it relates to roll-up doors, scrutinize the hinges which hold the door sections together; tighten the screws if they are loose and swap out any damaged hinges.  Servicing the hinges can often correct the sagging at one side of the garage door.  In case a screw hole has gotten bigger, change the screw for a longer one which has the same diameter, dip a hollow fiber plug in carpenters’ glue and use it with the new screw.  In the event that the wood is split at one of the hinges, take off that hinge and use wood filler to fill the screw holes and the cracks.  Allow the filler to dry and then put the hinge back on.

There are a number of different types and manufacturers of garage door systems and as such, it is very important to know when garage door repair is a do-it-yourself project and when it is time to call in a professional.  Safety is paramount when repairing your garage door, so make sure that you will not be putting yourself or anybody else in danger when you attempt to carry out the repair.

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Who we are:

We are a tampa garage door repair company by the name of Bayside Garage Doors. We love the garage repair community as well as run a business on repairing garage doors in Tampa, Florida. What sets us apart is the fact we will come straight to you to make it more convienient as well as try and repair it with the upmostquality. If you would like to call us and you find your repair is too difficult please do at our toll-free number 1 (813) 433-7395. 

Tampa Garage Doors Gear Alert!

A new product has come out by a company called Heads Up Systems. It’s a garage-mounted wireless alert system. What this does is alerts the driver if a bike on top of their car will be damaged. This is great for people who frequently have cargo on top of their car and they may of had an accident in the past. Let’s look further into this with our Bayside Garage Doors gear alert!

The Setup:

The system has an LED Alert Sign that mounts in your garage as well as a tiny wireless Gear Tags that go on your bike or gear. Then a wireless InCar Alerter that sits in your vehicle. The installation is fairly straight forward as you simply place batteries in all devices to power them up. One thing to keep in mind is how high you place the receiver in your garage. Here is a diagram to show you where the best place to install it is.

How Well Does it Work?

The whole idea of this product is to make sure you prevent any damage to your gear before you get into the garage. It’s not very useful if you are inches away from destruction. What is great about the Heads Up system is that it alerts you as you first make contact with your drive way. That way you know that your gear is overhead (in case you forgot) and you can take the necessary precautions to be sure no damage will be taken. Not only will this save your equipment but also prevent any injuries inflicted on nearby people.

Conclusion

This product is a great one and we do recommend it to anyone who is an adventurer and always has canoes, bikes, or any other gear on top of their car. We find that it would not be very useful if you don’t fit that demographic. However if you do fit that and you feel that you don’t have that issue of hitting your garage, we still recommend getting it because it will prevent a 100% risk free accident. You may be responsible and have not had an accident yet but you never know if someone else is behind the wheel or if it slips your mind one day. Heads Up System starts at $169.99 and you can order it online or you can check if it’s carried at these retail stores.

Bayside Garage Door thoughts from Experience:

We service garage doors Tampa, Florida. The amount of different issues we have seen have ranged from broken gears to collapsed garages. The number one issue we notice when we make our tampa garage door repairs is the hindsight. Most of these accident could be avoided. Although keep in mind there are those tampa garage door repair issues that could have been avoided with a monthly maintenance check. Read one of our articles posted here for more tips on that subject. To wrap it up we stress to our customers to be safe and that their safety should always be first and there is no price on crushed fingers or severed hands. It is Garage Door Safety month and we wish to keep on promoting that theme this month.

June is here and it’s the month to promote Garage door safety. People don’t know that there are an average of 20,000 people each year have been treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to garage doors. It’s important that you get your garage door repaired if there is a lot of wear and tear. It can be very dangerous to be putting your hands and fingers between the doors as it will increase your chances of damaging them. We recommend you check up on your garage door once a month to see if everything is properly working. If you have kids then you should explain to them the dangers of garage doors as well as make sure all garage door openers are not within reach of children. Here at Bayside Garage doors we make sure our tampa garage doors are working properly and that the customer understand the dangers to them.

So please spread the word for Garage Door Safety month and I hope you enjoy this infographic made by us. Have a great weekend!

Resources: http://www.coveryourgaragedoortracks.com/statistics.htm

Be Safe and Understand the Dangers

There are many reasons to fix a problem garage door. Every homeowner has a priority list for getting some repairs done now or letting others go for a time. The home improvement and repair budget is the biggest issue for that priority list. A garage door covers a big open space and can be a safety risk if it is not kept in optimal condition. Take a look at this Top 10 list of reasons to get that garage door fixed now.

10. Aesthetics

For some homeowners, this may be at the top of the list. However, ugly garage doors are ugly no matter where they are on the repair list. Missing windows, peeling paint, missing hardware, rusted parts and other issues that take away from the curb appeal of the home can often be quickly repaired at a minimal cost.

9. Stop Wildlife Intrusion

Missing windows and doors that do not completely close leave gaps for rodents and insects to enter. Garages are prime real estate for rodents to set up housekeeping as well as being the perfect place for wasps and bees to infest.

8. Home Safety

Some garage doors do not close properly or at all. Some have broken locks. Attached garages have interior doors that provide home access. Working doors protect the contents and also disallow access to interior doors that lead into homes. Broken garage doors make it easy for criminals to sneak inside and work in seclusion to get into homes.

7. Car Safety

Malfunctioning garage door opening mechanisms can cause thousands of dollars of damage in less than a second if the door comes down on a vehicle. Malfunctioning safety mechanisms designed to prevent such incidents must be in perfect working order.

6. Garage Security

Garages often hold thousands of dollars’ worth of stuff not including any vehicles parked inside. Doors that do not lock or close properly grant access to thieves who can walk away with everything from expensive tools to stored family treasures.

5. Eco-Friendliness

Many garages have heat and AC. Doors that do not close properly, have missing gaskets and old ones that are not insulated waste resources and money.

4. Ease of Use

Old doors that need to be opened and closed manually benefit with an upgrade to an automatic garage door opener. Existing openers may be in need of repair. Homeowners typically will just park in the driveway when the garage doors are difficult to open and close.

3. The Garage is Part of the Home

Regardless if it is attached or not, the garage is part of the home. Even garages that are only used for storage need to have the main access door working.

2. Get Rid of Noise

Some garage doors shake, rattle, squeak and squeal when they are opened or closed. A properly functioning door does not make that much noise.

1. Child and Pet Safety

Garage doors are very heavy and capable of causing severe injury or death if they do not function properly. Automatic opener safety mechanisms must stop and reverse direction when an object is detected in the doorway. Also, springs must counterbalance the weight of the heavy door.

These issues should be fixed by a professional who understands each component of a garage door. It is critical to have the work done right so that the door is safe to use.

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This article was created by Overhead Door Corporation, designed to educate homeowners on how to properly maintain their garage door. 

Homeowners who pay attention to their selection of a garage door will find a unit that provides protection for the garage and its contents while adding curb appeal to the home for many years. Homeowners will want to consider how the door is to be used as well as the maintenance for longest life.  Shopping for new Tampa garage doors can be intimidating, so consider some of the following features to narrow the selection.

Many people rarely think much about the door that allows them to park their vehicle in a protected area.  This door is the largest moving part of the home and the widest feature to add curb appeal to the home.  Before making a selection, consumers should consider their budget, home style, preferences and needs.

Since the door must both present a face as well as open and close, consumers must consider materials, style and function before making their final selection.  Most doors available are rolling sectional doors.  They travel up and down the tracks using rollers that bend at each section when opened and stored overhead.  The single section door pivots out before counterweights draw it to a place above the parking area.  Since the space in front of the door must remain clear for the door to function the latter type of doors are not practical in areas where snow often accumulates.  In addition, it is important that vehicles, kid’s toys people and pets not be too close to the door when attempting to open.

The average single garage door is approximately 9-feet x 7-feet.  The double car garage door is from 16-20 feet in width and 7-8 feet in height.  If the garage also serves as a workshop, an insulated door helps to keep the room more comfortable.  Insulation can also help to protect items stored in the garage.  The insulation is also an excellent way to provide soundproofing the neighbors will appreciate if your son begins his rock band practice sessions in the garage.

Styles of doors typically available include the flush, raised panel, recessed panel, or ranch design.  In addition, the consumer might choose grooved or smooth panels, decorative inserts, standard glass inserts or other designs.  Adding these custom options to the doors will cause the price to increase.  However, a great door can distinguish your home from all the others in the neighborhood, so the cost may be worthwhile.  Wood doors offer the greatest amount of customization and allow owners to match style, details and woods of the home.  Both wood and steel doors will accept paint as well as stain.

Consumers will find several types of insulation available.  Metal doors are sold with the option of polystyrene or injected foam insulation.  These doors generally are finished with a second metal or fiberglass inner face.  The injected foam bonds to the metal and eliminates any voids, providing a higher insulation or R-value.  Polystyrene sheets are cut and fitted to the back of the door and may leave gaps in the insulation.  A second interior face for the blocks maximizes the value of the block insulation.  Wood is a much better insulator than metal, but the R-value may be increased by creating a sandwich between the door and the facing material.

Metal doors are generally more resistant to damage from the weather than wood doors are, however any door will begin to show signs of wear unless they are properly maintained.  Watch for scratches, dings and dents when you are taking care of the door.  These should be repaired before they lead to rust.  With wood doors, it is important to seal the door upon installation and reseal every two years.  Protect the doors from water, including the runoff and splash back caused by the roof.  Use gutters to direct water away from the garage door.  Be sure there is adequate drainage away from the house in front of the garage door.

The Tampa garage door homeowners select is important for many reasons.  The door covers a large surface of the face of the home.  It also offers protection to vehicles and equipment stored inside the garage.  If insulated, the door can help to keep the area warmer in the winter and cooler for the summer.

A new blog is on the way! Stay tuned!