Frequently Asked Garage Door Questions - Monmouth & Northern Ocean Counties, NJ
Garage Door FAQs
Welcome to our FAQ page where you'll find answers to many common questions about our company and garage doors in general. We hope you find this information helpful. Please contact at (732) 222-9009 with any additional questions.
Q. What do I need to do to maintain my Garage Doors?
A: If your garage doors are made of aluminum or vinyl you should wash the exterior face with mild detergent every couple of months to improve the appearance and remove corrosive elements like salt and soot. If your garage doors are exposed to excessive levels of these elements you should clean them more frequently. If your garage doors are constructed with a timber finish you should follow the manufacturer's maintenance recommendations.
If your garage doors are equipped with an electric garage door operator, you should follow the manufacturer's maintenance recommendations for maintaining the motor, chains, belts and mechanisms.
If your garage doors are equipped with an electric garage door operator, you should follow the manufacturer's maintenance recommendations for maintaining the motor, chains, belts and mechanisms.
Q. I have an electric garage door opener. How do I open or close my garage doors if the power is out?
A: Most garage door openers are equipped with a manual release handle that will disengage the doors from the lifting mechanism in an emergency. In most cases you will find a pull cord assembly located near the area where the assembly mounts to the doors. By simply pulling the cord you can disengage the lifting mechanism and operate the doors manually. Before disconnecting, please do a visual inspection to be sure everything looks safe.
Q. Why should I have my door springs adjusted within a couple of months of installing the door?
A: Springs are initially adjusted for the specific weight of our garage doors and may become stretched after an initial working period which can affect the operation and require an adjustment to either the sensitivity settings of the motor or adjustment of the springs themselves.
Q. My garage door opener doesn't operate using the wall mounted controller.
A: There are a number of possible reasons.
First you should ensure that the motor unit has power. If your unit is equipped with a plug, make sure the plug is securely connected to the outlet. You can also try plugging a lamp into the outlet to ensure it is working properly. If the motor is hardwired into the home's electrical system make sure the circuit is "live." You may have to check your fuse or breaker box. Some systems also feature a wall switch that must be in the "ON" position for the opener to operate.
Check to make sure that all locking devises have been deactivated. In addition to manual locks on the doors many systems also include a feature that deactivates the motor. This feature is usually activated by a button or switch on the wall mounted controller. Make sure that this lock has not been activated. In most cases activation is evidenced by a blinking light or button.
Make sure that the door is not being restricted from moving by accumulations of ice or snow. If this is the case you may have tripped the overload protector through repeated attempts to open the doors. The protector will usually reset in approximately 15 minutes.
Visually inspect the springs to ensure that they are intact.
If your system is equipped with a remote controller you should check to see if it will operate the system.
First you should ensure that the motor unit has power. If your unit is equipped with a plug, make sure the plug is securely connected to the outlet. You can also try plugging a lamp into the outlet to ensure it is working properly. If the motor is hardwired into the home's electrical system make sure the circuit is "live." You may have to check your fuse or breaker box. Some systems also feature a wall switch that must be in the "ON" position for the opener to operate.
Check to make sure that all locking devises have been deactivated. In addition to manual locks on the doors many systems also include a feature that deactivates the motor. This feature is usually activated by a button or switch on the wall mounted controller. Make sure that this lock has not been activated. In most cases activation is evidenced by a blinking light or button.
Make sure that the door is not being restricted from moving by accumulations of ice or snow. If this is the case you may have tripped the overload protector through repeated attempts to open the doors. The protector will usually reset in approximately 15 minutes.
Visually inspect the springs to ensure that they are intact.
If your system is equipped with a remote controller you should check to see if it will operate the system.
Q. Why doest the remote control work intermittently or only from short distances?
A: There are a number of variables. To isolate the cause:
You should check the batteries to ensure they are not weak or dead. If the remote is mounted in your vehicle you may need to change the mounting location in order to reduce obstructions.
Check to be sure the antenna located on the opener is not obstructed.
Foil backed insulation on the garage doors can also interfere with signal transmissions. As long as the insulation doesn't completely keep the remote from working the energy savings is probably worth the small inconvenience you are experiencing. If not, contact a professional garage door installer to explore your options and recommend solutions.
You should check the batteries to ensure they are not weak or dead. If the remote is mounted in your vehicle you may need to change the mounting location in order to reduce obstructions.
Check to be sure the antenna located on the opener is not obstructed.
Foil backed insulation on the garage doors can also interfere with signal transmissions. As long as the insulation doesn't completely keep the remote from working the energy savings is probably worth the small inconvenience you are experiencing. If not, contact a professional garage door installer to explore your options and recommend solutions.
Q. How can I minimize the noise created by my motorized garage door opener?
A: To reduce the amount of noise created by your motorized garage door opener you can install a vibration isolator kit. These kits mount between the motor assembly and the rafters to insulate noise. If your opener is equipped with a metal chain you might also consider replacing it with a rubber belt if possible.
Q. The chain appears a little loose. Is that normal?
A: It is normal for the chain to sag slightly when the garage doors are in the closed position. Unless you notice jerking when opening or closing the doors there is probably not a problem. If you do notice jerking you should have a qualified garage door technician examine and adjust the chain if necessary.