Garage Doors and More! | Hanson Overhead Garage Door Service of Raleigh, NC

Jul 23 2013

Raleigh Garage Repair: Why Won't My Garage Door Close?

Raleigh Garage Repair & Troubleshooting

Why won’t my garage door close? This happens to be one of the most asked questions in the garage door industry. Of course, a “stuck” garage door only seems to happens when you’re running late. Luckily, there are a few things that could be causing the problem. Be sure to check everything listed below, before calling Hanson Overhead of Raleigh, NC for Raleigh garage repair.

Vacation Switch or Lock-out Button. Try pressing the button on the garage wall to see if the door closes. If it doesn’t check the lock out switch or vacation switch. Referred to differently, but exactly the same, this button will lead to is standard on almost every opener. They’re good for locking the garage doors at night or while your away on vacation. They can get pressed accidentally. It’s a good idea to check this button regularly to make sure it’s off. When it’s on, it the opener should light up. As long as the light is off, the door should open and close with the remote.
Check the Door’s Sensitivity. If you’re not comfortable with making adjustments to the opener settings feel free to call Hanson Overhead Garage Door services. We will send out a professional to check the operator. Oftentimes, trying to fix things only make it worse. We understand that! If you are mechanically minded, get the opener manual. Try to locate sensitivity settings with the help of the manual. According to garagedoorzone.com, “Most openers have a sensitivity setting for opening the door and closing the door. Before you adjust the sensitivity disconnect the opener from the door by pulling the emergency release. Check to see how the door balances and moves. If the door is hard to open or close the problem may not be the opener. You may need to call a professional to adjust the garage door. If the door works well manually then reconnect the opener and adjust the close sensitivity. WARNING: DON’T INCREASE TOO MUCH – FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS. If you put a 2×4 under the door & the opener doesn’t reverse you need to increase the sensitivity or someone could get injured.” Be sure to call Hanson Overhead of Raleigh, NC for the garage door adjustment. We are available 24/7, to do repairs and adjustments as needed.
Check the Sensors. The sensors, also called photo-eyes, are mounted on either side of your garage doors. Most often, they are near the floor. You will find two sensors. An emitter sensor and a receiver sensor. The two sensors must be able to “see” each other at all times. If they are knocked out alignment (kids, lawn mowers, hoses, garbage cans bumping into them can knock them out of alignment) they can’t communicate with each other. The opener will refuse to work. Anything can knock the sensors out of line; lawn mowers, hoses, kids, and even bumping into them with a garbage can, can cause them to become unaligned. A good checklist to use monthly is:

Check sensors. Make sure they are aligned
Make sure nothing is blocking sensors. Sometimes a garbage can, broom or other object can get in its way.
Clean the lens on each sensor. Oftentimes, debris can interfere with the lens, causing the door to malfunction.
Check wires to the sensors & the one’s going to the power head – make sure they didn’t come loose
Check & see if sun is shining on sensors. Sometimes the sun can “blind” the sensors and cause them to think an object is blocking the opening. If this is the case the sensors may need moved further into the garage

If you’ve checked all of the above and the opener still doesn’t close the door you can pull the emergency release and close the door manually. It’s usually better to call your local garage door professionals at Hanson Overhead Garage Door Service to take a look before leaving the broken garage door. There could be something seriously wrong with the garage door opener. The sensors or the logic board in the opener may not be functioning properly. Raleigh Garage repair or replacement might be needed.
Remember, if you don’t feel comfortable doing any of the above Hanson Overhead of Raleigh will be more than happy to come out and take a look at your Raleigh garage. No matter the time of day or night, we will be there to help you out! Visit our website for more information on how to care for your Raleigh garage!

Jul 17 2013

Raleigh Garage Door Repair and Maintenance

Raleigh Garage Door Repair and Upkeep

At Hanson Overhead Garage Door Services of Raleigh, our garage doors are constructed of the highest quality materials and workmanship available. Though all of our doors are the best on the market, it’s important to make sure they operate properly. We like to come out and do regular maintenance checks throughout the year. To ensure proper operation, the following Raleigh garage door maintenance should be performed twice a year.

Lubricate all moving parts and coat torsion springs with regular grade machine oil.
Check for loose or missing fasteners. See warning concerning spring components under tension.
Check moving parts for signs of wear. Pay close attention to end bearings, rollers, hinges and lift cables.
Check track support system for loose parts.
Check ease of door operation (if electrically operated, disconnect operator first). Note any binding or unusual noises.
Check for seal of door against jambs, header, and floor.
Check that all safety warning labels and tags are in place.

There are things that you can do to keep your garage doors in shape, without the help of Hanson Overhead Garage Door Services. Below are a few tips.
Yearly Cleaning: Use a mild detergent to wash your door. Do not use harsh abrasive cleansers. Those types of cleaners could harm the finish of the door. Check for scratches. Determine if they can be reasonably repaired. If bare metal is exposed, treat with a zinc-based primer. Avoid major touch-ups. The touch- up painting will not match original factory finish. For information on how to fix metal exposed scratches, call Hanson Overhead of Raleigh.
Label Maintenance: Product safety labels should be periodically inspected to make sure they are still there and easy to read. Be sure to clean or replace them as needed. The labels must maintain good legibility at a safe viewing distance. Otherwise, safety issues might come into play.
For additional maintenance or Raleigh garage door repairs, contact your local door professionals at Hanson Overhead of Raleigh. We will do our best to repair any garage door issues, as well as maintain them to the best of our ability.

Jul 11 2013

How to Choose the Right Garage Door for Your Home

Not sure where to begin when looking for a Raleigh garage door? Let us help. Below are the top four categories to consider before you buy a new garage door.
Raleigh Garage Door: Consider your Budget: Price is an important factor, but remember, it is not the only factor. It is essential to have a budget in mind when looking into any major purchase. Make sure to have a realistic range to work within that includes both a high-end and even a low-end amount you are willing to spend.
Raleigh Garage Door: What Style?: Trying to decide on a look that best fits your home is probably going to be the hardest decision of all. Luckily, if you set a budget, it will help to narrow down some choices. Take time to look at garage doors in your neighborhood, looking for homes similar to yours. Door professionals are also a good source and can help direct you in the style that best fits your home and your budget. Insulation: After choosing a style of door, the next step is deciding if you want the door to be insulated or not. With drastic climate changes in most of the country, it is typically a good idea to insulate a garage door to help keep some sort of temperature control within your garage.
Raleigh Garage Door Maintenance & Repair: For most garage doors maintenance is generally minimal if you have a steel or fiberglass door. Remember no door is absolutely maintenance-free; it is recommended to clean the door and lubricate the moving parts of the door at the very minimum once a year. However, if you are considering a wooden garage door, keep in mind that maintenance and cost increases. Wooden garage doors need to be treated and stained once every couple of years. By doing your homework prior to purchasing a new door, you will save time and money. Check with your local door professional when doing your research; they are a great source of information and can lead you in the right direction.
If you’re looking to purchase new garage doors and need guidance in choosing the right ones for your home, be sure to call Hanson Overhead Garage Door Services. In addition to offering the best garage doors on the market, we also service garage doors and do repairs. For all your Raeigh garage door needs, visit Hanson Overhead Garage Door Service of Raleigh, NC’s homepage.

Jul 08 2013

Raleigh Garage Door Repair: Simple Tips

Raleigh Garage Door Repair: DIY Tips!

Raleigh garage door repairs are some of the most challenging tasks to face; especially if you are not comfortable working with heavy objects and electronics. Because garage doors are usually associated with the word “complicated”, a lot of people shy away from the task of fixing their own garage door problems.
Though we agree, the “complicated” and even, dangerous repairs should be left to professionals at Hanson Overhead Garage Door Service, there are some uncomplicated things you can check for, before calling for our service. Below are some simple garage door repair tips If you’re unsure of whether your repairs are simple or complicated, it might be a good idea to contact Hanson Overhead. We can come out and asses your situation for you.
1. If your Garage Door is screeching, check first for rusty hardware.
Screeching garage doors tend to drive us all a little crazy. We talked in a previous post, about springs causing noise issues; but, if you are unlucky enough to encounter this problem, there are a few things you can do, yourself, first. 70% of the time screeching garage doors are just caused by rusty hardware. There isn’t always a need to replace the springs, or the entire garage door, for that matter.
First, Check for old garage door springs and garage door screws. If you see that there may be a serious problem with the springs and screws, it’s a good idea to call Hanson Overhead Garage Door Service for their help in determining how serious the problem is, and how it should be fixed.
Next, if the springs look good, determine if they’re rusty. Sometimes, the springs need a little lubricate to help them relax a little. If that’s the only problem, it’ll be fixed in no time!
2. If your garage door doesn’t entirely close, make sure the sensor isn’t in the way. If it is lower garage door sensor.
Garage doors, today, are customarily equipped with garage door sensors that follow the opening and closing of the doors. These devices are capable of deciding when and how your garage door will open or close. Sometimes, garage door sensors are installed on a spot, too high up, on the wall. This can cause the sensor to relay false information to your garage door. If your garage door does not shut completely, look for your garage door sensor. Put it slightly lower than its current placement, on the wall.
3. Remote control-operated garage door is causing problems.
This is one of the most frequent problems among those that own garage doors. Thankfully, most of the time, it’s a simple fix. If your garage door isn’t opening when you’re at the opposite end of the drive way, you may need to replace the batteries. Garage door remotes are, most always, batterie powered. Replace the batteries and you will more than likely see a difference. If you are still having problems after doing a battery replacement, then the garage door opener might be the likely culprit. Checking to see if you garage door opener is working, properly ,might be a bit difficult. If you can’t quite figure out how, be sure to call Hanson Overhead Garage Door Service. We will gladly send out one of our expert technicians to take a look, and do any repairs that might need to be done!
Raleigh Garage Door Repair | Hanson Overhead Garage Door Service
If you’re interested in taking a look at any of our other services offered at Hanson Overhead Garage Door Service, be sure to visit our services page. Also, feel free to call us with any questions or concerns with your current garage doors and repairs that may need to be done!

Jul 01 2013

Raleigh Garage Repair: Door Spring Problems

Raleigh Garage Repair: The Door Spring

Garage Door Springs are one of the most important components of your garage door. The springs should have regular maintenance, repairs and checkups. It is important that the doors work properly and safely, and continue to do so. Sometimes, between maintenance checks, problems happen, before you can catch them. It’s a good idea to look at your springs first, if there is ever a problem when considering Raleigh garage reair.
Many times, if a garage door is squeaking, and nothing helps to make it go away, it could be the springs. Also, the garage doors will sometimes have a rough time opening and closing. If the doors aren’t smoothly gliding up and down, it could be the springs, as well. When you springs are in need of attention, it’s a good idea to consider garage door spring replacement. Hanson Overhead Garage Door Service can come out, identify your spring problems, and fix them, in no time.
Most double car garage doors have two springs. The springs are located across the top of each door. Oftentimes, only one spring will break at a time. A good question to ask is, “Should both springs be replaced or just the broken spring?”.
It is recommended that you change both springs at the same time. Because both springs are under the same amount of stress, each time a garage door is open and closed, it’s possible that the other spring will break just as quickly as the broken one is fixed. Torsion springs have definite lifespans and if one has broken there’s a good chance the other is just as fatigued. Replacing both does make the repair more expensive, at the time, but it will cost less to have both springs changed at the same time, than changing the springs separately. In addition, if you have extension springs on your door, the door may not balance properly with one new spring and one fatigued spring.
Older garage doors tend to show wear and tear on the springs periodically. It’s a good idea to test the garage door springs by manually opening and closing them. If they aren’t operating well, the springs may need to be looked at by a professional, before the problem gets worse. Automatic garage door openers can sometimes hide the problem with springs, until it’s too late.

When you are having issues with your garage door springs, contacting a professional, like Hanson Overhead Garage Door Service, is your best option. Trying to fix the problem yourself might be a safety issue. Garage doors can be dangerous, considering their size. If you’d like to learn more about all of our garage door services, be sure to visit our services page.