FAQ

Garage Doors are complicated, we know. We also know you’re looking for uncomplicated answers or solutions for your garage door needs. Here are Wheaton Garage Door Repair’s most frequently asked questions that may just save you some money.

Before filing a claim, the first thing to check is your insurance policy. In most home insurance policies, garage doors are part of the coverage. You just need to check what the exact coverage is.

Most times, your insurance will cover any damage that you or your family members have made to the garage door. If a third-party is responsible, for instance when your neighbor accidentally hits your garage door, in that case, that person’s auto-insurance policy will cover the cost for repair or replacement.

R-Value is the rating system used to grade insulation products or a material’s insulating properties, in this case, a garage door. The “R” stands for “resistance” and refers to the resistance a material has to heat flow, or temperature conduction. When a product or home has a high R-Value, this means it is well insulated. Therefore, it’s important have a higher R-Value when it comes to insulated garage doors.

The good news is you can easily secure your home even after you’ve lost your remote. Here’s a look at what to do when you lose a garage door opener remote:

a) Erase the remote from memory & reset the openers code: Most homeowners have a spare garage door remote, which is great in a situation where one goes missing. If you have lost a garage door remote, it’s time to erase the lost remote from the memory of your opener and to reset the code. By erasing the memory and resetting the code, you ensure your lost garage door remote will no longer work.

b) Buy a replacement garage door opener remote: Not everyone has a spare garage door opener remote — and, even if they do, they still want to replace the remote that’s gone missing. You can always search for a replacement opener remote from your unit’s manufacturer.

We recommend quality garage door opener brands like LiftMaster, as they can equip you with a new remote to replace your old one. You can also consider getting a universal remote for the existing unit and any future replacement units you may have installed.

c) Learn how to open your garage door manually: While you’re waiting for your new garage door remote, you may have to open and close your garage door manually. Be sure to follow all safety precautions. If your garage door and opener are in good shape, opening and closing your door by hand should be easy.

What manufacturers do you offer?

Do you offer any warranties?

Do I need to be there during the garage door installation?

Will your team remove and dispose of my old garage door?

Is there anything I should be doing between your team’s visits to maintain my door?

Garage door replacement tops the list of home improvement with the best return on investment at resale, but homeowners hoping to get the biggest bang for their buck need to invest their upgrade dollars wisely by choosing a design that fits the architectural style and price point of their home.

Garage door replacement ranks high because it is relatively inexpensive, yet it has a significant impact on a home’s curb appeal and perceived value, especially if there are multiple doors facing the street. Realtors say, if shoppers don’t like what they see from the curb, chances are they won’t waste time going inside.

If you hear a garage door grinding noise, it could be the rollers. The door track rollers move each time you open or close the door, leading to a lot of movement and causing wear. This wear could damage the roller surface, causing them not to roll correctly. They can also become bound up, leaving them sliding in the track causing friction and a lot of noise. To fix, lubricate or replace, preferably with solid nylon or nylon-coated varieties.

Before deciding to repair your garage door yourself, it’s important to realize that although a lot of articles and videos on the internet can provide theoretical instruction, they don’t provide you with the experience a garage door pro has. What’s more: Not all of these articles are written by qualified garage door mechanics, so you might not be getting the best information. In addition, there are several risks associated with DIY garage door repair that you need to keep in mind:If you’re not familiar with all the different parts of the lift mechanism, it’s all too easy to cause more damage. What might have been a small problem can quickly become a big one.If you’re unable to resolve the problem yourself, you’ll have to call a garage door pro after all. Doing both will cost you more out of pocket than it would have if you’d called a professional in the first place.Garage doors have springs that are under a lot of tension. If one of these springs breaks, it could hit you with full force and cause serious injuries. Similarly, depending on the type of repairs you’re trying to do, you could be injured by the garage door itself.
The differences between the two openers are four-fold:Speed: Garage doors on chain-drive systems typically bounce slightly as they move up the rail. But belt-drive systems are smoother, so they tend to operate a bit faster.Strength: If you customize your garage with a heavily insulated door, a wide door, or a wooden door, a chain-drive garage door opener is the better choice. Belt-drive garage door openers, on the other hand, come with steel stands that are not as reliable for operating heavier or larger doors.Noise: One major difference between belt-drive and chain-drive garage door openers is noise. Chain-drive systems are noisier because these systems involve gearing and metal-to-metal contact. Belt-drive systems do not have this, so they are much quieter. Homeowners with a bedroom or other quiet room adjacent to the garage would appreciate a belt-drive garage door opener.Price: Belt-drive garage door openers are generally more expensive than chain-drive systems. But with a belt-drive system, you get a smoother, quieter, and more durable operation.

Torsion springs are the most common and more modern garage door spring option. They are available in several sizes and lengths that are calculated based on your garage door weight, height and track radius. They are large springs that are installed on the top of the garage door, and when they are operated, they slide into a channel where lifting cables are attached. To lift and lower the door, torsion springs wind and unwind in a controlled motion.

While torsion springs are more expensive than extension springs, they are more durable and last 15,000 to 20,000 cycles.

If your garage door spring ever breaks, the torsion spring will create a loud sound but remain inside its shaft, while extension springs can snap off and cause property damage as well as injury.

When raising and lowering your door, torsion springs offer a steadier movement that keeps the door better balanced and creates less stress on parts. With torsion springs, your garage door opener doesn’t have to work as hard to open and close the door.

Extension springs are older technology, but they are still a common option for many garage doors because they are less expensive than torsion springs and are an ideal solution for small garages. They don’t occupy much overhead space because they are installed on the side of the door versus overhead and extend whenever the door is operating.

While a popular spring option, extension springs are less recommended by professionals because they only last 10,000 cycles, require more maintenance than torsion springs, operate with a jerking motion that results in additional wear and tear and can be a safety hazard when broken — they can snap away causing personal injury or damages. However, despite these drawbacks, extension springs are generally safe when the safety cables are installed, and they are properly maintained.

Press and release the LEARN button on the overhead garage door opener unit. The learn indicator light will glow steadily for 30 seconds. Within this 30 second time period, press and hold the button on the hand-held remote. Next, release the button when the overhead opener unit’s lights blink. If light bulbs are not installed on your opener, then two clicks will be heard.

To erase all codes from motor unit memory:

Press and hold the LEARN button on motor unit until the learn indicator light goes out (approximately 6 seconds). All previous codes are now erased. Reprogram each remote or keyless entry you wish to use. Press and hold the ENTER button. Next, release the button when the overhead opener unit’s lights blink. If light bulbs are not installed on your opener, then two clicks will be heard.