Tag: Garage Door Springs

Tips To Fix A Loud Garage Door

Written by jsanford on September 16, 2019. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis.

An automatic garage door is a complex piece of machinery that involves a lot of working components, so when you are dealing with a loud or noisy garage door opener you may not know where to turn. All garage door systems make noise when opening and closing, but it should not be loud enough to wake the neighbors.

Tips To Fix A Loud Garage Door System

If you are dealing with a loud garage door, you are in luck. In this blog, we are going to share some tips to help you find a solution.

Lubricate Metal Parts

If you live in the Midwest, it is important for homeowners to prepare their garage door system for different seasons. Metal parts of garage doors, such as rollers, hinges, springs, and tracks need to be lubricated in order to function properly and reduce the noise of a loud garage door. A good rule of thumb is to lubricate these parts every six months — before winter and summer. When these parts are regularly lubricated, you will not only increase the functionality of your door, but you will aid in noise reduction and extend the life of your garage door system.

Tighten Up Nuts and Bolts

As the seasons’ change and the temperatures fluctuate, parts of your garage door will expand or contract which can loosen nuts and bolts. Your garage door system has a variety of different nuts, screws, fasteners, and bolts. Even using your garage door every day can cause these pieces to loosen, which leads to more noise when opening and closing your door. If you have a loud garage door, check all the hardware, tightening any loose nuts, bolts, or screws that you come across. A loose screw can be an easy fix to your load and distributive garage door.

Check Garage Door Rollers

If loose pieces or unlubricated parts are not the culprit of the noise, turn to the garage door rollers. Standard garage doors typically have five to six rollers on each side of the tracks. When rollers are worn and damaged they will not function properly. Of course, these are supposed to roll and not slide when opening and closing. When they slide, they will make a terribly disruptive sound. If it is because the rollers are damaged, they will require repair or replacement.

Inspect the Garage Door Tracks

Speaking of garage door tracks, they could be another reason why your garage door is making so much noise. If debris or other objects are in the track, they can lead to a disruptive noise when the rollers move along the track. To avoid this, be sure to inspect the track and clear any visible debris and objects that could get caught on the rollers.

Make Sure Your Opener Is Working Right

If you have lubricated the moving parts and inspected the other areas mentioned above and your garage door is still loud, the issue could be your garage door opener. Garage door openers generally last 10-15 years depending on how well they are maintained. When the motors in these openers become noisy, it may be time to replace your garage door opener. To determine if you need a garage door opener replacement to fix a loud garage door, contact the experienced technicians at Garage Door Doctor.

How Our Garage Door Contractors Can Help

When you have exhausted all of the possible solutions and remedies for your noisy or loud garage door, it’s time to call Garage Door Doctor to diagnose the issue. Garage door repair experts can service or replace the following:

Garage door rollers
Garage door hinges
Torsion springs
Garage door opener motors
Garage door panels
Damaged or bent garage door tracks
And so much more!

At Garage Door Doctor, we are proud to provide professional garage door services in Indianapolis and throughout the surrounding area. Our experts always recommend professional installation and repair of your existing garage door to ensure your safety and the integrity of your door. If you have a loud garage door and can’t figure out the cause, our garage door technicians can come out and take a look. To request residential garage door service and eliminate your loud garage door, contact Garage Door Doctor!

Tips to Avoid Emergency Garage Door Repairs

Written by jsanford on January 7, 2019. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis.

If you’re like most homeowners, you would rather avoid garage door problems altogether. Unfortunately, garage door systems involve numerous moving parts and components, making them at risk of wear, damage, and other problems that can cause your garage door system to not operate properly and lead to not only inconvenient but also unsafe, situations.

Luckily, if you are faced with an emergency garage door situation, you can rely on Garage Door Doctor to provide a working solution. Garage Door Doctor is always available, offering emergency garage door repair in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. While you can gain peace of mind in knowing that our 24-hour garage door services are always available, it’s still in your best interest to not have to deal with an emergency garage door problem. The best way to reduce the risk of these inconvenient problems occurring is to ensure that your garage door is in the prime condition.

Tips to Avoid Emergency Garage Door Repairs

To help you avoid these stressful issues with your garage door, we put together a list of tips that will help you avoid emergency garage door repairs.

Call a Garage Door Company

As soon as you notice an issue with your garage door or garage door opener, it is important to call a garage door company if you are unable to make the adjustments or repairs yourself. Prolonging repairs could potentially cause the problem to get worse and cost more in repairs. At Garage Door Doctor, our professional technicians will be able to fix the problem quickly to ensure your garage door will operate reliably.

Keep Up with Garage Door Maintenance

Keeping up with regular garage door maintenance is essential if you want to keep your garage door system running efficiently. Regular maintenance will help you detect potential problems before they become too sophisticated or too expensive to fix.

For professional garage door preventative maintenance, contact Garage Door Doctor today!

Clean and Lubricate Components

Garage door systems involve a lot of parts and components, many of which need to be properly cleaned a lubricated. Cleaning and lubricating the essential parts, such as the garage door tracks, rollers, and hinges, is one of the simplest yet most effective steps in garage door maintenance.

Adjust the Garage Door Sensors

Is your garage door not closing all the way? The issue could be caused by out-of-alignment photo-eye sensors. The purpose of these sensors is to keep your door from closing at unsafe or inconvenient moments, however, when the sensors are not properly aligned, this safety feature can become a burden. To prevent major issues from occurring, move the sensors back into their right position with the lenses lined up with each other if they are to come out of place.

The tips above are just a few things you can do to avoid the risk of emergency garage door repairs, which can save you time and money as well as your sanity. However, it is important to remember that emergencies do happen, and when you are faced with a garage door problem that requires urgent repairs, you can count on Garage Door Doctor for 24 hour garage door repairs. If you are in need of emergency garage door repairs, contact our technicians today!

Common Winter Garage Door Problems

Written by jsanford on December 12, 2018. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis.

As we all know, Midwest winters can be harsh. It won’t be long before the snow begins piling up. With the frigid temperatures and snow, it can be easy to forget the effect they can have on your garage door. It is estimated that 71 percent of homeowners use their garages to enter and exit their house, making garage door problems a huge inconvenience.

Before the winter reaches its prime, it is important to be aware of some of the most common garage door problems that occur this time of year so that you can get ahead of them and keep your door running smoothly. Let’s review some of the most common winter garage door problems.

Contracting Metal and Damaged Components

In order for your garage door to be properly functioning, every single part needs to be in the best shape. When one component is damaged or faulty, it can cause the entire system to shut down. This is a serious issue, especially with the cold temperatures make metal contract. A garage door has many metal components. The screws, springs, railing, and other parts can break or cause your garage door to get jammed due to contracting.

Broken garage door springs are one of the most common garage door issues that happen during the winter. And since garage door springs keep the weight of your door balanced, they are essential to a fully operating system.

The metal components of your garage door system should be lubricated throughout the entire year as a part of regular garage door maintenance, but it’s especially essential during the winter months to avoid contracting metal and a malfunctioning door.

Garage Door Frozen To The Ground

One of the most annoying problems that can happen this winter is when a garage door sticks in cold weather. If water accumulates at the bottom of the gate, it can seal and freeze the garage door shut. Does your garage door stick when cold? The best way to avoid this problem is to sweep puddles and snow away from the base of your door right away, not allowing it to accumulate.

Damaged Garage Door Sensors

Believe it or not, the remote sensors can become cracked when the temperatures are harsh. While this is a rare occurrence, if you have cracked garage door sensors you’ll need to call a professional garage door company to find out what’s happening with the sensor and either fix the issue by offering garage door sensor repair or replacement. Before you call anyone, check for simple issues like dead batteries or something interfering with the photo eye sensors.

Damaged Weather Stripping

Garage door weather stripping is a great way to keep the cold air out and the warm air inside your garage during the winter. It also can improve energy efficiency. However, sometimes during the winter, water can freeze around the base of your garage door and trap the weather stripping between the ice and the ground. When you try to open your garage door, it can tear the weather stripping off. Furthermore, as time passes, the stripping wears and tends to harden and crack, eliminating the seal and allowing the cold air to enter inside. With such a large door, losing the weather stripping seal can create your overall heating costs to rise. Again, a good way to avoid this issue is to sweep snow and water away from the base of your door before it has the chance to freeze. Inspect your weather stripping regularly to make sure it hasn’t become too worn or damaged to keep your garage and home warm.

Contact Garage Door Doctor For Garage Door Repair In The Winter

Not only is fixing your garage door in the winter difficult and dangerous to do without the proper knowledge and equipment, but the cold temperatures make it a task you don’t want to have to deal with. By taking the necessary precautions, you can prevent these common winter garage door problems. If you find yourself in need of garage door repair this winter season, you can rely on the expert garage door contractors at Garage Door Doctor! Our team can diagnose whatever problem your garage door system is having, getting it back up and properly functioning as it should. To receive a free estimate, contact our garage door company today!

How To Make Your Garage Door Opener Quieter

Written by jsanford on December 29, 2017. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis.

Garage door openers are notorious for being noisy. If you have an older garage door or garage door opener, or you have a garage door with worn down parts, there is a good chance that it makes quite a bit of noise when opening or closing. Having a noisy garage can be a huge disturbance to others in your household and even your neighbors. In fact, we express our sympathies to anyone who has a bedroom right about a noisy garage door opener — that noise is not something you prefer to wake up to!

Whether you have an old garage door opener or a new one, at some point in its lifetime it is likely to cause some ruckus. This could be caused by worn parts or many other difficulties. However, there are multiple approaches you can take to help silence these loud and disturbing noises and avoid distracting those who are nearby. If you find that your garage is grinding, clunking, squeaking, or making another bothersome noise, check out some tips that may help your garage door opener become quieter and less of a disturbance.

Pick the right opener

There are multiple types of garage door openers. The most common types of garages door openers you will see in homes are belt-driven, chain-driven, screw-driven, direct drive, and jackshaft garage door openers. Jackshaft and direct drive garage door openers are generally quieter than other openers, however, belt-driven openers are the most common type of garage door openers and are still far quieter than chain or screw-driven garage door openers. Although there are plenty of benefits that come with having a screw or chain-driven opener if noise is something you are concerned about you may want to avoid these types of openers. Choosing the right opener is an essential step to controlling and reducing the noise your garage door opener makes.

How to fix a loud garage door opener

The grinding, rattling, and creaking that comes from a garage door opener can really be a disturbance to family members, especially if someone in the household works early or late hours. However, sometimes a garage door opener is not always the sole culprit of the noise you hear. If you are trying to achieve a garage door and opener that is quiet, there is some maintenance that can be done to help reduce the noise. There are simple steps that can be taken and there is some garage door maintenance and repair that can be done by a garage door company to help reduce the noise your opener makes. Check some of them out!

Tip #1: Lubricate the springs

Torsion springs are the springs that are found just over a closed garage door. These springs are tightly wound, making them extremely dangerous, and should only be serviced and disassembled by a trained and experienced garage door technician.

In addition to the torsion springs, there are also extension springs that can be located on either side of the garage door about the upper tracks. These springs are known to be loud and can make a squeaking or clanging noise that is annoyingly noticeable. Any easy way to make these springs quieter is by applying oil or a type of lubricant to them. Or, schedule a time for a garage door technician to come out and inspect the situation and solve the problem.

Tip #2: Tighten all nuts and bolts

Vibration is one of the main causes of a noisy garage door. Since most garage door openers experience consistent use, the vibrations from daily use can shake and loosen the nuts and bolts overtime. Sometimes, these loose pieces are the reasoning behind all of the commotion. By grabbing a wrench and carefully going through all of the bolts and nuts and retightening them is a great way to cut down or entirely stop the noise.

Tip #3: Replace the hinges

The metal hinges on your garage door can be a factor of garage door noise. When these hinges become dull and worn, they are known to constantly grind and squeak. As time passes, the rollers inside the hinges will age along with your garage door and can become quite noisy. The best approach is to inspect the roller stems within the metal hinges and search for signs of wear and check for any loose parts. The rollers inside should be able to move when pushed with a finger if they are stuck or have difficulty moving side to side try adding lubricant. That should help reduce the noise emitted from the hinges and roller stems.

Tip# 4: Replace the garage door rollers

If noise is still an issue, you may want to consider garage door roller replacement. Garage door rollers are made from either nylon or metal. When these rollers become worn, they are well-known for causing a lot of noise, usually a terrible squeaking sound. You can help reduce the noise by adding some lubricant, but if the rollers are worn they should be replaced. Garage door rollers can be difficult and dangerous to repair by yourself. You should have roller replacement performed by a professional garage door company.

Garage Door Doctor Power Tip: Nylon rollers are generally quieter than metal, so if you want a quieter garage and are replacing the garage door rollers, be sure to choose nylon.

Tip #5: Garage door opener maintenance

Sometimes the noise isn’t coming from the rollers, hinges, or springs. Occasionally, the noise is coming from the garage door opener itself. If you have a chain or belt driven garage door opener, a loose garage door could be the cause of the noise. Be sure to check the manual to verify how much tension is allowed from your trolley mechanism. Lubricant can be added to a chain and screw-driven openers to help the metal components slide together without creating a lot of noise.

Garage Door Doctor Power Tip: NEVER use lubricant on belt-driven openers!

Tip #6: Hire a garage door opener repair service

When your garage door opener is making a lot of noise and is a household disturbance, you’ll likely want to try fixing the problems yourself. While the tips above can be beneficial is solving your noise issue, there is also the risk of the dangers of DIY garage door repair and maintenance. By trying to fix the problem yourself you are risking making the problem worse, causing damages, or getting injured. When you need opener repair and maintenance done, you should contact a professional garage door company to arrive on site and inspect your garage door, garage door opener, and all of the components involved to get the root of the problem. Professional garage door technicians have the required knowledge, experience, and tools to perform garage door maintenance and repair.

In need of garage door opener repair in Indianapolis?

If your garage is making noise, or if you are in need of garage door opener or garage door repair in Indianapolis, contact Garage Door Doctor! Our team of garage door technicians specialize in garage door installations, garage door repairs, and garage door opener replacement. Whether you are in Indianapolis, or in the surround areas, we can help you with your garage door and opener needs! To receive a free garage door estimate, contact us!

Dangers of DIY Garage Door Repair

Written by jsanford on August 24, 2017. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis, Uncategorized.

We currently are living in a time where DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects are a very popular trend. People can save money by choosing to do projects themselves, whether it is building a bed frame out of pallets or designing a Halloween costume for the upcoming season. However, there are some jobs that are much more complicated to do yourself and should be left to professionals — repairing your garage door is one. Even though there are plenty of tutorials on Youtube and other social media channels, repairing your garage door is not something you should consider a DIY project. In most cases, repairing a garage door without the help from a professional can not only end up costing more but also come with multiple risks, that could cause severe damage or injury. Let’s look at a few reasons why repairing your garage door yourself could be a costly decision.

Don’t Make Your Problem Worse Than It Is

We feel it’s necessary to start with this: When you decide to repair your garage door yourself, you may make the situation worse. With years of experience in the industry, we’ve seen simple fixes turn into costly damage and repair. Repairing garages isn’t a simple task; should something go wrong with a DIY repair, you will only cause more damage. Plus, in addition to causing damage to your garage door and opener, you’re also increasing the risk of damaging items inside the garage, including personal items, vehicles, and other belongings.

Wrong Use of Tools

One of the biggest problems that occur when people try fixing their garage door openers is not having access to the appropriate tools that are needed. In fact, most garage door repairs require specific tools that not all homeowners own. In most cases, people will try to repair their opener with the tools they have, even though they aren’t right for the job. Using the wrong tools to perform a repair can increase the chances of extending the damage of the garage door and opener, and can end up ruining your tools. And do we even need to mention the improper use of power tools? Did you know that power tool injuries account for as many as 400,000 annual emergency room visits? Yikes! Doing a garage door opener repair yourself can be dangerous, but using the wrong tools only increases the risks.

If It Isn’t Broken Don’t Fix It

A common problem with DIY garage door repairs is that most people don’t have the necessary knowledge to properly fix their problem. Although garages seem fairly simple there are some parts and repairs that require a professional understanding. Attempting to fix a problem without having the knowledge or doing the necessary research could result in you trying to fix the wrong part or component. This could end up being a huge waste of time and money!

The Risk of Falling

Garage door repairs often require working higher up or closer to the ceiling. Not having the proper equipment and training can lead to a fall that can seriously injure someone. Even if you have a ladder, there is still a risk of falling if you do not know what you are doing. Professionals have the needed equipment and training to perform successful repairs.

Torsion Springs

The two most common garage door spring systems are torsion and extension systems. Although both have proven to be a reliable option for homeowners, they can be very dangerous when doing a repair. With most garage doors, you can find the torsion springs mounted horizontally above the opening of the door. These springs are tightly wound, causing them to be under extreme tension. If a spring were to break during a DIY repair, it could violently send pieces flying, putting yourself at risk.

In addition to people purchasing the wrong springs for a repair, it seems that most people who try to place the torsion springs themselves usually have to end up calling a professional because they are much more complicated to deal with than they seem. Garage door repair services have a proper understanding of torsion springs and how they work; leave it to them for the replacement!

Collapsed Garage Door

Garage doors are extremely heavy. In fact, the common garage door weighs somewhere between 200-500 pounds! The bottom line is garage doors are very heavy. Do-it-yourself repairs could cause the heavy door to fall off the track and cause serious damage to whatever is in its path, including vehicles, the floor, and even more damage to the door itself. When it comes to DIY garage door repairs, there are a lot of common ways that you could cause your garage door to completely collapse, including improper disconnection of the garage door restraints. Professional garage door repair services know the proper precautions to follow so that your garage door doesn’t collapse and cause even more damage.

Contact Garage Door Doctor Today!

If you have a problem with your garage door, we don’t recommend turning it into a weekend do-it-yourself project. Trying to repair a garage door without having the professional knowledge and experience could end up causing costly damages and injuries. If you have a problem with your garage door or opener in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas, contact the professionals at Garage Door Doctor! We provide same-day service and appointments so you don’t have to wait or try to perform the repair yourself. Don’t risk damage or injury, call Garage Door Doctor today for all of your garage door repair needs!

Common Reasons Why Your Garage Door Isn’t Working

Written by jsanford on July 10, 2017. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis.

Why isn’t your garage door opening and closing like it should?

You rely on your garage door opener for one thing: to let you in and out of your garage when you need to. And when it isn’t working like it should, it can be incredibly frustrating. Although this could indicate a serious problem, it might also be a sign of something small that you can easily fix yourself. Here are some of the most common reasons why your garage door isn’t opening and closing like it should:

#1. Something is in the sensor’s path.

As the largest moving piece of equipment inside your home, your garage door has a lot of potential for danger. Garage doors can exert a great deal of force, and it’s important that they will reverse their path if something, or someone, gets in it. In 1982, garage door manufacturers started adding automatic reversing mechanisms to every door, and in 1993, federal law began requiring that they also include photoelectric eyes that would reverse the door when anything entered into its path. When your garage door won’t close, the first thing you should do is make sure that the path of those sensors is clear.

#2. The photo eyes aren’t aligned properly.

In any garage door made after 1993, there are two photo eyes that are aligned on either side of the entrance. An invisible beam is transmitted between the two eyes, and when something gets in the track of that beam, it causes the garage door to reverse. Either of those two sensors could get knocked out of place, and if one sensor cannot connect with the other, it’s designed to act as if something is in its path, and your garage door won’t close. The two sensors have to be lined up exactly in order to work correctly, so if one of yours becomes misaligned, you might need to use a laser level to correct the issue.

#3. The batteries in your transmitters might be dead.

Garage door transmitters, or remote openers, are battery powered, and like any batteries, they can die. When your garage door won’t open or close, changing the batteries in your transmitters might be a good place to start. But first, try all of the transmitters you have, including the one you have on the wall inside of your garage, as well any you have in your vehicles. If one of them doesn’t work, then it’s pretty clear that you should replace the batteries, but if they all don’t work, then you’ve probably got another kind of problem on your hands.

#4. The disconnect switch has been enabled.

When you try to open or close your garage door, does the motor run, like it always does, but the door doesn’t move? If so, check to make sure that the disconnect switch has not been enabled. Every garage door opener is equipped with a disconnect switch, and in most garages, you enable it by pulling a rope or turning a knob on the underside of your garage door opener. This switch makes it possible to manually open and close your garage door in the event of a power outage, but it can accidentally get unhooked, disconnecting the motor from the garage door. If you’ve found that your disconnect switch has been enabled, simply open your garage door completely and then reattach the hook.

#5. The springs are broken.

Garage doors utilize springs that make it possible for them to close slowly. Without these springs, garage doors would slam shut, making them a safety hazard to anything or anyone underneath. Garage door springs will usually last about 10,000 cycles, which is typically between three and five years. A garage door can last up to three times as long, so broken springs are a pretty common problem. If your garage door has slammed shut, then there’s a good chance you have a broken spring on your hands. Do not attempt to try to replace a garage door spring on your own. These springs hold enough pressure to support the entirety of your garage door’s weight, and they can cause serious injury, or even death, if they are handled improperly. Always call in a professional for broken garage door springs, and make sure that you avoid trying to open or close your garage door until the spring is fixed.

#8. The limit settings weren’t properly programmed.

Every garage door has its own limit range. This range is the distance your garage door has to travel in order to be fully closed. If the limit range settings are higher than they should be, when you close your garage door, it will hit the ground before it thinks it’s closed, and then reverse, assuming something is in its path that shouldn’t be. In most cases, this issue only ever arises with new garage doors, but over time, older models may need to be reset as well.

#9. The power source has become disrupted.

Your garage door opener has to be plugged into a working outlet in order to open and close your garage door. If it becomes unplugged, or if the circuit breaker gets tripped, your garage door won’t work. To make sure the outlet is working, try plugging something else into it. If it’s not working, then you already know what the problem is!

As you can see, in a lot of cases, you can tackle a garage door that won’t open or close on your own, but if a spring is broken, or none of these problems apply to your situation, don’t hesitate to give us a call! We offer garage door repair in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. Contact us today for your free quote.

Nine Things Every Garage Needs

Written by jsanford on May 22, 2017. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis.

Garages are a place that tend to accumulate a lot of the unwanted boxes, furniture, and other household items that we’re trying to get out of our homes. However, there are certain things that you want to ensure you have in your garage in order to keep your home and property running efficiently. Here at Garage Door Doctors, we believe that in order to get the most out of your garage, you should have a garage door that functions properly. If you want to keep items in your garage, it’s important to be able to get them out with ease. If you’re currently not using your garage because you’re in need of garage door repairs for your Indianapolis home, don’t hesitate to call us to schedule an appointment. Once your garage door is operable, make sure you have the following nine things in your garage.

Nine Garage Essentials

A Workbench

Having a workbench in your garage will come in handy more than you’d think. Whether you need to put a household item together or sand a piece of wood for a project, you’ll be thankful you don’t have to sit on the floor to do it.

A Toolbox

Instead of having a drawer in your home dedicated to your measuring tape, screwdrivers, and hammer, get a proper toolbox to organize your tools and have easy access to them.

Shelves

The garage is great for storage, but it can get overwhelming when you start stacking things on the floor and on top of each other. Shelves will ensure everything has a home and you can get into each storage bin without a problem.

Storage Tubs

Clear, plastic storage tubs are ideal to store things in within your garage. You can take things one step further and add labels to ensure you know exactly what’s in each box.

Storage Locker

For items that you might not want to put in storage bins, but would benefit from covered storage, a locker is a great way to have a specified space for each item that is easy to get to.

Recycling Bin

The trash can in the kitchen already takes up enough space, add a recycling bin by the door in your garage and save space inside your home.

A Vise

If you haven’t heard of a vise before, you’re missing out. A vise is something you can set on your workbench that will hold things in place as you work on them.

Extension Cord

No home is complete without an extension cord, so instead of piling it on the floor of the coat closet, give it a home in the garage on its own hook.

Hooks

Speaking of hooks, they will come in handy for a number of things. Add simple nails or more complex hooks to the wall, whatever you use, you can hang shovels, extension cords, brooms, and so much more from hooks to save space on the floor.

We’ve really only begun to skim the surface of essential items to keep in your garage, but we know you probably won’t use your garage as much as you could if your garage door isn’t working. For garage door repairs in Indianapolis, Mooresville, Westfield, and other surrounding locations, call Garage Door Doctor today.

How To Make The Most Out Of Your Garage Space

Written by jsanford on May 1, 2017. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis.

Having a garage is a luxury that not all people have. If you have a garage, but if it’s become a place of stacked boxes and old furniture you don’t want, you’re not making the most out of your garage space. Here at Garage Door Doctor, we’ve found that one of the main reasons people let old belongings gather in their garage is due to a broken garage door that they’ve never had repaired. If you’re in the same boat as many other households, don’t wait any longer to call us now to schedule your garage door repairs in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. If you live in Avon, Brownsburg, McCordsville, and even Zionsville, you’re still within our service areas. Once you have your garage door repaired, you can implement our following tips for how to make the most out of the space in your garage.

Top Tips For Your Garage Space

Tools And Lawn Care

The most common items found in garages are usually tools and lawn care essentials. Instead of just leaning the majority of these items against the walls in your garage, make the most out of your space by adding wall hooks. Your weed whacker, ladder, rake, extension cord, and shovel are all things that can be hung from the wall instead of taking up valuable floor space. If you don’t have a tool box and your hammer, screwdriver, and level are all thrown into a box that’s also kept on the ground, invest in a toolbox or shelves and totes that you can organize.

Seasonal Clothes And Decorations

If you don’t have a crawlspace or basement, the garage may be the perfect place to keep seasonal clothes and decorations. These are items that are prone to be thrown into boxes and stacked on each other in the garage, which usually makes it impossible to find what you need. In order to, at the very least, get these boxes off of the floor, installing shelves along the walls of your garage is the best way to organize the boxes. Add labels to each box so you will know what’s in any given box.

Food And Drink Storage

If you’re constantly finding that your refrigerator and pantry are overflowing with food and drinks, it may be time to add additional storage for these items in your garage. Once you start organizing your garage and making more room, it probably won’t be hard to find the space for an extra refrigerator and shelves for food storage. Keeping beverages in the refrigerator along with meats in the freezer is the best way to free up space in your kitchen refrigerator. You can also keep all of your non-perishable items such as canned goods and box meals in the garage.

Miscellaneous

We know that you probably have a variety of miscellaneous items that need a home, and they may currently be stacked in your closet or the laundry room. In addition to the other shelves and storage bins you have in your garage, consider installing separate shelves to keep miscellaneous items such as luggage, sports equipment, and other household items. You can even add more wall hooks to keep things like your broom, dust pan, and ironing board in the garage.

When you make the most of your garage space, you’ll not only have a clean, organized garage, but you’ll also free up space in the rest of your home. If you’re not using your garage due to a broken garage door, call Garage Door Doctor now to schedule your garage door repairs in Indianapolis.

How To Safely Park In Your Garage

Written by jsanford on April 12, 2017. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis.

While most people would like to think that they would never accidentally back their car into their garage door, or perhaps even pull too far into their garage and run into the wall, accidents happen. If you’re in need of garage door repairs, call Garage Door Doctor in Indianapolis. We offer garage door repairs for homes and commercial properties in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. Today, we’d like to go over some of our top tips for safely parking in your garage to avoid accidents and to help you prevent damage to your car or garage.

Top Tips For Safely Parking In Your Garage

Install A Laser Sensor

Laser sensors are available to install in your garage on the ceiling. The sensor will send out a laser beam that will guide your car into the garage and tell you where to stop. Laser sensors are available for garages that have one or two places to park, so each driver can benefit from the help of the laser sensor. Alternatively, you can find sensors that you mount on your wall which will stay green as you pull in until you reach the specified parking spot.

Use A Mat Or Tire Stop

If you’d rather use something a little less technical, you could always opt for a mat that you can place on the floor of your garage that you will pull onto, letting you know that you have reached your ideal parking spot. If you think that a mat would be too subtle for you, you can place something similar to a concrete stop used in parking lots on the floor of your garage.

Hang A Bouncy Ball From The Ceiling

If you’re looking for a tried-and-true method of knowing exactly where to park in your garage, you can opt for the old-school method of hanging a ball from your ceiling. So you know where to hang the ball from, park your car in the ideal place in your garage, and then put a hook in the ball and tie a string to it, hang the ball from the string directly above the windshield of your car. The ball should touch the middle or bottom of your windshield when you pull into the garage.

Avoid Backing Into Your Garage

While the previous tips are great options that will prevent you from pulling too far into your garage, it’s important to take precautions that will keep you from accidentally backing into your garage door when it’s closed. The best way to prevent this is to always open your garage door from your wall opener before you get into your car. This way, your garage door will always be open before you get into your car, and you won’t have a chance to start your car and back up without thinking about the fact that you haven’t opened the door yet.

We hope that these tips are helpful, and give you some good ideas on how to safely and effectively park in your garage. Should you ever accidentally run into your garage door, or need any other garage door repairs, call the Garage Door Doctor for all of your garage door repairs in Indianapolis.

Garage Door Preventative Maintenance Tips

Written by jsanford on February 27, 2017. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis.

If you park your car in your garage, it is likely that you are opening and closing your garage door numerous times a day. Normal wear-and-tear is expected when you use an object on a regular basis, however, how many people are checking their garage door systems to ensure that they are functioning correctly? Here at Garage Door Doctor, we know that the majority of people are not taking the proper precautions for preventative care when it comes to their garage door systems. If you’d like your garage door to last for as long as possible and for your garage door system to work in perfect harmony, there are a few things you can do to ensure that your garage door is getting the attention that it needs. And If you are in need of garage door repairs in Indianapolis, Garage Door Doctor can help!

Top Tips For Garage Door Preventative Maintenance

#1. Watch as your garage door opens and closes.

We know that watching a garage door open and close may not be one of your top priorities, however, by observing your garage door and the way that it opens and closes, you can actually tell a lot about the functionality of your garage door system. Does your garage door jerk or make squealing noises? These things aren’t normal and they could indicate a problem with your garage door. If your garage door vibrates as it opens and closes, this could indicate that a roller bracket or bolts may be loose. You should either tighten these parts or call a professional to help you tighten these parts as soon as possible to reduce the amount of damage the problem will cause.

#2. Lubricate the moving parts of your garage door.

White lithium grease is recommended for a garage door lubricant that can be used for the chain and the screw on the opener. A spray lubricant can be used for the overhead chain. You can also lubricate the track that your garage door is set on to ensure that it opens and closes as smoothly as possible.

#3. Clean your garage door tracks.

If there is dirt, debris, or other items clogging the tracks that your garage door operates on, it could cause problems such as your garage door becoming unbalanced or the likelihood of your garage door malfunctioning. Check your garage door tracks on a monthly basis and use a toothbrush to clean the tracks if you need to remove dirt and debris.

#4. Know when to call a professional.

If your garage door seems to be exerting more effort than it normally would to open or close or if the cables appear to have broken strands or damage, call a professional to come and inspect the problems. Cables and springs can be dangerous if they snap or break, so these parts should always be dealt with by a trained garage door technician.

Paying attention to your garage door and giving it the attention that it needs can add years to its lifespan. If you should find that you need garage door repairs in Indianapolis, call the Garage Door Doctor for the help you need. Schedule your appointment today!