 When it comes to installing or purchasing a new garage door, you may not think beyond the look of the door. A garage door is designed to keep the elements out and protect the things you keep inside. For easy access, you use a remote that signals an operator to open and close the garage door; this works due to the different parts that make up a garage door system, including the drive. There are four different types of drives: chain, belt, screw and direct. Use the following information on each type of drive to help you choose the right drive for your garage door system.
What Are The Four Different Types Of Drives Available For My Garage Door Operator?
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 Your household can quickly be thrown into crisis mode when the garage door won't open or close. From not being able to drive your car to having your earthly belongings wide open for the whole world to see, it can cause a lot of trouble. There are many parts to the door, and any one of these parts failing can stop your door from opening and closing.
Common Garage Door Parts And Issues Remotes - The remote is probably the first thing to check if your door won't open or close. Start by replacing the batteries. If this does not help, it may be a bigger issue. The Operator - Your operator can cause many issues, from not opening or closing at all to springing back as soon as it gets to a certain spot. Most operators are run via a machine, so it can be hard to diagnose why it might not be working. It is often best to call a professional if you feel the problem is stemming from your operator. Springs - Torsion Springs and Extension Springs are pieces that help your garage door work. The torsion springs can be found above your garage door when it is closed. Extension springs can be found on both sides on top of the upper tracks. Check all of your springs to make sure none have snapped, if you find a broken spring, it will need to be replaced. Cables - If you look up and notice your cables have come apart from the pulley, contact a professional. Although it may seem these parts are easy to fix, fixing them yourself is not the best solution as repairing cable and pulley systems can be tricky. Panels - While it may seem as if damaged panels are only cosmetic, there may be more to it. Damaged panels may mean your door is suffering from structural issues. If you notice a damaged panel is causing issues, contact a professional to take a look. Tracks - If you have bent tracks, it’s important to have them replaced right away. The tracks are an important piece of your door's system. Bent tracks or tracks that are not aligned properly may cause further damage to that system. If you are having problems with your garage door, contact the professionals at Willow Creek Overhead Door. As garage door installers in Amarillo, we can help identify any issues your door may be having and perform quality repairs when needed.  We’ve been experiencing quite a few storms in Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle lately. And boy, are we thankful for the moisture! However, with storms comes lightning. Did you know that lighting can damage your garage door operator? The operator gets damaged as a result of power surges as lightning travels through the electrical parts of the operator. Depending on the damage, you'll need to decide whether to repair or replace your garage door operator.
How Do I Know If My Garage Door Operator Is Damaged? There are five signs you can check for to determine whether a damaged garage door operator was caused by lightning.
Garage door operators as well as other electronic parts are vulnerable to storm damage because lightning passes through various components, like wires and jacks. Electromagnetic pulses generated by indirect lightning can short out appliances that are running, too. It is possible to prevent damage to your garage door operator. Install a surge protector for the garage door operator. Surge protectors plugged right into an outlet limit voltage supply to electronic items. They block or short out runaway voltages that go beyond a safe threshold. Even if you are already using power strips, they may not have in-built surge protection. It is advisable to check if this has been indicated by the manufacturer and get surge protectors if necessary. Should I Have My Garage Door Operator Repaired Or Replaced? The best answer to this question is to speak with a professional garage door installer in your area. They will base their decision on the extent of damage. If you have had your operator for at least 10 years, you should probably replace it. If the damage is not too bad and your operator is not old, you may just need new logic boards or a new remote. A garage door installer will also check on your rail to determine whether it is compatible with the new operator. If it is, you can reuse it and only purchase the head motor. Where Can I Find A Garage Door Operator Installer In Amarillo, Texas? Willow Creek Overhead Door in Amarillo, Texas, will quickly answer your distress call. Owner Tony Hall will assess the damage and advise you on whether your operator can be repaired or it will need to be replaced. Contact Willow Creek Overhead Door today for a free estimate.  Has your garage door been looking the same over the years? Or does it look plain and dull? Your garage door is part of your curb appeal and if it looks good, then your whole entrance looks good. If it looks unkempt or plain, so does your entrance.
Breathe New Life Into Your Garage Door Fresh coat of paint - If the paint on your door is chipped or faded, a fresh coat of paint should be your first point of action. Choose an outdoor paint that is made to withstand the elements a garage door is always exposed to. While you may want to see a difference, consider the color scheme of the rest of the house. You don't want a garage door that clashes and stands out. It should blend with the colors on the rest of the house and if there is contrast, it should be by design and should still work with the design of the rest of the house. Automate - If your garage door is manual, consider upgrading to an automatic one. It's more convenient and safer thanks to safety features like infrared and photo eye sensors. It also adds esthetic and fiscal value to your home. Garage door decals - One quick and inexpensive way to add color and interest to your garage door is with decals. Decals are one type of wall art along with murals, wall paper and stickers. There are many designs to choose from, including those that give the illusion that you have parked a plane or spaceship in your garage. Unlike wallpaper, which has similar designs on different pieces of paper, decals are in large dimensions on a single sheet. They are quick and easy to apply thanks to the adhesive on the back. Garage door screens - These make it possible to keep the garage door up to let in fresh air and light while keeping the garage from prying eyes. They come in different colors and sizes and you can have them custom made. Climbers and vines - Go green over your garage door with climbers and vines. You can choose those with bright, colorful flowers or perennial ones that are really easy to maintain. You’ll need to put up arbors and trellises over the garage door, which can be done for you. Hardware - One smart option is to install hinges and spears that give your door the appearance of a carriage door. There are also decorative handles, window inserts and welcome signs to easily stick or screw on. Ready To Go All The Way? If your door is 10 years or older, consider going all out and installing a whole new door. There are so many new designs to choose from especially for automated garage doors. Willow Creek Overhead Door offer top of the range doors and friendly, efficient installation and repair services with long term warranties. Contact them today and explore the options.  Garage doors make modern life a bit easier, providing protection for your vehicles against outside elements. When attached to an automated opener, they make getting in and out very easy. If you take the time and the make the effort to keep your garage door maintained and up to snuff, you can rest easy. However, if not properly maintained or installed, the garage door can create dangerous situations. Below are the top areas that pose the most risks if not maintained. Garage Door Springs Garage door springs can be very dangerous if they come loose or break. These springs do all the heavy lifting when it comes to opening and closing the door. The tension in the springs offers a counterbalance to the weight of the door. When you or the garage opener opens or closes the door, the spring carries most of the weight. Springs can come loose or break when they become worn. When one of the springs breaks, the tension is suddenly released in a violent uncoiling. This uncoiling can cause damage to any vehicles, humans or pets in the way. A simple test can determine if your garage door springs are nearing the end of their useful life. Disengage the garage door opener by pulling the emergency release lever. Pull the garage door down about half way and let go. The door should stay in place. If it sags downward or is difficult to lift, the springs need immediate professional attention. Garage Door Safety Sensors All modern garage door installations have safety sensors installed on both sides of the door about six inches above the floor. Those sensors are there to protect people, pets and property from being crushed as the door comes down. If someone or something comes between the sensors, they signal the garage door to stop coming down and go into full reverse. That keeps the door from hitting your child as he or she comes running in under the moving garage door. Garage Door Controls The wall mounted garage door controls should be at least five feet off the floor to keep children from playing with the buttons. It is important to keep garage door remote controls away from children, as well. Children playing with the garage door controls can easily cause property damage or human injury due to garage doors coming up and down unexpectedly. Garage Door Joints Some garage doors do not have pinch-resistant joints. It is critical that all members of the family be taught to keep their fingers out of the joints, especially when the door is in motion. The garage door opener is not going to stop and a finger in one of those joints could end up being severely injured or even amputated. Loose or Worn Parts When opening or closing the garage door, listen for unusual sounds. That could be the first sign that a part is starting to become loose or worn. Conduct a visual inspection a few times a year to make sure the door's cables, wires and mounting brackets are secure and in good shape. If you find any areas of concern, bring in a professional garage door company immediately. If you suspect your garage door needs professional attention, contact Willow Creek Overhead Door. We are a full-service garage door company serving Amarillo and the surrounding communities. Whether you are in need of a new garage door or just repairs, we can help. photo credit: mrpuen / Free Digital Photos  A garage door is a key component of your home or business. Keeping it in good working order is very important in regards to safety and security. Lately you’ve noticed your garage or overhead door is not operating as efficiently as it should. Whether it’s shaking, screeching or just plain slow, you know there’s a problem. If you are a DIY kind of person, or looking to cut costs, consider repairing your garage door with used parts. Should I repair my garage door myself or hire a professional? That is entirely up to you. Depending on the type of repair though, it may be best to call a professional if it is something you are unable to troubleshoot. Don’t put you, your family, pets or customers at risk by repairing a door yourself if it is unfamiliar territory. However, if you are handy and research-savvy, you have probably found dozens of websites offering DIY garage door repair tips. Oftentimes it’s enjoyable to take on do-it-yourself projects and fix something all on your own. There’s a certain amount of pride in that. How can I fix my garage door myself? Garage doors are sensitive objects. Therefore, you must make the effort to maintain them. There are so many moving parts that all of a garage door’s components must work together. If one part is broken, you can bet other parts of a garage door will not operate as they should. The first thing you should do before repairing anything is to troubleshoot the issue. Look online or even call a professional garage door installer for advice. Do the springs need adjusting or is the opener frozen? Are the tracks loose? Do the nuts and bolts just need to be tightened? Once you identify the source of the problem, research what kind of parts you need. There are several types of springs, for example. Don’t just run to eBay and purchase the first part you find. Trying to install the wrong part can damage your garage door even more. In addition, it’s also important to use the proper tools when doing garage door repairs yourself. And last but not least, be safe. Garage doors can be dangerous and can injure you if you are not careful. Many of the parts are heavy or sharp. Who can offer advice on garage door repair? Even if you want to repair your garage door yourself, don’t hesitate to contact a local, trustworthy garage door expert for advice first. That garage door specialist may also sell used garage door parts and give you detailed instructions on how to install the parts. Willow Creek Overhead Door in Amarillo, Texas stocks and supplies a variety of garage doors and parts. Check out their Angus’ Backlot Bargains, which includes:
photo courtesy of cooldesign / Free Digital Photos  If you need to install a new garage door or opener system, springs are a major component. Your garage door needs springs that will last for many years. This is one area where you do not want to skimp when it comes to money or garage door installation. There are two main types of springs: a torsion spring and an extension spring Why are springs so important for garage doors? You may think the opener is what does the work when you hit the clicker to open and close the garage door. However, it just provides the horsepower, like you do when you manually open or close it. The springs and cables are what actually bring the door up and down smoothly. The springs also keep the door from slamming down too quickly and becoming a safety hazard. What kinds of springs are available for modern garage doors? Today, there are two types of springs used on garage doors: torsion and expansion.
Which kind of springs do most garage door installers recommend? If you were to take a quick survey of existing homes in your area, you will likely find that expansion springs are the more popular option. However, that is changing. These days most installers recommend torsion springs. They balance the weight of the door better and offer smoother operation and safety. The torsion spring is more expensive than the expansion springs. However, they are much stronger and have a longer useful life. Depending on the quality of the spring, the useful life can go for up to 20,000 lifts, or 20 to 25 years. What else do you need to know about garage door springs? No matter what kind of spring you decide to use, be sure to have a professional garage door company handle the installation. Springs, especially torsion ones, are dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. The springs can recoil and push someone off a ladder and on to the garage floor. A professional has the equipment and experience to handle the springs safely. If you need someone to look at your garage door springs, or install new ones, contact Willow Creek Overhead Door in Amarillo, Texas. We have served our Texas Panhandle neighbors since 2000. Call us today for a free estimate.  It is important to know the important components of a garage door. Otherwise, you won't be able to troubleshoot minor problems with individual parts before they render the whole door immobile.
Garage Door Opener The opener powers the motor to lift the door open and close it. It is important to take note of the horsepower that a motor has. The more the horsepower, the higher the capacity it has to handle a door in relation to its weight. There are three types of drive openers. A chain drive has a length of metal that goes around a metal rod that comes out of the motor. The chain is connected to an arm on the door that pulls it up to open and lets it down to close the door. A belt drive works the same way except that the belt is made of rubber. There is also a screw drive that opens and shuts the door via a threaded steel rod. Garage Door Capacitors and Gears The opener has two other parts you know about. There are capacitors and gears. Capacitors power the motor. Gears enable the movement of the drivers be it a chain, belt or screw drive. The turning motion of the gears moves the drives to open or close a garage door. Garage Door Springs Another important part of a garage door is the torsion springs. They steady the door as it opens and closes. Without them, the momentum of the door opening and closing would damage it. The springs counterweight this force with a force that is equal to the weight of the garage door. A door may have torsion springs which are put inside or around the metal shafts above the door. It may also have extension springs that are placed along the sides of a door or above its horizontal tracks. Garage Door Cables and Pulleys Cables also have the important function of helping to lift up the door so that it can be pulled back by the drive. Pulleys guide the cables and provide precision and extra leverage for the door to be opened and closed. There are also rollers that keep cables on their path and sensors that stop the door in case an object is in the path of the door. Who can repair and install garage and overhead doors? When replacing a part, it is important that you get the right one for your garage door. This is when you should call in the experts. Call Amarillo garage door company, Willow Creek Overhead Door, today for a free repair estimate on your residential or commercial garage door.  What does a drive do on a garage door? A drive is part of a mechanism that make locomotion possible and facilitates power transfer within a machinery. A belt or chain drive transfers power so that hoisting or conveying is possible. They are commonly used on cars, motorbikes, bicycles and mechanically operated equipment including garage doors. Both types are made as continuous loops that make it possible for the garage door to move. So what exactly is the difference between a belt drive and chain drive when it comes to your garage door?
How does a chain drive work? A chain drive is so called because it is made up of chains that have structures resembling teeth on one side and a corresponding line of the same on the other. These are known as teeth shafts. The chain drive works when the two sides come together so that the chain moves which moves the garage door to open or shut it. The chain is also designed such that it is held in place for smooth movement. Apart from cars, motorbikes and garage doors, chain belts are also used in military tankers and in the mining industry. A simple chain drive has two gears. More complex ones have more gears which are known as idle gears because they are usually not used or considered in the overall gear ratio. The gear ratio is only affected by the number of teeth that the first and last gears have. How does a belt drive work? A belt drive works differently. Rather than having teeth like a chain belt, it is made of a wide, smooth length of synthetic material. The belt can be made of different materials such as plastic, rubber or other strong materials. Which one is better? There are pros and cons of both drives for garage doors. The chain belt is made of metal which makes it much stronger. It also lasts longer and repair jobs are easier to undertake. Another advantage is that changing gears is not so complicated if the chain gets broken. It has some downsides too, and one is that frequent lubrication is required to keep a chain belt moving smoothly. Without it, the chain can get stuck in the links or it can get mangled while it is being run. Belt drives are quieter, and it's easy to see wear that needs repair. They also run more smoothly and do not require frequent lubrication. They are, however, not as strong or durable as chain belts. Where can you get the best garage door service in Amarillo? Amarillo garage door company Willow Creek Overhead Dead is a top-rated garage door supply and installation company. Whether you need a repair or installation, or simply some servicing and maintenance tips for your residential garage or commercial overhead door, Willow Creek Overhead Door can help.  Garage door safety sensors are automated or motorized devices that work to open garage doors remotely at the touch of a button. Buttons are wired to an electric circuit in the house. There are also buttons that are remote controlled and battery powered connected to a car. Most garage door opening systems have both types of wiring. This is to make it possible for the door to be operated from the car or the house. The system is also designed with an infra-red radio signal which is conveyed to the control unit once the button on the opener is pressed. The control unit will then trigger the electric motor which is connected to a track and pulley system that makes it possible to remotely open and close the garage door.
Why are safety sensors on my garage door necessary? Garage door safety sensors are a rule rather than a choice. In 1990, the federal government put in regulations that made for garage doors to be fitted with sensors in order to avoid accidents. They certainly help to avoid accidents with children and pets. Most companies abide by this rule by installing photo eyes with the garage opening systems. Photo eyes detect obstructions on the door which may stop the door from closing completely. The photo eyes must be in view of each other or come into contact for the door to close properly. If this does not happen, this is an indication of an interruption with that the ray of the infrared beam that connects the photo eyes, which makes it impossible for the door to close completely. The sensors therefore serve as a security check. When the door will not close completely, you will know it, and you will therefore know that your car, family member, friend or pet is not safe. You will do what is necessary to correct the problem to avoid giving intruders access to the house via through the garage, too. What should you do if there is a malfunction? You will know the infrared sensors are not working properly; one or both sensor lights will start blinking. If there is an obstruction at the door, removing it should get the door to open as it should. If there is no obstruction, the problem may be the sensor, which may be need to be realigned. It may also be that the photo lens needs to be cleaned. If doing this does not get the door working as it should, you should call in the professionals. Leading Amarillo garage door and overhead company, Willow Creek Overhead Door, is the company to call for anything you need regarding your residential garage door or commercial overhead door. From installation, repairs, servicing and routine maintenance checks, the friendly staff will at Willow Creek Overhead Door will happily help you. |
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