 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
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 There are several reasons why your garage door may be stuck. But here’s one of the most likely causes: Do you sometimes leave your garage door partially opened?
When you are cleaning out the garage or if you have a pet, you may leave the door partially opened. You should never do this. Why? Well, because it can cause your garage door to get stuck and not open or close smoothly. How does a garage door become damaged? There are two types of springs on garage doors. A door may have extension springs, which float above the roller track that is at the top. Other doors are fitted with torsion springs, which are mounted on the header at the top of the door. A garage door may open singularly or as a whole in an upward directions. Others roll up panel by panel. Either way, the door operates on spring tension. Opening and closing is facilitated by the metal tracks that are fixed on the garage wall as well as one heavy weight spring or a number of them. When the door is left partially opened, the springs are getting damaged every time. Over time, they may break. When they do snap, the door will unexpectedly come down which can seriously injure a person or pet in its way. The door would also crash any object in its path. Insurance may not cover any such injury or damage if the company determines the accident was a result of negligence. Another form of damage that could be caused by the habit of leaving a garage door partially opened is that it could become stuck at this position. It can refuse to go up or come down which would bring a lot of inconvenience. The security of the garage and home would be compromised and you wouldn't be able to get the car in or out. This is also a cost that insurance would not cover so you would have to pay out of your pocket for experts to come in and do the necessary repairs. How can I keep air circulating and light in my garage then? If you leave the door partially opened for ventilation, you can have windows installed. This would be on the door itself or on the garage walls. There is a variety of designs and you can choose one that will enhance the fiscal as well as esthetic value of your home. During the warm months of spring and summer, windows may not be enough. You may therefore want to look into having an air conditioner installed. You would really need one if the garage is also used as a workshop of home office. If you leave your garage door for your dog, cat or other pet to come in and get out of the house without your having to open the door for them, you can have a pet door installed. The door will be cut to fit your pet so it will be able to get in and out without bothering. The pet door can be secured from the inside so you can do so at night to keep unwanted pets like snakes and rodents away. Willow Creek Overhead Door in Amarillo, Texas is known for its professionalism and affordable, high-quality work. Contact this locally owned and operated Amarillo garage door business to fix the problem of a stuck garage door and to install useful features like pet doors, windows and more.  You’ve probably never taken notice that sometimes you don’t close your garage door all the way. Whether you are cleaning out your garage or leaving it open for the cat, it’s important to not leave it cracked open all the time. Why? A garage door may develop problems and fail to open or close as it should if left partially open on a regular basis. Why Do People Leave Their Garage Doors Partially Open? It is usually pet owners who leave the door to their garage partially opened. This is so that pets can get in and out without their having to let them out and back in again throughout the day and night. The door may also be left partially open to air out the garage if you are working on your car, for example. How Does This Damage The Garage Door? Springs on garage doors come in two types. They may have extension springs that float above the roller track at the top or they may have torsion springs that are mounted on the header above the door. Whether a garage door opens upwards singularly or it roll ups bit by bit, it operates on spring tension. The door opens and closes because of metal tracks on the garage wall and one heavy spring or a series of them. When you don't always close it completely, you risk damaging the springs. Leaving the door partially opened will keep damaging the springs over time and may cause the springs to break. If this happens, the door can come down unexpectedly and any person or pet that is in its path can be seriously injured. My Garage Door Won’t Open Or Close All The Way Can you imagine a scenario where you need to back out of the garage and go to work, school or another place, but you can't because you can't get your garage door to open? Your only option would be to call in an expert to repair the door. In most cases, insurance will not cover the cost of negligence and by their definition, that includes closing the door only partially. So this job may cost a pretty penny, depending on the amount of damage and the type of overhead door you have. How Can You Repair The Garage Door? If you must leave room for your pets to go in and out, you can have a pet door installed in the door. However, it’s important to note that any opening in a garage door may make it easier for burglars to break in. When you need your garage door repaired, contact Amarillo garage door company Willow Door Overhead Door. Owner Tony Hall can advise you on the best garage door for your style preferences, needs and budget. Willow Creek Overhead Door sells a variety of garage doors, including ones with pet doors. Tony can also install a pet door in the door you already have. If your springs need to be repaired or replaced, Willow Creek Overhead Door sells discounted springs. You can install them yourself or hire Tony to come out and do the job for you. Contact this leading Amarillo garage door company today for installation prices.  Your garage door spring broke. You think you can save a bit of money by doing the replacement yourself. You saw some guys on a YouTube video doing it and it looks simple. Don't do it. Do not try to install garage door springs yourself. It is potentially very dangerous, so it is best to have a professional garage door installer deal with your springs. While you can make some garage or overhead door repairs yourself, there are some that are best left to professionals with ample training and experience. Why is it a bad idea to try to install garage door springs yourself? Garage door can have two kinds of springs: torsion and extension. Torsion springs sit just above your garage door. Their job is to carry most of the door's weight when you open and close it. Extension springs are the ones that sit along the tracks. They help pull the door along the tracks evenly. Those springs need a large amount of tension to do their jobs properly. The tension is what makes replacing the spring dangerous. When a spring breaks, it releases all the built-up tension at one time. If you had a garage door spring break, you probably found destruction in its wake. You are lucky if it is just a dent in the wall. Some people have had extensive damage to a vehicle after a spring broke. When putting up a new spring, the installer must use a special winding bar to get the spring to the proper tension level. The amateur online videos show doing it with two screwdrivers. Those are not the proper tools. One slip of a screwdriver and all the built-up tension in the spring will release. If you are in the path of the spring when it uncoils, you will get injured. A broken hand is quite common. If you are on a ladder when this happens, you may end up falling off it and sustaining other injuries. That could make your low-cost fix into a costly trip to the hospital. What should you do if you have to replace garage or overhead door springs? Leave it to the professionals. Bring in a licensed, bonded and insured garage door company to handle the replacement. They have the training and experience to install the new one without anyone being injured. They can get the job done in a fraction of the time it would take you. Plus, you will likely get a warranty on the work they do. If you need a garage door spring replaced, give us a call here at Willow Creek Overhead Door. Our Amarillo overhead door company offers a range of springs at affordable prices. We offer great deals as well for those living in the Amarillo, Texas area. Delivery and installation packages include a free garage door lubrication, which is valued at $50. photo courtesy of mrpuen / Free Digital Photos  Your garage door springs do their job endlessly, day after day, until one day, one of them breaks. There were no warning signs. It just happened. It can leave you wondering what might have gone wrong. We’ll tell you what may have happened in this article. What is the most common cause of garage door springs breaking? The biggest reason for springs to break is just plain wear and tear. You open and close that door more often than you might think. Think about how many times a day you use that door. Every time someone drives a vehicle housed in the garage, the door has to go up and down when they leave and again when they return. If there are two vehicles in the garage, that doubles the number of times the door opens and closes every day. Many people keep lawn equipment in the garage. The door goes up when they are mowing and goes down when they put things up. After about 8,000 cycles of opening and closing, garage door springs become susceptible to stress fractures. With normal use, garage door springs can last from five to seven years. If you know your springs are older than that, getting a garage door specialist to inspect them is a good idea. Are there other causes for garage door springs to break? Rust is another issue that can cause spring failure. If a spot of rust takes hold on one of the springs and begins to spread, it can cause the spring to fail. Proper maintenance helps keep springs in good shape by preventing rust from setting in. It also gives homeowners the chance to see if the springs are letting the door sag. That is a sign the springs need to be replaced. Another problem is not having the proper springs installed. Most garage door manufacturers recommend installing two torsion springs. However, some builders and homeowners want to save money and only install one. Making one do the work of two will shorten its lifespan substantially. What should a homeowner do if a garage door spring breaks? Garage door springs, especially torsion springs, are very dangerous. Do not try to repair or replace one of these springs yourself. Call a licensed, experienced garage door company to handle it. They have the equipment and training on how to dismantle old springs and install new ones without injury. If you need someone to repair a garage door spring or to inspect your old ones, give us a call here at Willow Creek Overhead Door. We have several sizes available as well as specials. We are a full-service garage door company providing service for residential and commercial needs in the Amarillo, Texas area.  We use our garage doors much more than we think. Opening and leaving it for work; coming home for lunch and leaving to go back from work; coming home from work and so forth. It’s an endless cycle — a cycle that takes its toll on your garage door. It's not surprising that the springs wear out and break after so many years of use. When you are in need of replacing your garage door springs, don't procrastinate. It's very important to keep your garage door springs in working order. If you live in Amarillo, Texas and the surrounding areas, Willow Creek Overhead Door in Amarillo, Texas offers replacement garage door springs. What size springs does Willow Creek Overhead Door offer? Willow Creek Overhead Door offers springs for the following garage door sizes:
Prices depend on the size of your garage door, your location and your preferred delivery method. Willow Creek Overhead Door serves towns and cities within a 75-mile radius of Amarillo, Texas. Set of 2, 16x7 Garage Door Springs Pick-Up: $90 Delivery: $165 Delivery and Installation: $240 Set of 2, 9x7 Garage Door Springs Pick-Up: $55 Delivery: $130 Delivery and Installation: $205 Set of 2, 8x7 Garage Door Springs Pick-Up: $55 Delivery: $130 Delivery and Installation: $205 Does Willow Creek Overhead Door Offer Any Specials? If you live in the Amarillo area, Willow Creek Overhead offers a great discount on garage door springs. The prices below include delivery to your home or office and a professional installation by owner Tony Hall: Set of 2, 16x7 Garage Door Springs: $170 Set of 2, 9x7 Garage Door Springs: $125 Set of 2, 8x7 Garage Door Springs: $125 In addition, if you choose the delivery and installation garage door spring package, you will receive a free $50 garage door lubrication job the same day your springs are delivered. To order garage door springs, whether you want new or used, don't hesitate to contact Willow Creek Overhead Door owner Tony Hall today.  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  A garage door is more than panels riding down a pair of tracks. It is a complicated, coordinated dance of door, tracks, springs, and opener all working together. For long-term performance, you need to make sure the door is properly balanced. You may suspect that your garage door is out of balance if you see the doorjerking or rattling more than normal when it is going up or down; if one or all the panels not being level; or if the track itself is loose. All of these are potential signs of an unbalanced garage door. How can you tell if your garage door is properly balanced? You can do a few tests to check the balance of the residential garage or commercial overhead door. Before doing anything, disengage your electronic opener, since you will be performing the tests manually. Test 1: Close the garage door completely. Then, raise it to 1 foot off the ground. The door should stay in place. Raise it up 2 feet off the ground. The door should stay stationary. Keep raising it up in 1 foot increments and make sure the door stays in place, no matter where you stop it. Test 2: Open the garage door completely. Close the door. The door should lower in a controlled way and should not slam down when it hits the bottom. Test 3: Close the garage door completely. Raise the door. It should rise at a controlled pace and not go up at a fast or erratic pace. Test 4: Raise the door into the fully opened position. Check that the bottom of the door is parallel with the bottom of the door opening. The bottom should be level and straight. Once you complete these tests, you can engage the electronic opener again if the door is in balance. Can I fix the garage door myself? Don't try to balance a garage door yourself. It can be very dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. If the tests show that the door may be out of balance, the best thing you can do is call a professional, reputable garage door company, like Willow Creek Overhead Door in Amarillo, Texas. Owner Tony Hall come out and verify the balance. In those cases where the garage door technician finds the door out of balance, the next step is to diagnose and fix the problem. Sometimes the track has worked loose. Other times, the spring tension may have become uneven. Tony can often fix the problem at hand the same day he visits your property. Contact Willow Creek Overhead Door today.  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. |
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