DO YOU SUSPECT THERE MAY BE MOLD SPORES IN YOUR GARAGE? HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO!

Usually, we aren’t thinking about our garage when the subject of mold developing is mentioned, but mold can indeed plague your garage, just as it can appear in any other parts of your home. Nevertheless, the good news is, if you think there might be garage mold present, it’s often less difficult to eliminate it from your garage than from other areas of your house. The worst problem you’ll face regarding mold removal ~ besides applying the proper disposal methods and taking the correct safety precautions ~ is being sure that you get it all. When it comes to your entire household, this can sometimes involve excavating of the surrounding walls as well as the perimeter, which can be quite expensive. On the other hand, locating and removing mold from your garage walls is a lot easier than uncovering and eradicating mold from all the inside walls of your whole home.

The strategies needed for thwarting garage mold are the same as for putting a stop to any other type of mold. Mold grows in a moist, dark, unventilated environment. Therefore, you will prevent mold by 1) keeping the garage as dry as you can, 2) not permitting the garage to be totally dark, and 3) making sure it’s continuously well-ventilated.

Are You Starting from Scratch?

If you’re building a brand-new garage, then build it from materials that are inhospitable to mold. First, construct it using metal, not wooden studs. Metal studs will necessitate additional skills and tools, but a talented and experienced contractor will not have any trouble constructing a maximum-quality garage.

When it comes to siding, pre-coated aluminum or vinyl are optimal for garage walls. If you choose materials besides wood, you’ll foil the possibility of mold spores, and also ward off wood-eating pests.

Stopping the Mold in Its Tracks, Right Now

If your garage isn’t made of metal or other mold-hindering materials, then be more meticulous to keep mold from getting into your garage. First off, reduce the air’s moisture content. Buy an air dehumidifier. Make it your daily goal to keep your garage well-ventilated: Leave the garage door open every time you’re around, to regularly air it out.

Keep all moisture out, so mold won’t ever have a chance to develop. Water can get in if there are any leaks. Accordingly, always keep the roof of your garage in tiptop shape. Allowing fresh air in, and maintaining the garage overall, will prevent garage mold from forming in the first place. Sunlight also helps keep mold away.

Removing the Mold from Your Garage

Garage mold can cause respiratory problems for some people, if they’re sensitive to it. If so, then wipe it out immediately. Eliminating mold from your garage isn’t an easy task. During the process, mold spores will get stirred up, which can be irritating to some folks. Avoid any possible complications: Hire a professional to do a thorough job.

Preventative Measures: Maintaining Your Garage Door

Your garage door plays a bigger part in your home’s curb appeal and value than you normally think. If you keep your garage door in good condition, you’ll protect your garage for years to come. To effectively prevent mold, an insulated garage door makes the most sense.

Do you want to make your garage door last a long time? If you choose construction materials of extraordinary quality, your garage door will be exceptionally resilient. Garage doors nowadays are better than those of generations ago, because they’re manufactured following stricter safety standards. For example, a premium-quality garage door provides a successful barrier that optimizes heat-transfer reduction. Hardware and door sections of outstanding-quality garage doors often come with superior warranties.

Keep it clean. To lengthen the life of your garage door, wash it at least once a year. On both sides, use a sponge with clean water and mild dish soap. Rinse it well. Don’t neglect the garage door opener sensor eyes: Cleanse with a clean, dry cloth. Keep the space around the sensors free of cobwebs.

Keep it in working order.

1. Operate the garage door one full cycle (shut and open), making sure it moves smoothly.
2. Examine the automatic reversing garage door opener feature: When the door is on its way down, grab it, giving it a bit of resistance, and see whether it will reverse. If it doesn’t, then the opener’s sensitivity requires adjusting.
3. If your garage door won’t reverse, or if you observe any other problems, hire a garage door specialist.

Keep it balanced. Twice a year, inspect the garage door’s balance:

1. Disconnect your garage door from the opener: Pull the rope down, which is hanging from the opener; this disconnects the door, so you can lift it manually.
2. The garage door should balance about three or four feet from the ground. If you see any resistance, if it’s too heavy, or if the door still will not stay up, the spring needs adjusting.
3. Read your owner’s manual’s instructions for how to reattach your garage door to the garage door opener.

Lubricate. Without lubrication, eventually your garage door springs will rust, and the coils will bind up. Always lubricate your garage door rollers, hinges, and springs. At least lubricate the springs once a year, before winter comes. Don’t use anything too heavy, because it attracts dirt and grime. Choose a top-name brand; a light coating is all you need. Take a close look at the garage door opener’s main gear, also: Lubricate it using white lithium grease.

Follow a routine maintenance schedule. Once a month, investigate your garage door system’s components. Tighten loose bolts. Replace worn parts. If you hear any odd noises when the garage door shuts or opens; if you discover any issues with cables, pulleys, wires, or springs; then it’s time to track down a garage door expert. It’s best to schedule an annual inspection with a trustworthy garage door repair company.

NEVER adjust the spring tension on your garage door yourself! Garage door springs are under great pressure, so if not serviced properly, they can cause injury or even death. The bottom brackets (to which the cables are attached), drums, and cables all pack a punch. If any components need adjustment, repair, or replacement, find a reputable garage door technician in Highlands Ranch. If you’re in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, contact a legitimate local service such as HR Garage Door Repair.

Aricle source here: DO YOU SUSPECT THERE MAY BE MOLD SPORES IN YOUR GARAGE? HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO!

Troubleshoot Garage Door Openers

Garage door openers are great, until they fail to work correctly. Suddenly, you find yourself frustrated because the unit that you spent money on isn’t doing the job it was made for. HR Garage Door Repair provides garage door services in Highlands Ranch, CO and understands very well that when you spend money on a system, the expectation is that it will work. What many people don’t realize is that their garage door opener problem is actually (often times) not merely as complex as it might seem – the information provided is meant to help people like you troubleshoot issues with opener systems. Of course, if in doubt, be sure to call a professional provider. You wouldn’t want to make a mistake that would cause your garage door to come falling down.

It is important to note that many issues might appear to point to the opener, when the opener is actually working perfectly fine. It is important to determine what the culprit of your concerns are. The information provided should help you out in this area.

First Things First

If you think your opener is malfunctioning, stop and take a look at the garage door before you do anything else. This will help to determine if the issue is the opener or something else. You can take a moment to disconnect your opener and then attempt to open the garage door by hand. If it doesn’t lift open easily, then the issue isn’t actually your opener – it is actually more likely to be a problem with the tracks, rollers or springs. Now, if on the other hand the garage door does open and close smoothly, you are more likely to have an issue with the opener. But this is certainly a first step to take, because you could potentially eliminate the opener system as the problem.

Are you dealing with any of the concerns listed below? If so, take a look at the details provided.

The garage door only closes when using the wall switch.

This points to a problem with the sensors. You should notice lights on your sensors. When they are blinking, this indicates an issue. Make sure nothing is in their path, and make sure that there is in fact light coming from them (albeit not blinking). If something is in their path, or if they are misaligned, it can cause a problem with the operation of the garage door.

The garage door reverses when you are trying to close it.

When this happens, there is either an issue with the settings or an obstruction in the tracks. On the other hand, sometimes it is an issue with the safety sensors. More often than not, it isn’t actually the garage door opener itself that is causing the problem, although many people automatically assume it’s the opener. Check to see that the limits were programmed properly. This might solve everything for you.

The remote control won’t work.

If you have already checked to make sure that the remote control doesn’t have a dead battery, then you have probably moved along to trying to troubleshoot the garage door opener. If the garage door doesn’t work with the remote, but works with the wall switch, then it is probably an issue with the opener system, be it the remote or something else. Try swapping out the remote’s batteries. If this doesn’t solve the issue, then it could be an electrical short. Talk to an expert if you have any questions, but the easiest solution might be to change the remote.

The garage door is operating on its own.

This can actually be somewhat frightening. But, it is unlikely that the problem is a ghost playing around with your garage door. Sometimes, the issue isn’t actually the garage door opener at all, but someone else’s remote being set to the same frequency yours is set to. The solution? Reprogram the opener codes for your garage door. If this doesn’t fix the issue, then you might want to check the wall unit. This is something you might need an expert to help with.

Garage door doesn’t always work.

When the garage door seems to choose when it wants to operate, it can be quite frustrating. But again, the issue might not actually be the opener, even though it would appear that this is the case. The problem might point to radio interference. If you bring your remote control very close to the unit and it works fine, then you probably have a radio interference problem when at a distance!

The opener motor is making strange noises.

When your garage door opener starts to make unusual noises, it could be because of an issue with the motor. Unless you know what you are doing and have experience, it is a wise idea to either get in touch with the manufacturer of your garage door opener (whether that happens to be LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Genie, Sears or another name) or to get in touch with a local garage door repair expert.

Other problems with garage door openers include loose chains, loose belts and power source issues.

There are numerous problems that can arise when you are using a garage door opener. Luckily, many of them can very easily be resolved, and some of them aren’t actually the fault of the opener system itself. A garage door repair expert will be able to find the best solution for you, if you are in doubt. Be sure to search for a company that you can count on in your city – see to it that they have excellent reviews, and a good reputation within the community. Remember, the problem often times appears to be the garage door opener system, but it is actually something else. Make sure that you are troubleshooting the issue and not just assuming that the problem is the opener unit – sometimes, this just isn’t the case. Hopefully this information has provided you with the guidance that you are looking for!

Aricle source here: Troubleshoot Garage Door Openers

Garage Door Maintenance

You may be one of those homeowners who never think twice about the maintenance of their garage door. Unfortunately, this is something that we see all too often. We encourage homeowners to consider contacting us at HR Garage Door Repair at least once a year to evaluate the condition of their garage door. You might be asking yourself, why. The reason is so that you can continue using your garage without any type of incidents occurring that can harm you or anyone else. Keeping your garage door in good condition also helps to eliminate the possibility of your door causing you trouble. Households that have more than one driver, use their garage often.

There is bound to be some signs of wear and tear that the door will experience. It is simply impossible to avoid as long as the door is being used. We understand that most drivers simply move in and out of their garage and never take notice of the condition of the garage until they have no choice. Now they are hearing strange sounds or the door will not open or close. Well, trust us when we tell you that you never have to experience these types of problems as long as you do something to avoid it; have regular garage door maintenance performed annually.

Many garage door services offer a Maintenance Program to keep your garage in tip-top shape. Since your garage door is usually the heaviest and biggest piece of equipment in your home, it is only reasonable to conclude that the door will need readjusting at some point. Making sure that every component attached to your garage door is the job of a qualified garage door professional. They know where all of the nuts and bolts to your door are located and are able to make sure that they are all there and accounted for. Call and schedule your garage door maintenance today.

There are numerous benefits to having your garage door serviced annually:

• Minimizes problems you’ll experience with functionality
• Reduces the need to call a garage door company for emergency servicing
• Avoids disrupting your day
• Maintains the life of the door
• Provides optimum efficiency

Some homeowners decide to have their garage door serviced more often than once a year. If they know that their garage door takes a beating; because it is being used often, they may actually schedule servicing semi-annually. Whatever your needs are, you can be sure that there is a qualified garage door service technician who is happy to provide you with the help that you need. No one should be harmed or lose their life due to a faulty garage door. Avoid the dangers that can occur from using a faulty garage door by making maintenance a priority.

You might be wondering why you can’t handle this on your own. While you are certainly able to do certain things to ensure that your garage door continues to operate, such as change transmitter batteries. There are simply some things that are best left to the trained and qualified service professionals.

Maintenance Performed by Professional Technicians

• Tighten up door hinges, track brackets, couplings, back hangs, drums
• Lubricate hinges, rollers, shaft bearings, chain hoists and release mechanisms (and any other areas that need lubricating)
• Evaluate cables, rollers, tracks, chains, alignments and bottom bars
• Adjust clutch, limit assemblies and brake
• Evaluate the doors safety mechanisms, springs, transmitter and other door controls to ensure they are all in good working condition

If you have not received the proper training to be able to properly identify and remedy the problem, we highly suggest that you give our garage door service technicians a call to allow them to handle this job for you. With so many moving parts and pieces, it can be quite a challenge to keep up with them all. All you have to do is forget one major part and you could be setting yourself up for some serious repair issues.

While we may encourage you to allow us to handle the job of maintaining your garage door, you can still do your part by making sure you write down your scheduled appointments and any work that was performed. If you notice a pattern of the same problems, you might need to address them since it could be something that you and other drivers in the household are doing to contribute to the problem. Why continue paying for the same problem over and over again? We are sure that your money can be better used for something else.

In between your schedule appointments you can do your part by making sure you listen for any strange sounds that your door might make. Far too often we realize that there were signs of a problem long before we were called on to handle the problem. This is because many people ignore the sounds they hear. It’s strange to hear that some people assume that the problem is going to miraculously go away if they do not do anything to address the situation. The truth of the matter is that this isn’t true. It will only make the problem worse and you will be out of more money than you imagined.

Continuing to use your garage when it needs maintenance or repairs will undoubtedly make the problems that you are experiencing worse. Refrain from using your garage if you begin to notice strange noises. Save yourself from further expenses by being proactive and scheduling maintenance for your garage door today. If you have never had maintenance performed before, what are you waiting for? There is no better time than the present to do something to make sure that you’re safe from any harm that can come to you and your family due to a problem you might be experiencing with your garage door. It is time to give serious consideration to the condition of your garage door and make sure your door is safe for use.

Aricle source here: Garage Door Maintenance

IDENTIFYING GARAGE DOOR SPRING ISSUES

You’d be surprised just how many people don’t know where their garage door springs are located, or what exactly they do. As long as the garage door opens and closes as it should; that is all that they seem to care about. It’s when they start experiencing spring issues that people get concerned. HR Garage Door Repair decided to make this post to help local residents become better informed about their springs. Read this page and you’ll know more about garage door spring problems and their solutions than most other local Highlands Ranch, CO residents.

What your springs do

If you ask folks on the street what opens their garage door they will usually say “the opener” and they would partially right. We are so used to coming home and pushing the remote button to open our garages. In reality, it’s our springs that do the heavy lifting and lowering of these massive doors. Garage door springs come in two main varieties. Extension springs are the older version and are located on either side of your garage door. They run parallel to your horizontal tracks. They contain more parts than torsion springs and tend to wear out sooner. They are also more dangerous than torsion springs. If you’ve heard of people being hurt or even killed by their garage door springs it was most likely their extension springs as these have been known to fly off with tremendous speed when they break. Their force and power can even propel them through a car windshield. Yikes!

Torsion springs are newer and have fewer parts. Good thing, too. You know what they say about fewer parts; fewer things that can go wrong. These are located above the garage door and they differ from extension springs in that they turn and don’t fully expand like their extension counterparts. They are a little more expensive to buy than extension springs but they last up to 20, 000 cycles instead of the usual 10,000 for extension springs.

Can I replace my own springs?

Probably not; springs can be tricky to install correctly and safely. While you don’t need a PHD in garage door mechanics to do this job, some experience, training and tools would help. 99% of most people lack this and that’s why our Highlands Ranch, CO garage door repair pros advise against it. Besides, how much is your time worth? Do you really want to spend hours trying to learn how to remove your damaged springs and then install new ones? Are you willing to risk warranty voidance, property damage AND bodily injury just to save a dollar or two? Proper torsion or extension spring repair doesn’t have to be expensive or a hassle. All you need is access to the right Highlands Ranch, CO repair shop that specializes in spring service. Of course you are always welcome to call HR Garage Door Repair but there are dozens of garage door specialty shops throughout the Denver metro area that can help you get your home or business garage door springs installed, repaired, replaced or serviced.

How do I know if the problem is my springs?

Our Highlands Ranch, CO garage door experts get asked this question a lot. People want to know how to identify spring issues and distinguish them from opener problems or something else that might go wrong. Try this test. If you suspect that your garage door springs are not working correctly, and you’ve already eliminated your remote as the culprit, try pulling down on the emergency release and disconnecting your garage door from the opener system. Of course you’ll want the garage door to be in the DOWN position first. If you are not quite sure how to do this, there are dozens of helpful videos on YouTube that can show you how, step by step.

Now try raising your garage door manually and notice how difficult or smooth the ascent of your door is. A smooth manual lift usually indicates that your springs are in good shape. Conversely a jagged or difficult manual lift usually indicates some spring damage or at least that one of them is off balance.

Symptoms of spring issues

You may not need to try the above test. Often times, there are sure-fire signs that you are having garage door spring issues. See if any of these indicators apply to your situation.

Did you notice that your closed garage door looks tilted to one side?

Did you try and raise your garage door but it only went up about half a foot and then it stopped?

Did you tap the opener button inside the garage in an attempt to lift the door and nothing happened? Is your car trapped inside the garage now?

Did you notice your garage door lifting very slowly and then all of a sudden it got back to normal and started to rise rapidly?

Did you hear a very loud snap or bang sound in your garage? Did you check and nothing seemed out of place or wrong until you tried using your garage door?

Does your garage door seem crooked or lopsided when moving up or down?

When your garage door rises, does it seem like one side is doing all the pulling, and the other is just hanging on?

Fix garage door spring issues early!

If your Highlands Ranch, CO garage door springs are having issues, you’ll need to have them serviced early on. Spring damage is one of those things where the longer you wait, the worse the problem gets. Our advice is to call in the pros. There are dozens of expert garage door repair shops in the metro area (including ours) and most offer same day service, mobile convenience and even 24-hour emergency help. Prices for spring repair, installation or replacement can vary so it’s best to shop around and get free price quotes. Remember; don’t let your spring damage continue while you hunt for that perfect garage door repair shop. You need your garage door to work AND be safe and the best way to do that is do have a good set of correctly working garage door springs!

Aricle source here: IDENTIFYING GARAGE DOOR SPRING ISSUES