Is This the Most Important Part of Your Garage Door?

Is This the Most Important Part of Your Garage Door?

While your garage door depends on lots of moving parts, there’s one that might be considered the most important part of all – at least for how the door operates.

Without this one part, it would be almost impossible to lift the door without an opener. And you’d have a hard time stopping the door from crashing down every time you closed it. If you did have a garage door opener, it would need to be far more powerful and expensive than current models. All without this one part.

The Garage Door Spring

Due to its size, your garage door is very heavy. To help counteract and balance the weight of the door as you open and close it, the door is connected to a spring. There are two types of garage door spring that your door might have.

1. Side-Mounted Extension Spring

Running above and almost parallel to the door track, one end of a side-mounted extension spring is attached to the support that suspends the track from the ceiling. The other end of the spring attaches to a cable and pulley system that’s anchored on the roller track and connects to the door itself

2. Torsion Spring

Mounted on a metal shaft the runs parallel to the top of the door, one or more torsion springs are usually used for larger doors. Each side of the metal shaft has a pulley with a cable around it that attaches to each side of the door.

If your door won’t open or is difficult to open, chances are the spring is broken or its tension needs to be adjusted. Every garage door has a different weight and, regardless of which type of spring your door uses, the spring tension must be adjusted precisely for that door.

While it’s possible to adjust or install springs yourself, it can be a difficult and risky job. To avoid personal injury and/or damage to the door, you should call a professional service technician, like those at Whitby Garage Doors, to install or adjust your garage door springs.

More Security for Your Garage

If you’ve ever upgraded the locks on the entry doors of your home, you probably had to wade through more options that you cared to think about. And the options only seem to be multiplying. From biometric locks that read your fingerprints to Bluetooth-enabled locks that you can open with a smartphone app, it seems like every week there’s a new option for door locks.

But what about the largest door in your home? What options do you have for garage door locks? Aside from the fact that your garage door opener keeps your door closed, your choices for locks are mainly just variations of regular key locks.

Until now.

The LiftMaster 841LM Automatic Garage Door Lock

Whitby Garage Doors has proudly represented LiftMaster’s garage door openers for as long as we’ve been in business. We like working with LiftMaster and it’s important for our customers’ satisfaction to install what we feel are the best products available.

Earlier this year, LiftMaster released the 841LM Automatic Garage Door Lock. It’s a powerful deadbolt lock that adds an important layer of safety and security for your garage and everything in it, including making it more difficult for intruders to get into your home through the garage.

The 841 LM is a ‘smart’ lock that works together with select LiftMaster door openers to lock and unlock automatically every time the opener operates. You can also monitor and control the 841 LM remotely using LiftMaster’s MyQ® smartphone app.

We’ve been installing garage doors and openers for a long time and this is by far the best automatic garage door lock we’ve ever seen.

The 841LM works with LiftMaster’s 8550W, 8587W and 8360W openers. To learn more about the 841LM, please get in touch with us here at Whitby Garage Doors, we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

Why Your Garage Door Went ‘Off the Rails’

Considering its weight, size and how often it needs to open and close, the system that supports your garage door and its operation is relatively simple.

First, because it would need too much space to open like a conventional door, your garage door is built with hinged panels that let it roll up and down, as opposed to swinging open and closed.

To make the rolling action happen, the door is connected to a spring that balances its weight, and it has rollers on either side that move along tracks, which essentially keep the door aligned with the opening of the garage and support the door when it’s open.

That’s it.

The only problem with a simple system is that each part of the system plays a major role in how the system works. For your garage door, when one part of that system breaks down, the entire door won’t work.

Why Your Rollers Might Come Off Their Tracks

Obviously, if the rollers that support it can’t do their job, your garage door won’t work. Here are the main reasons why your rollers might come off the rails.

1. The Roller Tracks Go Out of Alignment

Considering your door opens and closes a couple times a day, the roller tracks can be under a lot of stress. Over time, especially if they were even slightly misaligned during installation, the tracks can come so far out of alignment that the rollers on the door will pop out of them.

2. A Lift Cable Stretched or Broke

The lift cables, one located on each side of the door, convey the tension of the torsion spring to the door itself. If one of them frays and stretches or breaks completely, the door won’t open evenly and that could force the rollers from their track.

3. A Roller Wears Out

The constant opening and closing of the door is tough on the rollers too. If a roller breaks, the other rollers might stay in their track for some time, but they are under added stress because they now have more work to do and that stress is somewhat unbalanced. That can put the tracks out of alignment and, you guessed it, force the rollers off the track.

While knowing what caused your rollers to go off the rails won’t help you fix the problem, it will make you aware of what to look for to hopefully prevent the problem from happening. If you do need to fix your garage door rollers and get them back on track, give us a call at Whitby Garage Doors and we’ll have it fixed in a jiffy.

Why Fixing Your Garage Door Shouldn’t be a DIY Project

You’re not one to pay someone else to do something you can do for free. And probably do a better job too. If this is you, and you’re a confirmed DIY specialist, there’s at least one thing that you should probably not fix yourself.

Why it’s So Dangerous to Fix Your Garage Door

Your garage door is the biggest moving part of your home. It’s also usually heavier than most people realize. When you combine its size and weight, that alone makes it something you should think twice about fixing.

But it’s the cause of many garage door problems that should also deter any fixing it yourself.

The size and weight of your door is managed through one of more torsion springs located above the door. The torsion spring was balanced by the garage door installer to make it easier to open and close the door. That’s why people often misjudge the real weight of the door – the spring makes it so easy to open and close.

If you have any problem with opening or closing your door, there’s a good chance it has something to do with the spring, which could either be out of balance or broken.

But fixing or replacing a spring is not a straightforward task. Every garage door has different operating requirements, which means the right torsion spring must be used and it has to be balanced specifically for your door.

If you have a double garage door and one spring breaks, you’ll still need to replace both. Chances are that the springs are the same age and, if one broke, it’s likley that the other one is not going to last that much longer. When you replace two springs, not only do they have to be adjusted to put the door in perfect balance, but they must be balanced to each other to make sure the door opens evenly.

When you combine the balancing needed, on something that is very large and heavy, using specialized tools, and the risk of personal and property damage, it simply isn’t worth the risk to fix your own garage door.

Is it Time to Buy a New Garage Door?

It’s not always easy to know when you really need a new garage door. Of course, if the door can’t move up or down, and the problem isn’t caused by your door opener, then you have a problem. But maybe it can be fixed instead of replacing the whole door.

On the other hand, when it’s definitely time to replace the door, you’ll know it. Whether you have an old, uninsulated metal door that’s rusting or even broken, or a newer door that has been damaged in a collision, there are times when there’s no denying that you need a new garage door.

Now what? Because of moving every so often, and the durability of many garage doors, there are some homeowners who will never be faced with the need to replace their garage door. And even if you have installed a new door before, chances are it’s a very long time ago.

It means that most people have little or no experience in buying doors for their garages.

But fear not. We’re in the business. If you need a new door, here are just a few things to consider so you can make the right decisions.

1. Check Out Costs

Chances are that prices, options and accessories have changed since you were last in the market for a door. Get acquainted with the new prices so you can budget accordingly.

2. Decide on a Style

There are three main styles of door you can choose from. Carriage House doors have an ‘old world’ style. Traditional door styles are likely the one you’ll see the most when you look around your neighbourhood. And contemporary styles include those with translucent panels and painted metal trim.

3. Pick the Materials

There are a surprising number of options for the materials used in the construction of your door. You can choose from a variety of all-natural wood, vinyl or metal options that are used in tradition door styles, or that imitate wood, or the aluminum and glass that are featured in more modern designs.

One more thing to be prepared for:

Most new garage doors are insulated. If you have an attached garage and your current door isn’t insulated, it might take a little getting used to, but you’ll appreciate the cost savings from using less energy because the garage remains warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Make Springtime Garage Door Safety Time

No doubt your springtime ‘to do’ list is overflowing. And, even if it wasn’t, your spring cleaning tasks are usually abandoned before they are completed.

But if there’s one that, if you don’t do it already, you should add to the list: a quick ‘safety inspection’ on your garage door.

If your door seems to work well enough, you might wonder why you need to invest in it. Your garage door is the largest single moving object in your home. It also is used at least a couple times a day. An object that is large enough to cause serious personal harm, or damage to your belongings, that’s used so frequently, should be regularly inspected before something serious happens.

Here’s a quick checklist of things you should inspect on your garage door at least twice a year.

1. Look & Listen

Do a visual inspection of the door, focusing on the parts that manage its operation, like the spring(s), cables, rollers and pulleys. Look for signs of wear or uneven operation that could be early signs of a bigger problem. While you put the door through its motions, listen for anything that doesn’t sound right, like grinding or squeaking, and find the source.

2. Make Sure the Door Reverses if Blocked

Your door opener is designed to automatically reverse a closing door if the door hits anything solid. To test that the system is working properly, place a piece of wood on the garage floor where the door comes down. Close the door and, if it doesn’t automatically back up when it hits the piece of wood, get your door opener inspected.

3. Make Sure the ‘Eyes’ can See Each Other

The electric eyes that are located near the floor on either side of the garage door opening are designed to stop the door if anything blocks the signal that passes between the eyes.

Check to make sure the eyes are working by placing a cardboard box between them and start to close the door. It should stop immediately or soon after it begins to close. If not, check the alignment of the eyes.

In the end, doing a garage door safety inspection should take only a few minutes. It’s well worth the effort to help make sure that you don’t have an unfortunate accident due to a malfunction.

It’s Cold Outside – Good Time to Lubricate Your Garage Door

Ay, yes, lubricating the garage door. Not exactly at the top of your ‘to-do’ list every weekend is it? In fact, you’ve probably never done it or, at best, once or twice in the prideful enthusiasm of having just installed a new garage door.

And that’s not to mention the fact that, even if you were to world’s greatest maintainer of everything in your home, garage door and all, you wouldn’t choose to lubricate the door in the middle of winter.

But colder winter temperatures are dry, and when temperatures warm up even slightly, damp conditions can prevail. The flip-flop between dry and wet conditions can make garage doors squeal or even stick during operation.
Even if your door is just two years old, it’s time to lubricate it. And to maximize its working life, you should continue to do so twice a year from now on. Moving forward, perhaps you can set up a schedule of fall and spring lubrication times to avoid the really cold weather.

In any case, it’s not a long process, so you won’t get too chilly.

How to Lubricate Your Garage Door

You’ll need to know two things before you begin: what parts of the door you need to lubricate and what type of lubricant to use on each part.

Moving Metal Parts

Including the hinges that connect the door panels, the springs and roller bearings, the moving metal parts of the door should be lubricated with a petroleum-based lubricant. Not only will it reduce the squealing and sticking, but the door’s operation will be much smoother. The lubricant will also protect the parts against rust. It is important that you do not lubricate the surface of the rollers or the tracks they operate in, but clean them both thoroughly.

For PVC Seals

PVC seals are used between the door’s panels, along its base and around the frame of the door to help keep out noise and the elements. Use a silicone-based lubricant on all the seals. On the seals between the panels, the lubricant will help the door work smoothly and prevent premature wear. The lubricant will also stop UV rays from deteriorating the seals around the door’s frame. UV rays. And apply some lubricant to the bottom seal of the door to prevent it from sticking to the door jamb.

Just like that, you’re done. Now you can get back inside where it’s warm, comfortable in the knowledge that you garage door is well lubricated for at least the next six months.

The Most Common Reasons Why Your Garage Door May Need Replacing

When Garage Door Replacement is a More Cost-Effective Option than Repairs

Despite their size or cost, and notwithstanding the amount of care and maintenance they receive, any devices or pieces of equipment that are used routinely and repeatedly will simply not last forever. Just ask anyone who has ever purchased anything from a home appliance to a vehicle and they can likely chronicle how long they owned the item before its performance began to decline and ultimately failed completely.

Under these circumstances, and often in direct proportion to the size of the investment, these owners would at first likely pursue the repair route; this would certainly be the less expensive option and it can result in extending the lifespan of their purchase. Eventually however, the cost of repairs might outweigh the benefits of any prolonged performance, to the point when it becomes a situation of throwing good money after bad; hence from a financial perspective alone, it would be a more prudent decision to replace the faulty or defective item entirely.

This model also applies to garage doors. In most cases, professional repair services like those provided by Whitby Garage Doors, will be sufficient to return a garage door to its optimal working condition, thus extending the door’s lifecycle and saving the homeowner the cost of replacement. Unfortunately, as in the case of an appliance, a vehicle, or any other type of device/equipment, there will be times when garage door replacement may be the better course of action.

Some of the more common reasons why a garage door might need replacing include:

• Residual damage from a broken spring/snapped cables
• Panel damage such as rotting, corrosion, dents, or holes
• Splintering or cracks around the perimeter (wooden doors)
• Age, wear-and-tear, and/or lack of maintenance or neglect
• Shaking or banging sounds while the garage door is in motion
• Door is bent/warped and does not open/close smoothly or fully

To determine whether their garage door needs repair or replacement, homeowners in Durham Region can rely on the expertise of Whitby Garage Doors. The technicians from Whitby Garage Doors are trained and experienced in assessing any immediate issues in relation to the age/overall condition of a garage door; based on this inspection, they will be able to recommend the most appropriate and cost-effective course of action.

Replacing Garage Doors Offers Numerous Benefits to Durham Region Residents

As suggested above, the time for replacing a garage door might be dictated by the door itself, i.e. by its age, condition, and/or diminished performance. At other times however, the decision in favour of a garage door replacement may be the result of personal choice rather than necessity.

Many different factors can influence Whitby and Durham Region homeowners to replace their current garage door – these would include changes in such dynamics as:

• Modern styles
• Contemporary colours
• Technological advancements

In turn, choosing to replace a garage door at their own discretion could provide area homeowners with one or more of the following benefits:

• Enhanced curb appeal
• Better energy efficiency
• Less maintenance time/costs
• Increased property/resale value
• Improved home security measures
• More efficient street-noise reduction
• Compatibility with newer door openers
• Potential discount on home insurance rates

Regardless of the reason or reasons, when Durham Region homeowners opt to replace their current garage door they are also making a substantial investment in their home as well as their lifestyle and personal safety. To help achieve the maximum return on their investment, they will need and want the installation of the new door to be completed in a most professional manner; to this end, they can count on the team from Whitby Garage Doors.

Whitby Garage Doors distributes and installs a wide range of garage door styles from all of the leading manufacturers, allowing homeowners to find the right garage door that suits their needs and budget. And the skilled technicians from Whitby Garage Doors will ensure that the new door is properly installed, so that its appearance and benefits can be enjoyed both immediately and well into the future.

For further information on the full range of garage doors distributed and installed by the team from Whitby Garage Doors, please go to https://whitbygaragedoors.com/products/

Whether you need or want to replace your garage door, call the specialists from Whitby Garage Doors today at 905-441-1512 or contact us at [email protected] to request a complimentary consultation.

Some Best Practice Tips for Garage Door Safety Month in June

Use Garage Door Safety Month to Set the Standard for Year-Round Responsibility

With the return of spring weather, many homeowners can be seen and heard working about their properties in an effort to refresh/revitalize their lawns, gardens, and landscaping after a long and cold winter. As well, there are the sights and sounds of children riding bicycles, people playing basketball in the driveway, and car enthusiasts detailing their vehicles.

Yes, the springtime certainly stimulates a plethora of outdoor activities. And many of these activities actually revolve around the garage, for it is here that homeowners often begin and end their time spent outside; the garage offers a convenient pathway to and from the home as well as the capacity to store and access tools, equipment, sports gear, cleaning supplies, building supplies, and … well the list goes on.

All of this traffic, so to speak, means that garage door use becomes much more frequent at this time of year, and with schools about to be dismissed for the summer month, that usage will probably increase. This confluence of seasons is one reason why the month of June has been chosen as Garage Door Safety Month; another rather important reason is to heighten awareness to the types of garage door-related injuries that can be prevented via education and attention to safety whenever homeowners and their families enter or exit their garage.

Here are some practical tips for garage door safety, in June, and at all times of the year:

• Do not allow children to use the remote control as a toy
• Ensure that children cannot reach the door opener button
• Avoiding leaving the garage door in a partly-open position
• Test the safety/auto-reverse mechanism of the door opener
• Keep fingers away from section joints when door is in motion
• Stand clear of tracking and rollers when the door is in motion
• Do not attempt to repair or replace broken door springs/cables
• Refrain from entering/exiting the garage while the door is closing
• Be on hand to supervise children whenever they operate the door
• Do a complete garage door inspection and any maintenance/repairs

The garage door may in fact be the largest moving part of a home; it also has a substantial amount of weight which can in turn generate significant force when in the process of closing or opening. As a result, when a garage door comes into contact with someone or something that should not be in its way, the outcome can be dire for that person or object.

Practicing good garage door safety should be an ongoing part of protecting your family from risk or injury; a heightened awareness beginning in the month of June, in line with Garage Door Safety Month, can soon become the standard for year-round use of the garage door by all members of the family.

Good Garage Door Safety Begins with a Comprehensive Garage Door Inspection

Further to educating family members on the importance of practicing garage door safety, it is incumbent on homeowners to ensure that their overhead door is kept in good repair and good working order. This means taking the preventative measures of performing regular inspections and attending to any repair or routine maintenance needs.

Garage doors are not immune to wear-and-tear, regardless of how often they are opened or closed or whether this is done manually or by use of an automatic door opener. Add to this their constant exposure to the elements and the factors are in place to affect both physical condition and optimal performance.

Hence, when safety, performance, and longevity are taken into consideration, homeowners in the Durham Region would be well-advised to contract a professional garage door service provider like Whitby Garage Doors to conduct a complete garage door inspection as soon as possible and ensure that the door is in fact in good repair and optimal working condition.

The skilled technicians from Whitby Garage Doors will systematically and comprehensively perform a garage door inspection to assess whether any of the following components are in need of maintenance or repair:

• Spring and cables
• Drums and pulleys
• Tracking and rollers
• Door panels and hardware
• Insulation and weather stripping
• Garage door opener and accessories

Based on the results of the inspection, the Whitby Garage Doors technicians can quickly and efficiently address any identified problems that may be negatively affecting the garage door itself and/or its safe operation.

For further information on the garage door inspection and repair services available from the specialists at Whitby Garage Doors, please go to our Services page.

The designation of June as Garage Door Safety Month should be the impetus for good safety practices on a daily basis. Kick off this heightened awareness by scheduling a garage door inspection by the experts from Whitby Garage Doors. Contact Whitby Garage Doors today at 905-441-1512 or [email protected] to schedule your inspection as soon as possible.

Signs That Your Garage Door May Need a Tune-Up

A Garage Door Tune-Up Can Prevent Unnecessary Damage and Costly Repairs

The vast majority of vehicle owners pay particular attention to the maintenance schedule for their car/truck. Oil and filter changes, tire rotations, and belt replacements are done at milestone dates or distances traveled as suggested by the vehicle manufacturer; and if these owners suspect, feel, or hear that something seems amiss under the hood, they will act swiftly to book a service appointment with a licensed mechanic.

From all angles, this responsibility for vehicle care makes sense; a car/truck represents a significant financial investment, and routine servicing/tune-ups play an important role in protecting and extending the life of that asset. Furthermore, proper vehicle maintenance can also contribute to driver safety, for the vehicle owner and those who share the road.

But for vehicle owners who are also homeowners, why is this degree of maintenance and care not routinely or even automatically extended to the garage door? In fact, many of these same homeowners pay very little heed to their garage door until something goes awry and a service call becomes a necessity.

Though some have described a garage door as a large object or wall that just moves up and down, it too should be considered a major investment, in parallel fashion to a truck or car, and this door should therefore be given its due attention in order to:

• Prolong/extend its lifecycle
• Maintain optimal performance
• Ensure homeowner safety/security

Similar to a vehicle owner having suspicions that something is not right with their motor, there are several signs that are indicative of a garage door in need of a tune-up; these might include:

• Unusual or peculiar sounds/noises when the door is in motion
• Resistance or heaviness felt when trying to open door manually
• Door bumps and bangs rather than moving up or down smoothly
• Door falls heavily or even bounces off the floor when it is lowered
• Rollers vibrate, jam, stick, or slip as they move within their tracks
• Door opener makes straining noise/struggles as door opens or closes
• Door does not raise or lower symmetrically/equivalently on both sides

When homeowners become aware of one or more of the above circumstances, it would be prudent to call upon a garage door services provider like Whitby Garage Doors. The trained technicians from Whitby Garage Doors can readily identify the source of the issue or problem, and complete any maintenance or repairs necessary to rectify the situation.

Additionally, Whitby Garage Doors can perform an overall garage door tune-up to ensure that the door and its parts are all in optimal working order. By investing in these types of garage door services, homeowners can also prevent unnecessary damage to the door and likely expensive repairs or even door replacement costs.

Our Professional Garage Door Services Include a Comprehensive Door Tune-Up

When garage door maintenance is neglected or only performed on an infrequent basis, it can have serious repercussions beyond the inconvenience of a malfunctioning door or a faulty automatic door opener. There are also factors relative to personal safety, family security, contents protection, and unexpected expenses that can and will come into play.

Homeowners can alleviate most/all of these concerns by engaging Whitby Garage Doors to perform a garage door tune-up on an annual, if not semi-annual schedule – much like the regular service schedule that is recommended for a new vehicle. When performing a garage door tune-up, Whitby Garage Doors technicians will address the following:

• Inspecting and tightening all hardware if/as required
• Studying the door panels for signs of rot or weakness
• Assessing the tracks for dents, twists, or misalignments
• Cleaning all cables and checking for frayed/broken strands
• Cleaning the spring and ensuring that it has the proper tension
• Lubricating the rollers and examining for cracks, bending, or tilting
• Lubricating the door opener and certifying the stability of the tracking

The importance of keeping a garage door and all of its parts in optimal working condition cannot be overstated, and a vital component to ensuring its peak performance is a tune-up on a regular basis by an expert garage door services provider such as Whitby Garage Doors.

For further information on the full range of garage door services provided by the skilled technicians from Whitby Garage Doors, visit to our Services page.

For all of your garage door service needs, including garage door tune-ups, maintenance, and repairs, call the experts from Whitby Garage Doors at 905-441-1512 or contact us at [email protected] to schedule an appointment today.