6 Steps for Securing Your Garage Door for Vacation

Summer is here and people around the world are planning vacations left and right to make up for the lost time. But what about the home you leave behind? Do you have the peace of mind that it’s being kept safe?

Here are a few tips for garage door security to keep your home safe so you can enjoy your vacation stress-free.

1. Secure your garage door opener

Securing the opener is an easy way to protect your home! Many openers have a “vacation mode” setting which disables remotes and prevents the door from being opened from the outside. If yours doesn’t have that setting, you can simply unplug it. Just make sure to check your owner’s manual for instructions!

2. Lock your garage door

While locks aren’t necessary if you have electric openers, it’s a good idea to engage the lock if you have one. If your opener is older, check yourself to see if the door can be opened from the outside and consider adding a lock for extra security.

3. Motion lights and security cameras

Motion lights detect moving objects and illuminate the surrounding area which deters intruders who are less likely to approach a home that is well-lit. You can also consider adding security cameras to your property. Most systems are connected through an app so you can keep an eye on things from wherever you are.

4. Invest in a smart garage door opener

Most smart garage door openers allow you to control and monitor your garage door and lights from your phone, from anywhere. Some apps also let you allow others access to your garage – these users, such as dog walkers or babysitters, can even be set to access your garage at certain times only. A smart garage door opener gives you the most control over your garage and helps keep your home safe!

5. Secure your keypad

Garage door keypads are typically easily accessible, so you should turn them off to secure them against anyone who may try to crack the code. You can turn off its circuit breaker, find vacation settings or remove the device’s batteries.

6. Secure Garage Entry Door

In the event that an intruder is able to gain access to the garage, making sure the door that enters your home is locked will be one extra barrier.

While garage doors can be an easy access point for potential intruders, most of them are less likely to go through multiple steps and barriers. The more barriers, the better off you are and the more peace of mind you’ll have! And when it comes to keeping your garage door safe, we are here to help. Whether you need help locating vacation settings or you’d like someone to help you walk through securing your door, get in touch with our experts for a chat!

4 Reasons to Choose Champion Overhead Doors

If you start Googling “buy a new garage door” or “garage door companies near me” it’s inevitable that you might get overwhelmed. Making a decision on which garage door to buy can be difficult enough but finding the company to help you make these tough decisions should be easy.

That’s what we’re here for.

Here’s what you get when you work with Champion Overhead Doors:

1. 20+ Years of Service

As a family-run business, our mission is to provide our customers with the best garage door and automatic opener products and services available. We’re committed to offering the highest quality customer service in the southern Vermont, southwestern New Hampshire, and Franklin County, Massachusetts areas. We take great pride in the work that we do and the way in which we conduct our business and ourselves.

2. Wide Variety

Our current product line offerings include garage doors, overhead doors, openers, and related supplies from C.H.I. Overhead Doors, General Door, Artisan Custom Doors, HAAS, Wayne Dalton, Amarr, Door Systems, Inc., and LiftMaster Products. Why is this important? Because not only do we serve both residential AND commercial clients, but we work with a wide variety of suppliers to guarantee you the best price possible. 

3. Same Day Service

This point really says it all. When emergencies and accidents happen, Champion is there to solve the problem.

4. Experience and Dedication

When you do business with Champion Overhead Door, you’ll find that our employees adhere to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. Our experienced sales representatives help walk each client through the entire process. If you – our valued customers – are not happy with the products or services we provide, we want to know about it so we can make it right. Your satisfaction is our goal above and beyond anything else.

Hear it straight from some of our customers: 

“These folks really rate more than 5 stars. Superior service – honest appraisal of situation and costs. Totally refreshing to be treated with such care. They set a wonderful example of excellent customer service.” – Deborah

“Very satisfied with Champion Overhead Door. I first called them at 3:30pm on a Wednesday and by 10:30am the next morning, my new garage door opener was installed and working perfectly! The installer was very professional, courteous, and did a very nice job. Highly recommend!” – Tim

“Though another company had told me it would cost me much more than I could afford to install an opener on my existing garage door, the guys at Champion were able to find a solution and I now have the security and convenience I was looking for. They installed it in less than two hours and it works like a charm. Highly recommended!” – Karen

Get in touch with us today to experience our 5-star service and quality garage doors!

3 Reasons You Should Replace Your Garage Door Opener

When it comes to home improvements, your garage door opener is probably at the bottom of your list. And that’s IF it even made it onto your list. But the truth is, this little piece of equipment is very important! While your garage door may last close to 30 years, your garage door opener only has a life expectancy of about 10 years and without it, your garage door won’t work properly. 

Still skeptical? Here are a few reasons why you should replace your garage door opener with one that’s newer, more powerful, and more reliable.

Safety

It’s highly recommended to replace openers made prior to 1993. That year, a new requirement was put in place for garage door openers to have a safety device that prevents objects from being trapped under a closing door. Most old models aren’t equipped with the sensors or protection devices that meet today’s standards. Additionally, new openers come with a feature that makes it much more difficult for break-ins. 

Noise Control

Old openers are loud openers. And let’s be honest, sometimes it’s just nice to get in and out without a bunch of noise announcing a departure and arrival. Loose and aging hardware can make garage door openers noisy, but newer models are quieter just by design. 

Convenience

Newer models of openers come with features that make your life easier. Some allow you to operate the garage door opener as part of your advanced smart home with the help of a smartphone or tablet app. These often come with digital controls that offer time and temperature display, motion-sensor light control, and programmed lock-down periods for the garage door.

You also have the option for a battery backup feature so you won’t have to worry about using your garage door manually in the event of a power outage.
Whether your opener is old, loud, or inconvenient, we’re here to help. Get in touch with us to discuss your options for upgrades and replacements!

5 Things You Should Know About Overhead Doors

Having a new garage door installed is a big decision! With so many options, it can be difficult to know where to begin. From choosing a garage door color to the remote control and even down to replacement parts, here are a few FAQ’s that we think will help you out.

What are the options for garage door colors?

Garage doors come in a multitude of standard colors plus a variety of wood stains and colors. If the colors available don’t suit you, doors can be powder coated to the exact color you want!

Should I get an insulated garage door?

Insulation offers stability. There are two types of insulation available, polyurethane and polystyrene, and we recommend at least a polystyrene insulated door. However, if you’d prefer to go without, uninsulated doors are available too!

Are replacement parts available?

Yes! For most doors, replacement parts and sections are available. Garage door key pads are an additional option when purchasing a door or opener.

What do I do if I lose my garage door opener?

You’re not the only one! And the solution, thankfully, is simple. Just purchase a new remote control and we’d be happy to come to your home and program it for you.

My door keeps stopping and reversing when I press the remote. What’s wrong?

Typically, the problem is with the beam of the photo eyes (the sensor that makes sure nothing is in the way of the closing door). There might be a shovel or broom in the way or the eyes have been knocked out of alignment. Test this out by pressing and holding down the wall button. If the door goes down, then you’ll know that’s the problem. If it’s still not working, give us a call and we can help you troubleshoot.

Our goal here at Champion is to give you high quality garage doors and high quality service. Throughout your process of choosing a garage door, we are here for you! Get in touch with us today to ask about your options.

Why A Professional Should Install Your Garage Door

Throughout 2020, many homeowners (and even renters) have taken on new projects around the house using their newfound free time to conquer all the renovations and improvements that have been left by the wayside. As you make improvements to your home you might find yourself looking at your aging garage door asking, “Can I install a garage door myself?”

While we are fans of DIY projects and putting your own personal flair on your home, garage door installation is one area that we highly recommend a professional.

Here’s why:

Simply put, it’s safer.

You might be surprised to learn that a countless number of homeowners face injuries due to various home repair accidents. From power tool injuries to falls, even seasoned professionals have been subject to these types of accidents, they just have more experience in avoiding them.

For a big project like a new garage door installation, the risks are extremely high. And the risk will continue even after installation if it’s not done properly. Certified professionals have an in-depth knowledge of how a garage door system operates which ensures that you and your family avoid serious injury after installation. Garage door safety is of the utmost importance.

You might actually save money.

Even the most savvy-DIYer makes mistakes. And mistakes are costly. With eyes for detail, seasoned professionals can tell when a garage door isn’t balanced properly or when a garage door needs additional weatherstripping to prevent excessive heat loss. Damaging important components during the installation process can add up to extreme additional costs. A professional installation can help you avoid costly mistakes and the installation will be done more efficiently.

The last thing you’d want is to pay for a brand new garage door and then end up paying for repairs that could’ve been avoided with a proper initial installation.

Additionally, a DIY installation might void your warranty. Most warranties are only valid if a qualified and licensed professional performs the installation. That being said, if anything should happen to your garage door down the road (even with a good DIY installation) you’ll be paying more money for the repairs.

When it comes to saving money, we get it. That’s why we work with our customers to find the garage doors that fit within their budget so their project goes as smoothly as possible. Get in touch with us today to discuss the variety of options we offer.