Category Archives: Garage Door

Should You Heat Your Garage this Winter?



Should You Heat Your Garage this Winter?


A snowy garage situated in the pine tree-dotted landscape of a New England home.
A snowy garage situated in the pine tree-dotted landscape of a New England home.

Not sure about you, but the team here at Champion Overhead Door feels like winter made up for its late arrival in New England by finally landing with an extra punch of frigid temperatures. The current cold snap has many homeowners asking the same question, “Should I be heating my garage this winter?”. In the article below, the experts at Champion will explore this question in more detail.

Benefits of Heating Your Garage

Heating your garage and ensuring proper insulation offers numerous benefits during the winter. Not only does it prevent damage to your vehicle and stored items from freezing temperatures, but proper garage door insulation ensures that the warmth stays in, and the cold stays out. This can increase the value of your home and make the garage more comfortable and usable during the frigid winter months.

Pro Tip: If you opt to extend existing ductwork to an attached garage, don’t forget your air filters! Properly installed filters will prevent garage fumes from enetering your home via the ductwork.

Heating Methods

Various methods are available to heat your garage. Extending your home’s current HVAC ductwork to include the garage space is possible for attached garages. A mini-split unit, efficient for both attached and detached garages, provides heat without requiring ductwork. However, electric or kerosene heaters, while excellent at temporarily heating a space, are not recommended as a permanent solution due to fire hazards (please – do not leave propane or kerosene heaters unattended!).

Things to Consider

Still deciding if heating your garage is the right move for your space? Consider how you plan to use your garage – do you use it primarily to park your vehicle or do you spend more time there, using the space as a workshop, home gym or man cave? Heat certainly makes a garage more comfortable and functional and may be a worthwhile investment if it greatly enhances the usability of your home. But it can be expensive, with initial HVAC installation costing thousands of dollars. Coupled with the ever-rising cost of electricity and natural gas, your heating bill this winter will likely be higher than in years past, so it’s important to consider your budget before heating additional space.

Winterize Without Heat

If a heated garage isn’t feasible this year, don’t worry! There are still things you can do to prepare your garage for winter and protect any items you store in the space. Simply insulating an attached garage can retain a significant amount of heat from the shared walls of your home. Removing temperature-sensitive small items and appliances from your garage can also protect your things during the coldest months. Ensuring your garage floor is properly sealed keeps moisture and ice out in the cold. And having your garage door inspected and repaired in the event of any gaps, leaks or issues is another important step and should be included in your annual home maintenance routine.

Garage Door Insulation

Insulating your garage door is a critical step in preparing for winter. Different insulation materials, such as fiberglass, foam board, or reflective barriers, offer various levels of effectiveness. Champion Overhead Door can assist in selecting and installing the right insulation for your garage door, making your heating efforts more efficient. Ensuring your garage door is well-insulated in New England’s climate can make a significant difference in maintaining a comfortable temperature.

Conclusion

Whether you’re considering heating your garage or seeking effective insulation solutions, Champion Overhead Door is your expert partner in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Our professional team is ready to assist with all your garage needs as you prepare for the winter months. Contact Champion Overhead Door for expert advice and professional services. We offer tailored solutions for residential and commercial customers in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Should You Repair Your Garage Door Yourself?



Should You Repair Your Garage Door Yourself?


It’s always tempting to try and fix things around the house before calling in a professional, especially if you tend to be a handy person! There is a lot of money to be saved by putting in some sweat equity of your own instead of hiring someone. But should you attempt to do your own repairs when it comes to your garage door?

There are some fairly simple repairs that it’s probably ok to try yourself, such as lubricating the tracks, tightening bolts and screws, or replacing the weatherstripping. However, many repairs that are needed on garage doors are either not safe to do on your own or quite complicated. To avoid injury or making the problem worse and more expensive in the long run, here is a list of potential hazards that can be avoided by hiring a professional garage door technician:

Extension springs (torsion springs) unloading

These are the heavy-duty springs that help raise and lower electric garage doors. They are under very high tension and can cause extreme damage if they were to accidentally unload with a large amount of force. This can happen when the springs become corroded, or loose, or if there is a glitch during an attempted repair and could cause severe injuries.


Falling garage doors

Garage doors typically weigh between 200 and 500 pounds. This amount of weight freefalling could crush a person, pet, or car. Additionally, a broken garage door could crash down at any time, cracking your cement floor and creating costly damage. Garage door technicians have the proper tools to keep a garage door stable while they are working on the repair.


Incorrect diagnosis or using the wrong parts

Garage door manufacturers create specific parts for their doors. Sometimes these parts aren’t easily available to the public, causing some to improvise or purchase generic parts. Doors are made of many complex parts that can be complicated to install. Using incorrect pieces will lead to more damage, more costs, and increased danger.


Detached garage doors

Overuse or inclement weather can cause your garage door to detach from the tracks, rendering it useless. It may look like an easy fix of just lifting the door back into the correct position, but don’t be tempted! Garage doors are extremely heavy and you could find yourself in a dangerous situation – also performing this fix yourself will likely only be temporary and the door will detach again without professional expertise.


Voided warranty

Like all expensive, mechanical home items, your garage door will likely have some kind of warranty. If you try a DIY repair to your door, the warranty will automatically be void because they don’t cover “modifications” by the homeowner. An attempt at fixing your garage door falls under this category and you will no longer be able to claim the warranty.

There are plenty of things that you CAN do to keep your garage in good shape so that your calls to a repair technician will be few and far between. It’s always important to wash the door and keep it free from dirt and debris. Painting garage doors every few years is also highly recommended to preserve the material. But for anything beyond simple lubrication, tightening hardware, or cosmetic maintenance, please practice safety and call a professional garage door technician!

Spring Cleaning Your Garage Door



Spring Cleaning Your Garage Door


Everyone does some form of spring cleaning at their home, but has it occurred to you that the doors of your garage could also use some sprucing up each year? Garage door maintenance is important because it keeps the doors in working order and prevents major safety and repair issues. And let’s not forget about the curb appeal of a clean and attractive garage door!

Inspection

The first and most important part of garage door maintenance is inspecting all the separate and moving parts of the door. You should be looking for any damage, but also for signs of wear and tear that you can remedy before they become a bigger problem.

Checklist for inspection:


1. Door – look for any damage and listen for unusual sounds when opening. Check weatherstripping

2. Hardware – closely inspect the hinges, rollers, cables, and tracks to see if lubrication is needed or parts have to be replaced

3. Belt or chain – this is the heart and soul of your electric garage door. Tighten the chain, if there seems to be some slack, and lubricate using lithium grease (or a similar product)

Maintenance Servicing

After your careful inspection, it’s time to do the general yearly maintenance as part of your garage door upkeep.


1. Replace the batteries and bulbs in the main door unit. Replace batteries in all garage door remotes.

2. Add lubrication to any moving part that wasn’t greased during inspection

3. Check all safety features of the garage door. This includes all sensors and the auto reverse feature, if your door has it. It’s also important to check the balance of the door to prevent unnecessary accidents


Clean and Wash

It may seem obvious, but many people don’t wash their garage doors regularly. Grime and dirt can build up and even mildew will appear if you have bushes, grass, and sprinklers nearby. Even if you use a power washer on your house, it’s best to wash the garage door by hand because it is much thinner than the walls of a house and can easily be damaged. Soap and a soft scrubbing brush will work fine on any wooden door, then rinse gently with a hose. If your garage door is made of steel or fiberglass, use whatever cleaner is recommended.

Repaint or refinish

This certainly won’t be needed every year, but during spring cleaning you should inspect the door closely, looking for stains or small signs of damage. Small holes can be fixed with wood filler, then painted. Stains should be scrubbed, and a stain remover used if necessary.

Inspection

Cleaning and maintaining your garage door can be done any time of the year but including this task in your spring cleaning list is great because you can effectively get rid of the dirt and salt damage that has accumulated over the winter (especially in colder climates). Performing these simple techniques yearly will lengthen the life of your garage door and boost the curb appeal of your home. Happy spring cleaning!!!

A Brief History of the Garage Door



A Brief History of the Garage Door


Rarely does one find a garage these days without a door, but that certainly hasn’t always been the case. The history of garage doors is actually quite interesting! The very first garage doors are thought to date back to the Roman empire, when steel gates were used to protect chariots.

In the early 1900’s, car owners began to keep their vehicles in carriage houses, which were like small wooden barns. The carriage house doors were effective in protecting the horse and buggy that used to be the main form of transportation, but they were “swing out “style, which took much effort. These old style garage doors worked adequately for cars, but were handmade and built onto existing sheds. This caused some issues, as the doors didn’t hold up well, especially in colder climates. Ice and snow would often prevent them from even being opened in the winter. Wear and tear would take its toll quickly and could even make the carriage garage doors dangerous to open.

An early solution was sliding tracks to make safer doors. However, the problem was that in order to have a sliding garage door, the shed needed to be twice the length of the door. The solution was to create hinged folding garage doors that could be bent around a corner in sections.

In 1921, a man named C.G. Johnson created the first overhead garage door. He recognized the need to save space and have a garage door that could be protected from the elements. His invention was very timely because more and more people were able to afford cars with the production of the Ford Model T. This car was manufactured to be accessible to the general public and as a result, more Americans wanted to store their cars and have functioning garage doors.

A few years later, Johnson also invented the electric garage door opener and from then on, the overhead garage door became the first choice for homeowners.

These days, consumers have a variety of choices with the garage doors, from material to architectural styles, to added sensors, and extra storage. Many are also opting for “smart” garage doors that can be opened and closed with the touch of a finger on their cell phone. With all of these options, modern garage doors are a far cry from the steel gates and wooden shed of yesteryear, and it’s always great to have choices!

Three Garage Door Trends for 2022



Three Garage Door Trends for 2022


Garage doors continue to remain one of the top home improvement projects that can improve not only curb appeal but home value. It’s a relatively simple fix that can go a long way. If you’re looking to upgrade your garage door in 2022, we have the top 3 trends to keep an eye on while you’re looking for the perfect garage door for your home.

Tinted Glass

Tinted glass is a great way to take a simple, modern design and add a unique look. Whether you have a fully glass door or just a few accent windows, adding a tint can create a look that complements your style and home.

Faux Wood

Wood garage doors look incredible and are always one of the more popular styles, but many people are understandably wary of the maintenance and upkeep of wood. Problem solved with faux wood! Faux wood garage doors give you the look of grainy, unique wood without the upkeep.

All In The Details

Some very simple ways to make the front of your home look like it stepped out of a design magazine is by focusing on details. From the hardware to lighting, to uniquely shaped windows, paying attention to the details of your garage space can make all the difference! Plus, if it’s not in your budget to completely replace your garage door, it’s a more affordable way to upgrade slowly.

Thinking of upgrading your garage door this year? We can help! Get in touch with us today to discuss your vision, options, and make your dream a reality! Our team of experts can help you find the perfect solution for your home.