Why Won’t My Garage Door Close?

Common Problems—and How to Fix Them

We’ve all been here before. You leave your house and go to close your garage door, only to find that it just won’t do what it’s supposed to do. While this can be a frustrating part of having a garage, most of the reasons why a garage door won’t close all the way are relatively easy to identify and fix.

Here are three of the top culprits for a garage door that just won’t close.

1. Something is blocking the garage door.

Sometimes the solution when a garage door won’t close all the way is right in front of your eyes—literally. If there is something in the path of the garage door—large or small—it is simply not going to shut. Before worrying yourself over bigger problems, conduct a quick check to make sure that there aren’t any objects or debris preventing the door from fully closing. This is always the best case scenario, as the solution is as easy as removing whatever happens to be in the way.

2. The photo eye is out of alignment.

The photo eye, commonly known as the garage door safety sensor, is the next likely culprit when a garage door won’t close all the way. The purpose of the photo eye is to detect anything that might be in the way of a closing garage door—from an object to a person. Although this safety measure is incredibly important and has helped save many lives, it can be frustrating when it comes out of alignment and causes problems.

The first course of action is to inspect the photo eye visually for dirt and debris. Sometimes a dirty photo eye won’t function properly, and it just needs a quick and gentle cleaning. If that doesn’t do the trick, check the alignment of the eyes to make sure they are even. If you find that they aren’t, use a level to adjust them to equal heights.

3. The garage door limit settings are off.

Most garage door openers have a setting that indicates how far the garage door must travel in order to close. If this isn’t set properly during installation, or if it gradually drifts from the original setting, then the garage door won’t stay closed. Essentially what happens is that the door will hit the ground before the opener thinks it is supposed to, triggering it to assume that it has struck something in its path. The door will then immediately reverse as a safety measure.

The good news is that the garage door limit settings can be adjusted, however the location and procedure vary from one model to the next, so figuring it out can be a little tricky.

If you’ve checked for all these problems and you still find that your garage door won’t stay closed, it’s a good idea to call in the professionals. Here at Champion Overhead Door, we’ve encountered all the reasons why a garage door won’t close all the way in our many years of servicing residential and commercial customers. We’ll come out and diagnose the problem, then do whatever it takes to fix it so that you can enjoy a properly functioning garage door again in no time.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment!

Beach Gear Storage Solutions for Your Garage

With the end of the summer right around the corner, it’s almost time to start putting away your beach and lake gear until next season. If you have a garage at your home, this is a perfect opportunity to utilize some of that unused space — particularly on the walls and overhead. Here are some of our favorite beach gear storage solutions.

StoreYourBoard Beach Gear Storage Rack

This adjustable, wall-mounted beach gear storage rack holds everything from folding chairs and umbrellas to surfboards and fishing rods so that you can store bigger and smaller items all in one place. Made of heavy-duty steel, it mounts directly to the wall for incredible durability. Although it holds almost all the beach or lake gear you might have, it’s designed to be compact so that you can save space in your garage. And the rubber-padded wall brackets hold all your gear in place so that you don’t have to worry about it sliding off and becoming damaged.

The Lineup Freestanding Surfboard Rack

Surfers with multiple boards to store during the off-season will love this freestanding floor display rack. Not only is it extremely durable, but the aesthetic is artistic and beautiful, so it’s perfect for showing off your boards. Made from 100% Baltic Birch, it’s easy to assemble simply by snapping pieces of it together — no screws or hardware required. There’s even thick padding on the bottoms and sides to protect your surfboards while they are in storage.

Hi-Port 2 Overhead Surfboard and Paddle Board Storage Rack

Sometimes the simplest way to store large items like surfboards and paddle boards in your garage is to put them up overhead, and this ceiling rack from StoreYourBoard does exactly that. The solid steel base is designed to support up to 150 pounds, so you can store multiple boards up there without a problem. The support arms are long enough to fit and support even the widest paddle boards. The 3-point adjustability features allow you to minimize the space used to only what you need.

How to Choose the Best Garage Door Opener System

If you’re in the market for a new garage door opener, one of the main considerations you’ll have to make is what type of system to choose. Are you looking for something basic and reliable? Is noise a concern? Do you need to lift a heavy door? These are a few of the common questions that can help people decide on the best garage door opener for their particular situation.

In today’s post, we’ll review the three main types of garage door opener systems and examine the pros and cons of each.

Chain Drive Garage Door Opener

Chain drive garage door openers are the most common of the three. A metal chain attached to the motor works to lift the garage door up and down. On top of being affordable, a chain drive garage door opener is also known for being sturdy, reliable and long-lasting, providing ultimate value.

That said, there are drawbacks to chain drive garage door openers. Since all the main parts are made of metal, they tend to be noisier than other types of garage door openers. For this reason, they are best for detached garage doors where you don’t have to worry about being bothered by the noise. It’s important to note that chain drive garage door openers also require regular maintenance to ensure that the chain continues to run smoothly.

Belt Drive Garage Door Opener

If you’re concerned about the noise caused by a garage door, a belt drive garage door opener is the perfect choice. They’re known for being much quieter than chain drive garage door openers, as they use rubber belts to open and close the door. This is the best garage door opener for attached garages, particularly ones that have a bedroom above them or those that are near living spaces like nurseries that need to be kept quiet.

As you might have guessed, you can expect to pay more for the luxury of a quiet garage door. But the good news is that a belt drive garage door opener is strong, durable and built to last. With proper maintenance, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth.

Screw Drive Garage Door Opener

While chain and belt drive garage door openers have similar functionality that works to pull the garage door up, a screw drive garage door opener uses a threaded metal screw that rotates to lift the door. With fewer moving parts, a screw drive garage door opener is known for its reliability. People also appreciate that this type of opener is quiet and fast.

As for negatives, one downside is that the screw threads can experience wear over time, though it’s easy enough to prevent this from happening by providing proper lubrication. Also, if you have a heavy garage door, this may not be the best choice since the extra weight can cause additional wear to the screw threads.

No matter where you are in the process of choosing a new garage door, the friendly and knowledgeable professionals at Champion Overhead Door are here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation!

Garage Door Maintenance: How to Properly Lubricate a Garage Door

Is your garage door squeaking and screeching every time it opens and shuts? That’s a telltale sign that it’s time for some garage door maintenance. In today’s post, we’ll go over the ins and outs of properly lubricating a garage door, and how you can perform this task easily with minimal supplies.

Why Should I Lubricate a Garage Door?

On top of quieting those annoying squeaking noises, lubricating a garage door is an important part of any regular garage door maintenance. The sounds that you’re hearing indicate that the parts of your garage door aren’t moving as smoothly as they should be, which can interfere with the functionality of the whole thing. By keeping up on lubrication and other maintenance, you can extend the lifespan of your garage door.

What Kind of Garage Door Lubricant Should I Use?

Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of using an oil lubricant like WD-40. While WD-40 does help equipment run smoothly, it’s actually a cleaning solvent and not a proper lubricant.

We recommend purchasing a garage door lubricant designed specifically for this purpose, which you can find for cheap at most hardware or home improvement stores. They’re easy to apply in a steady stream or spray, and won’t leave a sticky residue all over the place.

You can also use any lithium- or silicone-based spray as a garage door lubricant. We like the aerosol cans with straws for reaching all the nooks and crannies.

What Parts of the Garage Door Should I Lubricate?

You’ll typically want to focus on lubricating three main parts of your garage door:

1. Rollers. The rollers are key because they are what makes the garage door go up and down. If you have nylon wheels, avoid getting lubricant on the nylon itself and instead focus on the bearings. Metal rollers don’t require this level of precision.
2. Springs. The torsion springs help open and shut the garage door, so proper lubrication is important. Use just enough garage door lubricant to help them move better.
3. Hinges.Spray the garage door lubricant at the pivot points, unless you have plastic hinges. Plastic hinges don’t need to be lubricated, and in fact the lubricant can do more harm than good.

It’s important to avoid getting garage door lubricant on the tracks of your garage door, as the grease can attract dirt and dust particles and interfere with the functioning of the door. We recommend simply wiping the tracks with a rag to clean them off.

What if the Garage Door Is Still Making Noise After?

Once you have finished lubricating the different parts of your garage door, you should notice a reduction in noise as the garage door lifts and lowers. If you find that your garage door still doesn’t seem to be functioning properly, it may be time to call in the professionals.

Here at Champion Overhead Door, we provide garage door maintenance services for clients throughout New England. No matter what is going on with your garage door, we’ve seen it all. Contact us today to see how we can help!

Choosing the Best Garage Door Opener Horsepower

When it comes to updating a garage, the first thing that most people think about is choosing the garage door itself. But there are other important decisions that must be made, such as the right garage door opener horsepower. The garage door opener works behind the scenes to ensure a smooth and seamless functionality.

In today’s post, we’ll take a look at key considerations to make when choosing the best garage door opener horsepower, and then review the three main options.

Factors to Consider

1. Garage Door Size and Weight: Are you dealing with a single or double garage door? What material(s) is it made out of? Is your garage door standard size or oversized? These are a few of the questions you’ll want to answer in order to determine the best garage door opener horsepower.
2. Longevity of Opener: Would you rather pay less up front knowing that you’ll probably need to replace your opener sooner, or spend more for a motor that’s designed to last? The longevity of the opener is an important factor to consider.
3. Other Garage Door Components: The size and weight of your garage door are only a couple of the components to keep in mind when choosing the garage door opener horsepower. You’ll also want to make sure that it’s the right fit for the specific springs, cables and tracks.

Garage Door Opener Horsepower Options

⅓ Horsepower: This is the least powerful and most affordable of all garage door opener horsepower options, but just because it’s affordable, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the most cost-effective choice long-term. A ⅓ HP opener typically has a shorter lifespan than higher horsepower alternatives, though they have greater longevity with lighter weight doors, such as a single garage door made of steel. While a ⅓ HP opener can technically lift any door as long as the weight is distributed evenly, it will need to be replaced more frequently when used with heavier doors.

½ Horsepower: The most popular of all garage door opener horsepower options, the ½ horsepower opener is extremely versatile, accommodating a single or double garage door. Provided the door(s) is an average weight measuring between eight to twelve feet in width, such as a carriage-style door, a ½ HP opener should be more than enough. It’s still a pretty affordable option, and as long as the door is balanced properly, it can last quite a long time.

¾ Horsepower: Some garage doors are considerably heavier than others, particularly the ones that are oversized and/or made of wood. If you find yourself seeking a garage door opener horsepower option for this type of garage door, your best bet is ¾ HP, which is the most powerful of the three. A ¾ HP opener is the most expensive, but it’s so durable and long-lasting that it’s worth it to have a properly functioning garage door that doesn’t require constant replacements.

If you’re in the market for the best garage door opener for your home or business, the team of experienced professionals at Champion Overhead Door is here to help. We can recommend the ideal garage door opener horsepower and ensure that your garage door is properly balanced to extend the lifespan of your investment. Contact us today for a free consultation and estimate!