GARAGE DOOR MAINTENANCE – SPORES

Mold spores are dangerous and can cause unimaginable health problems along with huge expenses in moving costs, medical bills and property damage. Our Northglenn Garage Door Repair experts urge you to eliminate mold whenever it is found in your home or business location and that includes your garage! Usually when you think of mold growing, the mental image of a bathroom, kitchen or shed arises. Mold spores love humid, moist and dark environments that are also mostly unventilated. This of course can include your garage interior.

New garage mold proofing

Are you in the process of building your new home? Is the work commencing now or has it started recently? This is the perfect time to mold proof your new garage. It’s actually a simple process. Just be sure to not use materials that are hospitable to mold and its growth. These materials include wood and drywall and instead use a paperless version or vinyl siding or aluminum. Wood and paper are quite hospitable to mold spores so you’ll want to avoid using them as much as possible. They are actually food for the mold so if you eliminate the food source by using different building materials, you drastically cut down on mold’s ability to grow and thrive.

Existing garage mold proofing

Sometimes applying a coat of paint is all that is needed to mold proof your existing garage walls. As you know, mold eats paper and wood products much like they do the old food in your refrigerator. If the spores can’t get to the food source, they die out and don’t multiply. Also, be sure to keep your garage well ventilated as the air inside your garage really needs to be as moisture proof as possible. Our Northglenn, CO weather tends to be low humidity and that’s great for keeping mold growth to a minimum. We also realize that we do get humid spells once in a while and that many of our readers live elsewhere in more damp and moist climates like Florida or North Carolina.

Fix any leaks

This one is important. Not only can leaks cause further damage to your building structure, but the water or moisture that they bring can increase the humidity level inside your garage especially when trapped inside a closed space. If you discover a leaky roof or water heater, get it fixed as fast as possible and leave the garage door open to air the space out or if that is not possible, use fans to do the trick.

Mold removal

If you discover mold in your Northglenn garage, act fast to remove it! Don’t put it on your “to do list” for a future project; clean it up as soon as possible! Try and remove ALL of the mold spores that you find; leaving even a tiny amount will have it growing back with a vengeance. Look for mold growth on the garage door itself and also on the floor, walls and corners of the room. Of course, mold can grow on items inside the garage like cardboard boxes, books, rags, papers and other porous materials.

It’s best to use bleach in your mold cleanup efforts. You’ll be using your bleach mixture on both drywall and concrete surfaces as both are porous and a favorite growth area for dangerous mold to thrive in. Use one part bleach to four parts water when cleaning floors, walls or your garage door. Are your garage walls unfinished drywall? If so, spray your bleach mixture directly on it and let it soak in. Be sure to wear gloves if you are scrubbing bleach onto vinyl, concrete or wood surfaces. We recommend that you wear a respirator when cleaning or just leave the garage door open if you can.

Do I have to use bleach?

No, there are other good alternatives to using bleach for mold removal. One of them is vinegar. Another is tea tree oil and water. Use one part white vinegar and one part water. Be sure to not use the apple cider version; only the regular while one. You can add a tablespoon of dishwashing detergent to every quart of solution that you make for added strength. You can also use denatured alcohol, but be sure to use full strength. Either spray it on or wipe the surface with a sponge. Please make an effort to NOT breathe any fumes from these cleanings. As stated above, clean with your garage door open or use fans to recirculate the air. If cleaning in the winter or cold months, use space heaters to dry out the inside surfaces of your garage; remember; no moisture!

Word of warning!

Be careful to NOT use your bleach mixtures with ammonia or other chemicals. Toxic fumes may be the result. Another big NO is to use white vinegar with hydrogen peroxide. Please resist the urge to experiment and make your solutions extra strong! The mixtures mentioned above are in the right proportions and are safe so please stick to that.

More tips

Always remember that mold spores need moisture to survive and to grow. It doesn’t do any good to fix leaks and wipe up spills if you are going to overlook other, easy-to-do things like tracking snow or water into your garage by simply driving in to it from the outside and having it on your tires. This is something to watch out for all year long and not just with your car – moisture can be brought into your garage through skateboards, bicycles, motorcycles, lawn mowers and even snow shoes!

Be sure to keep mold inducing items to a minimum inside your garage. It’s always a good idea to store books, old newspapers, magazines and rags in non-cardboard containers. Plastic is not so good for the earth’s environment, but mold hates it and will not grow or thrive in dry, sealed plastic containers with no moisture in them. You can stop, prevent and eliminate mold spores in your Northglenn, CO garage; just be watchful, careful and responsive and you’ll be fine!

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IF YOU ARE HAVING ANY TROUBLE WITH YOUR GARAGE DOOR OPENER, DON’T WORRY. HERE’S WHAT TO DO!

If you are facing problems with your garage door opener, there are a good number of reasons it’s on the fritz. Some are simple, and some are more complicated. Here are the possibilities and solutions.

Do It Yourself

Is your garage door opener running, but the garage door doesn’t move? In case there’s ever a power outage, your garage door opener has a disconnect switch, which makes it possible to open or close the garage door by hand. This switch is usually attached to a knob or rope, which can get unhooked inadvertently. Open or shut the door all the way, and then securely fasten the hook again. Try shutting or opening the door again using the transmitter, and it ought to work now.

Does the garage door not open using your remote? This is generally easily resolved. 1) You may be too far out of range from your garage door. 2) Maybe you just need to charge or replace the batteries. 3) The garage door motor antenna is blocked from the signal or it’s damaged. 4) Perhaps your remote has to be reprogrammed.

Does your garage door go down all the way, yet then open again? In all probability, your garage door opener’s open-and-shut limit settings are malfunctioning. These settings send instructions to the garage door opener, telling it how far the garage door has to go before it is totally closed. If it’s set too high, the door will hit the floor before the opener thinks it should, because it assumes that the door is touching something in its path; then, it reverses automatically, to keep from smashing it. Your operator’s manual contains instructions on how to reset the open-and-shut limits.

Is the garage door just not closing at all? Your garage door has a small photo eye sensor on each side. There’s an invisible laser beam between them, which, when broken, stops the garage door from shutting. Check to see if they’re misaligned, or grimy.

Does your garage door randomly open and close? If your garage door is opening or closing all by itself, look at the transmitter. It could be wedged under an object that is inadvertently pressing down on the control mechanism. For example, the transmitter might be beneath items that you’ve left in your car, or somewhere else close by. Test the transmitter’s frequency, too; it’s probable that your neighbor has the same exact frequency as yours.

Does the garage door opener run for several seconds, and then turn off? When your garage door still won’t budge, the door stays closed, and the motor tries but fails to lift the door. First off, determine whether the springs are the issue. If not, examine the track for any tiny obstacles, grime, or dirt. If none of these is the culprit, then see if your garage door is the kind with a built-in lock that’s accidentally engaging; this often occurs with older garage doors.

Complex Issues Calling for Professional Attention

Does your garage door close only part way, but then open again? A garage door is designed with a reversing mechanism to prevent it from smashing something in its path. The reversing instruction can be activated by any object on the floor that’s blocking the door’s path, such as a trash can, box, or bike. Another likelihood is there’s a build-up of debris on the tracks ~ grime, dirt, or a minute object ~ which will stop the rollers from moving. This is a major problem, so it’s time to contact a garage door repair technician.

Does your garage door not open at all? The springs are likely broken, requiring repair or replacement. If so, you need the expertise of a garage door repair professional.

Does your garage door slam down with a loud bang? This is frequently an indication of a broken spring, which counters the garage door’s weight. Or, the cables are broken. Either way, this is bad, so call a garage door repair technician.

Maybe your garage door track is out of alignment. If the garage door’s metal track isn’t aligned properly, it definitely won’t move. Are there any bends in the rails? Do you notice any gaps between the rollers and the rail? The significant weight of the garage door will compound these issues as time passes, so don’t procrastinate on getting it serviced. Before your garage door becomes dangerous, find a professional.

DON’T EVER TRY to adjust the garage door by yourself! If you don’t have the garage door serviced correctly, your garage door springs can cause serious injury, and can even death. The garage door drums, cables, and bottom brackets might also need adjusting. Don’t take any risks! If you live anywhere in Northglenn, Colorado, consider hiring a mobile garage door repair specialist on staff at a legitimate garage door repair company, such as Northglenn Garage Door Repair.

Take Precautionary Measures

Each year, before winter arrives, lubricate your garage door hinges, rollers, and springs. Reputable garage door technicians will advise you to lubricate four times per year. A light coating is all that is required. Choose a top-name brand, so it won’t dry out. If you do not lubricate, then sooner or later the garage door springs will rust, and, ultimately, the coils will bind up against each other.

Schedule an annual inspection with a respectable local garage door repair service. Springs, cables, wires, and pulleys all call for close attention from an expert.

Once a month, thoroughly look over your garage door system’s components. Tighten any loose bolts. Replace any worn-out parts. If you hear any odd noises when your garage door shuts and opens, do not ignore it. You ought to consult a garage door professional immediately.

Garage door maintenance takes minimal effort, and really not a lot of time on your part. When you keep your garage door in tiptop shape, it will be less costly to maintain, and last a lot longer overall.

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Northglenn Garage Door Repair: Tips To Extend The Life Of Your Garage Door

Your garage serves an important role within your home, serving as an additional area of storage, a place to protect your cars from bad weather, and even serves as an emergency escape route during an unforeseen incident. While all of these are great when your garage door is in tip top condition, having it fail at the most critical of times, especially when you may not be at home, can compromise the integrity of the whole room as well as the security it’s meant to provide.

The garage, which is often overlooked, does benefit from regular maintenance and like any other mechanism within your house, the garage door also needs a little extra TLC to keep running for a long time to come. There are hundreds of tips that could extend the life of your garage door out there, but only a few really seem to help in the long run.

Get some one and one time with your garage door

The garage is often personified as the “mouth” of your house, so getting up close and personal should become a comfortable experience for you. While a glance once in a while can tell you if it is likely to fall down or not, actually looking with a higher level of scrutiny can easily extend the life of your garage door.

To start, the first thing you’ll want to do is take a look at your garage door from inside while it’s completely closed. As Northglenn Garage Door Repair in Northglenn, CO often tells their clients, if you can see any visible light streaming in from the seams or any other gaps including under the door, then it more than likely means your garage is not properly aligned. The importance of a properly aligned door is to keep out the cold and elements and increase insulation within your home. Having a misaligned door is an immediate sign that some sort of maintenance is needed.

If it happens to pass that test, your next step of visual inspection will be to take a look at the system itself. This includes the garage door springs, cables, rollers, and other hardware that make up the garage door opening and closing mechanisms. If any of these seem to be in the wrong place, compare them to the other sides of the garage, or speak with an expert, as often if it looks out of place, it probably is. The final visual (well half auditory) test you can do, is to open and shut your garage door and listen to the sounds that come from the cycle. If you hear a creaking or scraping sound, try and see if you can’t isolate exactly what piece is causing it and have it serviced ASAP.

Check the balance of your garage door

While the visual test was mostly from an observer’s point of view, this balance test focuses on a more physical and involved examination. Even if you’re positive your door slides up and down without any problems, checking the door’s balance is a smart tip to make sure there aren’t any issues and can prevent any future expensive repair bills because you didn’t.

To perform this test, the first thing you need to do is disconnect any automatic garage door openers you may have while making sure the door is in the closed position. Next, you want to manually attempt to lift the door up which should move smoothly and easily with little to no resistance. Let the garage door rise to the very top and watch to see if the garage door stays up without any additional help. If it wiggles or begins to slide back down on its own, this is a sign of the door being unbalanced and will need to be serviced by an expert.

However, if it succeeds in the first part of this test, try moving in the opposite direction. If the door is operating as it should, you can move it to the point where it should begin moving down on its own at a slow yet deliberate pace. Even better, the door should stop at whatever position you leave it in if perfectly balanced. What you don’t want to see is the door slamming down to the ground with an alarming speed. This is again a sign that there is something wrong with the door’s balance or the springs holding the door. Seeking an expert for spring adjustment is the correct course of action here as trying to do it on your own can harm your door if you’re not careful.

Clean and lubricate your garage door hinges, rollers and track

This is by far the most important tip anyone can know for extending the life of a garage door. In the name itself, we see the word door but we treat it like just a part of the house. As with any door that is squeaky, rusting, or just not working exactly like we’d like, lubricating the track with the proper solution can add many cycles to the life of a garage door. The first way to ensure the continued function of one of these is to clean your garage door track. Instead of using water or anything else that can gunk up the works, use a broom or Swiffer to brush away any dust and debris. Different objects like dirt and spider webs can be found within but removing them can increase balance without too much worry. You can follow this same method for the other parts of the garage door assembly until it looks relatively clean.

Once you’ve gotten the track and the other parts cleaned up, lubricate the door hinges, rollers, and track with a light coating of spray silicon lubricant. Be careful not to apply too much because again, any additional build up will cause collection of additional unwanted debris.

By applying these tips and regularly following these practices, you can effectively extend the life of your garage door without much effort. If you do happen to ever encounter an issue during your visual or balance tests then be sure to contact an expert before the problem gets worse. An unbalanced garage door will always lead to a door that no longer works as intended and can end up costing far more than taking action early by contacting a trained garage door repair team.

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