How to Get the Most of Your ROI When Replacing Your Garage Door

We all know better than to judge a book by its cover — but the exterior of our homes can make a big difference! Most people want a home that reflects their personal style and makes a good first impression. There are plenty of renovations that will improve the appearance of your home, but the challenge is deciding which one will get the most bang for your buck.

Updating your garage would look great, but does a new garage door increase home value? It can actually benefit your home in more ways than one. Replacing your garage door improves curb appeal and has a higher return on investment (ROI) than you might think. Whether you’re making home improvements for your family to enjoy or preparing to list your house on the market, replacing your garage door is a wise investment.

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How to Inspect Garage Doors

A garage door is your home’s largest moving part. Garage doors consist of different components and parts vital to proper and safe functioning. Regularly inspecting your garage doors will ensure that everything continues working as expected, and early detection can help you avoid costly repairs. 

How often you operate your garage door dictates how frequently you should check it. If your garage door sees daily use, inspecting it every six months to a year is ideal. Opening and closing the garage door multiple times a day means you should examine it closer to the six-month mark, and you should immediately take a look if you notice any odd sounds or movements. 

We’ve compiled a garage door inspection checklist on how to safely inspect your garage door, so you can prolong its lifespan and delay your next door replacement.   

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How to Extend the Life of Your Garage Door

Your garage door is a reliable way to enter your home, and it should last for several decades on your property. However, over time, debris buildup and broken components can put unnecessary strain on it and cut its lifespan short. These regular garage door maintenance tips can help you inspect and clean this significant part of your house.

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Trends That Increase Home Value

Trends That Increase Home Value

Whether you want to sell your home soon or are just planning for the future, you’ll want to find ways to increase your home’s value. Over time, your home’s value may decrease as it’s used and loved and lived in, but a sturdy and well-loved house doesn’t always sell on the market. That’s when you start to wonder how to add value to your home.

How to Increase Home Value

There are several ways to increase the value of your home, and many of them come down to keeping up with regular maintenance and repairs. Others are decor tips that can help make your home seem expansive and spacious. Whichever methods you choose, you can increase your home’s overall value.

More Space

Bigger homes are more likely to sell for more money than smaller homes, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay for massive renovations. Look around your home and see if you can knock down any walls to make the area feel and look bigger. Maybe adding a small half-bathroom somewhere will add usable square footage and convenience.

Perhaps it’s just a matter of how you arrange the furniture and the color you paint the walls. There are many tips and tricks to make your home look bigger and more spacious without resorting to renovations, so if you can’t increase the literal square footage of your home, you can at least make it seem larger to potential buyers. In general, lighter colors and lots of light help a space feel more expansive.

Energy Efficiency

These days, energy efficiency can go a long way. More people are looking to change their habits to become more environmentally friendly and cost-effective, and they’re looking for energy-efficient homes as well.

If your home is already energy-efficient, you’re good to go. It’s a good idea to make sure there’s no way you could be even more efficient because energy efficiency is an excellent way to boost your home’s value.

If you’re unsure whether your home is energy efficient, you can find out by checking on several key energy-sucking features, including:

• Heating and cooling: Look at how much you spend on heating and cooling every year. Can you reduce this cost to preserve energy?
• Windows and doors: Make sure your windows and doors are installed properly so they don’t let heat out during the winter or in during the summer. Are the windows and doors insulated all over the house, or are there places where they could use the upgrade?
• Lighting: Technological advancements have made it so you can use energy-efficient lightbulbs without sacrificing brightness. The same level of brightness without the high energy cost should be reason enough to switch to energy-efficient lighting.
• Appliances: Just like lighting, there are now few reasons not to upgrade your appliances to be energy efficient. They save you money on your energy bills, and they work just as well — or better — than ones that aren’t energy efficient.

Solar panels are also an option for making your home energy efficient, but not every home is ideal for installing them. However, landscaping is another way to make your home more energy-efficient, and it’s a method many people forget. If your front or back hard has mature trees that shade your house, thus reducing your cooling costs, they will inevitably add value to your home.

Reduce Maintenance

One of the best ways to increase your house’s value is to reduce the level of maintenance it needs. A low-maintenance home is much more attractive to potential buyers, and you can offer this perk by updating the major appliances in your home.

This goes beyond a finicky stove or a refrigerator that’s reaching the end of its life cycle. If you have a leaky pipe or an air conditioner that makes awful noises, you’re better off replacing them with new items that won’t be fussy and cause the new owners any problems.

Go through your house and see what adds value to a home if updated. These can include water heaters, HVAC systems, garage doors or roofs that need repair.

It’s a good idea to walk through your home and note all the things that need repairing. Even seemingly small repairs can seem like a giant chore to new homeowners if there are many of them, so make sure they will have nothing to worry about when they move in.

Curb Appeal

You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but many potential homebuyers do judge a house by its appearance, which is why curb appeal is so important. It’s your chance to make a good first impression and encourage homebuyers to see the interior of your home.

This can be as simple as making sure your yard is landscaped neatly and even pops out a little more than your neighbors’ yards. Make sure your house doesn’t have any chipped paint or anything unsightly front and center. Do any repairs or upgrades you’ve been putting off, including painting the front door or upgrading your garage door.

Benefits of Updating Your Garage Door

Updating your garage door can really help increase the value of your home. If you’re wondering how much value a garage door adds to a house, just think of when you were buying your home. Would you have considered a home that had a garage without a door? A garage that was totally open to the world, revealing all your belongings to every passerby? Probably not.

Here are some examples of how updating your garage door can add value to your house:

• Appearance: We talked about curb appeal, and the garage door plays a large part in your home’s appearance, especially if your garage is at the front of your house.
• Security: You may not keep your most valuable items in your garage, but you still want to ensure your possessions are secure. Plus, if your garage is attached to your home, you’ll want to be extra vigilant about security to ensure that your possessions and your family remain safe.
• Energy: Older garage doors that aren’t insulated will inevitably increase your utility bills. Along with the other energy-efficient methods you put into place to increase your home’s value, add an updated garage door to that as well. This is especially crucial if you have rooms above your garage.
• Value: Newer garage doors are modern and sturdy, with a higher lifespan, so they’re a great long-term investment. Plus, you can have your garage door match your home’s style to increase the curb appeal further.

Replace Your Garage Door With Blankenship Garage Door

If you’re looking to increase your home’s value, a simple upgrade of your garage door can do wonders for you. At Blankenship Garage Door, we’re proud to offer high-quality residential garage doors so you can increase your home’s value without fuss.

Get in touch to talk about your garage door update by filling out our online contact form or calling (541) 383-2658.

Benefits of Insulated Garage Doors

You do what you can to boost your home’s insulation. Quality windows, walls and doors all play a part, but have you considered your garage door? It’s a significant part of your home’s exterior, and because of that, it plays a role in your home’s thermal envelope. The thermal envelope is anything that separates the inside of your house from the outdoors. An insulated garage door improves that envelope.

Maybe you’ve never considered an insulated garage door or don’t know much about them, but you’d like to improve your home’s thermal envelope. See the benefits of insulated garage doors below and learn more about insulated versus uninsulated garage doors.

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Should I Renovate My Garage Door?

While a functioning garage door is essential, if you drive up to your garage and the door doesn’t look as stunning as it once did, you need a renovation. Maybe you never notice your garage door’s appearance or aren’t sure if a renovation is right for your home. In that case, you’ll need some reasons to upgrade your garage door. Find answers to why you should renovate your garage door below.

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7 Tips for Choosing the Right Garage Door Company

If it’s time to replace or repair your garage door, you might be sifting through several garage door companies looking for the one that’s right for you. Choosing a garage door company takes careful consideration. While you don’t often think about it, a garage door makes up a significant portion of your home’s exterior. You need one that makes you happy every time you come home and can stand up to wind and weather. You also want to work with a company experienced in the delicate machinery that makes a garage door run smoothly.

This guide will teach you how to choose a garage door company that’s committed to quality service and superior products.

1. Read Reviews and Testimonials

2. Consider the Local Service Range

When considering companies, one of the first steps is to determine if a company serves your area. A good rule of thumb is to look at companies with a service range that’s not too narrow and not too vast. You want a trusted company local to your community, with a small enough service range that you can get the attention you deserve. If you ever experience an issue with your garage door, you want a team that can arrive quickly to get your door working again soon.

Blankenship Garage Doors is located in Bend, Oregon, and services Central Oregon — including Bend, La Pine, Madras and Redmond.

3. Look at Certifications

A company’s certifications and memberships act as independent verification of quality service. Several certifications and associations mark a garage door dealer in good standing.

International Door Association Membership (IDA)

The IDA is the premier association for the door and access system industry. Garage door dealers, branches, suppliers and service technicians can each join the organization. Belonging to an industry association shows commitment to responsible business practices. Industry associations seek to benefit the entire industry by promoting honesty and fairness.

Members of the IDA follow the IDA Code of Business Conduct, which ensures the best of customer service and accountability. The code has eight tenets:

1. Customer Satisfaction
2. Truth in Selling
3. Responsible Conduct
4. Truth in Advertising
5. Safety Compliance
6. Contracts and Product Services
7. Sealed Bid Procedures
8. Regulatory Compliance

Manufacturer Certification or Authorization

Most garage door dealerships specialize in particular brands of garage doors. Blankenship Garage Doors, for example, is a Clopay® Authorized Dealer™. Authorization from the manufacturer means a dealer will install your garage door correctly. They will always use the right tools and procedures. An authorized dealer also upholds a manufacturer’s warranty and knows how to maintain and repair the door. So, you get peace of mind knowing your garage door will always be taken care of.

Local Associations

A local association, such as the Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA), shows commitment to your local community. Like the IDA, local associations promote ethical business practices. They also commit to providing education to their members, so you know your dealership is well-informed in their trade.

4. Ask for Proof of Insurance

All garage door installers and contractor businesses need insurance to work on your home. It’s the law, and it protects you in the unlikely event something goes wrong. While an established garage door dealer has plenty of expertise, proof of insurance gives you peace of mind. A reputable garage door company will happily provide this information for you.

5. Compare Quotes

Every household has a different budget and set of needs for installation, repair and maintenance services. By collecting quotes from a few different companies, you can learn about the pricing of several companies and also how they conduct business. 

Does the company call you back quickly and ask about your unique needs before drawing up a quote? Do they offer free quotes and allow you to look at quotes for all the models you are considering? Do they discuss the quality of each of their models, or push you toward options with deep discounts? After getting quotes from the companies you’re interested in, you have a much better idea of the price you’ll pay as well as the quality you’ll receive.

6. Evaluate Services Offered

Not every garage door company will offer all the services and products you want. Every home has a unique set of needs, and it’s vital to find a company that meets those needs.

• Emergency services: A broken garage door can interrupt your day and cause a safety hazard. If a broken door or opener leaves you unable to move your car, you need a company that can be on the scene quickly. Blankenship Garage Doors prides itself in before- and after-hours repairs for these situations.
• Services for your model: If you’re looking for repairs, you’ll need a company with expertise in your model. Many companies will service any brand of door. A Clopay dealer will provide premium care and excel at repair services for Clopay models.
• Quality and affordability: Every garage door company will have a range of quality and prices. Consider if a company pushes their doors at the lowest price possible, or if they focus on quality first. A quality door will have durable construction and an attractive appearance that enhances curb appeal. Look for a company that recommends the best doors within your budget.

7. Look for Guarantees and Manufacturer Warranty

The best contractors and home services companies stand behind their work. Working with a manufacturer-approved dealer will ensure you can take advantage of a manufacturer’s warranty on the products you install. The best companies will go beyond that warranty, offering a complete satisfaction guarantee. At Blankenship Garage Doors, we want you to be happy with your new garage door, installation, repairs and maintenance. We guarantee our work and will complete every job to your satisfaction.

Choose Blankenship Garage Doors as Your Central Oregon Garage Door Dealer

If you’re in the market for a new garage door or are looking for repair and maintenance services, trust Blankenship Garage Doors. As an Authorized Clopay Dealer, we’re the best garage door company to outfit your home with a quality, long-lasting garage door. Browse our collections or use our Clopay Door Imagination System to see how an attractive door can boost your curb appeal. We also provide timely, quality-guaranteed repairs, even when it’s outside regular business hours.

As a member of the IDA and COBA, we’re committed to leading the garage door industry and bettering our local community. Let us find the garage door that’s right for your home, and be your dependable repair and maintenance partner. Request a free estimate today.

Contact Us for a New Garage Door

Improve the Look of Your Home With Your Garage Door

How to Improve the Look of Your Home With Your Garage Door

To many of us, a garage door is a utilitarian fixture we’d never think to replace unless it was damaged. However, updating your garage door, which can comprise up to 30% of your exterior facade, is an outstanding way to boost your home’s curb appeal. This investment, in turn, will enhance the resale value of your home, as it’s one of the first things potential buyers notice.

Whether you’re trying to bring a cohesive quality to the exterior of your home, accent an existing feature or totally transform your facade, changing your garage door is an excellent place to start. In this article, we’ll provide tips on how to improve the curb appeal of your house, which includes choosing the right color, style and surrounding decor for your garage door.

How Changing Your Garage Door Can Make Your House More Attractive

Updating your garage door — whether you’re giving it a fresh coat of paint or replacing it completely — can boost the curb appeal of your home in the following ways.

• Completing the design of your home: If you’re trying to finish or revamp the entire exterior design of your home, a new garage door could be the perfect finishing touch you’re looking for. Whether it’s a new color, design or material, it can tie the whole look of your home together or give the front of your home that extra something it needs.
• Upgrading the style of your home: If you purchased your home a long time ago, and you want to make it look a bit more modern, a new door can provide that refreshing touch you’re looking for with its material, color, texture, style and design. You can pick something that reflects your current tastes.
• Restore the original look of your home: Perhaps your home has experienced a lot of wear over the years, and you’d like to restore it to its former glory. Updating your old, worn-out garage door along with your front door can make your older home look as good as new.

As a garage door relates intrinsically to a home’s curb appeal and functionality, it has a high return on investment.

Choosing the Right Garage Door Color

Below are the five most common colors for garage doors.

• White: This is a popular, go-to shade for many homeowners and makes a door look crisp and bright. Keep in mind, however, that white will show marks much more noticeably than a darker color.
• Soft gray: In the decorating world, gray is the new neutral color. This pale, soft shade is the perfect color for various reasons — it blends with the background with many colors of bricks and keeps the focal point on your home and front door. 
• Dark gray or black: Black has always been a popular option for garage doors. While dark gray and deep black-blue have recently become trendier alternatives to jet black, the best choice for your home will depend on various factors, including the style of your home and the color of your brick. To achieve a contemporary look, paint your garage door and window trim the same color. Black window trim is particularly fashionable at the moment, and it hides dirt better than lighter doors. If not done correctly, though, it can make your home look stark.
• Taupe or beige: The color of your bricks will often determine the right color for your garage door. If the color of your brick is in the taupe/beige family, picking the same color for your garage door will help it blend in well.
• Walnut brown: If you like warmer tones in general, but are considering a darker color for your garage door, deep walnut brown is an excellent choice. When done right, walnut brown can make your door look like it’s expensive wood.

If choosing a dark brown color, be careful, as many shades of brown can make a house look dated. It is crucial to pick the right “walnut brown” color. Here are some other useful tips for choosing the right color.

• You don’t need to match the color of your garage door and front door. In most cases, it’s best to keep the front door the focal point. This statement is especially true if your front door is a bold color like yellow, blue or red. In this situation, matching white or gray is the best option.
• Choosing a garage door color that’s the same as your house can be a good idea. It can make your home look bigger and doesn’t make the garage door the focal point.
• Avoid multiple colors. This look is dated and will detract from its curb appeal.
• Get inspiration. Browse sites like Pinterest and Houzz to get ideas for how to dress up garage doors. You can also take a drive around some neighborhoods.

Choosing the Best Garage Door Style For Your Home

If you’re planning to buy a brand-new garage door, you’ll have lots of choices in terms of designs and material, and the one that’s best comes down to your preferences and tastes. If you’d like a rustic appearance, for instance, wood panels can give your home a classier, warmer look. If you’d like something more modern, on the other hand, geometric cuts and clean lines can give your home a minimalist, sleek appearance. The style you choose may also depend on how you’d like to use your garage.

To help you out with your decision, we’ll cover the most common garage door styles and the impressions each type tends to make.

• Glass and aluminum: This sturdy, high-quality choice features a sleek surface and is a great option for those looking for a simple and modern look. Your door can be all aluminum or incorporate glass as well — certain modern doors feature an aluminum frame and a center of glass crossed by beams of aluminum. This choice is excellent for modern, simple tastes and, if you intend to use your garage as a workspace, keep in mind these doors allow in natural light. But even if you’re going to use your garage to park your car and keep out the elements, this garage door style will give your home a geometric and sleek appearance.
• Steel: Like aluminum, steel garage doors are sleek and modern-looking, but they’re also remarkably durable. Insulated steel is among the strongest, sturdiest materials you can pick to keep your garage safe. What’s more, it has the added benefit of efficiency. Unlike most other types of garage doors, steel garage doors help insulate your home and keep temperatures inside comfortable.
• Wood: This classy, traditional choice offers the unique benefit of authenticity and provides a rustic, rich feel other materials can’t duplicate. If your home is in a rural area and you’re looking to give it a rustic, traditional feel, a wood garage door could be a great choice. Choose a wood material and stain you like and that suits your home — just be sure to protect the doors with a waterproof adhesive sealant.
• Carriage house: This style of garage door provides your home with a look that is both sophisticated and rustic and will help it stand out in the neighborhood. You can make these doors especially attractive with side detailing, windows, handles and other accessories.
• With windows: If you’ve never had a garage door with windows, this may seem like a strange feature. However, windows can transform your home’s appearance and significantly improve your curb appeal. While windows may not be the best choice for every home, if your garage door takes up a large portion of your home’s front facade, windows can help break up the surface and add some variety. Base the location and design of your windows on those of your front windows or the windows in your front door — this will help draw the design together.

Choosing The Right Decor & Accessories To Complete Your Garage Makeover

Once you’ve decided on the color and style of your garage door, you can continue your garage entry makeover with some other customization options.

• Greenery: You can add topiaries or potted plants on either side of your garage door. Shrubs, tall plants and other types of greenery are great ways to add an additional flourish, and you can customize the plants for each season or change them whenever you feel like it.
• Architectural features: Trim, trellises, pillars and porticos above and around your garage door will enhance its design, making it stand out. Stonework in the driveway or walls can also go a long way.
• Lighting: Lights are one of the final touches to enhance your door’s curb appeal. Not only do lights illuminate the design of your garage, but they also make the space safer and more functional — they’ll provide light for when you return home after dark and will also deter intruders. You can install lights over the garage, build them into the garage door, put them on either side or even along your driveway. A wide variety of colors, designs and materials are available as well. Just like all the other features and accessories of your garage door, the lighting you choose should complement the style and colors of the rest of your home.

Why Choose Blankenship Garage Door as Your Garage Door Installer?

If you’re a homeowner in Central Oregon, and need a new garage door, you’ve come to the right place. For over 20 years, Blankenship Garage Doors has been helping customers throughout Central Oregon pick out high-quality residential garage doors that combine durability, performance and stunning modern curb appeal ideas.

We’re a proud Master Authorized Dealer of Clopay garage doors, a brand that has been leading the industry for the past 50 years. We offer a wide range of these high-quality, award-winning doors at competitive prices, and they’re available in many designs and material options.

If you’re searching for something with a contemporary look, for instance, you can check out our selection of modern doors manufactured from hot-dipped, galvanized steels that combine subtle, distinct beauty with rugged efficiency. If you’d like a wood-look garage door, we also sell beautiful Clopay faux wood doors that emulate the warmth and beauty of authentic wood, eliminating worries about rotting or warping. These doors can also be insulated, which will keep your garage a more comfortable temperature throughout the year. We also sell garage doors made from authentic wood, doors made of glass and aluminum and many others.

If you would like a customized garage door that suits your unique style and functional needs, Clopay offers the opportunity to create a made-to-order residential garage door products. We recommend you first take a little time to browse Clopay’s Imagine FlipBooks to get some inspiration, then use the online Door Imagination System to play around with some customization options and features.

Here are some other reasons to come to Blankenship Garage Doors.

• We’ll take care of your installation. Once you’ve picked out your new garage door, we can perform a quick, flawless installation for you. Since we are a Clopay Master Authorized Dealer, we are able to install any Clopay residential garage door — and guarantee that we’ll complete the job to your satisfaction.
• You can see our garage doors in person. In addition to browsing our online galleries, you can also get a closer look at our products by visiting our showroom. Our showroom is completely stocked and allows you to browse the complete collection of Clopay products. There will also be knowledgeable staff on hand to answer any questions you might have and provide expert guidance. You can contact us to schedule an appointment.
• We sell LiftMaster garage door openers to suit your budget and needs. Blankenship Garage Doors boasts a comprehensive selection of LiftMaster belt-drive and chain door openers that feature the cutting-edge MyQ technology, which allows users to monitor and control the openers using a smartphone, tablet or computer, regardless of their location. They also come with useful features like efficient, powerful P3 motors, battery backup for power outages and several other security and safety innovations. Our LiftMaster garage door openers are compatible with all Clopay products.
• We install garage door openers. For your garage door opener to function properly and not pose a safety hazard, proper installation is a must. Our team consists of experienced, knowledgeable garage door technicians who can install every garage door opener product from LiftMaster. We also guarantee all the projects we install, so you can use your opener with complete confidence.
• We offer timely maintenance and repair services. Even products as high-quality as LiftMaster’s garage door openers require an occasional tune-up to keep them working at maximum efficiency. As your Central Oregon LiftMaster dealer, we can perform routine maintenance on your opener and also handle any repair tasks. If it’s an emergency, we can even come to your location before or after hours.

Visit our site to browse our vast selection of residential doors.

What is Wrong With My Garage Door?

What Could Be Wrong With My Garage Door?

When your garage door isn’t working properly, it can be a major frustration for everyone in the household. Doors that won’t open at all, open and close at the wrong times or won’t close all the way — many different garage door issues can cause these problems. Sometimes there are easy fixes you can perform yourself at home if you know what to look for. Other times, it’s best to call in the pros. Let’s go through some simple garage door troubleshooting, so you know when to call for professional help and get your garage door up and running again.

How to Detect Common Garage Issues

If your garage door isn’t working, it could be due to a wide variety of causes. Often, the cause is something simple, so it’s best to start by checking over a few important parts of the garage door to try to determine the problem.

Check to make sure that the unit is plugged in to a power source in the garage. Sometimes, the power cord will accidentally get unplugged, cutting off the power to the whole setup. Next, check your remote and batteries — fresh batteries installed the right way might make all the difference. You can also check to make sure the disconnect switch is not enabled. This is the knob or pull cord you can use to manually open the door when the power goes out, and it sometimes may accidentally get pulled.

Some garage doors, especially older models, have manual locks as an added safety feature. Check to see if your door has a manual lock and if it was accidentally locked. Look for a metal bar about halfway up the garage door.

It may also be that when using your remote transmitter, you may be too far out of range. Many people try to open their garage door from too far away. Try pressing the button right in your driveway to see if it works closer up. Another issue related to the remote is the frequency. If you somehow are on the same frequency as your neighbor’s garage door opener, your door could be opening and closing when they push their remote button. If you suspect this is the case, check your manual for instructions on resetting the frequency.

If the problem is not related to the power source, take a look at the photo eyes. These are the sensors on either side of the door used for detecting if anything is in the way of the garage door — an excellent safety feature when working correctly. However, if the photo eyes are out of alignment or if the lenses are blocked or clogged, they won’t work effectively. Make sure nothing is in the way of the sensors.

Look at the tracks for the garage door and check for any bends or gaps between the rails and rollers, as this can signify a serious issue. Also, check the torsion springs or tension springs and cables. Broken springs often make a loud noise when they break and can be dangerous to work with. If you notice broken springs or cables, call a professional garage door repair company right away. Keep kids away from the broken garage door and park outside until the problem is fixed.

Reasons Why Your Garage Door Might Not Work

Now that you know some common signs to look for to determine what might be wrong with your garage door, let’s cover some common reasons why the door might not work.

1. Problems With the Remote

One of the most common garage door problems — and easiest fixes — has to do with the remote, or transmitter. The remote may be out of battery power or have improperly installed batteries. It also could be out of range of the main unit or on the wrong frequency. If you and your neighbor have accidentally used the same frequency for your garage door transmitters, it could cause problems for you both. Luckily this is a fairly easy fix — check your manual for instructions on changing the frequency or call a pro for help.

If the issue isn’t batteries or frequency, something could be obstructing the signal between the remote and the main unit. The antenna might need cleaning if too much dust or debris has collected. Make sure the antenna is pointed in the right direction and isn’t broken. Also, check around the garage for new growth on trees. Sometimes, branches or other obstructions can get in the way of the garage door signal. You might need to trim some branches to get a clear signal.

2. Out-of-Alignment or Blocked Photo Eyes

Any garage door installed after the early 90s has small photo eyes on both sides of the door entrance. These sensors were developed as a safety feature and may have tiny green flashing lights that indicate they’re working. The photo eyes send an invisible beam to each other to check for anything in the way of the door when it’s closing. If anything is in the way, the sensors will send the garage door back up.

Over time, the sensors can become dirty or clogged, insects could build a nest or web over them or a small item from the garage could simply be in their way. Any of these obstructions keep the photo eyes — and garage door — from doing their jobs. Even if the sensors are clean, the alignment could be off. If they are not aligned correctly, the sensors can’t send signals to each other, and the garage door likely will not be able to close. The photo eyes need to be aimed at each other and placed at the same height and angle.

3. Incorrect Limit Settings

Similar to the photo eyes, the limit settings tell the garage door how far to go down before being fully closed. If these settings are off, when the garage door closes fully, the opener may think it’s hitting something that’s in the way, causing it to send the door back up. If the settings are too far in the opposite direction, the door may not close all the way.

The limit settings are usually adjusted by turning knobs or dials on the garage door motor, and it may take several adjustments before the settings are correct. It’s a good idea to make small adjustments and check again as you go. An experienced garage door professional can make these adjustments quickly and easily.

4. Misaligned Tracks

If the garage door is completely off of its track, it may be obvious that’s the problem. However, sometimes the track is just slightly misaligned, which can still cause issues. Tracks that are bent or misaligned will prevent the door from opening and closing properly. This issue may cause the door to get stuck along the way or make squeaking noises while moving. A damaged track on one side will put pressure on the other side, likely leading to damage on the opposite track too. Once the tracks are damaged, the heavy weight of the door can cause the problem to rapidly get worse, making for a dangerous situation that you shouldn’t try to repair by yourself.

5. Broken Springs

Your door may have extension springs or torsion springs, both of which can break and need repair. A broken torsion spring will stay in place in the shaft but will make a loud noise when it breaks. Extension springs can break apart or fly off from the garage door, causing severe damage or injury if they hit anything or anyone. Whichever type you have, these springs do the heavy lifting required to move the door and eventually wear out.

You’ll have one spring on each side of the door, and if even one is broken, you’ll need a repair. Replacing both springs at the same time will save you money in the long run, reducing the chances of a second repair shortly after repairing the first spring. If you have a broken spring, stop using the garage door immediately and call in the pros to help. A garage door with broken springs can be incredibly dangerous.

6. Broken Cables

Garage door cables can wear out and break on their own, but more frequently, they break around the same time as the springs. Just as with the springs, when a cable snaps, it’s dangerous to be in the way. When a spring breaks, the cable is the only thing holding the door up, so it can snap quite easily. A broken cable is also a serious issue that requires you to stop using the garage door and contact an experienced garage door repair service.

7. Stripped Gears in the Opener

If the gears inside the opener are stripped, the door may make a humming sound and fail to open when you press the button on your remote. You can still use the door, but you’ll need to open it manually. It’s possible to find replacement gears, but you’ll often need to replace the entire opener. Replacing the opener is a job for the professionals.

8. Power Loss

If your garage door isn’t connected to its power source, it won’t open and close unless you move it manually. The same is true if the power source is off or damaged.

You may have accidentally activated the disconnect switch, cord or knob, which disconnects the door from the motor. If when you press the button to open or close your garage door, you hear the motor running, but the door doesn’t move, the disconnect switch may be activated. To reconnect your door to your motor, open the garage door all the way, and reattach the hook to the motor. If you can’t safely figure out how to reconnect the door and motor, call a garage door repair professional.

If you press the button and the motor doesn’t run at all, it may have lost power. This could be because a cord is unplugged, the outlet broke, the power in your house went out or a widespread power outage occurred. To fix this issue, follow the same process you would when any other device loses power. You may need to plug a cord back in, replace an outlet, flip a circuit breaker, call an electrician or notify your power company of an outage.

Why You Should Trust Blankenship Garage Doors to Repair Your Garage Door

Any of the above garage door problems can cause major frustration. As a preventative measure, you should perform an annual inspection to identify any potential issues before they get worse. Start with a visual inspection of the whole garage door system, looking for anything that may need a closer look, cleaning or repair. Next, open the door, watching and listening for any strange noises or imbalances in the way the door goes up.

During your inspection, if you notice anything out of the ordinary, contact a professional like Blankenship Garage Doors. Some fixes are easy — like new batteries for the remote door opener — but many garage door repair jobs are best left to experienced professionals.

Online videos and how-to articles make home repair look easy, but these resources are often made by seasoned experts. In reality, repairing a garage door is often no easy task and can be downright dangerous if you don’t have the right experience. Professional garage door technicians know how to complete repairs correctly and safely. They can also complete quickly, saving you loads of time as well as frustration.

Professional garage door repair technicians know how to check all power sources and secure garage door parts before proceeding with any repairs to ensure the safety of everyone around. Garage doors have many complicated parts that can be difficult to repair and pose unique safety hazards. It’s also important to note that if your garage door is under warranty, the warranty may be voided if you attempt some of the repairs yourself. It’s best to keep your warranty and save yourself the hassle by having your garage door repaired professionally.

At Blankenship Garage Door, our team of highly trained technicians have years of experience, so you know they’ll do the job right. We guarantee all of our work and even schedule repairs outside of normal business hours to provide the most flexibility and convenience for our customers. Schedule an appointment that works for you, and our technicians will arrive on time and fix your broken springs, rollers or cables or other problems. We’ll get to the bottom of your garage door issue and fix it right the first time.

Request Service With Blankenship Garage Door

When your garage door needs maintenance or repairs, hire the very best. The experienced staff at Blankenship Garage Door are ready to take your service request and schedule a repair appointment that works for you. We’ve been providing premium service to both residential and commercial clients in Central Oregon for more than 20 years. Just fill out our quick and easy online service request form, and we’ll get back to you to schedule a convenient appointment to get your garage door back on track.

How to Keep Your Children Safe Around Your Garage

When your child was born, you probably went a little crazy covering electrical outlets, locking kitchen cabinets and placing cleaning products high out of reach. Every parent knows the basics of childproofing their house, but when was the last time you thought about childproofing the garage?

It’s easy to overlook garage safety when you’re thinking about child safety. After all, it’s not like they play in there every day, right? If you haven’t considered your garage door to be a safety hazard, you aren’t alone. In fact, 82% of Americans admit that they tend to neglect maintenance and safety when it comes to their garage door.

The truth is that your garage — especially the garage door — presents a number of potential dangers for children. Just because their toys aren’t out there or their playroom is on the other side of the house doesn’t mean that their curious minds won’t lead them into the garage when you aren’t looking.

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