The Importance of a Certified Garage Door Technician

The garage door is the largest entryway into your home, and it plays a role in your property’s curb appeal. You’ll want to keep it in good shape to withstand harsh weather conditions and maintain your home’s luxurious appearance. Instead of trying to repair it yourself, you should trust a professional to help prolong your garage door’s life span. Explore what a garage door technician does and why you need to hire one for your overhead door.

What Does a Garage Door Technician Do?

A garage door technician has the skills, equipment and experience to service, install and repair garage doors. After inspecting your garage door, they offer suggestions about whether to repair or replace it. They’ll fix anything, from broken springs to dented panels.

A certified overhead door specialist is responsible for the following:

• Inspection of all parts
• Assisting with the design of new doors
• Installing new doors
• Repairing electrical garage door openers
• Reviewing blueprints
• Troubleshooting broken doors
• Programming the access system
• Replacing the torsion springs
• Lubricating metal parts, such as the wheels or door tracks
• Inspecting your garage door’s safety features
• Checking and replacing weatherproofing

Garage door technicians are trained to handle all aspects of installing, repairing, and replacing your garage doors.

Why Is a Certified Garage Door Technician Important?

Hiring a certified garage door technician is the best way to ensure that your garage door is in proper working order and operates smoothly. Below, learn a few reasons why certified garage door technicians are critical.

Quality Results

Overhead garage door specialists go through rigorous training to install and maintain your garage door. When you hire a professional overhead door technician, you get trained professionals familiar with the latest techniques, technology and equipment. With this specialized training and knowledge, you can feel confident you’ll get quality results from your garage door technician. 

Experience

A certified overhead door technician has years of experience installing, maintaining and repairing garage doors. With experience and knowledge, a certified technician can help identify problems with your garage door and deliver helpful solutions. If you need a brand-new garage door, a specialist can go over your options to find the best one for your home. 

They can also teach you about the latest security and technology trends, such as smart garage door openers and motion-detector lighting.

Safety

One of the most important reasons to hire an overhead door technician is for safety. Your garage door plays an instrumental role in keeping your home and family protected from intruders. If your garage door isn’t properly installed or repaired, you run the risk of intruders targeting your home. An experienced technician can provide the proper repairs to ensure you keep your home, and those inside, protected.

Additionally, having a broken or malfunctioning garage door increases the risk of injury. If you try to fix it yourself, you could get hurt and potentially damage your property. For example, the torsion and extension springs are under intense pressure that, if you aren’t knowledgeable about how to fix these springs, they could cause injury while repairing. A professional overhead door technician knows how to fix the various components correctly and safely.

Time Savings

If you want to repair a garage door on your own, it takes time to learn how to do it properly. That means more time that your door isn’t repaired and more time of your free time spent learning how to do it. Instead of spending your free time trying to fix it yourself, you can trust a professional garage door technician to do it for you. 

An overhead garage door technician diagnoses issues promptly and repairs problems quickly. You can get your door fixed faster and spend less time worrying about fixing it.

Cost savings

Hiring a garage door technician helps you save money. If you try to repair your garage on your own, you may end up spending more money trying to get the right tools. You may spend all the money getting the equipment only to find that you can’t repair it yourself and need to hire a garage door technician anyway.

That’s why it’s best to hire an overhead door technician from the start. Garage door technicians have all the equipment necessary to repair and replace your garage door. Additionally, a certified technician can work with your budget to help you find a new garage door or door security system that works for you.

Extended Life Span

A certified garage door technician is critical for extending the life span of your garage door. Without proper maintenance, your garage door may not last as long as it should, which costs you more money in the long run. Hiring a certified garage door technician to inspect, repair, and maintain your garage door is key for extended life span.

A technician can spot problems and repair them quickly before they worsen and cause more damage to your garage door. They could also recommend when you need to replace your garage door.

Proper Tools

Garage doors are intricate mechanisms that require proper tools to fix and maintain. If you don’t have the right equipment at home, you can’t properly fix your garage door. A lack of proper equipment leads to an increased risk of injury from trying to repair your garage door. 

With a certified garage door technician, you’ll get a professional who already has all the necessary tools to repair your garage. You won’t need to worry about buying the tools yourself and figuring out how to use them properly.

Maintain Your Warranty

Many garage doors come with a warranty that can cover the cost of some repairs and maintenance, but it’s only valid when done by a professional. If you try to repair it yourself, you void the warranty and it covers no further repairs. Instead of voiding your warranty, trust a certified garage technician to make the repairs for you.

10 Questions to Ask Your Garage Door Technician

As you look for the right garage door technician, you’ll want to ask them questions to discover if they can provide what you need. Make sure that they’re a reputable company that installs, repairs and replaces garage doors. An experienced garage door technician will teach you how to take care of your garage door between visits. Ask your prospective garage door company the following questions:

1. What are your employees’ credentials?
2. How experienced are your technicians?
3. Do you offer any warranties on your new garage doors?
4. Can you offer an estimate for service or new products?
5. How often do you maintain garage doors for your customers?
6. What do you typically do during a service visit?
7. What should I do between your team’s visits to keep my door in good shape?
8. Will you call me before making further repairs or installing parts that cost extra money?
9. Do I need to be home when you’re working on my garage door?
10. Do you provide emergency repair services?

Quality Garage Doors and Service With AAA Garage Doors

AAA Garage Doors has a team of certified overhead door technicians in the Omaha, Nebraska area. We provide quality residential garage door repair services that include maintenance, repair, and replacement of garage doors. For more information about our products and services, contact us online or call us at 402-727-0789. Don’t put your garage door repairs off any longer!

Other Garage Door Safety Resources

• Garage Break-In Prevention Tips
• Garage Maintenance Checklist
• Common Garage Door Scams

3 Common Garage Door Scams and How to Avoid Them

When you think of fraud, you probably imagine identity theft or hackers. Unfortunately, many scams still occur offline, and one type you may not know of is garage door scams. While most people in the garage door industry are honest, some of them aren’t. 

Key takeaways:

• Homeowners in need of emergency service are common targets for scammers
• Garage door scammers perform unnecessary repairs with unneeded parts and charge expensive fees
• Garage door scammers prey on the homeowner’s lack of knowledge of garage door parts

How can you tell when someone is trying to scam you? Keep an eye out for these common garage door scams:

1. The Rebuild Package Scam

Asking people to overpay for something or making promises that aren’t delivered on are both common scams in any industry. In the garage door business, rebuild package scams occur when a repair company says you need a “hardware overhaul,” which involves replacing everything from your torsion springs to the bearing brackets. 

In reality, nothing is wrong with your equipment — most garage door hardware lasts 10 to 15 years. However, you might not initially realize that. You will get a rude awakening when you receive the bill because dishonest technicians mark up the hardware and the installation costs. Then, you pay an arm and a leg for new hardware you don’t need. 

2. The Lifetime Guarantee Scam

When you hear someone talk about a lifetime guarantee, you probably think you’re set for as long as you own your house. However, that’s rarely the case. A lifetime guarantee often covers parts but not labor. Your technician can charge an exorbitant fee for labor for the simplest task, such as changing a light bulb. 

By installing cheap parts, the technician ensures your hardware will break down. Then, you’ll call them to fix it again, enabling them to charge an astronomical labor fee. The cycle repeats when the broken hardware is replaced with another shoddy item, setting you up to need more help shortly down the road. If you consider a lifetime guarantee, ask the technician several essential questions: 

• What does the guarantee cover? 
• Can you walk me through the contract? 
• What brands do you source your parts from? 

Your contract only guarantees coverage for the hardware it mentions. Even if you speak to a technician about adding extra coverage, it will only apply if it’s in the contract.

3. The Unidentified Technician Scam

You only want experienced, certified professionals working on your garage door. While a company may present the impression that its technicians know what they’re doing, they can pull a last-minute switcheroo by contracting the work to a subcontractor. The person may not live up to the high standards set by a legitimate business. 

The company you contracted with will pay the subcontractor a low rate, and the original technicians will have no investment in the outcome because you are not their customer. They aren’t counting on you using their services again for a job well done. You have no way of knowing if the person who comes to your door is certified or what their garage door repair history looks like. You also have no one to call if the repair is mishandled. Here are some things to look for to avoid this situation: 

• The technician arrives in an unmarked car.
• The technician avoids introducing themselves or saying who they work for.
• The technician shows no signs of direct employment by the company you contracted with.

How to Avoid Garage Door Repair Scams 

When you know what to look for, you can avoid garage door repair scams. Here are some questions to ask during the vetting process:

• How do you identify your company?​
• What company am I speaking with?
• Can you provide me your business’s address?
• Do you have any recent customers I could talk to about your services?

If you are not satisfied with the answers you receive, play it safe and avoid hiring the contractor. Always trust your gut. If something seems fishy or “off” with the company, it’s better to err on the side of caution than get caught up in a scam. 

Instead of relying on a business with shady practices, ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations for garage door repair companies they have used and liked. Getting a testimonial from a trusted source is always better than trying a company you aren’t sure about.

How to Report Garage Door Scams

If a suspected garage door scammer has approached you, or you have fallen victim to a scam, you can report it. Contact the International Door Association (IDA) by emailing [email protected]. You can explain the details and include any documentation from your case. The organization may follow up with you for more information.

Scammers may also face criminal charges depending on what they did. You can contact your local police station to report the interaction. At the least, the police may warn others in the neighborhood that a suspicious person is making false claims. 

Other Garage Door Safety Resources

• Garage Break-In Prevention Tips
• Garage Maintenance Checklist
• Importance of a Certified Garage Door Technician

Enjoy Quality Garage Door Service With AAA Garage Door

For reputable garage door repairs, contact AAA Garage Door. We have provided many people in the Fremont, Nebraska, area with dependable service at affordable prices. 

Break-In Prevention – 10 Tips To Ensure Your Garage Door Is Secure

Break-In Prevention: 10 Tips to Ensure Your Garage Door Is Secure

Keeping your home safe and secure is a primary concern for every homeowner. You want to be sure that you, your family and your belongings are kept away from prying eyes and prevent the chance of a break-in. It’s important to remember that most burglars are opportunists, so simply locking up your home and garage door and keeping valuables out of sight can be a great deterrent. 

However, seasoned burglars will look for other ways to enter your house, like your garage, windows and other main entryways. In 2019, there were over 1.1 million burglaries with residential properties accounting for 62.8%. The best way to prevent a home burglary is to increase your home’s security.

How to Secure Your Garage Door

Many homeowners focus on securing their windows and doors, but it’s important not to overlook your garage. While many burglars enter through the doors and windows, 9% enter through your garage. Here are 10 tips to increase your garage door’s security.

1. Upgrade Your Garage Door Opener

If your garage door opener has been in use for many years, it might be time to upgrade it. Modern garage door openers have smart systems that alert you if your door has been left open. Depending on the system, you can use an app or remote to close your door.

Additionally, newer systems may include an alarm and security lights to protect your property. They also use rolling codes, which means the code that opens and closes your garage door only works once. Rolling codes provide an extra level of security that prevents hackers from accessing your opener.

2. Pay Attention to Your Door’s Emergency Release Trigger

The vast majority of garage doors have a special emergency release trigger that allows you to get in or out of your garage when there is a power outage. Typically, the trigger is near the top of the door, allowing burglars to access the switch and enter your home through your garage door. 

You can prevent this by installing a shield in front of the door release or disabling this feature. The method for disabling it differs model-to-model, but usually, it’s as simple as cutting the chord that’s attached to the emergency release. If you are unsure how to disable the security release, get in touch with our team at AAA Garage Door and let us help you out.

3. Add Manual Locks

If you really want to keep your garage door secure, a great option is to install heavy-duty manual locks. Keep in mind that since you must secure the locks from inside your garage, you can’t exit through the garage door. The effectiveness of the locks depends on how often you use them — if you forget to secure your manual locks, they will not help protect your garage.

4. Add Motion Detection Lights

A motion detection light outside a garage door can help stop a burglar from breaking into a home. Detection lights notify the people who are home that someone or something is moving around outside. They also gain the attention of surrounding neighbors who have a clear view of your home’s garage.

5. Frost Your Windows

Thieves want to avoid getting caught, so they usually scope out a place before attempting a break-in. Your garage door windows are aesthetically pleasing and allow natural light into your garage. But they also provide burglars with a view into your garage. They can see the stuff in your garage and if there are any cars — in other words, if anyone is home. For extra garage security, frost your windows to increase privacy while still letting in natural light.

6. Don’t Leave Your Opener Remote in Your Car

Burglars know it’s convenient for you to store your remote in your car’s glove box, on the visor or somewhere else in your car. Some may break into your car with the intent to get your garage door opener, and then gain access to your home. It’s best to keep your opener on you at work, such as in your coat pocket or bag, and store it inside when you’re home.

7. Ensure Your Garage Doors Are in Good Condition

Older garage doors might have gaps or dents, making it easier for someone to break in. You can avoid this security risk by scheduling routine maintenance and replacing your garage door as needed. New garage doors provide greater protection for you and your family.

8. Secure Your Home’s Entry Door

Most garages have a door that connects to the home. Always lock this door to prevent thieves from gaining access to the rest of your house. You can reinforce this door by replacing it with a steel door and adding a deadbolt, smart lock or motion sensor.

9. Remove Your Valuables

It’s easy to fill your garage with items that you can’t find space for inside your home. However, you should avoid leaving valuables in your garage. This way if a thief manages to gain access to your garage, at least they won’t be able to steal your valuables.

10. Create Good Security Habits

Homeowners who become lax in their security habits put their homes at a higher risk for burglary. Locking your garage door sometimes, occasionally switching on your security lights and only closing your door most of the time will not keep your home secure. That’s why it’s crucial to develop good security habits. 

You can establish security protocols for leaving your home. Communicate these protocols with your family members so everyone is on the same page. Ensure everyone sticks to these procedures to decrease your risk of a break-in. 

Keep Your Garage Door Secure With AAA Garage Door

To keep your home, family and belongings protected, you must secure your garage door. As a major entry point to your home, it requires security measures to ensure there’s little to no chance for unauthorized access. Contact the garage door experts at AAA Garage Door to find out more about how you can bolster your garage’s security. With our help, you can rest easy knowing your home is safe and secure.

Other Garage Door Safety Resources

• Garage Maintenance Checklist
• Common Garage Door Scams
• Importance of a Certified Garage Door Technician

Keep Your Garage Door Secure And Your Family Protected

To keep your home secure and protected, you must take the time to secure your garage door. As a major entry point to your home, this vulnerable area requires necessary steps to ensure there is no unauthorized access. Get in touch with our garage repair experts at AAA Garage Doors to find out more about how you can bolster the security of your garage door. With our help, you can rest easy knowing that your home is safe and secure.

5 Garage Door Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Door Operating Smoothly

As a homeowner, you rely on your garage door to access your home multiple times a day and you want to be sure that you can depend on it to perform, as it should. As the largest moving part in most homes, it’s essential that you take the time to look after your Omaha garage door properly and carry out regular repair and maintenance to ensure that it stands the test of time. If you take care of your garage door, you will be able to depend on it to work as intended for many years to come.

5 Garage Door Maintenance Tips

With a few simple tips and tricks, you can ensure that your garage door doesn’t take on too much wear and tear and continues to operate smoothly. Let’s take a closer look at five garage door maintenance tips that you can implement with ease to care for your garage door.

1. Lubricate Moving Parts

It might only take you about ten minutes per year but taking the time to grease up your garage door’s moving parts will help it last for a long time to come. Just a small amount of garage door lubrication can make a big difference when it comes to preventing noise and keeping your residential garage door opening and closing properly. Use a spray lubricant to coat the opener’s chain or drive screw. You can also add some lubricant to the overhead springs, hinges, rollers, and door tracks.

2. Test The Balance Of Your Omaha Garage Door

If a garage door is not correctly balanced, the overhead door will have to work extra hard and therefore will not last as long. In order to extend the life of your garage door opener and keep your door operating smoothly, you need to test the balance of your commercial garage door. Simply disconnect the opener by pulling the release handle. Next, partly open the door manually. If the door is correctly balanced, it will maintain this position without any assistance from you. However, if it moves up or down on one side or the other you will need to adjust the door springs. As this can be a delicate matter, it is best to call our team of professionals at AAA Garage Door Inc. to ensure you get the garage door balance just right.

3. Tighten The Hardware

Since a garage door opens and closes several times in a day, it’s not unusual for the hardware to become loose over time. In fact, the average overhead door opens and closes over a thousand times a year and all of this movement can naturally cause different elements to loosen. Be sure to check the garage door hardware from time to time and tighten any parts that appear to have become loose or contact us at AAA Garage Door Inc. and let our garage door specialists check over your hardware for you.

4. Check The Auto-Reverse Feature

Perfoming a safety test for the auto-reverse feature once or twice per year is a good practice to get into. Designed as a safety feature, the door should automatically reverse when it comes into contact with something as it is closing. To test it, you can put a large item in the path of the door, between the door and the ground. If your Omaha garage door starts reversing automatically when it comes into contact with the object, it is working correctly.

More modern door openers often have a photoelectric system, which is used to detect people or pets walking under the door. As the door is closing, simply wave your foot underneath it and the door should auto-reverse. If your door fails to auto-reverse in either test, you will need to have your garage door opener repaired. You can also avail of our comprehensive Garage Door Safety Tune-Up Service at AAA Garage Door Inc. so that you can rest easy knowing that your garage will not be the cause of damage or injury.

5. Visual Garage Door Inspection

Inspecting your garage for water damage, chips and peeling paint from time to time is important to prevent any low-level damage from getting worse. Depending on what material your garage door is constructed from, you may need to carry out additional maintenance. For example, if your door is made of steel, rust spots may develop which will need to be sanded, primed and painted. A timber overhead garage door, on the other hand, may need to be treated to keep the wood from becoming damaged from exposure to the elements. At AAA Garage Door Inc., we offer a weather seal and preventative maintenance service that are specifically designed to help keep your garage door from encountering unnecessary problems.

Get Help From The Pros With Your Garage Door Maintenance

View Our Garage Door Services

Ensuring that your garage door is properly maintained is vital in making sure that it stands the test of time and that it will operate smoothly. If you need assistance with your garage door maintenance, get in touch with our team of garage door experts and service technicians at AAA Garage Door Inc., today. With our extensive experience with garage doors, you can be sure that your garage door will be in good hands.

Garage Door Maintenance Checklist for Beginners

Garage Door Maintenance Checklist for Beginners

As a homeowner, you likely open and close your garage door multiple times a day as you enter and exit your home. However, most homeowners pay little attention to their garage doors until the system malfunctions.

Nothing lasts forever, but overhead garage doors can last 15 to 30 years with regular maintenance. Our garage maintenance checklist prevents significant repairs with these simple tips.

Garage Door Maintenance Tips

Following these six steps on our overhead door preventative maintenance checklist can give you the peace of mind that your garage door system is functioning correctly and reliably.

1. Detect Issues

The first step on a garage door inspection checklist is to detect issues. You can do this by picking a day every week to open and close your garage door while you’re inside. Watch the door to ensure it opens smoothly and stays on track.

Listen closely and note any unusual sounds, such as scraping, grinding or squealing. If you notice any issues, contact a garage door services professional.

2. Test Your Door

Every time you use your garage door, it wears on your operating system. To ensure your operating system remains in good condition, you should:

• Inspect your door: Check your door for dents, damage or gaps. If you see any, make a careful assessment to ensure the door’s operation hasn’t been affected and moisture can’t enter your garage. Also, make sure the emergency cord is present and in working order. In the event of a power outage, you’ll need this feature working well so you can bypass the power-equipped features and open or close your door. 
• Test your door’s balance: An off-balance door puts extra pressure on the opener, which can damage it. To check the balance of your door, pull the release handle on your opener, lift your door halfway and see if it stays. If the door closes, contact a professional.

3. Test the Opener

A faulty opener will prevent your door from lasting as long and can increase your energy bills. Follow these garage door opener maintenance tips to keep it in excellent condition: 

• Test and replace the batteries: Check the batteries on your remote and replace them as needed.
• Test your opener’s backup battery: Your opener has a backup battery in case the power goes out. Unplug the opener and try to automatically open your door to test the backup battery. If the door opens, the backup battery is good.
• Check and replace the light bulbs: The opener has light bulbs so you can see in the garage at night. Replace any loose or blown light bulbs.
• Inspect and repair gears: Inspect the belt or chain for signs of deterioration and check the tension. Contact a professional to repair the motor gears if needed.
• Inspect the wires: Check the coating of the wires in your opener for cracks or tears.

4. Examine the Moving Parts

Your garage door’s operating system has many components working together to ensure its smooth operation. Inspect these components for damage:

• Rollers: Any rollers that are broken, worn or don’t roll freely in the tracks are likely ready for replacement. If left unrepaired, they can cause wear on your garage door and long-term damage. 
• Joints: Take a look at the joints between the sections of your door. If you can see daylight through these joints when the door is down, if there are gaps or if the sections appear misaligned, your Omaha garage door definitely isn’t weather-tight. You are losing valuable heating and cooling through your overhead door.
• Springs: Find the springs and examine them with a critical eye. But, don’t get too close if they appear broken, worn or rusted — it’s just a matter of time before one breaks, causing frustration and inconvenience, not to mention potential injury. Replacing the garage door parts, i.e. springs, is dangerous if you don’t have the right tools and experience. If they look worn at all, it’s best to call in the garage door service experts in Omaha, AAA Garage Door, Inc.
• Hinges: Inspect the hinges on your residential garage door. If you see anything bent or twisted, or if there are loose or missing screws, further attention is required.
• Cables and pulleys: Look for rips or damage in the cables and pulleys at the bottom of the roller brackets.

You should lubricate all the metal garage door parts and the opener every six months. Before and after the winter season are ideal times. If you notice any loose nuts and bolts while lubricating these parts, tighten them.

5. Test the Auto-Reversal System

The auto-reversal system is a safety feature that prevents your door from closing on objects. Commercial and residential garage doors have different systems:

• An automatic garage door opener has a mechanical safety reverse system. You can test it by placing an object, like a piece of wood, on the door’s threshold and try to close the door using your remote control. The door should go back up immediately when it comes in contact with the object. If not, it isn’t safe for your family or pets and will not prevent accidental entrapment or injury — a professional needs to fix this right away.
• Test the photoelectric safety system on your commercial overhead garage door. These are the “electric eyes” on each side of the door that should prevent your door from closing if an object breaks the safety beam. They can sometimes get dusty, misaligned or bent, rendering them ineffective in doing their important job. Ensure you clean them with a cloth before testing the system.

6. Touch-up Your Garage

Cleaning your garage door’s exterior increases its aesthetic appeal. When you clean the interior parts, you ensure their functionality and longevity. Here are the steps for cleaning your garage door:

• Clean the tracks: Cleaning debris and rust from the tracks prevents the door from becoming stuck.
• Wash the windows: Clean windows let in natural light.
• Examine the weatherstripping: The weatherstripping around your garage door helps maintain a comfortable temperature and prevents pests and moisture from entering. Check the weatherstripping for tears, rips and gaps. If you notice any, contact a professional.
• Paint your door: Wash your door, then cover scratches and chips with paint. You can also change your door’s color.
• Organize your garage: Reorganizing your garage removes clutter and gives you additional space.

Schedule an Appointment With a Garage Door Professional

AAA Garage Door, Inc. can take the worry out of overhead door maintenance by regularly inspecting and remedying problems before they even occur. You can work with our professional services experts to create a garage door maintenance schedule. In between these visits, you can perform maintenance by following the six steps in our overhead door maintenance checklist. 

Your Omaha residential garage door, even older doors, can perform better and longer with maintenance. AAA Garage Door, Inc. is the Omaha expert for everything from garage door parts, simple repairs, regular maintenance, and inspection, to total replacement. When you see an issue, don’t wait! Call us at (402) 727-0789 or complete our online form.