1. Read All Installation Instructions Carefully.

Installation's a big job, and if you're not up to the task, it's a good idea to hire a professional. If you decide to do it yourself, follow the instruction manual perfectly.

2. Read All Owners' Manuals.

Whether you install or don't install, read your owner's manual from front to back. There's emergency garage door information in there that can help prevent future problems.

3. Get The Springs Changed Routinely

4. Don't Mess With The Springs Yourself

Springs require regular maintenance, but they're very dangerous. They're made up of spring coils that are wound tightly. This means they're under lots of pressure. Serious injury could occur from improper handling.

5. Check Cables

From time to time, check your cables for visible wear. Most emergency situations are easily avoided by regular maintenance. Worn cables are a major source of trouble, including injuries.

6. Pay Attention To How It Runs

If there's anything funny about how it opens or closes, you've got a problem. Don't treat it lightly. This is a potential safety issue, so take care of it immediately. Even old doors should open and close smoothly.

7. Test Its Switch Sometimes

All garage doors have an emergency switch that keeps it from crushing whatever is underneath. Occasionally, you should put a small object under it and try to close it on it. It should stop before it hits the object. If not, you need repairs.

8. Lubricate

Like all parts that move on any machine, your garage door needs routine lubrication. It depends on the make and model, so follow the instruction manuals and keep a schedule.

9. Don't Operate It When Anything (Including People) Is Near It

Even though it's supposed to catch, garage doors malfunction just like anything else. In general, keep things and people that you love away from the door when opening and closing.

10. Kid-Proof

Keep the wall switch high enough so that little hands can't reach it, and keep the remote control safe. Make sure they understand it's not a toy and they should be careful around the garage door. Don't let them play Indiana Jones, sliding under the door just in the nick of time.

Follow these safety tips, and keep your machine properly maintained. Study your owners' manuals, be safe, and enjoy this addition to your home for many years to come.

In Kissimmee, garage doors & openers suppliers can help you add beauty and class to your home by offering garage doors whose quality, durability, and warranty are superior in the industry. To know more, visit http://www.garagedoorsfl.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton
http://EzineArticles.com/?Garage-Door—10-Emergency-Garage-Door-Safety-and-Security-Tips&id=3741559

When considering your home’s overall value and potential improvements – don’t forget your garage door. Industry research shows that a garage door replacement or upgrade is a smart investment. An automatic garage door, a custom garage door, and today’s “green” garage doors are excellent ways to boost curb appeal while also increasing home safety and energy efficiency.

Garage Door Upgrades Impact Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is a critical factor of every home. Often, an attached garage takes up nearly fifty percent of a home’s façade, and as such, greatly affects the overall visual impact of the home. Whether you’re considering a move, a refinance, or simply want the nicest looking house on the block, exterior upgrades such as a custom garage door and/or a new automatic garage door have been shown to increase curb appeal and a home’s overall market value. Whether your home is traditional, modern or transitional, there is a garage door available to suit your style and budget. And, by adding custom windows and other garage door accessories, you can personalize your garage door to suit not only your home, but your own personal style.

Increasing Home Safety with an Automatic Garage Door

“Tech-up the garage” is one of REALTOR.com’s top ten “Low Cost High Impact” home improvements for 2009, indicating that upgrading your garage door is a sure hit in the cost vs. value equation. Not only does upgrading to an automatic door with an automatic garage door opener or wireless keypad system assure you a return on your investment, it increases the safety profile of your home for you and your family. Unlike traditional, non-automatic garage doors, all residential automatic garage doors sold in the United States since 1993 are required by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to be outfitted with an external entrapment protection system. This system can be an electric eye, a door edge sensor or any other device that provides protection from any individual or object being trapped beneath a closing garage door, as the door automatically reverses. Along with these numerous safety design features, the wireless keypad systems now available on most doors help to keep your family safe by allowing access to the home even when a family member loses or forgets their keys.

“Green” Garage Door Installation for Increased Energy Efficiency

As the largest moving part on a home, your garage door plays an important role in maintaining its energy efficiency – a critical factor in “green building” and sustainable architectural design. Seasonally, your garage door either helps you keep the heat in or keep the cool in, which means having the right garage door can determine your heating and cooling budget. By upgrading to an energy-efficient, insulated garage door with a life expectancy of nearly twenty years, you are lowering your household’s carbon footprint substantially. If your garage is attached to your home, you will also find that upgrading to an insulated garage door will have such a significant impact that the Internal Revenue Service has declared certain models eligible for an energy savings tax credit under the Energy Tax Incentives Act.

So, as a homeowner, if you are considering making any improvements this year, remember that for increased curb appeal, safety, and adding some “green” to your home and your pocketbook, don’t forget your garage door!

Cathy Wempe of AE Door, a Cincinnati-based residential and commercial garage door retailer. For 30 years, AE Door has been an industry leader in entry and storm doors, commercial garage doors openers and windows.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Why-Upgrade-Your-Home’s-Garage-Door?/1391338

The garage door systems industry recognizes the important safety role played by home inspectors. This checklist intends to help home inspectors maximize the value of their service to homeowners and home buyers.

This checklist covers the most important parts of a basic inspection of a residential sectional garage door connected to an automatic garage door opener. This checklist does not apply to tilt-up one-piece doors.

WARNING

The garage door is typically the largest moving object in the house, and many of its components are under high tension. Improper installation or maintenance of a garage door can create a hazardous condition that can cause serious injury or even death.

Because of potential dangers involved, all repairs and adjustments must be performed by a trained door systems technician using proper tools and instructions.

A moving door can cause serious injury or death. Keep people clear of the opening while the door is moving.

High spring tension can cause serious injury or death. Do not try to remove, repair or adjust springs or anything to which door spring parts are fastened, such as, wood blocks, steel brackets, cables or other like items.

These inspection steps assume that the door is operable. If the door appears inoperable, a trained door systems technician should be contacted.

This checklist covers the safest procedures that are supported by DASMA. If a home inspector encounters a problematic situation, we urge you to follow our recommendations. In some cases, you may need to use your best judgment on how to proceed safely.

Items Needed

This 10-point inspection can be performed in a few minutes. To conduct the inspection, you should have (1) a tape measure, (2) a flashlight, (3) a 2×4 piece of wood at least six inches long, and if available, (4) a garage door remote control. Depending on the height of the door, (5) a ladder or step stool may also be helpful.

Sectional Garage Door and Electric Operator
Checklist for Home Inspectors and Consumers

Note: Techincal Data Sheets are information tools only and should not be used as substitutes for instructions from individual manufacturers. Always consult with individual manufacturers for specific recommendations for their products and check the applicable local regulations.
This Technical Data Sheet was prepared by members of DASMA’s Commercial & Residential Garage Door Division Technical Committee. DASMA is a trade association comprising manufacturers of rolling doors, fire doors, grilles, counter shutters, sheet doors, and related products; upward-acting residential and commercial garage doors; operating devices for garage doors and gates, sensing devices, and electronic remote controls for garage doors and gate operators; as well as companies that manufacture or supply either raw materials or significant components used in the manufacture and installation of the Active Members’ products.

This sheet is reviewed periodically and may be updated. Visit www.dasma.com for the latest version.

DASMA – Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association International
1300 Sumner Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2851
Phone: 216-241-7333 – Fax: 216-241-0105
E-mail: dasma@dasma.com

Cropped Picture of Old Garage Door

Need a Face Lift … For Your Garage Door?

We have GREAT NEWS! We can change the look of your garage door for pennies, instead of paying the “Big Bucks” for the cost of a new garage door.

New Windows Added

We recently complete a garage door renovation for a home in Citrus Heights. The original door had a single window, which didn’t give much light to the garage. By removing the top panel of the garage door, we were able to retrofit the panel with the addition of 5 new windows. We were able to complete this upgrade the very same day.

The homeowner put a fresh coat of paint on the door and wall la … the home had an entire new look at a fraction of the cost.

You too can take advantage of this incredible savings by calling Abel Garage Door today for your free estimate over the phone.

1. Lower your Labor Costs – Fire your high priced technicians and replace them with less experienced and lower skilled employees. Or just, reduce the number of people you have working for you.
2. Reduce your materials cost – Look for cheaper sources of materials. And if you’re really desperate, find sources of used parts and use them in your repairs.
3. Reduce your margins – It’s one thing to make a little less, knowing that your customers are less willing to spend money. It is a totally different story, when you reduce your price to break even! Companies that do this are on the brink of going out of business.

There are no SECRETS! And the old adage remains the same: “If it sounds too good to be true, it is.”

Frankly, I’m a little pissed off at what some of my competitors are doing out there. I find it totally unacceptable when companies make promises they don’t back up. For example, many offer a coupon advertising a service call for $29.95  This is ridiculous! On average, in any given market, it takes a minimum of 30 minutes travel time to get to a customer. Round trip that’s an hour. Combine that with fuel cost and wear and tear on the vehicle cost. The break even amount of a service call is on average $20  THAT DOES NOT include the time it takes once you are on the job.

Bottom line: Consumers Beware - You are GUARANTEED you will be pressured once the technician arrives with additional fees and services.

Another trick used quite frequently by less than desirable companies: Being too greedy or incompetent by telling customers that the only way to fix their door is to replace it with a new one.

In servicing thousands of garage doors over our 28 years, most doors can be repaired for less money than it takes for a replacement. We have the ability to replace the hinges, springs, and cables on a door for less than a couple of hundred dollars. And if through our inspection of the door, we find that the costs will exceed $200, then we have a choice to make.

Important rule of thumb: If the repair on the garage door costs more than $200, you are $200 away from a new door(A new door installed is about $400)

Now I realize this is a blanket statement, but for most doors, repairs are typically limited to replacing a couple of hinges, the cable and maybe even a bearing or two. And if you really had to, replacing a panel on the door. The costs here are still less than a couple of hundred dollars.

I also understand, replacing an old door with a new one is always better, but let’s get real! Repairs almost always cost half of what a new door costs. When we’re all trying to save money, we get the most out of our money with a repair and a can of paint.

Here’s the last tip: Most garage door openers can be repaired to function like new. All too often, other companies are looking for the quick buck. If the opener is broken…sell them a new one! I personally, don’t like to buy a new one if I can fix it!  If I had money to burn, sure I’d buy a new one but times are tough. We are here to help!

These are just a couple of the ways to save money on garage door and opener repair. We believe in educating our customers to make informed decisions to get the most for their hard earned money.

Abel Garage Door has been servicing the Sacramento Metropolitan market for over 28 years. We know what it is like to struggle in tough economic times. We’ve done it before and we are doing it now. We strive to provide the most cost effective and value for every service we provide. We know survival is guaranteed to those that provide top quality service at an affordable price.

We place our customers first.

We are fully licensed, bonded and insured. We are open 7 days a week from 7am to 7pm with emergency service available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

It goes up, it goes down. But a new garage door can do a lot more than that. Here are a dozen reasons why you need a new garage door and garage door opener.

1. New garage doors can increase the value of your home.
   An online survey says that 71% of homeowners who recently replaced their garage door believe it increased the value of their home. When nationwide real estate agents were shown “before” and “after” photos of houses upgraded with new, stylish garage doors, they increased the list price of the home anywhere from 1 to 4 percent. That means a $2,000+ investment in a garage door could increase the sale value of your home by as much as $7,000 if you’re selling a $175,000 home. Look at some dramatic “before and after” photos at GarageWowNow.com, and you’ll see the difference a new garage door can make.
2. New garage doors can put money back in your pocket.
   The Federal Government’s Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 extends tax credits for energy efficient home improvements. This includes qualifying insulated garage doors. That means that adding a new garage door in 2009 can save you money by helping to lower home energy consumption and costs AND it will help pay for itself this year through the tax credit incentive, worth up to $500.
3. New garage doors help you Lower The Door On Crime.
   According to statistics compiled by metropolitan police departments, approximately 50 percent of all residential burglaries can be traced to an open or an unsecured garage door. How many times have you gone in your house after working in your yard or carrying groceries out of your car and left the garage door open? The garage door industry suggests that you Lower the Door on Crime in 2009 by making it a practice to always close and secure your garage door to protect the valuables in both your home and your garage.  

   If you’re looking for helpful security devices to remind you to close your door, you can purchase an open garage door indicator that can be affixed to your door. When a garage door is left open, a warning light will indicate “open door.” Homeowners can sleep easy, knowing their garage doors are closed and their families are safe.

4. New garage door openers have built-in safety features.
   Photoelectric eyes – mounted about six inches above the floor – cast an invisible beam across the door opening and provide extra protection against entrapment. If a door is closing and a child or pet runs underneath the door, the beam breaks, causing the door to automatically reverse.
5. New garage doors can work even during power outages.
   A popular accessory sold with new garage door openers is a battery back-up system that allows you to use your opener several times, even after the loss of power to your home. It’s a wonderful feature that prevents you from being trapped outside in a storm.
6. New garage doors are today’s front door.
   A nationwide survey of consumers said that 71 percent of homeowners use their garage door openers to get into their homes every day, even more often than the front entry door. The key to the front door is now the garage door’s remote control and keypad. Yesterday’s latchkey kids are today’s keypad kids.
7. New garage doors can help you keep your house clean.
   With a keyless entry pad mounted outside your garage door, why traipse dirt in through the front door when you can enter through the garage? You can leave muddy shoes or boots and drenched coats in the garage and keep your house cleaner.
8. New garage doors can be a fashion statement.
   People are becoming more style conscious when replacing their garage door. On many American homes, the garage door claims a third of the facade, so it’s a snap to quickly makeover the look of your whole house. You can easily increase curb appeal when you choose from hundreds of different looks in elegant and stylish carriage house, contemporary or raised panel doors.
9. New garage doors can express your individuality.
   Housing developments have their advantages, but individuality usually isn’t one of them. In homes that are more than five years old, chances are your door is a solid-colored, raised-panel door that looks like every other garage door. Choose a fashionable contemporary or carriage house garage door, and your house instantly stands out from the crowd. Check them out for yourself by viewing the “Garage Door Styles” page at GarageWowNow.com. Wow!
10. New garage doors can protect your family from powerful winds.
    Reinforced garage doors are now available to help your home stand up to brutal winds. Researchers studying the wind effects of devastating storms know that garage doors are often the entry point for severe damage. A new strong garage door is an integral part of maintaining the structural integrity of your home.
11. New garage doors can help accessorize your life.
    Garage door opener accessories abound. Many new garage door openers switch on lights in your home as you’re pulling up the driveway. Some alert you if you left the garage door open. Some door openers are activated only by your fingerprint. You can even make a fashion statement with your garage door remote by customizing it to match your car’s interior.
12. New garage doors should be installed by a professional.
    Don’t try to install the door yourself. It’s a complex and dangerous task. Garage door springs are under extreme pressure and, if not handled properly, can release with enough power to seriously harm or kill someone. Specific tools and training are needed; therefore, it’s highly recommended that you have a professional who can do the job in just a few hours and haul the old door away. The cost of installation is well worth it. Find a professional near you at GarageWowNow.com’s “Your Local Garage Door Professionals” page.

Garage Door System Safety – An Automatic Decision

Do Not let children play with or use the transmitters or remote controls. Always place and store them out of the reach of children.

The pushbutton wall control should be out of the reach of children (at least 5 feet from the floor) and away from all moving parts. Mount and use the button where you can clearly see the moving garage door. Teach Your Children About Garage Door and Opener Safety
Garage door openers are not toys. Careless operation and allowing children to play with or use garage door opener controls can lead to tragic results. Discuss garage door safety with your children. Explain the danger of being trapped under the door.

When using the pushbutton or transmitter, keep the door in sight until it completely stops moving. Teach children never to play under or near an open garage door.

Teach children to keep their hands and fingers clear of section joints, hinges, tracks, springs and other door parts. Contact with a moving door or its hardware could cause serious injury. These injuries can also happen with garage doors that don’t have automatic openers. Routine Maintenance Can Prevent Tragedies
Take a few minutes to inspect and test your complete garage door system. Make monthly inspection and testing a part of your regular routine. Safety is everyone’s business. Make garage door and garage door opener safety automatic in your home.

Consult owner’s manual for additional recommended maintenance for your models of door and opener. Testing and Maintaining the Garage Door Opener
There are routine safety and maintenance steps that you should follow once a month. Review your owner’s manual for the door opener. If you do not have an owners manual, look for the opener model number on the back of the power unit and request a manual from the manufacturer.

Reversal Test
Make sure your opener has a reversing feature. If a reversing feature is not present, it should be replaced. Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 are required by federal law to have advanced safety features which comply with the latest U.L. 325 standards: Contact your manufacturer or installer for additional information.

Test the reversing feature every month.

• First, test the balance of the door (see “Testing and Maintaining The Garage Door.”). If the door is properly balanced, then proceed.
• With the door fully open, place a 1-1/2″ thich piece of wood (a 2″x4″ laid flat) on the floor in the center of the door.
• Push the transmitter or wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when it strikes the wood. (Note that the bottom part of “one piece doors” must be rigid so that the door will not close without reversing.)
• If the door does not reverse, have it repaired or replaced. Have a qualified individual adjust, repair or replace the opener or door.

Force Setting Test
Test the force setting of your garage door opener by holding the bottom of the door as it closes. If the door does not reverse readily, the force may be excessive and need adjusting. See your owners manual for details on how to make the adjustment. Test the revesring feature after any adjustment.

Additional Safety Devices
Many garage door openers can be equipped with additional safety devices. Consider adding a photo eye or edge sensor as an extra measure of safety to prevent against entrapment. Keep in mind that adding more safety devices will not make an old opener meet current U.L. standards.

Make sure the additional safety devices, such as photoeyes or edge sensors, are properly installed and adjusted (see owner’s manual). Testing and Maintaining the Garage Door
Perform routine maintenance steps once a month. Review your owner’s manual for the garage door. If you don’t have a manual, look for the model number on the back of the door, or check the lock handle, hinges, or other hardware for the manufacturer’s name and request a manual from the manufacturer.

Visual Inspection
Look at the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys, and other door hardware for signs of wear. If you suspect problems, have a qualified person make repairs.

Warning – Springs are under high tension. Only qualified persons should adjust them
Garage door springs, cables, brackets, and other hardware attached to the springs, are under very high tension and, if handled improperly, can cause serious injury. Only a qualified professional or a mechanically experienced person carefully following the manufacturer’s instructions should adjust them. The torsion springs (the springs above the door) should only be adjusted by a professional. Do not attempt to repair or adjust the torsion springs yourself.

A restraining cable or other device should be installed on the extension spring (the spring along the side of the door) to help contain the spring if it breaks.

Never remove, adjust or loosen the screws on the bottom brackets of the door. These brackets are connected to the spring by the lift cable and are under extreme tension.

Lubrication
Regularly lubricate the moving parts of the door. However, do not lubricate plastic parts such as plastic rollers and plastic idler bearings. Consult the door owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Door Balance
Periodically test the balance of your door.

• Start with the door closed
• If you have a garage door opener, use the release mechanism so you can operate the door by hand when doing this test
• You should be able to lift the door smoothly and with little resistance. It should stay open around three or four feet above the floor. If it does not, it is out of adjustment. Have it adjusted by a qualified service person.

• be a public citizen – let’s keep with a safety theme. while keeping our kids safe is a top priority, it’s also important that we safeguard our rights. one way to do that is to become aware of the things that are happening in various aspects of our lives. …

Insulated garage doors offer energy savings, tax credit and style replacing a garage door in 2009 and 2010 won’t just add style and curb appeal to your home – it can also save you money off the bottom line (up to $1500) of your income taxes.

The stimulus legislation signed by President Obama on Feb, 17, 2009 provides tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements, including qualifying insulated garage doors. that means that adding a new garage door in 2009 or 2010 can save you money by helping to lower home energy consumption and costs, anD it will help pay for itself this year through the tax credit incentive.

Here’s how it works:

• The tax credits are available for garage door purchases “placed in service” from Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2010.
• Your tax credit is based on the total material cost of the purchase (the cost of installation does not qualify). the tax credit is equal to the sum of 30 percent of all qualified energy-saving improvements installed in an existing home in the calendar years of 2009 and 2010.
• The maximum amount a taxpayer may claim is $1500 over the lifetime of the tax credit.
• The door must have a U-factor equal to or less than 0.30. if the door contains windows, the door must offer a solar Heat gain coefficient (sHgc) equal to or less than 0.30. ask your professional dealer/installer if your door qualifies.
• The door must be an insulated residential garage door.
• It must be installed on an insulated garage.
• The door perimeter must have a means to control air infiltration.
• The door must be expected to remain in service for at least five years.
• The garage must be part of the taxpayer’s principal U.s. residence.
• Ask us for a manufacturer’s certification statement and a breakdown of the material and labor costs.

Insulated garage doors can make a noticeable difference in the temperature of your home. if your home has an attached garage, chances are the room next to your garage is one of the coldest rooms in the winter. cold air in the winter (and warm air in the summer) can sneak in through the garage and into your home, increasing the amount of energy your home needs for heating and air conditioning.

In addition to saving homeowners money and energy, new garage doors can be a stylish way to improve a home’s appearance and value. When researching insulated garage doors, be sure to visit GarageWowNow.com to check out before and after images of existing garage doors and see how others have dramatically changed the appearance of their homes. We can install your door quickly, correctly and safely.

GarageWowNow.com is sponsored by the Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA), and by the International Door Association (IDA). We

practice the IDA code of Business conduct, which signifies their commitment to quality, excellence and customer service.

For more information on the garage door tax credit, visit http://www.garagewownow.com/tax-credit-09.htm or http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits.