Millions of homes in Canada have garages. Your garage door is a highly visible and hard-working surface that is subjected to all sorts of use and daily wear and tear. And yet, during summer, we often neglect our garage doors and don’t provide them with the care we offer our homes, patios, windows, and other exterior areas. But now’s a good time to expand your spring and summer cleaning checklist to include your garage door. Here are some spring cleaning tips that you should use.

For optimal results, while washing the door:

• Wash the door surface and windows of your garage with mild liquid soap and water. Wash both the interior and exterior using a sponge, cloth, and soft brush.
• Don’t use harsh or abrasive detergents. They can damage the painted surface of the garage door or the seals.
• Rinse thoroughly using a hose, and do not use a pressure washer. This, too, can damage the surface.
• If you are cleaning something more stubborn than dirt or road salt—for instance, oil stains—you can spot-clean the area with a solution of water and diluted bleach. Rinse all surfaces thoroughly immediately after spot cleaning. Be sure never to mix bleach with other cleansers because the mixture will cause harmful fumes.
• Your door should be waxed every six months to protect the door’s finish. Always wash the door first and use a good quality car wax.
• If you detect surface rust, immediately contact us for inspection and repair options.
• Also, inspect and clean the weatherstrip at the bottom of the door. Applying a vinyl protectant can prolong its life. Also, we can easily replace it if it shows signs of wear or cracking. This bottom strip must be in good condition and in full contact with the garage floor. It helps to insulate your garage as well as to keep insects and rodents out.
• Finally, you should clean and organize the areas around the garage door as well. Additionally, remove any stacks or objects that could fall over and obstruct the path of the garage door or damage the track.

Clean the Interior Too

Follow the tips above for optimum results, and also try to remove any dirt or grime you can see on the interior of your garage door. One of the critical areas to pay attention to is the tracks on which the door operates. Remove any dirt or debris that you find in the tracks to prevent potential problems from occurring in the future.

While it is true that no one will be able to see the inside of your garage door from outside, keeping it well-maintained will help improve its overall durability.

Finally, contact us today if you need help with your garage door that is not cleaning related. We can help with that too. If you are in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, or Kingston, give Door Doctor’s garage door repair technicians a call to find out what we can do for you.

Whenever their garage door opener stops working out of the blue, garage door owners begin to panic themselves; however, the solution to their problem could be quite simple. Today, we'll explain how to fix some commonly occurring problems. However, if our advice isn't enough, you need to contact our professionals to fix your automatic door properly.

THE WALL SWITCH AND REMOTE AREN'T OPENING THE DOOR

If you ever find yourself in a situation where both the wall switch and remote control aren't opening the garage door, there could be a few possible solutions to the problem.

First, check if the motor unit is unplugged. Then, make sure all cords are plugged in. If everything is connected properly, see if the GFCI or fuse has burned out, of it the circuit breaker has been tripped.

If you're experiencing other electrical problems in your garage, these are likely the reason why your garage door won’t open. Reset the GFCI or breaker, or replace the burned-out fuse. If this is a regular problem with your garage door, contact our team today.

DOOR WON'T WORK WITH KEYPAD OR REMOTE

To troubleshoot this issue on your own, try these solutions:

• Move closer to the door. You may be out of range;
• Make sure the antenna isn't damaged or hanging downward;
• If your garage door operates fine with the wall switch, the issue could rest with the batteries in the remote or keypad;
• Try reprogramming the keypad or remote control. If you don't know how to go about this, you may need to reach out to our well-trained professionals.

DOOR WON'T CLOSE COMPLETELY

If your garage door won't close completely, there are a few ways you can address the issue. First, try adjusting the limit switch to make sure the door closes all the way. If this doesn’t solve the problem, see if your tracking sensors need realignment.

If the issue persists, see if the rollers are rusted. If you’re not sure what you should be looking at, consult a Door Doctor professional. Doing so could save you from spending thousands of dollars on correcting damages.

There are many easy fixes to garage doors. However, some issues require a professional consultation in order to provide a positive resolution. Thankfully, Door Doctor is here to tackle such issues, so you can keep using your garage for your everyday needs. Door Doctor has been repairing garage doors since 1983, and no problem is too big for us to fix. Contact us today for more information!

You heard that tell-tale sound coming from your garage and immediately knew that a garage door spring had snapped. Your garage door won’t open properly with a broken spring, and replacing automatic door springs can be a complicated process. Fortunately, the professionals at Door Doctor can help you get through this tricky situation.

●   DIAGNOSING A BROKEN SPRING

A malfunctioning garage door can be the result of a damaged spring. In order to diagnose the issue, visually inspect the springs; broken springs will often appear stretched out or rusty. There might even be a gap between the spring coils towards the middle of the spring.

The appearance of the garage door can also be an indication of a broken door spring; the door may open unevenly or, in the case of an automatic door, may not open fully. Furthermore, you may hear a loud creaking sound when opening and closing the automatic door.

●   IF THE DOOR IS CLOSED

Of course, garage door springs don’t break conveniently, and your door could be stuck shut. This could pose a massive problem, should you need to get your vehicle in or out of the garage.

Automatic doors are incredibly heavy, often made of steel or wood. Never attempt to open a garage door with a broken spring using the automatic opener. If there’s an emergency and you can’t wait for a professional, open the broken garage door manually. Lift straight up from the middle of the door, applying pressure to several panels at once to make sure the door opens smoothly without causing further damage.

●   DON’T ATTEMPT A DIY FIX

Attempting to fix a broken garage door can be incredibly dangerous and challenging, and should never be treated as a DIY project. Aside from the weight of the garage door itself, the springs are coiled very tightly and could potentially pinch or trap fingers. The heavy door can quickly come crashing down, crushing feet underneath or hands between panels.

Furthermore, repairs to automatic garage door springs can be quite tricky, especially without the specialized tools and first-class experience of professionals. If your automated door springs are damaged, call a Door Doctor professional to have them replaced safely and adequately right away. 

Repairing a broken garage door can be difficult and downright dangerous, and should never be attempted alone. The Door Doctor team is here to help with your broken garage door springs. With over 40 years of experience and the utmost dedication to customer service, our professional team will get the job done right.

If your teenager backs into your garage door, it may very obviously need repair. However, how can you tell whether an automatic door needs to be repaired or replaced in normal circumstances?

Here are some signs that your automatic garage door needs repair:

• Creaks and squeaks: Does the door sound like fingernails across a blackboard when you open or close it? Does your neighbour complain when you come home late, and your garage door screeches? These are clear signs that it’s time for some garage door maintenance.

If there are any unusual, creaky sounds, it’s best to lubricate the door and perform routine maintenance in order to replace any broken parts before the problem gets worse. You may need to replace rollers, springs, or cables to resolve the problem.

• Warped door: You need to repair services if your garage door is warped. Warping may cause the door to jam when opening, or lift faster on one side. If forced, a badly warped door can break into pieces.

• Uncooperative door: Your garage door should immediately respond to the remote. However, doors sometimes refuse to budge. In this case, there could be a problem with the remote control device or the door opener motor, power connections, or receiver.

If you are experiencing one or many of these issues, give us a call at 1-800-663-3130 or use our request form to get an appointment. We will readily come to your home and give you a free estimate of the needed repairs.  We can also assess your door and tell you about the benefits of replacing it with a brand-new door instead of repairing it, if appropriate. 

GOOD REASONS FOR REPLACING A GARAGE DOOR

Here are some of the best reasons to replace your garage door instead of repairing your older door:

• Your home is being renovated and fitted with new windows and siding;
• A new garage door increases curb appeal, and adds to the resale value of a house when selling it;
• An energy-efficient garage door can lower the utility bills;
• Newer automatic doors usually require less maintenance than older doors;
• Security is a big issue with homeowners; advanced security measures include more robust garage doors.