Category: General Information

A well-installed garage door spring can last for approximately 3-5 years before problems occur. The number of times you open or close a garage door determines the time the spring takes to damage. On average, it wears off after 10,000 turns of opening and closing the door.

But this is not always the case because garage door springs are different. There are two types of garage door springs; torsion springs and extension springs. Torsion springs are mounted on the door using a shaft. Extension springs are mounted on both sides of the wall.

Torsion springs are considered more durable and safer than extension springs. The state of the garage door springs determines the nature of the garage doors. And for this reason, you need to know how to spot a spring that is wearing off.

These are the signs that you need to replace your garage door springs.

Your garage door feels bulky

If you feel like lifting your garage door has become heavier than usual, you should get the torsion springs checked.

A garage door’s weight feels lighter because torsion springs support the door’s weight. One characteristic of a heavy door is that if you release it, it descends quickly.

Loud noise emanating from your garage

When a torsion spring breaks, it produces a very loud noise similar to a gunshot. This noise is due to the high amount of torque that the broken spring has released during that short period.

You should seek professional assistance when you hear such a noise on your garage door.

Loose cables

If you notice loose cables on garage doors, it is usually a torsion springs issue. This is especially relevant if your torsion system has a single torsion spring. When your torsion spring breaks, your cable hangs loosely. Replace the cables only when they are highly damaged.

Keep an eye on the door cables’ condition because they tell a lot about the springs’ state.

Door moving in a jerky way

Garage doors should move effortlessly and without bumping. Jerky movements are common in garage doors that use extension springs.

If an extension spring on one side of the walls breaks, the functioning spring is forced to slow down. This is because there is only one spring that is working. Understanding where the extension springs are located will help you when communicating with the technician.

Rust

Rust is hazardous for torsion springs because it increases friction on the coil and corrodes the spring itself.

You should inspect the springs regularly and spray them down with a water-displacing spray to keep the springs healthy and free from rust.

Gaps in torsion springs

A gap approximately 2 inches in your torsion spring is another sign that the spring has broken. The spring’s deflection causes the hole; when the spring deflects, the coil extends to a new travel distance.

The torsion spring breaks when it exerts the force it preserves while going back to its natural state.

You should contact qualified technicians if you spot a gap in the garage door spring.

Door appears to be bent

If your door appears to be crooked, then there is an issue with one of the extension springs.

Extension springs are on either side of the door, and each spring pulls the door independently.

If one of these springs breaks, the door’s side with the broken spring will be pulled irregularly and will not close properly. It will appear bent, and if not repaired, the door might get stuck on its tracks.

The door is not opening fully

If your door does not open fully, then your springs are worn out. If not attended to, the springs might pass the wearing-out stage and even break. If the springs break, then your door can only open six inches. Your door will cease to open if the springs are entirely damaged.

In the event this happens, you can use the motor to close the garage door fully.

Before you contact professional assistance such as Wayne Dalton garage door repair, it is advisable to confirm whether the door’s malfunction was caused by triggering the safety system.

Damaged garage doors can be hazardous to both your property and the people around the vicinity of your property. You can avoid these disasters by making sure that you can identify the signs of a damaged garage door spring and consulting a professional to fix the door.

In this post, we’ll take a look at the cost of carriage garage doors, as well as the benefits they offer homeowners. We’ll also review and compare them to traditional garage doors in terms of price. Finally, we’ll provide an overview of what you need to know before purchasing a new door for your home.

Do Carriage Garage Doors Cost More Than Traditional?

The answer is “it depends.” There are many reasons why carriage garage doors cost more than traditional ones, and vice versa. For example, carriage garage doors tend to be relatively heavy and expensive. They can also cost more to install because they use electricity, which is not included in the price of traditional garage doors. All of this means that carriage garage doors can be more expensive than traditional ones on a per-unit basis, especially when factoring in additional costs for garage door installation and upkeep expenses. These prices are also influenced by the quality of the carriage garage doors. For example, less expensive carriage doors may have a shorter lift distance – a factor that can play a role in the price of these types of doors. Also, carriage doors are larger, and they are often made with better materials and finishes than traditional ones. They’re also heavier, meaning they might cost more to ship and install than traditional garage doors.

How Much Does A Carriage Garage Door Cost?

Depending on various factors, carriage garage doors cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 or more. However, several factors can influence the price of a carriage door. For example, the materials used to make a carriage garage door can make them more expensive. For example, a carriage door made with wood can be more costly than one made with steel. It’s also important to consider the size of your carriage garage door. For example, if you have a large home or a driveway that requires multiple doors, then your doors’ price can be multiplied by two or three times as a result.

Do Carriage Garage Doors Cost More To Maintain?

Yes, they probably will — but they may also offer better weather resistance over time. The term “carriage door” originated from the fact that horse-drawn carriages once kept their doors open – a carriage door of today keeps that tradition alive and well! Carriages were usually made of wood or leather and would let rain in if left open for too long. Modern carriage doors are made of glass, making them much more durable and less likely to allow water in than traditional garage doors.

What Is The Difference Between Traditional And Electric Carriage Garage Doors?

As their name suggests, traditional carriage doors use wires and pulleys to open and close them. They also tend to be heavier than electric ones. On the other hand, electric gates use motors to open/close them. Because of this, they’re usually lighter than traditional ones and don’t have pulley systems. Electric doors are typically more expensive than traditional ones, but they’re also more stable and adjustable. They use electricity instead of hydraulics, and you can control their operation with remote control.

What Are The Advantages Of Having Carriage Garage Doors?

The most significant advantage of having carriage garage doors is that they provide homeowners with additional storage space for their vehicles, whether at home or on the go. For example, suppose you have a traditional garage door or two in front of your home, and you need to park an additional vehicle behind the garage. In that case, you can simply install a carriage-type door in addition to your existing ones. If storage space is a major concern and you don’t want to build another wall in the garage, then these doors could be ideal for you. Also, it’s easy to remove parked cars from your driveway with carriage doors because they’re wider than typical doors. For example, if you have a car carrier at home that takes up almost all of the space on your driveway, and it’s full, it would be difficult to remove the vehicle with smaller-sized garage doors installed on either side. In many cases, the garage door you choose will dictate the garage door’s size and width that you install in your driveway. Therefore, it’s essential to make sure that you select a carriage-type garage door that will fit your existing driveway.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Having Carriage Garage Doors?

One major drawback to carriage garage doors is that they can be more expensive than standard ones. Also, carriage garage doors are typically heavier, so they’re not ideal for homes with limited space or weight capacity limitations. Finally, because they use electricity, carriage doors can cost more to maintain than standard ones over time.

Do Carriage Garage Doors Pay For Themselves?

In some ways, yes — but it all depends on how long you own the home and how much you’re willing to spend on your carport area. In many cases, carriage garage doors look just as good or better than traditional ones once installed. They can also be more attractive to buyers. Furthermore, if you are a car enthusiast and want to show off your vehicle, a carriage door is the perfect way to do so – having your car on display will always provide more appeal than a traditional garage door.

Is A Carriage Garage Door Worth It?

Generally, yes — especially if you’re a car enthusiast. Of course, it’s always best to do a little research first to ensure the carriage door you choose is viable for your needs and lifestyle.

How Do You Choose The Right Carriage Garage Door For Your Home?

When choosing a carriage garage door, there are many factors to consider, including the size of your driveway and the height of your ceilings. For example, if your existing garage door is relatively high, you might want to consider a longer carriage garage door to ensure that it doesn’t hit the ceiling. Also, you’ll probably want to get professional help installing them because they are cumbersome.

How Are Carriage Garage Doors Installed?

Carriage garage doors are hefty because they’re typically constructed from steel or aluminum, and they use hydraulics to move them up and down. For this reason, you’ll want to have them installed by a professional. They need to be installed in a way that allows the lifting mechanism to work correctly. For example, their weight can cause them to buckle and make them unstable if they’re not installed properly. Also, they might fall off of the walls if you don’t have them balanced correctly.

Winter usually consists of harsh conditions such as strong winds, extreme cold, and precipitation. Exposure to all this will undoubtedly affect your garage door. So, when springtime is around the corner, you need to start putting measures to repair all the wear and tear that the garage door might have experienced.

Spring is the ideal time to do all this as the climate is a lot milder, with warmer temperatures and longer days.

Here are tips on how to prepare your garage door ready for springtime.

Clean it up

The garage door consists of many moving parts that, over time, start to accumulate grime, dirt, and dust. This leads to a fall in its efficiency as it can no longer run as smoothly as before. Fortunately, this is something you can repair by scheduling routine garage door maintenance during springtime. To properly clean it, you should instead use a compressed air duster to tidy your garage door tracks. With this bit of cleaning, you’ll be able to get your garage door working as expected in no time.

The exterior parts of your garage door can be cleaned with soap and water to get rid of any pile-up that might have accumulated in winter. But as you do this, make sure the clean water doesn’t come into contact with the moving parts as this might cause rust or destroy the garage door.

Apply Lubrication

Winter’s harsh weather will affect the garage door’s moving parts, such as the tracks, rollers, and hinges. Therefore, you need to use garage door lubrication to ensure the moving parts are at all times well lubricated.

With that said, you shouldn’t apply excess oil as this only leads to faster dust and dirt buildup, thereby necessitating regular cleanup. Also, you must only use recommended oils for use on overhead garage doors, such as white lithium grease or silicone spray.

Inspect And Replace The Seals

Inspecting to see whether there are any gaps between the door and the floor and the door’s rubber seals is also necessary when preparing for springtime. You should confirm that no light passes through the seals since this means debris, cold air, and water can also find a way into your garage.

Wipe Down The Weatherstripping

You want the protective seal around your garage door to remain intact at all times to prevent dehydration that then leads to cracking. Using a multi-purpose cleaner to remove the weather stripping on the garage door enables you to achieve precisely this. After this, apply a silicone-based lubricant. You need to regularly use this lubricant, ideally after every two or three months.

Inspect The Safety Features

The garage door comes with a couple of safety features that need to be fully functional at all times for it to work correctly. And there’s no better time to check these safety features than in spring, as doing maintenance during this season is a lot easier.

Safety features to inspect include the emergency release and the auto-reversing mechanism integrated to offer you additional safety.

Inspect The Springs

Regardless of how much care you put into taking care of the springs, they’ll potentially, eventually, break after time. However, you can prevent this from happening any sooner by ensuring the springs are at all times rust-free. This is crucial as rust increases the chances of the spring breaking due to the high tension.

If the springs are broken, make sure to have them professionally replaced. While you might be tempted to go the DIY route with this repair, it isn’t advisable.

Fasten The Bolts

Over time, the garage door hardware starts loosening, which leads to it opening unevenly, rattling, or a complete malfunction. You must never ignore doing this to guarantee your safety, as any loose bolts might result in the garage door falling on you or your vehicle.

To avoid this, get a sock wrench to tighten all the bolts and nuts on your garage door.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning the garage door is vital as this extends its life while simultaneously boosting its appearance and improving its functionality. Be sure to consult with a professional where necessary.

Installing a properly functioning garage door is arguably one of the most important investments you can make for your home. Through the garage door, you access the vital space where you store most of your worthy items. If you drive your car daily, it is the feature you will interact with most in your home.

Despite the crucial role a garage door plays in a home, there is a risk of accidents and injuries associated with it if it gets faulty. A malfunctioning garage door is a safety hazard to the people and objects that move through it. A defective garage door has the potential to cause irreversible injuries, a reason why you need to be a lot more careful when handling it.

This article will discuss the three most common garage door injuries and the ways to avoid them. Read till the end to learn how you can keep your garage door working correctly and safely. Below are the three main categories of garage door injuries and ways to avoid them.

Garage door lowering onto someone

This is the worst injury a garage door can cause to someone on its closing pathway. A garage door structure carries a good amount of weight, and if this is pounded on you, it may cause serious, irreversible injuries. It is even worse if the door lowers onto a kid. Please note that even if safety sensors are installed to prevent this from happening, it is not always a guarantee that they are functioning correctly.

Preventive measures:

• Train your children about the hazards and always keep an eye on them to ensure that they are not playing near your garage door.
• Avoid ducking under the door when it is in motion. You never know; the system may fail when you are beneath the door, and it may lower on you, causing severe injuries.
• Ensure that the safety sensors are working correctly at all times. The LED of the safety sensors glows green when they are functioning properly.

Garage door finger injuries

As the garage door opens or closes, your fingers may get trapped in the tracks or other open sections and get pinched or seriously injured. This form of injury is common to children, but adults who are not careful are not spared.

Preventive measures:

Observe the above preventive measures in addition to the following:

• Be careful with your hands and other body parts at risk of getting caught in sections of the garage door when operating it.
• Even better, avoid staying near or in the way of a garage door when it is in use.

Injuries resulting from attempting to repair the garage components unskilled and unequipped

If you tackle any garage repair installation task that you are not aware of its whereabouts, you are definitely at risk of getting severe or minor injuries. It is even more risky to work on your garage door without the necessary tools and safety equipment.

Preventive measures:

• Shun from any garage door repair and replacement work that you are not skilled and equipped to do.

It is better to spend money on a garage professional than risk getting irreversible injuries or, even worse, life-threatening ones.

Additional garage door safety tips

Follow these safety tips to avoid the above injuries and any other that a garage door has the potential to cause:

• Inspect the springs on your garage door regularly- No matter the kind of springs you are using, even the high-quality steel ones, they will still wear and break after some time due to the high tension imposed on them. Frequent DIY inspection will help you identify these problems, especially if your garage door has been installed for a long time.
• Ensure that the tamper resistance hardware is working correctly- Most modern garage doors come with tamper-resistant hardware that prevents the door’s brackets’ loosening by an untrained professional. This helps reduce injuries from the garage door components.
• Replace your garage door opener if it has clocked the expected lifespan- The garage door is the heart of your garage door’s opening and closing process and should be replaced when the recommended operating time is due. Most garage door openers will have an average lifespan of 10-15 years, but some can hit the 20 years mark if you have an excellent variety.
• Frequent maintenance- Don’t only call a specialist when your garage door stops working completely. Arrange for scheduled inspections and maintenance as this will enable the identification and reversal of minor defects before they become a serious safety hazard.

These tips should keep most garage door injuries at bay, but still, if accidental injuries occur, you should seek medical attention immediately. Don’t overlook minor injuries as they may sprout to other complicated health conditions.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you are now aware of the three main categories of garage door injuries and understand that the only way to prevent them is to ensure that all the garage door components are working correctly. With frequent inspection, you will identify faults on your garage door early and repair or replace the defective parts before they lead to injuries. Keep your family safe around garage doors at all times by following the easy safety tips discussed above. Any repair or replacement work that you don’t trust your skills with should be left to garage door professionals.

Many garages are not designed to remain warm throughout all seasons, and hence during winter, they usually become unbearably chilly. The equipment stored in the space becomes very cold to touch or use. The paint cannot stick well, and glue cannot bond well; hence continuing with woodwork and automotive repair becomes hard. The garage is an area with high traffic as it is used often, but during winter, when it is freezing, passing through it or getting items stored there becomes uncomfortable.

You don’t have to leave your garage work waiting until summer since you can easily warm up your garage and continue working in it even in the chilliest weather. In this guide, we will discuss several tips for insulating and heating your garage during the winter.

Ways to heat your garage during winter

The following are the heating and insulating measures to help you maintain your garage warm during winter.

Insulate the garage door

Most overhead garage doors are manufactured as a single sheet, and these are very notorious during winter. When the outside temperatures are too low, they are transferred to the garage’s inside through the garage door. To prevent the transfer, you can insulate your garage door using thermal insulator materials. You can also get a professional to measure your garage door’s size, follow the size recommendations to buy the insulation material, and get them fixed. When possible, you can avoid all this hassle by purchasing and installing a pre-insulated garage door, either a double-layer steel garage door or a triple-layer garage door.

Insulate the walls

When insulating your garage door, you should not leave the walls behind since their large surface area can conduct a high amount of energy, making the inside cold. Un-insulated walls cause the heating method to be ineffective as the heat produced is lost immediately, and cold air is allowed inside. Insulate your walls with insulators such as the fiberglass batt and prevent heat transfer outside or cold air from coming in.

Consider caulking

Caulking fills in any gap or cracks present in any garage area, including the door, window, or walls. The cracks and gaps are a good entry of cold air and exit of warm air, and hence if you want to make your heating methods effective, you need to seal them. When caulking, you need to focus on areas where two materials meet, such as wood and brick. Clean the area you aim to caulk, allow drying to avoid trapping any moisture, and fill the gap using a sealant.

Replace weather-stripping

This activity is essential as it helps seal any air leaks that could allow cold air in and warm air out. Inspect all the garage and window weather stripping to find if they are functional as they crack over time. In case they have worn out, scrap them out and replace them with new functional ones. Ensure you align the weather stripping well to ensure complete sealing of the garage door and windows as the air spaces contribute to controlling the garage temperatures during winter.

Consider finishing the ceiling

Most garage roofs do not contain any ceiling material and have open rafters and trusses. The roof is a potential area for transferring the warm and cold air, thus influencing the winter’s garage temperatures. To prevent this, you need to finish your ceiling by installing the roofing materials required.

Install insulated windows

The window glasses act as a transfer media in the conduction of heat from the inside to the outside. The cold air causes water moisture to cool and form ice inside the glass windows. Avoid this by installing multiple pane layers such as the double-pane layer or the triple-pane layer.

Heating methods

Once you have insulated your garage thoroughly, you can now use the following heating methods.

Convection heaters

These are classical space heaters that help warm the garage through the natural movement of convection currents. Heated warm air rises, and cold air replaces the warm air as it also gets heated. This is a very safe heating method, especially for the heaters with features that allow a switch off when optimum temperature is achieved.

Radiant heaters

The radiant heaters are the most effective in heating a garage, and unlike the convection heaters, the radiant heaters don’t heat air directly. They heat the surface they are attached to, such as the ceiling, wall, or floor. They are inexpensive and heat the garage uniformly.

Forced air heater

This generates heat by blasting hot air out to the garage, and a fan, blower, or air handler is used to distribute the air. They are inexpensive and energy-efficient but blow debris and dirt around your garage hence not the best for woodwork.

Electric space heaters

Electric heaters are energy-efficient, affordable, and generate heat from an electrical source. In this regard, they don’t require ventilation. You can only use them to heat the space you are using since they heat a small area and take longer to heat up.

Propane heaters

These use propane as the energy source to produce heat, with mobility and affordability making them a popular option. The limitation is the rising fuel costs and the fact that they require a frequent inspection to prevent fire hazards.

Conclusion

To effectively warm your garage during winter, you need to consider and implement insulation and heating techniques. Insulate the garage door, walls, windows, and roofing to achieve maximum insulation. Select the best heating method for your garage depending on the garage’s size and energy source. Don’t forget to declutter your garage and ensure everything is arranged well to facilitate warm air circulation.

Garage doors keep our valued possessions safe and make our life smooth and well-timed. Nowadays, we search for convenience in every component we install in our house, and that is why most garage doors are operated automatically. While automatic doors are highly convenient and efficient, they pose a risk to the people using them if they are faulty like  One component that minimizes the risk of accidents when using an automatic garage door is the sensor.

This post will discuss what garage sensors are, a brief on how they work, causes of malfunction, light indicator signs of the malfunction, and finally, how to troubleshoot these issues.

What is a garage door sensor?

A garage door sensor is a safety component for any automatic garage door that prevents the entire structure from closing on something or someone. Initially, most garage door sensors were mechanical (worked by reversing a door on physical contact), but today, photoelectric sensors are the order of the day.

Photoelectric garage door sensors use an infrared beam to detect an object or obstruction on the garage door’s pathway. Two sensors are placed on either side of the door, about 6 inches above the ground, and aligned correctly to each other. The infrared beam they emit forms an invisible tripwire that will sense any object on the door’s closing pathway. When there is an obstruction, the opener is alerted, and the door stops closing automatically and reverses direction.

The door goes back to its original positions and can only be opened by engaging the emergency lever.

Possible causes of garage door sensors malfunction

Just like any other highly programmed component, garage door sensors can get faulty. Here are common causes of garage door sensors problems:

• Lack of power supply- Garage door sensors are an electric component that requires a power supply to function. A power supply problem can be a power cut or faulty power cables/sockets on both or one of the sensors.
• Dust on your lenses- If your garage is situated in a highly dusty area, the dust may pile up on your lenses, leading to a malfunction. The dust usually blocks the infrared beam emitted by the two sensors.
• Moisture- If there is a sprinkler near your garage or you live in areas that experience heavy rainfall, moisture could accumulate on your lenses and block them from functioning correctly.
• Misalignment- Garage door sensors will only work if they are perfectly aligned. If one sensor is moved out of place, the infrared beam will not reach the other sensor, which will render the entire system faulty.
• General wear and tear- If you have used your garage door sensors for an extended period (at least ten years), general wear and tear may be the cause of the malfunction.

Light indicator signs for common garage door sensor problems

One of the straightforward ways to determine if your garage door sensor experiences the above problems is by checking if its exterior lights are on, off, or blinking when you try to close the garage door. Here are the general light indicators and what they mean about the working condition of the garage door sensors:

• LED lights turned off

This is a problem with the power supply or electrical components such as wiring. Turned off LED lights may also indicate faulty sensors that perhaps need to be replaced.

• LED lights turned on and glowing

When functioning correctly, the LED lights on garage door sensors should be glowing Green. If you observe that the LED lights glow Red, you might be dealing with misalignment problems.

• Garage door opener flashing continuously

It is not all about the LED lights on the sensors themselves, blinking of the garage door opener can also indicate an issue with the sensors since these two components are interconnected. If the garage door opener is flashing continuously, then it is an indication that it cannot sense that the door sensors are connected or working correctly. Here, the flash will persist, and the door will not close unless the issue is fixed.

Troubleshooting

If the LEDs on the sensors are off, check if there is a power supply. If there are no issues with the power supply, you need to inspect the power outlet’s wiring and fix any disconnections. It is advisable to reach out to a professional if disconnecting and reconnecting the power supply cables does not work.

You can remedy red lights on the sensors by realigning the sensors. To do this, loosen the wingnut on the receiving and move the sensor around until the Green LED starts glowing.

For the opener’s continuous flashes, check if the sensors’ wires are disconnected from the opener and reconnect them. Also, check for misplaced staples holding the wires since if they are misplaced, they may cause the connecting wires to short. Fix them in place and check if the light blinks stops. If nothing works for you up to this stage, then you need to hire a professional to replace the entire wiring.

Additional tips

• Wipe dust and moisture off your garage door sensors to reduce beam blockage.
• If the sensors are aligned, and the red lights glow, replace the wires.
• If the sensors are aligned, the power supply is checked, and the wiring tuned, but there are no lights at all, replace the sensors.

Final thoughts

I hope you’ve learned what blinking in a door sensor or door opener means and that you can now comfortably tell the underlying problem and troubleshoot it yourself or call a professional. Please note that it is hazardous to continue using the garage door when light indicators signal an issue. Don’t let garage door sensors be the source of accidents when they are supposed to protect you from the same. Act swiftly and accordingly!

Smart home technology offers you peace of mind, and no device exhibits that more than a residential smart garage door system. If you have experienced the feeling of being halfway down the block only to start deliberating if you locked the garage door, then you should consider getting a smart garage door system. These devices link to the garage door opener and allow you to close or open the garage door regardless of where you are or checking the door status via a smartphone app or voice assistant such as Amazon Alexa. You can even link the device to smart home devices such as smart lights. Here is an exclusive look at the best residential smart garage door systems.  We work with many differerent garage door brands such as Wayne Dalton garage door repair and many more.

Chamberlain MyQ-G0301

If you are searching for the best smart garage door system, don’t look further than the Chamberlain MyQ. Chamberlain is a trusted garage plan which is no surprise that it tops our list of the best garage door systems. This residential smart garage door system comes with a garage door sensor plus a hub for connecting to your Wi-Fi network. It uses a MyQ app that is compatible with both IOS and Android devices allowing you to confirm if your door is closed or open and then open or close it remotely. You can also pair it to Google Assistant and control the garage door with your voice.

This smart garage door integrates with most garage door openers brands with standard safety sensors. Currently, MyQ works with SmartThings, Nest, and Xfinity Home smart home systems. You can also buy an adapter to enable you to control the garage doors with Siri, so the lights come on when you open the door. However, this app is not compatible with Alexa.

Smart Wi-Fi Controller NXG-200

For Alexa users, there is a lot to like about the NXG-200. This device is also compatible with Google Assistant and SmartThings. It works with a wide range of automatic garage door openers and comes with relatively streamlined and straightforward installation thanks to wireless sensor technology. Other great features on this door opener include; voice control, geofencing, and easy to share access to the garage with several approved visitors. However, if you use Apple HomeKit in running your smart home, Nexx is not perfect for you.

Aladdin Connect Smart Garage Door Opener

If you have a three-car garage, you need to control all three of them with your smartphone. This is the main reason why you should consider Aladdin Connect. However, it is essential to note there is a reasonable probability that if another brand makes your garage opener, this device will not be compatible.

The manufacturer had a large and busy household in mind when designing the Aladdin Connect. The device enables you to share up to 19 virtual keys to access the garage. Another great feature is the door-mounted sensor, meaning you will receive alerts even when the garage door is opened manually, offering an additional layer of security. Even if it does not integrate with many smart home devices, it is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to use voice commands to close and open your garage.

Tailwind iQ3

Tailwind iQ3 is another top smart garage system that utilizes your vehicle’s Bluetooth connection to close and open the garage door. If you have an Android smartphone, it can use your car’s Bluetooth connection to open and close automatically when you leave or arrive home. It works efficiently, although you cannot regulate the range of activation. Installing the Tailwind iQ3 is relatively easy, and once it is set up, it works flawlessly. Also, the device comes with a simple to use app, efficient notifications, and compatibility with Google Assistant, Alexa, IFTTT, and SmartThings. You can also purchase versions that work with one to three garage doors. Overall, this garage door system has all the essential convenience and smarts automation if you don’t require HomeKit compatibility.

Garadget

While most smart garage door openers will use the sensor to detect movement and tell if the garage door is open or closed, this Garadget smart garage door system features a laser instead. The laser shines on a reflective tab that is mounted to your door. When the laser shines on the tab, Garadget knows the garage door is closed and notifies you. The Garagdet app gives you real-time alerts if your door is opened or remains open for too long. Even better, this system is compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa, IFTTT, and SmartThings, so you won’t run out of options if you need to connect it to other smart home devices and assistants.

Bottom Line

These are the top best residential smart garage door opener systems to get you started. As with any smart home product, when you go out to purchase a smart garage door system, you should find one with an intuitive app that is easy to operate. The app should troubleshoot problems, allow you to receive notifications, and be compatible with the top virtual assistants such as Google Assistant, Alexa, and HomeKit. Purchasing any of the above-reviewed garage door systems will not disappoint.

Garages tend to be the least ventilated places in a home, and thus, during summer, they become extremely hot and moist, risking the items stored there. The best way to cool your garage during summer is to improve the airflow or block hot air from getting in. Hot garages during a Texas summer can be bothersome and challenging to control, and that is why we have provided you with this guide indicating methods you can use to cool your storage space. Below you will find a selection of techniques to keep your garage door cool during a Texas summer.

 Insulate your garage door

The garage door is the largest opening of the home, and if it is not insulated, it will allow too much hot air into the garage. When the concrete floor absorbs the heat, it makes the garage too hot. An insulated garage door should be able to maintain the garage temperature at 20-30⁰ C. This is perfect as it helps protect your car and other equipment such as lawnmowers.

The garage door insulation is a bonus as it adds a soundproof effect to your garage, blocking the excessive noise from the outside. You can also continue with your hobby if you like practicing it in your garage as the hotness will not hinder you.

 Open the garage door

This is not the best option for everyone, but if you are within your home compound or working from your garage, you can always leave the door open. This facilitates air circulation as hot air in the garage is replaced by the cooler air from the outside. If your garage has windows, open them to allow warm trapped air to get out and the cool breeze inside.

In case you are much concerned with privacy, you can open the garage door halfway to prevent nosy neighbors from peeping. It would help if you were cautious to ensure animals or thieves don’t sneak into your garage without you noticing.

 Repainting the garage door

Dull colors are always known to absorb heat, thus increasing the garage temperature. If you had previously painted yours with such colors to prevent heat loss during winter, you now need to change. It would be best if you repainted your garage door using bright colors such as white or cream as they will reflect heat rather than absorbing it and thus maintaining your garage cooler.

Cool your car outside before parking

When driving a car, it heats up, and if you park it immediately in your garage, it will warm up the air inside, causing a temperature rise. When you close the door, it leaves the warm air trapped inside, making the place too warm and uncomfortable. Instead of parking your car in the garage right away, leave it under a shade for about an hour so that it can cool down, then park it in. If the sun is too hot, you can pour cold water on it to fasten the cooling process.

Install ceiling fans

This is the best way to keep your garage cool. Install several fans to cover your area and distance them at regular intervals. Install a fan window to enable drawing in of cool air and expelling hot air. Note that you should only install ceiling fans if your ceiling is at least 8 feet high. A fan that is not strategically installed may affect the door’s opening/ closing pathway and long cars’ parking.

Remove clutter

Too many garage items can increase the temperature since they hinder airflow and absorb heat from the floor. Spend some free time to remove the extra old junk packed in your garage. Removing the trash also increases the space in your garage, and hence you can organize your items better, giving more room for air circulation. Remove any item packed in front of the door or the window to improve air circulation.

Plant a tree or install an awning

You can invest in a roll-away awning and put it on the garage door during a Texas summer to help block the sun from reaching the garage door. This helps maintain the garage door at low temperatures, eventually extending the cooling effect to the inside.

Another inexpensive permanent method is to plant a deciduous tree to block the sunlight from reaching the garage door. Deciduous trees are full of leaves during hot summers and hence will be perfect for this role. They include walnut, oak, and ash.

Weather-strip

This is the process of sealing openings at the garage door’s bottom, preventing hot air in and preventing the cool air out of the garage.

Summer garage basic maintenance practices

Summer garage upkeep activities that maintain the space in shape and functional for a long time include the following:

• Inspection

Inspect all the garage aspects from the door and its component, fans, windows, and ceiling to ensure that they are functional and in good shape. If any of them is not in good condition, get a professional for further checkup and repair.

• Painting

Fresh paint is needed to improve the garage interior and the door appearance and protect every exposed component from exterior conditions.

• Washing

Wash the garage and the garage door to remove dust and debris which have accumulated during winter.

• Lubricate hardware

Lubricate the garage door to ensure it opens and closes smoothly during summer and throughout the winter. Lubrication helps get rid of extra noise created by the garage door.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you now have effective ways you can leverage to cool your garage during a Texas summer. Open the garage door and window, remove the clutter and install a fan to improve air circulation. Reduce the entry of hot air by insulating the garage door, repainting the garage door, weather stripping and planting a tree, or installing an awning. You can use any of the methods or combine several for better results.