Q). My opener begins to come down, then it reverses direction and returns to the full up position. What is going on?

 

A). A law passed in 1993 requires photo eyes to be installed on garage doors that have electric openers. These are little boxes located at the base of the door on either side of the opening. These boxes have electric eyes that transmit an invisible beam across the door opening to a receiving eye at the other side. For this to work, the eyes must be aligned correctly. Typically something knocks the eyes out of alignment or some object happens to block the beam. When this occurs, the safety feature is activated causing the door not to close. Check to ensure that this is not the problem before calling for service.

 

Q). My garage has very little space (headroom) above the door. What is the minimum headroom required to operate a sectional door?

 

A). A typical sectional door can be installed with a special track with as little as 6.5” of headroom. We can custom install a door with less headroom in many instances.

 

Q). How do I know if my door is properly balanced?

 

A). Disconnect the opener, manually raise the door 2.5 feet off the ground, and stop it. If the door stays in this position it is balanced. A balanced door prevents future and more costly problems.

 

Q). When I replace my existing door, can I keep my old track?

 

A). It is not advisable. Each track is designed for a particular door and must support hundreds of pounds above your car. The new track will be guaranteed to be corrosion free and structurally sound.

 

Q). Why should I choose an insulated door if my garage isn't insulated?

 

A). An insulated door is a more substantial door. The small additional cost is outweighed by the increase in value to your home.

 

Q). Do you sell garage door parts?

 

A). At Leo's our stock on hand is reserved for our service department. We will be happy to help you fix your door issue by sending our qualified technicians on a service call, and we are available 24/7!

 

Q). Should I repair or install the door myself?

 

A). An overhead door is the heaviest moving part in your home. It operates under great tension to springs, cables, and hardware. Having the appropriate parts installed correctly is crucial for the door’s safe operation. An experienced serviceman eliminates the guesswork and gets the door working properly.

 

Q). Are special size doors available? I have a custom-built garage that features an unusual size door.

 

A). Yes. Custom overhead door sizes are available as short as 6 feet wide and 6 feet high. Additional width options are available in 2-inch increments and additional height options increase in 3-inch increments.

 

Q). What type of spring is better: extension or torsion?

 

A). Torsion springs are better because they are on a bar and this makes them safer and more adjustable to your particular door. However, extension springs if installed properly and with safety cables are safe if used with doors not exceeding 10-feet wide by 7-feet high.

 

Q). Do you give estimates for service over the phone?

 

A). We prefer to have an on-site inspection to determine your situation and give the most accurate information. Additionally, we have a basic chart of our rates for residential service here. We do offer FREE estimates for new installations!

 

Q). What should I do to help my door last? Is preventative service beneficial?

 

A). Homeowners can lubricate rollers, torsion springs, hinges, and bearings. This must be done with lubricant specifically made for this purpose. Homeowners can conduct their own inspection looking for the following: frayed cables, loose bolts, unbalanced doors, brackets coming out of the wall, or bearing collapsing. If any of these conditions are found, it is wise to call for professional preventative maintenance. It is not recommended to replace springs or cables yourself.

 

Q). How do I know when it is time to replace my door/opener? How do I know whether to replace or repair my door?

 

A). Life expectancy of an electric opener is 10 years. Repairing an opener older than this is not recommended. The lifetime of a door depends upon its quality and its usage. If the door is falling apart and there is not much left of the solid structure then it should be replaced. If the door is sound than usually a repair would be suggested If one section of the door needing replacing, replacement is recommended over replacing the whole door. However, if more than one section is damaged, it is better to replace the door.