Choosing an automatic residential garage door system is a tricky business. There are many things to consider: the type of doors, the climate, the location of the box, and the method of opening that best suits your understanding of comfort. In this article, we will discuss types of garage door openers and why you should contact STI Garage Door for residential garage door repair in Washington DC to keep your garage doors in good condition.
Pros and cons of the automatic garage door opening systems
Automatic door opening systems were invented for convenience and time-saving. Therefore, the main plus is that the opening/closing is controlled remotely.
The first popular option suggests that you do not have to leave the car. A receiver is mounted on the drive, which, when a signal is present, activates the engine. The signal can be transmitted both from a remote control and from a small key fob that looks like a remote control but is small in size.
The benefit of the system: the ability to configure control from a mobile phone. To do this, a special program is installed on the device. Satellite communication is involved in the exchange of signals. By mobile phone, monitoring of the state of automation is also allowed. The system is convenient in that you can turn on / off the engine while being within the range of the receiver.
The disadvantages:
- the ability to intercept the signal coming from the remote control to the receiver. When choosing a system, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the signal encoding;
- your neighbors may have a device that operates on the same frequency as your receiver;
- the reliability of the system is increased by changing the frequency of the receiver.
In the second option, the doors are opened by a button. The level of comfort is determined by its location. Minimal actions are required: open the window, rise from your seat, reach out your hand and finally start the opening mode of the sashes. The option is convenient as a backup when the control panel is lost or stops working.
When closed, the garage doors are blocked. Reliability is determined by the level of protection of the mechanism, which can be selected depending on the need and size of the wallet.
The main disadvantage of all automation is the dependence on the supply of electricity. Without light, the garage cannot be opened or closed.
However, this problem can be solved in several ways:
- The unlock system
It allows the manual opening of the automatic system. For some reason, manufacturers include this option in the package as an additional one, although it is impossible to do without unlocking.
- Installation of a backup power supply
The actuator is connected to a battery (generator), which will be an alternative power source in emergency situations.
Openers for different types of garage doors
Any garage gate can be equipped with automation, so even if they were delivered a long time ago, and during their installation, it was not even assumed that they would ever be equipped with a drive, the situation can be easily resolved. Automation will be equipped with a device that will allow you to open and close the gate even during power outages.
Openers for sectional doors
Drives of sectional doors with remote control are divided into ceiling and bulk. Ceiling drives are used for garage boxes, and in addition to their affordable price, they have many useful features. Bulk gates are mainly used in production. They do an excellent job of providing a barrier for large openings, up to 40 square meters.
Garage doors, as a rule, are supplied with additional systems that expand their functionality. For example, a light signaling system allows you to monitor the correct operation of the drive and automation. The photo relay helps to avoid dangerous situations associated with a risk to health. So, if there are obstacles in the way of the gate, the photo relay will work and give a signal to the control unit that movement is impossible.
The remote control will allow you to open and close the doors by pressing one button, while you can be inside the car and get out of it by parking. The sectional door electric drive is installed on the ceiling. Both the drive and the control unit are located in one housing. When you press the control panel, the drive starts its work, by means of a chain setting the gate sections in motion.
Openers for swing out garage doors
If the swing-out doors consist of two wings, then two drives are used to control the opening mechanism. They are actuated by a control unit that commands the movement. The signal lamp, which is placed next to the gate, as a rule, is higher, ensures the safety of its operation, and signals that the gate is starting to move. Photocells are placed near the doors in order to protect property and people’s health. If, when closing or opening the gate, a secondary object is found in the path of its movement, the gate will stop. The control units are installed either in separate cabinets or directly in the drive itself.
STI Garage Door is a reliable company for garage door maintenance
Due to untimely inspection of automation, the following breakdowns may occur:
- poor drive performance;
- the slow reaction of the control panel;
- the slow motion drive.
To ensure smooth and long-term operation of the mechanisms, you need:
- annually lubricate the working hinges and rollers;
- do not forget about the maintenance that installers must provide;
- periodically control the smoothness of the movement of the doors and the level of the leaf;
- periodically remove the appeared pollution;
- prevent contact with various chemicals on the guides.
If you are looking for residential garage door repair in Washington DC do not hesitate to contact STI Garage Door. The company offers installation and repair of both residential and commercial garage door systems with automatic openers. The benefits of STI Garage Door:
- professional team;
- transparent pricing;
- complex solutions;
- availability 24/7;
- proven expertise.
Conclusion
The cooperation with qualified specialists reduces repair time and helps avoid mistakes that arise due to lack of experience. High-quality after-sales service can make the operation of automatic garage doors productive and significantly extend the life of openers.
