Did you know that the electric garage door opener was invented in 1931 in Chicago?
You didn’t, because that isn’t true. It was 1926 in Hartford City. Would you have bothered to check? Probably not.
People say things that aren’t true all of the time. Sometimes, they don’t know better. Sometimes, they’re trying to sell you things that you don’t really need. This sort of misinformation has led to a bunch of rumors and myths about garage doors that aren’t true. Today, we’ll dispel 13 of the most common myths so that you can have the right answers to these important questions. Feel free to check these for yourself if you don’t believe us, but we’d much rather educate a customer than charge someone for services or upgrades they don’t need.
Myth: All Garage Doors are basically the same.
Fact: There are both obvious and subtle differences between doors. Most residential doors will work for most consumers, but it might be possible to get a slightly different door that is a better fit for you for the same price. A good technician should be able to help you make the right decision. Even just choosing a sliding or swinging door in place of a sectional rolling door can make a huge difference on your home’s appearance and function. Choosing between metal or wood is another example of the sort of differences to keep in mind.
Myth: All Garage Door Companies offer the same service and quality.
Fact: Just like any other industry, there are bad companies and good companies. Consumers should look for a company that has employees instead of employing sub-contractors, because employees won’t try to up-sell you or delay a job to make more commission for themselves. Some companies don’t insure their employees or contractors, so you may be liable for an injury that results from your door. Avoid these shady practices and choose a company with a competent, insured, well-informed staff.
Myth: Garage Doors are loud.
Fact: Like most machines, garage doors will always make some noise. If you’re door is very loud, however, that is likely a sign that something is damaged or malfunctioning. Visually examine your door and, after disconnecting it from the opener, try to open it manually. You may be able to identify the problem and see if it is something you can fix yourself or if it would be better to call a professional.
Myth: You can save time and money by doing Repairs yourself.
Fact: Some simple maintenance can be performed by a homeowner, but more complicated tasks, especially winding the torsion spring, should be left to a professional. One of our past customers was trying to wind a spring himself when his sweater sleeve caught in the twisting spring. He slipped out of the sweater as it was crushed and ripped by the torsion of the spring. Unless you have spare limbs, contacting a professional for your garage door repairs is well worth the price.
Myth: The Garage Door Opener lifts the Garage Door.
Fact: The spring does most of the work of lifting your door. Most garage door openers are only 1/2 Horsepower motors and are only designed to control the door’s speed and protect anyone who misuses the door. If your door is balanced correctly, it should be quite easy to lift – this is because most of the weight of the door is constantly being held by the spring.
Myth: Closing the Garage Door is the same as locking your front door.
Fact: Garage Doors are held closed by the opener, but anyone with access to the opener can get past that security. Unless you have a smart door opener, your door has no way of telling who is opening it and so will let intruders into your home. Because of this, leaving garage door opener remotes in parked cars can be just as bad as leaving your keys on the dashboard.
Myth: Garage Doors never require maintenance.
Fact: As convenient as this would be, it simply isn’t true. Just like your car, the garage door is a combination of moving parts, both electronic and mechanical, and those parts sometimes get worn out or fall out of alignment. A simple maintenance check can extend the life of your door and help keep it operating safely for much longer than it otherwise could.
Myth: If something is wrong, your door will have to be replaced.
Fact: Oftentimes, a repair will be enough to fix whatever problem you’re experiencing. A Plus Garage Doors will never try to replace your door unless it needs it or you want it. With many of the doors we see, some part of the system has failed but most parts are still in good condition.
Myth: All Garage Doors and Garage Door Openers use the same parts.
Fact: Even within the same manufacturing company, doors can have specially-made components like rollers, hinges, cable drums, and brackets. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to install improper hardware on your door to save a quick buck, and possibly putting you in danger as a result.
Myth: Insulated Garage Doors are expensive and useless.
Fact: Clopay found that insulated doors can reduce energy loss through the garage door by as much as 71%, and insulted doors can be quite affordable. The important thing to keep in mind is that insulated windows are much more expensive than normal windows. If you want windows put in an insulated door, they will raise the price of the door quite a bit more than normal sections.
Myth: Garage Doors are ugly.
Fact: Some garage doors are designed to provide the functionality without any of the aesthetic appeal, but doors come in a variety of styles and colors specifically so that they can compliment your home’s exterior. Check out our Beautiful Home and Garden board on Pintrest to get some inspiration. Investing a little more in your garage door can increase your home’s property value and let you recoup that cost if you ever re-sell.
Myth: Reinforcing a Garage Door against the wind is prohibitively expensive.
Fact: If you live in a hurricane-prone area, you probably already know that the garage door is one of the most common spots for damage to occur. Doors can easily be bent inwards or ripped away from a home by strong enough winds, exposing your garage and making your home more likely to get damaged. It only costs a couple hundred dollars to brace your door, and there are guides online to guide you through the process. Even a heavy-duty door can be damaged in a sufficiently strong storm, but protecting yourself as well as you can makes a huge difference.
Myth: Garage Doors are safe.
Fact: Garage Doors are heavy machinery and only seem safe because of how common they are. If you don’t respect the danger that a garage door represents, you might come to regret it.
Did you learn anything from this list? Have any questions about your garage door? Let us know by using the Share buttons on the left side of this page!
