Garage door repair service recommendation

I need a recommendation for a garage door service. My garage door is unbalanced. That is, it take too much effort to raise it manually. I know this because I have had to disconnect my garage door opener since it slips when trying to raise it from a closed position. I thought the trolley was broken but according to the manufacturer (Genie) its designed to slip if door is too heavy due to imbalance. A properly balanced door should "float" open about 2-3 feet from ground. If your door falls hard to the ground (due to in adequate tension on coil spring) it can damage door, or worst you car or somebody. Although garage door openers can lift an imbalanced door, its puts a strain on the opener, reducing its life and reliability.

During my research I noticed that most 2 car wide garage doors have 2 torsion springs to balance the weight of the door. Cheap Van Metre only installed 1 torsion spring on my 2 car garage door. So it’s no wonder that my door is unbalanced. They didn’t even install a handle on the inside of the door. When I tried to lock the door from inside I noted that they didn’t install the locking rods properly since they do not align with locking holes on either side. The garage door is locked now by reattaching the garage door opener trolley to the lifter.

http://www.factsfacts.com/MyHomeRepair/springs.htm

Check your garage doors when disconnected from electric opener. They shouldn’t require any more effort than lifting a chair (your wife should be able to lift it). If it doesn’t require a light push to close completely then your garage door is probably out of balance.

 

Academy Door
http://www.academydoor.net/
Phone: 703-740-3836

A few weeks ago my garage door was damaged to where it was all out of whack and wouldnt close all the way (dont ask). After attempting to get the door back to working order myself to no avail, I called Academy

Academy did my garage door opener install. They came out and got everything back to working order (in like 5 min) and then serviced (lubed tracks, etc). The door is SOOOO quiet now you can almost literally be standing in the garage and cant hear the door going up or down. It, IMHO, is in better working condition than it was day one when I moved in.

 

Thanks for recommendation. I called Dominion Doors dominiondoors@
comcast.net and they said they could service door for $125 but would call back to schedule appt. They sounded like a mom and pop operation. Academy quote me $99 for same service scheduled for 11AM tomorrow. Will let you know how it goes.

 

I used Academy a few years ago for a spring that had popped out. They did a great job and I felt the price was fair (don't remember how much I paid, only that I was satisfied).

 

I made an appt with Dominion for 7PM tonight. I'm willing to pay a little extra to get door serviced during non work hours. We'll let u know.

 

Dominion Doors came to my house yesterday evening and did a great job. The gear threads on the trolley of the garage door opener had worn down (due in part to the imbalanced-heavy door). Jim Heron went and got the part and came back and installed it the same night. He oiled and lubed all moving parts. Then added tension to the door balancing spring. Now the door is so light that even my kid can raise it. And the door opener has no trouble at all. No squeaks or rattles, door works better than new.

dominiondoors@comcast.net