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Home automation is all the rage these days. If you’re ready to jump on the bandwagon, then you’ve come to the right place! We’ll walk you through how to begin your home automation journey with MyQ Technology from LiftMaster. All new LiftMaster motors come with automation capability. Here’s what that means for you.
We’ve all been there before. You’re halfway across town when suddenly, you can’t remember if you closed the garage door. With MyQ technology, you can monitor and control your garage door from anywhere you have access to the internet.
MyQ makes it easy to let the pet sitter into the house while you’re on vacation. With the MyQ app, you can open and close your garage door with the touch of a button.
Having guests over can be a hassle if you have to explain how to open your gate. Do it for them remotely with the MyQ app!
If you don’t want to worry about manually closing your garage door every night before bed, simply use the scheduling feature to program your garage to shut at a certain time.
Wouldn’t it be convenient to be able to control conditions in your garage from anywhere? Now you can with the MyQ app and MyQ accessories.
You can use your MyQ app and compatible accessories to make it appear that someone is home while you’re away. And if you forget to turn off the garage light before you leave home or crawl into bed, no worries! Simply use your phone to shut it off from wherever you happen to be.
MyQ technology allows you to adjust your garage’s thermostat to ensure the perfect temperature at all times. This feature is especially handy when you take advantage of LiftMaster’s Smart Partnerships.
Your garage is a part of your home. It’s important to keep it safe! Keep tabs on the condition of your garage with the MyQ app and MyQ devices.
If you just can’t remember whether you closed the garage door, you can use MyQ to check its status.
MyQ Technology allows you to receive real-time alerts when your garage door opens or closes. You’ll know exactly what’s happening at your home no matter where you happen to be.
Take your monitoring up a notch with the MyQ app and compatible video accessories. MyQ Technology enables you to view live video of your garage from your smart device.
Have we piqued your interest? Contact a garage door expert at WD Door to learn more about MyQ Technology and home automation. The professionals at WD Door can help you choose the MyQ products that will suit best your needs. If you need residential garage door inspection, repair, or replacement, trust WD Door. Give us a call today!
It’s natural for the pieces and parts that make up your garage door system to have some wear and tear over the years. You’ll most likely need to replace these components as time goes by, or you might just want an upgrade from what your house came with. No matter your reason, a new garage door opener can provide many benefits, including heightened security, keypad entry, and wireless features. To know what kind of garage door opener is best for your needs, first decide what you want to prioritize. What matters more to you and your family: cost, noise level, maintenance?
If you want to get the most bang for your buck, a chain drive opener may be your best option. While they can be noisier than other kinds of openers, they are the most common, thus making it relatively easy to find a replacement. These openers are mounted on your garage’s ceiling and use a chain to move a trolley that raises and lowers your door. Because chain drive openers can operate loudly, you may want to consider a different option, such as a belt drive, if you have a bedroom over the garage and would be disturbed by late-night use of the door.
Belt drive garage door openers work like a chain opener but with a toothed belt moving the trolley rather than a chain. Belts can be made of fiberglass, rubber, or other materials and are just as reliable as their chain counterparts. These models are much quieter than the chain varieties and could work perfectly for an attached garage, but you’ll need to pay a little more.
In this type of opener, the trolley glides across a steel rod (instead of a chain or belt) while the motor rotates the rod. This eliminates several components of the opener system, ultimately requiring less maintenance than the two systems described above. Screw drive openers are not as quiet as belt-driven operators and are more expensive, but they run smoothly and open the door more quickly. If low maintenance needs and getting into your home quickly are priorities for you, a screw drive model might be a good option.
Product Spotlight: LiftMaster’s 8550W Garage Door Opener
In a direct drive garage door opener, the motor is inside a carriage that pulls itself along a stationary chain, bringing the door behind it. Since there is just one moving part in this system, it is extremely quiet, durable, and low maintenance. A direct drive opener can cost around the same as a belt-driven operator and come with a lifetime warranty.
These garage door openers are mounted on the wall beside the door rather than on the ceiling, which saves overhead space. Jackshaft drive openers have a motor that controls pulleys and cables that turn a torsion bar to raise the garage door. To close the door, the motor simply reverses itself to uncoil the cables. While this kind of garage door opener is one of the quietest and most durable systems on the market, they are also one of the most expensive.
For help deciding what kind of opener to invest in, contact WD Door’s qualified technicians today! We’re available 24/7 to offer our advice or get you a free quote.
You use your garage door every day, so it makes sense that you’d want the operator to last as long as possible. While you can’t extend its life forever, you can take practical steps to get the most out of your garage door opener and system. Here’s how to increase the lifespan of your garage door operator.
Each unit varies, but typically, you can expect your garage door operator to last around 10 years. Other elements of your garage door system will deteriorate and need replacement at different intervals. For example, garage doors themselves can last 30 years or more while torsion springs have a lifespan between 6 and 10 years. With any of these components, the level of care and maintenance you provide will impact, either positively or negatively, how long they last.
As with just about anything, the better you care for your operator, the longer it will last. Here are a few key ways you can help extend the life of your garage door operator.
You probably open your garage door every day, often multiple times a day. Pay attention whenever you open or close your garage door. Signs of potential problems will often reveal themselves before your system malfunctions. This is particularly helpful in extending the life of your operator. Loud noises like screeching, clunking, or thumping are an indication that something in the system is off-kilter and that the operator is having to work harder to open or close the door. When you recognize a potential issue, contact your local garage door professional and have them inspect and repair your system promptly.
Regular maintenance ensures that your system is working properly. When all of the mechanisms of your garage door system are working together, your operator can function at optimal efficiency. Reducing the amount of wear and tear on your operator will help to minimize repair costs and extend your unit’s life.
Friction is a major enemy of your garage door system and its operator. One way to decrease the amount of friction your system experiences is by lubricating all moving parts. The lubricant will allow pieces to move smoothly, reducing the work your operator must do to open and close your door.
Eventually, you will need to replace your system’s operator. In an ideal situation, you’ll be able to replace your opener before it completely stops working. Here are a few signs that it’s time to install a new motor:
If it’s time to replace your garage door operator, call the experts at WD Door in Iowa. Our team of garage door professionals can help you find the operator best suited for your home. From minor repairs to total replacements, we’ve got you covered! Contact us to learn more about our garage door services.
Just like garage doors, garage door openers can last for 10–15 years when properly maintained. But, just like with anything used on a regular basis, garage door openers and the remotes that go with them can get worn down or damaged. The remote is probably one of the most important aspects of your garage to you since it allows you to get your vehicle in and out on a regular basis.
When that remote stops working or decides not to function properly half the time, you could find yourself stuck in the garage instead of on your way to work or school. So, how do you know when it’s time to replace the remote with your opener?
First, let’s talk about how your garage door opener works so you know what to watch out for when it stops operating correctly. While there are different types of garage door openers, they all operate the same way. You probably know that one click on the remote of your garage door opener sends everything into motion. This process is the same whether you have a remote you keep in your car or you use a WiFi-powered opener controlled through your phone.
When the motor of the opener receives the signal from the remote, it makes the springs start counterbalancing the weight of the door as it lifts off the ground. This helps keep the door stable as it opens. Cables also offer support to the springs when opening and closing the garage door. Then, rollers allow the door to glide easily and smoothly along the tracks.
When you click the button on your remote and it doesn’t open or close the door, that is a definite sign that something isn’t right. Before you buy a brand-new remote, use this troubleshooting checklist to make sure the problem isn’t with the opening system. If your remote is battery-powered, the simplest first step is to replace the old batteries with new ones. If that doesn’t work, then inspect the rest of the system.
If everything on this checklist seems operational, it could be time to invest in a new remote.
When it’s time to replace your garage door remote, first decide what kind you want. The most common is the visor clip remote, which slides nicely onto the sun visor in your car. The range of this type of remote is about 100 feet, so you can push the button when you get close to your house without needing to come to a complete stop while waiting for the door to open. A remote that attaches to your keychain can minimize the chance that you’ll lose it (unless you misplace your keys). This is a good alternative if you don’t want to leave the remote in your vehicle. Remote transmitters, otherwise known as bar-type remotes, are similar to television remotes. They are pretty simple and usually only have a couple of buttons.
Newer garage door opener models allow you to use your smartphone to operate your garage, regardless of where you are. This is perfect if you tend to forget whether you closed your garage after you arrive at work. It’s also useful in an emergency, like if your kids get locked out of the house while you’re far from home. The important thing is to make sure that your new remote is compatible with your garage door system. Contacting a professional can be the fastest way to make sure you’re getting what you need.
Of course, you could replace your remote and still have problems with your garage door opener. It could be time to replace the entire system in favor of something new. For example, it is smart to replace the opener if your garage door opens extremely loudly or the system doesn’t provide you with the security you want.
Advances in technology have created a wealth of options for you to choose from. If you need help replacing your garage door remote or opening system, the experts at WD Door can help. Subscribe to our blog for more advice on your residential or commercial garage door.
Just like garage doors, garage door openers can last for 10–15 years when properly maintained. But, just like with anything used on a regular basis, garage door openers and the remotes that go with them can get worn down or damaged. The remote is probably one of the most important aspects of your garage to you since it allows you to get your vehicle in and out on a regular basis.
When that remote stops working or decides not to function properly half the time, you could find yourself stuck in the garage instead of on your way to work or school. So, how do you know when it’s time to replace the remote with your opener?
First, let’s talk about how your garage door opener works so you know what to watch out for when it stops operating correctly. While there are different types of garage door openers, they all operate the same way. You probably know that one click on the remote of your garage door opener sends everything into motion. This process is the same whether you have a remote you keep in your car or you use a WiFi-powered opener controlled through your phone.
When the motor of the opener receives the signal from the remote, it makes the springs start counterbalancing the weight of the door as it lifts off the ground. This helps keep the door stable as it opens. Cables also support the springs when opening and closing the garage door. Then, rollers allow the door to glide easily and smoothly along the tracks.
When you click the button on your remote and it doesn’t open or close the door, that is a definite sign that something isn’t right. Before you buy a brand-new remote, use this troubleshooting checklist to make sure the problem isn’t with the opening system. If your remote is battery-powered, the simplest first step is to replace the old batteries with new ones. If that doesn’t work, then inspect the rest of the system.
If everything on this checklist seems operational, it could be time to invest in a new remote.
When it’s time to replace your garage door remote, first decide what kind you want. The most common is the visor clip remote, which slides nicely onto the sun visor in your car. The range of this type of remote is about 100 feet, so you can push the button when you get close to your house without needing to come to a complete stop while waiting for the door to open. A remote that attaches to your keychain can minimize the chance that you’ll lose it (unless you misplace your keys). This is a good alternative if you don’t want to leave the remote in your vehicle. Remote transmitters, otherwise known as bar-type remotes, are similar to television remotes. They are pretty simple and usually only have a couple of buttons.
Newer garage door opener models allow you to use your smartphone to operate your garage, regardless of where you are. This is perfect if you tend to forget whether you closed your garage after you arrive at work. It’s also useful in an emergency, like if your kids get locked out of the house while you’re far from home. The important thing is to make sure that your new remote is compatible with your garage door system. Contacting a professional can be the fastest way to make sure you’re getting what you need.
Of course, you could replace your remote and still have problems with your garage door opener. It could be time to replace the entire system in favor of something new. For example, it is smart to replace the opener if your garage door opens extremely loudly or the system doesn’t provide you with the security you want.
Advances in technology have created a wealth of options for you to choose from. If you need help replacing your garage door remote or opening system, the experts at WD Door can help. Subscribe to our blog for more advice on your residential or commercial garage door.
Your garage door is one of the commonly used entrances and exits to your home, most likely being opened and closed multiple times a day. This much activity can cause wear and tear, which can result in damage to your door.
It’s important to maintain your garage door and its entire system to ensure it remains in great shape for years to come. Here are four tips to help extend the life of your garage door.
Once every month, go through your maintenance checklist to ensure everything is running efficiently. Conduct visual inspections, a door balance test, a safety reverse mechanism test, and a photo eye test.
Keeping your garage system clean and repairing things as needed helps extend the overall life of your garage door. It also keeps small repairs small, helping you save money!
This may seem like common sense, but mistreating or misusing your garage door puts unnecessary strain on it, often requiring a replacement much sooner than expected. Remember to operate the door only when necessary—perhaps keep kids away from the garage door opener—and don’t ever force it opened or closed along the track while it’s moving.
While conducting your visual inspections, use a socket wrench or a screwdriver to tighten anything that is loose, like bolts or fasteners. Check the garage door rollers that aren’t attached to the lift system; they will look lopsided or even crack as they age. If you see this happening, you’ll need to install replacement rollers. If you see excessive rust or broken strands in the cables, call a technician to help you replace those, as well.
You should also lube the hinges, tracks, and rollers of your garage door at least twice a year.
Before you complete your monthly general maintenance, be sure to check out your garage door opener. Change the lightbulb, if necessary, and replace the batteries in each remote.
Test to see if you need a new backup battery by unplugging the garage door opener and trying to open the door with the button on the wall. If the door doesn’t open, make sure you get a new backup.
If you notice that the springs need to be replaced or the door is off the track, don’t try to make these repairs on your own. Your safety is the priority, especially if you aren’t sure how your entire garage door system operates.
For more advice on keeping your garage door in tip-top shape, subscribe to our blog!
