Benefits of Hiring a Professional Garage Door Service Company

Written by Jeffrey Sanford on December 11, 2020. Posted in Garage Door Installation, Garage Door Repair Indianapolis, Garage Door Replacement Indianapolis, Garage Door Services Indianapolis, Garage Doors Indianapolis. No Comments on Benefits of Hiring a Professional Garage Door Service Company

When you’re facing a complex garage door problem, it’s best to have a professional with training and expertise deal with it. Such is the case if the garage door opener, track, or springs need to be repaired or replaced. Otherwise, there’s just too great a risk of causing more damage or worse, getting hurt. Here are some of the most important reasons to hire a professional garage door service company in Indianapolis to address any issues and necessary repairs.

Save Time and Money

A professional company helps save you time and money. While it may seem like trying to fix the issue yourself will result in savings, a professional knows what to look for. They’ll inspect your garage door and quickly fix any problems they find. Minor issues tend to build up gradually but immediate fixes can prevent more frustrating situations.

Professional service avoids having to shop for parts on your own, which can take time. Parts and tools are a concern as well. Repair technicians know what parts you need and the tools to use. By relying on the service company, you won’t buy the wrong parts or have to wait for parts to be delivered. Another factor in cost savings—fixing small issues can avoid major repairs or garage door replacement in the near future.

Reduce the Risk of Injury

Garage door repair is not something you can master by looking up videos online. If you are not trained, mistakes can happen. The risk of injury is also high if you don’t have the right tools and skills. Other than some basic maintenance tasks, you should always leave service to the professionals. For example, a broken garage door spring can snap off with great force. Garage doors can also weigh several hundred pounds. Attempting a DIY fix can therefore put you, your family, and property in harm’s way.

Professional Expertise

Expertise is one of the greatest benefits of professional garage door repair. Service professionals have years of training and thorough knowledge of the techniques, equipment, and products involved in successful repair projects. They also make sure each repair is done correctly. Garage door repair technicians carry specialized tools that the average homeowner doesn’t have access to or the experience to use properly. In addition, a garage door service company’s licensing and insurance provides peace of mind and protects you if anything goes wrong under its watch.

Warranty/Guarantee

As is the case with most garage door service companies, a warranty or guarantee is provided for the parts and services used. Warranties typically offer coverage for an extended period of time. If issues occur within the warranty or guarantee period, the company will deal with them and not charge you additional costs. This arrangement provides general assurance that the business and its technicians are confident in their services and the peace of mind knowing your garage door is in good shape and in good hands.

Contact Garage Door Doctor

Garage Door Doctor is trusted for high quality garage door installation, repair, and replacement. Family owned and operated, we provide reliable service to residential and commercial customers and are available 24/7 to deal with any garage door related emergency. No contact Indianapolis garage door service is being provided during the coronavirus pandemic; we remain open while adhering to recommended social distancing practices, sanitization procedures, and use of masks and PPE. To hire us for any garage door repair or service need, call (317) 342-4995 right away!

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Fiberglass vs. Steel Garage Doors

Written by Jeffrey Sanford on November 27, 2020. Posted in Garage Door Installation, Garage Door Services Indianapolis, Garage Doors Indianapolis. No Comments on Fiberglass vs. Steel Garage Doors

There are many decisions to make when installing a new garage door. Indianapolis homeowners wonder what the best garage door materials are. Two of the top ones—fiberglass and steel—each have their pros and cons. We’ll compare these two choices in this article to help you understand your options and determine what is the best choice for your home.

Steel Garage Doors

It is most common to find a steel garage door in an American home. The benefits include being strong, dependable, and affordable. Steel is also highly durable, so it requires little maintenance. A polyester paint adds even more durability and can make the door resistant to fading. Consider a wood finish to give your door a grain texture. It will still provide the same strength and won’t crack or become warped; if well-cared for, a steel door will remain rust-free for many years.

Other materials, such as wood, aluminum, and fiberglass, offer security, but steel is the most secure. The only downside is it can be dented by relatively light impacts. It’s also prone to rusting if not properly maintained.

Fiberglass Garage Doors

Essentially a steel door with fiberglass layers, a fiberglass garage door is coated such that it often has a longer lifespan than a plain steel model. This construction strengthens the door. You can also have a garage door with the appearance of wood, thanks to a specialized finish, but avoid the cost and maintenance of owning a wood garage door. In addition to these advantages, fiberglass garage doors are often fit with layers of insulating materials; this insulation can help achieve long-term savings in heating and cooling.

Fiberglass is more resistant overall to salt-water corrosion, but it can fade over time due to exposure to weather and the elements. Another disadvantage is that it’s prone to cracking, denting, and other damage in high winds.

Fiberglass vs. Steel Garage Doors

With the benefits of both steel and fiberglass doors explained, here are some other factors you’ll want to consider when comparing these different types of garage doors.

Cost Comparison: Steel doors are known as being among the most affordable garage door options on the market. Fiberglass, on the other hand, is a little more costly. The actual cost depends on the panel style, hardware, and garage door opener as well as glass lite options. Many homeowners now choose to have glass integrated with their garage doors, which can help boost versatility, curb appeal, and property value. In addition, the thicker, more insulated a door is, the higher in price it tends to be.
Appearance and Customization: If you’re looking for something that’s easy to customize, steel and fiberglass garage doors fit the bill. They come in various colors, styles, and panel designs. You’ll also find a variety of hardware options and extras such as windows. While a wood finish is a popular choice for both, it tends to look more authentic with a fiberglass garage door. Steel garage doors are less malleable so the wood finish may not look as real.

Contact Garage Door Doctor

As your trusted Indianapolis garage door service company, we can tend to all your garage door needs. We provide professional, high-quality garage door installation, garage door repair, and garage door replacement for our residential, commercial, and industrial customers. A family owned business, we provide same-day service and are available 24/7 for emergencies. We’re open to serve you safely during the coronavirus pandemic with no contact service, following PPE, sanitation, and social distancing practices. To request a visit, contact us online or call (317) 342-4995 today!

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7 Benefits of Smart Garage Door Openers

Written by Jeffrey Sanford on November 17, 2020. Posted in Commercial Garage Doors Indianapolis, Garage Door Installation, Garage Door Openers, Garage Door Repair Indianapolis, Garage Door Replacement Indianapolis, Garage Door Services Indianapolis, Garage Doors Indianapolis. No Comments on 7 Benefits of Smart Garage Door Openers

If you’re a smart home enthusiast, smart garage door openers offer even more automation. New features continue to be added, contributing an even greater level of convenience. A Wi-Fi enabled garage door opener has changed the way you open, close, and interact with your garage door. Here are seven benefits you may not have known about.

1. Improved Security

The garage is a common entry point for burglars, who use an ever-evolving array of techniques to open garage doors. Criminals know people store all kinds of valuables in garages. You can lock your door remotely and even receive alerts on your smartphone when it opens and closes. Some systems have built in smart cameras with feeds you can view remotely, including those with streaming night vision video.

2. Never Forget to Close Your Garage Door

Have you ever left your house and had that nagging feeling you left the garage door open? Like most people, you probably have. Now, you can just check your smartphone to verify your suspicion, and just tap the screen to close the door. A smart garage door opener may even automatically close after a certain period of time. You may also get an alert if it senses the door is open, even if you’re just outside doing yard work.

3. Open Your Garage Door from Anywhere

Your garage door opener may sense when your car is pulling into the driveway. A family member may have arrived home and doesn’t have or lost their key. Rather than risk sharing access codes, you can open the door from anywhere in the world.

4. Set a Schedule

If you leave for work and come home the same time every day, or your child departs and returns from school on a regular schedule, you can set your smart garage door opener when to open and close. Is your neighborhood relatively safe? On the weekend, you can program how long to leave the garage door open while the children play outside.

5. Keep Track of Things at Home

The app with your smart garage door opener keeps a log of all activity. You can see every instance in which your garage was opened or closed, and at what time. There are even apps that provide two-way audio so you can communicate directly with visitors. It’s in your power to let someone in or not.

6. Protect Your Deliveries

Far too many delivery packages end up being stolen. Bad weather can ruin a package as well. Amazon offers a service for LiftMaster garage door openers that enables delivery personnel to enter and safely store your package. The garage door will automatically close again afterward.

7. Great Features

Some smart garage door openers now include additional features such as:

Pairing with smoke/carbon monoxide detectors: An alert is sent to your phone if smoke, fire, or dangerous fumes are detected.

Laser guidance systems: Activate once you pull your car into the garage to help park perfectly instead of risk hitting any objects or storage units.

Temperature monitoring: Smart systems often have sensors to track temperature, which can help determine if your garage door is open and/or it’s too hot or cold for equipment, food, or other temperature-sensitive items.

Smart Garage Door Openers from Garage Door Doctor

At Garage Door Doctor, we install, repair, and service all brands of garage door openers, including smart systems in our Elite Series® and Premium Series from LiftMaster. Several models are available to meet the needs of your home. To learn more, feel free to reach out to us online or call (317) 342-4995.

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How to Tell If Your Garage Door Sensor Is Out of Alignment

Written by Jeffrey Sanford on November 13, 2020. Posted in Garage Door Installation, Garage Door Openers, Garage Door Repair Indianapolis, Garage Door Replacement Indianapolis, Garage Door Services Indianapolis, Garage Doors Indianapolis. No Comments on How to Tell If Your Garage Door Sensor Is Out of Alignment

The garage door safety sensor is the reason your heavy garage door reverses if something is in the way. If it is misaligned, your garage door may not work properly. It might reverse for seemingly no reason or not work at all if the sensor fails. Dirt on the lens is a common issue, but it’s also possible for a sensor emitter or receiver, or both, to go out of alignment.

A garage door sensor, or photo-eye, consists of two devices. One sends a signal and the other receives it on the other side of the garage door opening. This creates an invisible beam that, if broken by anything in its path, triggers the garage door opener to reverse and return the door to its original open position.

What to Look For

If you believe a garage door issue is caused by a misaligned sensor, first check whether an object or stored item is obstructing the light beam between the two units. Perhaps you stored a toolbox nearby or a child’s ball rolled in the way. Remove any potential obstructions. If nothing is in the way, and there doesn’t seem to be damage to the sensors or their wires, then:

Find your garage door’s photo-eyes. One sensor is installed on the left-hand side and the other on the right. Both are mounted on the inside of the garage door opening, about six inches off the ground. The actual appearance, shape, and design differs depending on the sensor brand and manufacturer.

Determine the status of each sensor by looking at the LED light on its side. Each should have a steady green light. A flashing red light or no light on at all means there may be a misalignment. If the sensors are properly lit and the door still doesn’t work, check the lens for dirt, dust, or debris and clean off any you find with a soft cloth.

Measure the height of each sensor unit and use a level to determine if they are aligned. It’s important for both sensors to be at equal heights and facing each other. If not, they may have been installed improperly or the mountings may have been damaged. The best step is to call a garage door repair professional to find and fix the problem.

Can I Fix a Misaligned Garage Door Sensor?

You can adjust a misaligned sensor if there is no damage. First, loosen the screws on the pivot bracket. Then you can move the device up or down and direct one sensor to be in line with the other. Once the sensors are aligned, the LED light will come on.

Test the sensors after the adjustment is complete. To do so, place a cardboard box or other relatively soft object under the door and activate the switch to close it. The system should detect the object and stop the door. However, if a sensor problem persists, the door will close on or even crush the box or object. In this case, you should call a repair professional right away to service your garage door.

Contact Garage Door Doctor for Help

Serving Indianapolis and surrounding areas, Garage Door Doctor can help if your garage door sensors are misaligned, damaged, or not working. Our team of experienced service professionals can address your problem 24/7. We can service all types, makes, and brands of garage doors, openers, and parts. Call (317) 342-4995 today to request same-day service or contact us online to set up a free consultation.

Providing Premium Garage Doors in Indianapolis

Written by Jeffrey Sanford on April 1, 2020. Posted in Commercial Garage Doors Indianapolis, Garage Door Openers, Garage Door Services Indianapolis, Garage Doors Indianapolis.

Garage Doors of Indianapolis: Everything in One Place

It is incredibly easy to take advantage of a functioning, smoothly-operating garage door. It’s supposed to be simple — you push a button, the door opens, you carry on with your plans. It’s when things go awry and a vital component in your garage door fails that your day can derail.

Fortunately for those who live and work in Indianapolis, there is a team that is available to help you 24/7. Garage Door Doctor has been providing the Indianapolis area with friendly, professional, affordable, and fast garage door services for years. If you find yourself in a situation where you need immediate garage door repairs or maintenance, or if it is time to replace your garage door altogether, Garage Door Doctor can be your one-stop-shop for all of your solutions. We believe in providing customer support that goes above and beyond expectations, and we offer a wide range of doors for every household, business, and budget.

The Benefits of Trusting Garage Door Doctor

As soon as you contact Garage Door Doctor, you’ll see that we’re not your ordinary garage door company. Here are just a few of the benefits you will enjoy from our services:

24-hour emergency garage door service
Same day service
Absolutely free garage door consultations
A team with over a decade of experience in Indianapolis
Wide range of residential garage doors
Commercial garage doors that serve the needs of any business
Residential and commercial garage door opener service and repair
Let these perks of our business give you the peace of mind that knowing you’ve trusted the best garage door team in Indianapolis. The safety and security of our customers’ homes and businesses are our number one priority, and we stand behind the quality of all of our garage doors.

Residential Garage Doors

The typical residential garage door has a life expectancy of less than 15 years, and that’s if it has been well maintained. You may have purchased a home with a garage door that has seen better days, or the garage door you have may have been exceptionally stylish 20 years ago. Whatever your reason, when you find the need for a new garage door for your home, our friendly contractors can install a new premium garage door that exceeds the durability, security, and reliability that you expect.

For your convenience, we’re happy to provide absolutely free residential garage door consultations! We want to make every effort to ensure that you have the garage door that is right for your home and family’s needs. Our years of experience makes us qualified to offer recommendations based on our assessment of your property.

With our services, you will have attractive, quality garage doors from trusted brands, such as C.H.I. and Haas. These brands are well known for their ability to reduce noise, protect your garage from the effects of severe weather, provide superior insulation, and keep your home secure. If it’s time for a new garage door, or you believe that it’s time for an upgrade, contact us today to get started!

Commercial Garage Doors
If you’re a business owner in Indianapolis, you already have enough on your plate, and you shouldn’t have to worry about the functionality of your garage doors. When you do find yourself in a bind, we offer the same 24-hour emergency services and free consultations to businesses that we offer to residents. Our inventory includes only the absolute best, high quality, commercial-grade garage doors that improve productivity in your operations.

Not every business is the same, and one business will have a different need for their garage door than the next. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a garage door for storage, a stylish storefront, or for a loading area, we have the commercial garage door solution you need! We have access to insulated sandwich doors, ribbed steel pan and pan insulated doors, aluminum commercial garage doors, and more! In most cases, we’re able to provide same-day service on garage doors, so contact us when your business needs garage door services or an upgrade!

Garage Door Openers

In some cases, you may find that your garage door itself is still in the prime of its life, but the opener is beginning to leave something to be desired. Your garage door opener is likely to wear out long before the physical door, and when that time comes, you can trust the professionals at Garage Door Doctor! It doesn’t matter what size or brand of garage door you own — if it’s a garage door, we can fix it! We have access to an impressive line of garage door openers that fit the needs of all of our customers, both residential and commercial.

Our LiftMaster Elite Series® offers quiet operation, several unique security features, timer-to-close settings, and can even be operated when there is a power outage. Similarly, our LiftMaster Premium Series® provides industrial strength performance and couples that with the most advanced security and connectivity features on the market.

For businesses and industrial facilities, our heavy-duty line of LiftMaster® commercial garage doors can handle the toughest jobs. Models include gearhead, advanced trolley systems, hoist operators, jackshaft operators, and more, ranging from light to heavy-duty strength. Don’t let an unreliable or broken garage door opener stand in the way of you being able to conduct business! Contact us today for a free consultation, or if it is urgent, we’re always available with 24-hour emergency support.

Contact Garage Door Doctor Today!

Hopefully, now that you know a little bit more about Garage Door Doctor and the services and products that we offer, you’ll know who you can trust with your doors! We’re confident that our commitment to customer service and satisfaction will make the difference between us and the competition. We’d like to invite you to contact us with any other questions you may have regarding our products and services, and to schedule an appointment with one of our friendly technicians! We look forward to serving the residents and business owners of Indianapolis with garage door service unlike any other.

Garage Door Spring Repair in Indianapolis

Written by Jeffrey Sanford on March 9, 2020. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis, Garage Door Services Indianapolis.

Garage Door Doctor Repairs Torsion & Extension Springs

You may be thinking that undertaking the repair of the torsion springs on your garage door yourself is a good idea — Garage Door Doctor in Indianapolis, however, would strongly caution against this! We’ve had combined decades of experience with all types of garage doors, and unless you’ve been properly trained in fixing these high-tension springs, serious injury and property damage could occur. Your safety is our highest priority, and we would love to be able to be of service to you and your family!

How Can You Tell Your Springs Are Broken?

If you’re unsure that the torsion springs are the problem that is occurring with your garage door, there are some telltale signs that point to them as the culprit, some more obvious than others. We’re always more than welcome to come and assess the problem with your garage door and provide you with a report and estimate on repairs. Here are some of the signs that you have a problem with your springs:

Cables Appear Broken

When a torsion spring breaks, the first thing you may notice is that there are bunches of cables that have come loose, and your initial assessment may lead you to think the cables broke. In reality, what probably broke was the spring, which was providing tension to the cables. Now that the tension is gone, the cables have too much slack and appear broken.

A Valiant Effort

If there’s a problem with your spring, most newer models of garage door openers will stop the door operation after it tries to open about six inches. Many openers will sense that there is an abnormality in the door function, and cease operation as a safety precaution. If your garage door seems like it’s trying its hardest to open but just can’t manage, you more than likely have a spring issue.

Going Out With a Bang

When a garage door spring suffers a catastrophic and sudden failure, the resulting release in tension can cause a very loud banging sound to occur. Imagine a heavy-duty slinky toy banging around in your garage in the middle of the night, and you’ll have some idea of how startling it can be. Be careful around broken springs, because you never know if all of the tension has been released. It’s best to let a professional assess the damage and give the all-clear!

Look Out Below!

If you are able to close your garage door and it decides to fall very quickly, a broken spring is your most likely culprit. Garage door openers are not designed to be able to carry the whole weight of a garage door by themselves, and when a spring isn’t properly functioning, the garage door can slip down its track much faster than usual, potentially causing damage to people and property.

Garage Door Opens & Closes in a Wonky Fashion

A broken extension spring on your garage door setup can cause some unexpected alignment results. When a spring is broken, the garage door can become very unbalanced, and even get stuck in its tracks. If your garage door opens and closes in a cockeyed fashion, springs may be to blame.

How Torsion Springs are Supposed to Work

Springs become functional when they store up mechanical energy through compression. The torsion springs on your garage door store up energy by twisting and coiling on themselves. This stored energy is what is used to assist in the lifting and closing of your door. When one of these springs fail, they can fail spectacularly, potentially causing serious injury or even death for someone in the wrong place at the wrong time, or someone attempting to make a spring repair without the proper training.

We can’t stress enough that working with high-tension springs can be dangerous. Garage Door Doctor brings years of experience with us on every job, along with the specialized equipment that is needed to safely disassemble broken springs and their accompanying components.

For Garage Spring Repair in Indianapolis, Trust Garage Door Doctor

We’re able to handle repairs on all types of garage doors, from standard residential models, all the way up to heavy duty industrial garage doors. When you suspect that a broken spring is the reason for your garage door’s bad attitude, give us a call, or fill out our contact form. If your garage door hasn’t been serviced at any time in the last five years, you’re more than likely overdue for maintenance!

Trust the experts to handle your garage door spring repair safely and in a timely manner. The last thing we want is for you to be injured or worse trying to fix your garage door yourself! We know that dealing with a malfunctioning garage door can bring your schedule to a screeching halt, and we’ll always do our best to get everything up and running again as soon as possible. We also offer 24-hour emergency garage door service in Indianapolis, so don’t be afraid to call us at any time of the day or night, and we’ll get to work on your busted door right away! If your need is not immediately urgent, schedule your free consultation, and we’ll be onsite quickly, usually on the same day you call! Please feel free to contact us with any other questions you may have about our garage door repair services. We look forward to working for you!

What Makes a Good Garage Door?

Written by Jeffrey Sanford on February 26, 2020. Posted in Garage Door Installation, Garage Door Services Indianapolis, Garage Doors Indianapolis.

Buying a New Garage Door in Indianapolis?

There are a lot of things to consider when you’re hunting for a new garage door for your home or business. Sometimes, it is necessity that drives you — such as your current garage door has given up its ghost, and you need a new garage door right away. Other times, your garage door just isn’t performing up to the standard that you expect, and it’s time to upgrade. In either case, Garage Door Doctor has compiled this checklist of things to consider when you’re in the market for a new garage door. Follow these tips for the best results!

Get a Quote from a Real Live Person

There may be a convenience factor in simply ordering a garage door online, but you may be setting yourself up for a major headache if you go that route. To ensure that you’re getting a garage door that’s right for your property and tics all of the boxes for your needs, it’s best to get a quote from an in-person garage door technician. Did we mention that we offer this service for free? Don’t get misled by vague online descriptions of garage doors — instead, let us guide you and make a recommendation based on our years of experience and our value of excellent customer service.

Choose the Material That’s Right for You

Those fancy wooden garage doors may look spectacular, but are they right for your home? On the other hand, those industrial-strength commercial doors look secure, but are you getting a garage door for a home or a penitentiary? Garage doors can be made from all sorts of materials, and there is one out there that is right for you. You can get steel doors that look like wood, textured or smooth, colored or neutral— the list goes on. The point is that you should consider what amount of maintenance you’re willing to put into your doors, and let that guide your material decision.

Consider Insulation

Do you plan on spending a lot of time in your garage? During the cold winters and warm summers, proper insulation in your garage door could be your best friend. If your desire is to have an area set up in the garage as a studio or shop, or if you’re looking to save money on energy costs, it may behoove you to invest in a more insulated garage door. Depending on the insulation, some garage doors can be over twice as effective as standard models.

You Usually Get What You Pay For

Most garage doors are rated to operate reliably for a few years before they need maintenance. It should go without saying that when you start with a higher-quality product, the components that make everything jive well together will last longer than if you go for a more bargain-based model. Doing as little as opting for a higher quality torsion spring can effectively double the expected lifespan of your garage door! That’s some smart shopping.

Spring for a New Opener With Your Door

As long as you’re upgrading your garage door, you should take the opportunity to make sure your garage door opener is up to snuff. You’d be amazed at some of the things that garage door openers can do today — including smartphone connectivity, added security features, and whisper-quiet operation. As an added bonus, when you get your new garage door and your new opener installed at the same time, you can potentially save a lot on labor costs!

Consider Door Volume

If the overall volume of your garage door is an important factor in deciding which door is right for your home or business, there are some options that you should consider. Noise from your garage door can be significantly dampened by the insulation in the door, as well as the type of rollers that you choose. Nylon rollers tend to be much quieter than traditional metal rollers, for example. When it comes to the garage door opener, models that use belts rather than chains tend to be much quieter. The experts at Garage Door Doctor can recommend models based on their overall volume!

Windows or No Windows?

You’d be surprised at how much natural light that windows can provide to your garage. If you’re planning on having that shop or studio in your garage, windows are certainly something that you should consider. Many windows are also available with a high insulation rating, so you won’t compromise your garage climate.

Always Go for Durability

You never know exactly what life is going to throw at you, much less your garage doors. Some models of doors are made of thinner metal to lower the price point, and while you may save a few bucks, you may end up having to deal with unwanted dents and poorer insulation. Once again, the garage door experts can help you determine what gauge of steel is best for the amount of activity you predict to be around your garage doors!

Trust a Professional to Install Your Door

Sure, you could install your garage door yourself, but unless you’ve had years of experience doing big installation projects like this, you could be looking at a days-long project. Garage doors may look fairly simple, but there are a lot of moving pieces, some of which require special tools and substantial strength to use properly. Tackling this project yourself might seem like a good way to save some money, but the wiser decision is to trust someone like Garage Door Doctor to get the job done right and in a timely manner. Garage doors are what we do!

Contact Garage Door Doctor in Indianapolis

With decades of combined experience, the experts at Garage Door Doctor can recommend, install, and repair any garage door in the Indianapolis area. We hope that this handy checklist has helped you narrow your focus in regards to choosing a garage door for your home. The next step is to contact us, let us come out to your home for a free estimate, and get started on installing your new, perfectly suited garage door! Contact us today! We look forward to working for you.

Keeping Your Garage Safe in Indianapolis

Written by Jeffrey Sanford on January 15, 2020. Posted in Garage Door Services Indianapolis, Garage Doors Indianapolis.

Garage Door Security 101

Even the most modern garage doors can be vulnerable to evildoers seeking to do your family harm. Garage Door Doctor would like to impart to you some practical wisdom to keep your home and garage safe, secure, and out of harm’s way! You’ll be thanking yourself for taking these precautionary measures. Don’t let garage security be something you wish you’d have done! With that said, here are our best recommendations for keeping your garage locked up tight.

Keep Your Garage Locked Up Tight

Hold it right there, we just said that twice! That’s right, because it’s that important. If you have an old garage door that you need to manually open and close (first of all, hello from the future! We have automatic doors now!) it goes without saying that you need to lock it up when not in use. That being said, however, even modern garage doors are not immune to being opened by someone with ill intent. If you plan on going out of town for an extended period of time, it may not be a terrible idea to place a padlock on the inside of your garage door that would inhibit it from opening. Even if your garage door sustains damage from someone trying and failing to pry it open, that will be a favorable alternative to someone making off with all of your tools.

Assess Your Garage for Burglary Potential

Something handy that you can do is to take a few moments and take on the role of burglar. Look at your garage and think about how somebody could try to break in or take advantage of a weak spot. If you could think of a way in, rest assured that someone who makes a living out of theft can think of it too. You might just see a crack in the armor if you take a moment to assess your property.

Do Not Leave Garage Doors Open Unattended

Imagine removing an entire wall of your home, free for anyone walking or driving by to see all of the things you’ve stored away, and just letting it sit there for hours, unattended? That is essentially what you’re doing if you leave your garage door open unnecessarily. We’re sure you’ve seen this before around Indianapolis — someone was taking the groceries in and forgot to close the garage door, or somebody was working in the garage, then ran out to get something that should only take “a minute or two.” You would be surprised how easy it would be for a passersby to casually walk up to an open, unattended garage, and pick and choose from your belongings like it’s a buffet. Always be aware of the state of your garage door!

Update Your Old Garage Door Opener

More recent models of garage door openers are difficult to take advantage of, but older models can be vulnerable to tampering. If you’ve had the same garage door opener for years, have never changed the code, or aren’t even sure how it works, you need to call your friends here at Garage Door Doctor. We can determine the safety value of your garage door opener, and recommend a replacement if we think it is necessary. There are several smart garage door openers available today that let you remotely control your garage doors, making it easy to check the status of your garage from your smartphone! Now that is handy.

Pro Tip: Consider using a garage door opener that attaches to your key-chain. Leaving a garage door opener in your car is just about as safe as leaving the keys to your house on the front porch.

Invest in Appropriate Exterior Lighting

Having exterior lighting around your garage can be an incredibly simple deterrent for potential thieves. Motion-activated lights behave like little sentries that you can set around your home, making your house a less-likely target for exploitation. You’ll want to install these lights high enough that a burglar couldn’t simply walk up and unscrew them, defeating their purpose.

Replace Damaged Garage Doors

If you’ve been living with a damaged garage door, then you really need to give us a call! Garage Door Doctor has been serving the Indianapolis area for years, and we love taking care of our neighbors. Having a damaged garage door only puts you at risk for a burglar having a free-for-all in your garage. If you notice any gaps or openings around your garage door, contact us today, and we’ll come out to your home for a free inspection and estimate on getting you fixed up with a new garage door.

Be Careful of What You Store in Your Garage

We know, it’s incredibly tempting to store things willy-nilly in the garage for the mere convenience of it. However, if you’re storing something very valuable in the garage, even if you leave valuable items inside of unlocked cars, they become prime targets for break-ins. If you have something particularly valuable, try to consider a better place to store it than in the garage.

Help Your Neighbors By Being a Good Neighbor

Can we agree that we’re all in this together? If you notice anything suspicious about a neighbor’s garage, live up to the high expectations set by the great people of Indianapolis and communicate with them! When a garage door has been open for hours on end, with nobody in sight, give your neighbor a call or go knock on their door and make sure everything is okay. You would hope that your neighbors would do the same for you, right? Of course, if something seems fishy or dangerous, don’t put yourself at risk, but use discretion, and be a good neighbor. That’s what we’re all about at Garage Door Doctor.

Call Us For a Free Inspection!

If you need a new garage door or just want to make sure that your current garage set-up is optimized for safety, give us a call and we’ll come out for a free inspection. We love serving Indiana with superior garage door repair, maintenance, and replacement. We look forward to hearing from you, and stay safe out there neighbors!

6 of the Most Common Garage Door Repairs

Written by Jeffrey Sanford on January 8, 2020. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis, Garage Door Services Indianapolis, Garage Doors Indianapolis.

Garage Troubles Getting You Down In Indianapolis?

If you’re reading this, we’re betting that you’re in the middle of dealing with a garage door that is misbehaving. When this happens, it’s a literal roadblock in your day. Luckily, Garage Door Doctor is here to provide residents and commercial businesses with the absolute best, friendliest, and high quality garage door repair services in Indianapolis. We’d like to provide you with a rundown of some of the most common repairs that we encounter around our great city, so that you know that you’re not alone in your garage troubles and that there is a fast solution — Garage Door Doctor! Contact us if you’re experiencing trouble with any of these situations.

Garage Door Opener Failure

This one can really get your goat. You’ve pulled up to the house, you’ve got a van or car full of kids, you hit the garage door opener and… nothing. You push it again. Still nothing. You now have an expensive bendy wall between you and getting your family inside after a long, busy day. You may even notice the door making a valiant attempt at rising, only to limply fall back into place, exhausted. In most cases, this is a mechanical failure of the garage door opener. The fix for this could be as simple as adding lubrication to reduce friction; however, the problem may go deeper, in which case, it’s time to call your friends over at Garage Door Doctor.

Garage Door Fails to Close

This one is fun if you want your home to look like a nutty person lives there, with a garage door askew, open just enough to admit neighborhood cats or raccoons so they can shelter in your garage. In some cases, it may not even want to close at all, leading your neighbors to believe you’ve decided to throw an impromptu garage sale. This could be caused by several factors. Sometimes, the safety sensor is being tripped inadvertently, which will make the garage door refuse to close. Alternatively, the rollers could be jammed, or there could be another mechanical failure that a professional may have to diagnose — professionals like us at Garage Door Doctor! We know you love Indianapolis as much as we do, but you’d probably rather not have your garage door stuck open for all of the city to see. Give us a call if this is happening to you.

Remote Failure

In most cases, remote failure is due to a.) being too far away, or b.) the batteries are dead. If this is the case, we recommend the following strategic actions.

Move closer to the garage door.
Put new batteries in the garage door remote.

All joking aside, it is true that what mostly affects the performance of remotes are distance and power supply. However, this isn’t necessarily always the case. There could be a problem with the antenna that communicates between remote and opener, or your remote could have a malfunction that merits a replacement. If common sense solutions to remote malfunction have proven fruitless, then it’s time to involve your friends at Garage Door Doctor! We’re experts at determining the mysterious causes to remotes failing. We even usually have batteries with us, just in case.

Garage Door Automatically Reverses

Many modern garage doors have a built-in safety feature where they will automatically reverse if they encounter an obstruction, like a car, a lawnmower, or your cat. While this safety measure is appreciated and helps to reduce damage or injury to felines everywhere, it can begin happening for seemingly no reason whatsoever. If you cannot discern why your garage door is automatically reversing, it may be time to call in the specialists at Garage Door Doctor. We’re trained in all of the technical know-how that goes into testing your garage door’s auto-reverse safety function. It may be malfunctioning, or it may simply need to be recalibrated. If you’re tired of playing the fun game with your garage door where you try to get it to stay closed, give us a call, and we’ll help you out.

Continuously Running Motor

If you encounter a garage door motor that continues to run long after you’ve finished your business with the garage, it is very likely an electrical issue affecting your motor’s tiny little robot brain. The utmost care should be taken when dealing with electricity, so if you suspect an electrical malfunction, we highly recommend that you call us out to take a look at your garage. Our technicians are expertly trained to deal with electrical situations. The only thing that we want to be shocking is how fast, friendly, and knowledgeable we are! If your garage motor just can’t get enough of running on its own, let us know, we’ll take care of it. Your safety is our number one priority!

Sticky Door

As opposed to garage doors that stop, then reverse, a garage door that sticks and jams is most likely the result of a track misalignment. The rollers on your garage door could get stuck from debris, dust, or any other kind of built-up muck that finds its way into garage tracks. The solution could be as simple as cleaning out the tracks, or you may need to consider calling the Garage Door Doctors, and we’ll get it fixed up in a jiffy. Don’t let your car be rendered inaccessible! We’ll provide you with prompt service in the Indianapolis area and get everything running smoothly again.

Let the Garage Door Doctor Be Your Cure

We’re a family-owned business here in Indianapolis, and we love our customers. If your garage door is giving you a headache, let us be your remedy. Contact us today, and schedule a free consultation with one of our professional garage door repair technicians. We also specialize in garage door installation and replacement, not to mention 24/7 emergency garage door service. We look forward to meeting you, getting your garage back in order, and letting you be free to go about your day smoothly and without interruption.