El Dorado Hills Garage Door Repair

Tag: smart garage doors

  • Purchasing a New Garage Door Opener? 4 Factors to Consider

    Thinking about installing a new garage door opener? It’s really only a matter of time. While most homeowners will only install a new garage door once or twice in their lifetimes, garage door openers are another story. Because they don’t last as long, say 10 to 15 years, they will likely need to install a new opener sooner than a new door.

    The thing you need to understand is that buying a new garage door opener is not as simple as it sounds, especially these days. There’s smart technology to consider (why not step into the 21st century?) You also need to pay attention to horsepower, drive chains, and other factors. Here are 4 factors to consider when choosing a new garage door opener to install.

    What Type of Opener Do You Want?

    There are a number of garage door openers to choose from. Chain drive openers are very dependable, fairly inexpensive, but tend to be noisy. Belt drive openers cost a little more but are much quieter. They are nice if your door is by a living area or bedroom, or you don’t want to drive the neighbors crazy.

    LED Lighting

    There’s nothing worse than a dimly lit garage when you come. Not only is it not inviting, but it’s a safety hazard. We highly recommend LED lighting. It’s very bright — providing your garage interior with practically a day light feel — and highly energy efficient. It’s the best of both worlds when it comes to garage lighting — especially if you plan to use your garage for recreation such as a TV lounge, yoga studio or personal gym.

    Smart Garage Door Openers

    If you are installing a new garage door opener, definitely make sure it’s a smart garage door opener. This technology connects your garage door opener to an app via WiFi that you can control with your phone, any mobile device, or computer. Forget to close your garage door? No problem — it’s right on your phone. You can also have package delivery contact you for access to your door to avoid package theft.

    Battery Backup

    Battery backup is now required by law in El Dorado Hills and California in general. The idea is to be able to access your garage when the power goes out, especially in the event of a wildfire. But it’s still a good idea regardless of the law or if you actually live in California. Aside from the safety issue, it’s just a matter of convenience. Power outages happen all the time. This way, you’ll still be able to open your garage automatically.

    Even if you aren’t installing a new opener, you can still install battery backup on your existing opener. In fact, we can help. We install battery backup, new garage door openers, and new garage doors on homes throughout the El Dorado Hills area.

  • What You Can Do with a Smart Garage Door Opener

    Smart garage doors are game changing technology. Remember when the first garage door openers first rolled out? Suddenly teens around the world didn’t need to dive through the rain from the car to the garage every time the car rolled into the drive. WiFi garage doors increase our expectations of convenience in similar ways. It makes life easier in groundbreaking monumental ways.

    Here’s a breakdown of how smart garage doors make the world a better place.

    Open, Close Your Garage Door from Anywhere

    Any place you are connected to the Internet, you have complete access to your garage door. Say you’re at work and you wonder if you forgot to close the garage door. You can view the door remotely and then close if it’s still open. Let’s say the kids get locked out of the house. You can open it at a whim.

    Set Up Garage Door Delivery

    Smart garage doors completely change the Amazon delivery game, especially if you live in a neighborhood where package theft runs rampant. You can include instructions to your delivery driver to contact you. They text or call, and you can immediately open the door so your package is safe and sound.

    Push Notifications Alert Security Issues

    You can set up push notifications whenever your door opens and closes. If someone opens the door when you’re not home, you know immediately. If someone is burglarizing your home, you can get a text on your phone and then call the police. You can also get notifications if you or the kids forgot to close the door.

    Give Guests Access

    With a smart garage door, you can give out of town guests access to your garage. If they should arrive early while you are still at work, they can access your home and get comfortable. Let them call you when they arrive so you can open the door for them. They can refresh themselves. And until they arrive, your house is safe and secure. You don’t need to risk putting a key under the mat, or leaving a back door unlocked. The beauty of smart garage door openers is the security, comfort and convenience they bring to a home.

    Schedule the Lights

    With a smart garage door opener, you can schedule the lights in your garage and home remotely. This is handy if you are out of town and want to make the property look occupied. You can also schedule lights to come on when you come home from work or running errands to avoid fumbling around in the dark.

    Smart garage doors make life easier. Technology improves our lives in all sorts of ways. If you are considering installing a new garage door opener, look into its WiFi capabilities. It may be time to catch up to the 21st century.

  • 4 Reasons You Should Replace an Old Garage Door Opener

    4 Reasons You Should Replace an Old Garage Door Opener

    4 Reasons You Should Replace an Old Garage Door Opener

    When’s the last time your garage door opener was replaced? Did it come with the house? Most people don’t think about their openers until they have problems. Aside from the occasional battery change, the opener is usually good to go — until it suddenly isn’t.

    Chances are you’ll install one or two new garage doors your entire lifetime — if that. Your opener, however, is a different story. They aren’t designed to last as long as the door itself. So if you installed an opener along with a new door the last time, chances are you’ll need to install a new opener long before the door shows signs of wear.

    Here’s why a new opener might be a good idea if your opener is more than 10 or 15 years old.

    Your Opener May be Unsafe

    If your garage door opener was installed before 1993, it probably doesn’t have the safety features that can keep a door from closing on a kid, pet, or piece of equipment. Doors after the early 90s are required to have photo eyes that can detect when something is in the door’s path. This will immediately reverse a closing door for safety reasons. If your door doesn’t have this feature, it’s time for an upgrade.

    Your Door May Have Security Issues

    If your opener is more than 15 years old, it could be prone to electric hacking that could allow a savvy thief access to your garage. Computers have come a long way. If you don’t have the latest technology protecting you, it may be time for an upgrade.

    Your Door is Too Loud

    Loud garage doors are annoying — especially if your garage is near a living room or bedroom. Modern openers are designed to operate silently. If your door operates on a chain, you might consider switching to a cable operated door — it’s much quieter.

    Your Door Isn’t Smart

    Smart technology for garage doors has gotten very affordable in the last several years. With a smart door, you can control it virtually from the Internet. That way you can close it directly from your mobile phone, tablet or PC. This can be very helpful if you or the kids forgot to close it. Smart garage doors also allow for remote viewing so you can view your door anytime — even if you are on vacation.

  • Here’s What You Need to Know to Install the Perfect Garage Door

    Here’s What You Need to Know to Install the Perfect Garage Door

    Here’s-What-You-Need-to-Know-to-Install-the-Perfect-Garage-DoorIt’s a garage door, you think. How much can be involved in choosing the right one to install? Actually, a lot more than you think. These days, there are a number of factors and options to consider. And since this is a potentially several thousand dollar investment most people only make once in their lives, it’s something you want to do right. Here’s what you need to know to nail this decision and install the perfect door.

    Budget

    Let’s start with the price. How much do you want to spend? Design, materials, and extra features can add up. Make sure to balance preference, function, and need with the cost of materials and labor. At the same time, you don’t want to be cheap. This is a lifetime investment. Plus, a new garage door installation has one of the best returns on investment you can get when it comes to home improvement. Anything you spend, you’ll get back in improved property value, virtually dollar to dollar. So it really comes down to how much can you afford and what are the best features to get for that price?

    Materials

    A major determination of the price will be the type of material it’s made from. Each material has its own advantages and cost considerations. Wood has a beautiful appeal, but tends to be a little more expensive and requires more upkeep. Steel is probably your most economical option. Modern aluminum these days are not as dent resistant as they used to be. The price can vary. Composite doors may provide the same aesthetic appeal at a more affordable price.

    Insulation

    Insulation isn’t required, but it is a good idea — even in the mild winters of El Dorado Hills, California. Insulation will keep out the hot as well as the cold, making it much cheaper to cool your home in California’s hot summers. They also are great for noise resistance so you get your peace and quiet. The quality of the insulation will depend on its R-value — the higher the better.

    Weatherization

    Considering the new reality of climate change, you might want to get a garage door that is fire resistant, as well as one that can stand up to heavy storms. Talk to your El Dorado Hills garage door dealer about the different options available. You can get a door specially designed for heavy weather that has better bracing, storm resistant panels, and can stand up to heavy winds.

    Smart Garage Door

    You might consider installing a garage door that has a smart opening system. This way, you can monitor and control the system remotely from your phone, computer, or other mobile device. If you are away on vacation and get a security alert, for example, you can view your garage and contact the police if necessary. You can also open and close the door from your phone — say if Amazon stops by with a package while you are away at work.

    Installation

    While you could technically install the new garage door yourself, we don’t recommend it unless you truly know what you’re doing. And no, YouTube videos don’t count. You’re already investing enough in this garage door that it’s worth doing right. Plus, you might void the warranty on the garage door if you install it yourself.

  • New Technology Improvements in Modern Garage Doors

    New Technology Improvements in Modern Garage Doors

    New-Technology-Improvements-in-Modern-Garage-DoorsThese days, the technology for garage doors has evolved and improved. There are so many new features and advantages. So if you’re considering installing a new garage door, keep in mind a lot more is possible than just 10 or 15 years ago. This isn’t your grandpa’s garage door. These garage door features are the wave of the future.

    Insulation Advantages

    You might not think you need much insulation given the mild summers in El Dorado Hills, California. Think again. Insulation not only keeps out the cold — it keeps out the heat too! A well insulated garage door makes it easier to cool your home during the summer, and that means added savings on your air conditioning bill. You might want to choose a new door that has a decent R-value. As a bonus, a well insulated door also cuts down on outside noise.

    Impact Resistance

    Today’s garage doors are designed to take a beating. This includes aluminum garage doors, which traditionally have been prone to denting — that’s not the case anymore. A high quality garage door material means you don’t have to worry about damage — music to the ears if you’ve got kids.

    Modern Safety Features

    A new door features a number of safety features that makes your garage and your home much more secure. Alarm systems can be integrated. Camera systems are much more affordable. Programmable keypads are designed to be specifically guarded against hacking. You can also get battery backup in case the power goes out and you need to open the garage door.

    Smart Garage Door

    Smart garage door technology puts complete control in your pocket. You can operate and monitor your garage door from any smartphone. If a package is being delivered, you can include instructions to call you so you can open the door remotely. You can also view the door on your phone and contact police if there’s suspicious activity.

    Not Ready for a New Door? Consider an Equipment Upgrade

    If you’re not ready for a new door, you might consider an equipment upgrade. Replacing the springs, cables, and tracks can extend the lifetime of your door and improve its performance. Talk to a garage door professional to see what they’d recommend.

  • 3 Reasons Smart Garage Doors are Genius

    3 Reasons Smart Garage Doors are Genius

    3 Reasons Smart Garage Doors are GeniusA long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, the family garage door opener was a teenage kid that ran through the rain to open the door for his parents. When the automatic garage door was first introduced, it was a dream come true. Now we have smart garage door openers and the future has never looked so bright.

    What can a smart garage door opener do for you? Plenty! Here are 3 reasons installing a smart garage door just might be the smartest home improvement idea ever.

    1. You can open your door from anywhere.

    One of the biggest advantages to a smart garage door opener is the ability to open it from anywhere. Think about all the times this could come in handy. Say you’re at work and you realize you forgot to close your garage door. You can view it remotely from your phone to see if it’s open and then close it. How about if you are expecting an important package delivery? Include instructions in your order to call you. Then you can remotely open the garage door so the delivery person can slip it inside. If you have out-of-town guests arrive when you are still at work, you can allow them inside, right from your phone.

    2. A smart garage door increases security.

    A smart garage door can alert you to suspicious activity. You can view your door from your phone and then lock it and alert authorities. Smart tech is great for protecting your home from burglars.

    3. You just have less to worry about.

    With a smart garage door opener, you no longer have to worry about losing your remote. It’s right there on your phone, safe and secure behind your passcode. You can call your phone or use GPS location if you should misplace it. You can even set your garage door to automatically close if you accidentally leave it open. How cool is that?