How to Make Sure You’re Working with Overhead Door Company of Lubbock?

by | Nov 9, 2017 | Uncategorized

overhead door company of lubbock - garage doors

September in Lubbock can still feel a lot like summer. But anyone who has lived in West Texas for long knows that cooler mornings and the first real cold fronts aren’t far away.

That makes September a good time to pay a little attention to something you probably use every day without thinking much about it: your garage door.

Heat, dust, wind and everyday use can take a toll on a garage door over the summer. Small problems that aren’t especially noticeable in August can turn into a garage door that won’t open, won’t close or suddenly needs repair once temperatures begin changing.

You don’t need to become a garage door expert. A quick inspection can help you catch some of the more common problems before they leave your car stuck inside—or outside—the garage.

Here are seven things Lubbock homeowners should check this fall.

1. Look at the Weather Stripping Around Your Garage Door

Start at the bottom of the door.

The rubber seal should make fairly consistent contact with the garage floor when the door is closed. If you can see daylight underneath the door, notice sections that are cracked or missing, or have a seal that has become hard and brittle, it may be time to replace it.

In West Texas, this isn’t only about keeping cold air outside.

Good garage door weather stripping can also help reduce the amount of dust, dirt, leaves and insects that find their way into the garage when the wind picks up.

Check the seals along the sides and top of the door as well.

If your garage always seems dusty even when the door stays closed, worn weather stripping is one of the first things worth checking.

2. Pay Attention to a Garage Door That’s Getting Louder

Garage doors aren’t silent, but you probably know what yours normally sounds like.

Don’t ignore a new:

  • Grinding sound

  • Squeak

  • Rattle

  • Popping noise

  • Scraping sound

  • Sudden bang

A noisy garage door doesn’t automatically mean you need a major repair. Sometimes rollers, hinges, or other moving components simply need attention.

But a new or increasingly loud sound can also indicate a worn roller, loose hardware, track problem or another component beginning to fail.

The important thing is noticing when the sound changes.

Catching the problem early is usually much better than waiting until the door stops moving altogether.

 

3. Check for Signs of a Garage Door Spring Problem

Your garage door is heavy. The springs do much of the work required to lift it.

That makes a broken garage door spring one of the most common—and most important—garage door repairs.

Signs of a spring problem can include:

  • The garage door suddenly feels extremely heavy

  • The opener runs but struggles to lift the door

  • The door opens a few inches and stops

  • The door appears uneven while opening

  • You heard a loud bang from the garage

  • You can see a visible gap in a torsion spring above the door

A broken spring isn’t something we recommend attempting to replace yourself.

Garage door springs operate under significant tension and require the proper tools and experience to service safely.

If you think you have a broken garage door spring in Lubbock, stop repeatedly operating the door and have it inspected.

 

4. Make Sure Your Garage Door Opens and Closes Smoothly

Stand back and watch the door complete a full opening and closing cycle.

You’re looking for smooth, consistent movement.

A door that jerks, shakes, hesitates or appears crooked may have an issue with its rollers, tracks, cables, springs or other hardware.

Also pay attention to speed.

If you’ve recently found yourself thinking, “Why is my garage door opening so slowly?” that’s worth investigating.

Problems tend to become more noticeable as components wear. A door that is already struggling after a long West Texas summer may not improve on its own.

 

5. Test Your Garage Door Opener

Sometimes the garage door itself is fine and the problem is the opener.

Common garage door opener problems include a door that:

  • Doesn’t respond to the remote

  • Opens but won’t close

  • Stops partway

  • Reverses unexpectedly

  • Makes noise without moving the door

  • Requires several button presses before working

Before assuming the opener needs to be replaced, check the obvious things. Replace the remote battery and make sure nothing is blocking the safety sensors near the bottom of the door.

Dust can be especially relevant around Lubbock garages. If the photo-eye sensors become dirty or misaligned, the opener may think something is blocking the doorway and refuse to close normally.

If you’ve cleaned the sensors and the problem keeps happening, it may be time to have the opener or garage door inspected.

 

6. Check the Door for Wind, Hail and Everyday Damage

West Texas weather isn’t particularly gentle on anything outside.

Walk outside and look across the surface of your garage door.

Check for:

  • Dented garage door panels

  • Bent sections

  • Gaps between panels

  • Loose hinges or hardware

  • Damage around the tracks

  • Cracked or deteriorated seals

  • Sections that no longer sit correctly when the door closes

A small dent doesn’t always mean you need an entirely new garage door.

Depending on the door and the extent of the damage, individual components or panels may be repairable or replaceable.

On the other hand, if the door has significant damage, keeps requiring repairs or is simply reaching the end of its useful life, replacement may make more sense.

A local garage door company can help you compare the cost of garage door repair versus replacement rather than guessing. 

 

7. Think About How Well Your Garage Is Sealed Before Winter

We may not get months of bitter cold in Lubbock, but West Texas can still deliver some pretty dramatic temperature changes.

If your garage is attached to the house, a poorly sealed garage door can also affect how comfortable the rooms around it feel.

Check for obvious gaps around the closed door, damaged weather stripping and areas where outside air is getting in.

This can be especially worth addressing if you:

  • Spend time working in your garage

  • Have plumbing running through the garage

  • Use the garage for storage

  • Have living space above or beside it

  • Own an older, poorly insulated garage door

If you’re already considering replacing an older door, ask about insulated garage door options. The right choice depends on your garage, how you use it and what you want from the door.

 

When Should You Call a Garage Door Repair Company?

Not every squeak requires a service call.

But some garage door problems shouldn’t be ignored.

Call a professional if your garage door:

Won’t open or close:
There could be a problem with the springs, cables, opener, tracks, sensors or another component.

Has a broken spring:
Garage door spring replacement should be handled by a trained technician.

Is hanging crooked:
Stop using it until you know what’s causing the problem.

Has a loose or broken cable:
Cables are part of the system responsible for controlling a very heavy moving door.

Keeps reversing or stopping:
The problem could involve the safety sensors, opener or the door itself.

Has been damaged by wind, hail or an impact:
A damaged door may still move while putting additional stress on other components.

Is getting progressively louder:
Changing noises are often one of the first signs that something isn’t working the way it should.

Repair the Garage Door Now or Wait?

It’s easy to put off a garage door problem when the door technically still works.

The problem is that garage doors have a number of parts that work together. A worn or damaged component can put additional strain on the rest of the system.

If something suddenly sounds different, moves differently or doesn’t look right, September is a great time to deal with it.

You’ll have one less thing to worry about when the first West Texas cold front rolls through. 

 

Need Garage Door Repair in Lubbock?

If your garage door is making strange noises, won’t open or close, has a broken spring, needs new weather stripping or just doesn’t seem to be working the way it should, Overhead Door Company of Lubbock™ can help.

We’ve served Lubbock and surrounding West Texas communities for more than 70 years, providing garage door repair, installation and maintenance for local homeowners and businesses.

Whether you need a simple repair, a new garage door opener or help deciding whether it’s time to replace an older garage door, our local team can inspect the problem and recommend the right next step.

Schedule garage door repair in Lubbock today or call us at (806) 797-4141.

We hear this situation all the time. Someone tells us, “I thought I was working with Overhead Door Company of Lubbock but we ended up with some other company with “Overhead Door” in their name.”  They usually follow with stories of the poor customer service they received and how the technicians weren’t professional and charged way more than the job should have costed.

There are a lot of garage door companies out there that try to use our name to confuse consumers into thinking they are getting, The Genuine. The Original. Overhead Door products and service that we have provided to Lubbock and surrounding areas since 1951.

Here are some tips to help to ensure you are getting garage door installation, repair, and service from your authorized local Overhead Door Company.

Tip #1: Don’t always rely on Google Ads when searching for our garage door services

Our competitors know that we are well known in the communities we serve, so they know that people are more willing to click on an ad if it looks like it’s coming from us. We hear this a lot. Consumers will tell us they clicked on the first listing on Google thinking it was us, when it was actually another garage door company who had a Google Ad that resembled our company.

Take a look at the example below. (We’ve hidden the name of the company and their website URL)

We typed in the search box: “Overhead Door Company of Lubbock” and the first thing that comes up is an ad that looks like it could be from us. But this specific ad actually brings them to a garage door repair and installation company that is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who doesn’t even have a physical location in Lubbock.

The ad below is very deceptive with the title, “Overhead Door Company Lubbock – Contact Us For A Quote”.

overhead door company lubbock

Another ad that shows up when searching for anything related to garage doors says, “Overhead Garage Door – Official Website – Lubbock”.  To many customers, this is misleading as it could seem like the ad they click on would bring them to our website, but it doesn’t.

google ad for garage doors

Google Ads will be redirected to the company’s website. To make sure you’re getting Overhead Door Company of Lubbock, follow tips #2 and #3. If you don’t see our logo and company name, then you’re not getting the local, professional and expert service from us.

Tip #2: Always look for the red ribbon logo

If you don’t see this logo, then you’re not getting the expert, experienced, and professional residential and commercial garage door repair and installation that Overhead Door Company of Lubbock is known for in the community. Look for it on the advertising, website, and any other promotional materials.

overhead door lubbock logo

Tip #3: Look at the company name carefully

Just because “Overhead Door” is in the name of a company, doesn’t mean they are “The Genuine. The Original.” Overhead Door.

The phrase “overhead door” is a term that’s always been used in the garage door industry. It’s meant to describe a specific type of door. Kind of like a “swinging door”, “side folding door”, or “roll-up door”.  Even though we were the inventors of the upward-acting garage door in 1921, also referred to as an “overhead door”, other companies still use it in their names.

It is important to realize that just because “Overhead Door” is in a company name, doesn’t mean that they are us.  We have a unique way of identifying authorized Overhead Door Distributors with the way we spell out our names.  The naming for authorized distributors of Overhead Door branded products will be shown as: “Overhead Door Company of “City Name”.  We’ll use our name as an example, Overhead Door Company of Lubbock.”

Tip #4:  Always check the website

If you check the website, it should always have the Overhead Door “Red Ribbon logo” (tip #2) and the official company name should also be on the website (tip #3).  If you don’t see the Overhead Door logo and the unique company name of “Overhead Door Company of “City name” then chances are you’re not working with, The Genuine. The Original. Overhead Door in your city.

Another way to make sure you’re getting an authorized Overhead Door Company in your area is by checking the Overhead Door corporate brand website’s distributor locator.  You can add your zip code and the tool will find and show your local Overhead Door Company’s information.

We take pride in our name. Overhead Door Company of Lubbock has been providing garage door services to the community of Lubbock since 1951.  We want to make sure homeowners and businesses in our city are getting the best service possible, from a door company that cares about the people in the City of Lubbock and surrounding areas in West Texas.

Tip #5: Always look for our address

If you find an ad, whether on Google or a print advertisement, always make sure you see our address.  Since there are many garage door repair companies that have local advertisements but don’t have a local presence, the address is another good thing to take a look at. You’ll also see our phone number on many of these ads.  Here’s the address and phone number you should be looking for:

4912 Frankford Ave
Lubbock, Texas, 79424
806-797-4141