Loading docks generally perform day in and day out, so why consider a preventative maintenance program?
Because dock failure is always inconvenient and potentially dangerous.
Okay the photo may be an extreme example but pit style levelers need to be cleaned out regularly, if for no other reason than to keep out rodents.
Docks are magnets for trash, dirt and junk. They need to be cleaned and maintained. Call us, at 651-683-0307, to upgrade, refurbish, repair or maintain your loading dock equipment.
Preventative Maintenance for Loading Docks includes:
Inspect for cracks and wear: Hold down unit, springs, slide bar, rear hinges, lip assembly,
hydraulic hoses and connections, as applicable
Inspect: weather seals
Adjust: Deck counterbalances, lip assembly, hold down unit, and linkage, as necessary
Lubricate: All pivot points, rear hinges, lip hinge, and shaft, as necessary
Tighten: Linkage fasteners and cable clamps, as necessary
Call us at 651-683-0307 to talk with a Dock Specialist
about cleaning and maintaining your loading docks.
Powerful, quiet and durable, Overhead Door’s and Genie's automatic garage door openers are designed for performance. And when you combine an Overhead Door opener with one of our doors, you get an integrated system that maximizes performance and reliability.
Our full line of automatic openers features a variety of power levels and specifications to handle different garage door weights and sizes. Each opener also comes with built-in, standard functions for the ultimate in safety, convenience and power.
To keep your garage door system operating at peak performance by asking about routine system maintenance and other professional services.
Or let us save you time and call 651-683-0307 to talk with a Residential Specialist.
Chain Drive Garage Door Openers
Chain drive are the most common type of residential garage door openers.
Screw Drive Opener
A screw-drive system utilizes a steel drive screw that is directly engaged with the motor. This system is maintenance free, requires no additional lubrication, and provides the utmost in power and speed.
Belt Drive Garage Door Openers
A belt-drive system features smooth operation and they are quiet.
Call to 651-683-0307 to talk with a Residential Specialist
Unfortunately there is a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to fire door testing. Fire doors are designed to slow the progress of a fire. They may also be regularly used as security doors or they may only be in place in case of a fire.
All of the following statements are misconceptions we have heard. None of these statements are correct. The reality is that if you have fire doors in your building they must be tested annually according to the National Fire Protection Association which is also adopted by Minnesota Fire Code.
There are many reasons why Fire Doors fail--we regularly test doors that do not close properly. In fact it is not unusual for us to find that over half of doors we test fail. The good news is that fixing the problem is usually straight forward maintenance.
Common misunderstandings about fire doors and fire door testing
Misunderstanding: If the fire door closes it works
Reality: Fire doors must be tested to close to the manufacturers specifications in order to properly function in a fire, not to your requirements.
Misunderstanding: Fire doors are also security doors or pass through doors
Reality: Fire doors may also serve as security doors but some fire doors are activated only by a fire.
Misunderstanding: Testing the fire alarm system or the fire suppression system is all that is required
Reality: One of the most important parts of a fire door test is to actually drop the door and verify that is closes properly.
Misunderstanding: Testing of fire doors is only required when the doors are first installed
Reality: All relevant codes, including NFPA-80 and the Minnesota Fire code require that they are tested annually.
Misunderstanding: Only frequently used doors must be tested
Reality: No distinction is made by how often the door is used
Misunderstanding: A variation of the comment above is: We didn't’t even know the door was there why do we have to test it?
Reality: The fire doors are strategically placed to slow the progress of a fire so even if they are not regularly used they need to be tested.
Fire Doors
We offer a wide array of rolling steel doors to meet the most demanding fire safety standards, unusual opening sizes and discerning aesthetic requirements. Designed to close automatically in the event of a fire or alarmed event, our fire-rated doors are available for service door and counter applications in commercial, industrial, institutional and retail projects. Customized fire doors are available for conveyor openings.
All doors comply with NFPA-80, and are listed for both masonry and non-masonry applications -- including installation to wood or steel jambs within drywall. The Fire Sentinel® time-delay release device provides an added measure of safety to control the doors' closure. Our FireKingTM Fire Doors feature an innovative floor reset hoist system, designed to eliminate the need to release a fire door's spring tension on fire drop mode and allows one person to reset the door from the floor.
For complete specifications or more information
visit the Minnesota Fire Marshall web site at www.fire.state.mn.us
or the National Fire Protection Association web site at www.nfpa.org
Call us at 651-683-0307 to talk with a Fire Door Specialist
1. Press and hold the PROG button. Keep holding and proceed to step two. 2. Press and hold the 6 button. Keep holding and proceed to step three. 3. Press the key with the arrow up/down triangles. Setting PIN on Keypad
1. Press the following keys in order: 3, 5, 7, PROG (red LED blinks once per second). 2. Enter your PIN (three to eight characters). 3. Press the PROG key again (red LED blinks twice per second and turns off).
Programming Garage Door Opener
Before you begin, be aware of the following:
For convenience, program your keypad before mounting.
If programming your garage door opener is disrupted at any point due to program failure, clear/reset your keypad. Then, start over.
Locate the “Learn Code” button and the “Learn Code” red LED indicator.
Programming One Garage Door Opener
1. Press the “Learn Code” button once (red LED indicator will blink). 2. Enter your PIN. 3. Press the button with the arrow up/down triangles. The “Learn Code” indicator LED will stay on. 4. Press the button with the arrow up/down triangles a second time. The “Learn Code” indicator LED will turn off. 5. Press the button with the arrow up/down triangles a third time. Garage door should now move. Programming Two or Three Garage Door Openers
All garage door openers will use the same PIN.
Programming Garage Door Opener Keypad
1. Enter your PIN and press the PROG button (red LED blinks once per second). 2. Press the PROG button a second time (red LED blinks twice per second). 3. Press the total number of doors you wish to control (either 2 or 3). 4. Press the PROG button a third time (red LED blinks several times and turns off).
Programming Garage Door Opener
1. Decide which door will be Door 1, 2 and 3. “Learn Code” indicator LED (on opener) blinks. 2. Enter your PIN and press the arrow up/down triangle button. “Learn Code” indicator LED continues to blink. 3. Press the number you have picked for this door opener: 1, 2 or 3. “Learn Code” indicator LED stays on. 4. Press the arrow up/down triangle button a second time. “Learn Code” indicator LED turns off. 5. Press the arrow up/down triangle button a third time. Garage door should move. 6. Repeat steps one through five for programming each garage door opener. Each door opener must be programmed to receive the signal from the wireless keypad.
Troubleshooting Tips
• If the garage door does not move, check the red LED on the keypad. • If the LED blinks rapidly, the PIN was entered incorrectly. • Any keypad button will control the door for 30 seconds after the door starts moving. • Rapid blinking of the LED indicates an error. After a few seconds, the LED will turn off, and you can retry. • If the red LED does not blink during use, the battery needs to be changed.
Mounting Instructions
1. Remove the battery cover. 2. Drill a 1/16" hole for the top mounting screw. 3. Install a screw into the top drilled hole, leaving a 1/8" gap between the screw head and the wall. 4. Hook the keypad over the screw. 5. Mark the bottom hole, then screw in the bottom screw. 6. Reinstall the battery cover.
Fast professional garage door repair for most brands of doors and openers. With trucks throughout the Minneapolis St. Paul metro area most service calls are resolved the same day: Click here
Broken Garage Door Spring
Broken springs are a common problem. Garage door springs lift most of the weight of the door not the door opener. When a spring breaks the opener will continue to try opening the door. In some cases, the opener and the good spring on the other side will cause the door to twist and jam in the opening. In other cases, the door will stop moving before it is noticeably jammed.
Broken Spring Repair
There are two types of garage door springs, torsion and extension springs. Both types are capable of exerting a great deal of force and for that reason we do not recommend homeowners try this repairs.
Extension Springs
Extension Springs are mounted parallel with the tracks mounted on the ceiling. As the door closes the spring lengthens providing the force necessary to open the door. They are inherently more dangerous than torsion springs because of the rapid and forceful contraction that occurs when the spring breaks. We recommend these springs be replaced with torsion springs which if the spring breaks will uncoil while contained by the center shaft. At a minimum a cable should be installed down the center of the spring preventing it from flying around the garage if it does break.
Damage door rails
Garage door rails get bumped and damaged by everything from lawn mowers to cars. Rails that are bent or out of alignment increase stress on both the door and the opener.
Frayed and Broken cables
When your garage door is closed the cables are under a lot of force from the cable. Under no circumstances should you try to adjust the mounting points of the cable while the door is closed. Even when the door is opens there can be some residual force on the cables which is why we do not recommend this repair for home owners.
Panel Replacement
Damage to one garage door panel does not always mean that you have to replace your whole door. Individual panels can be replaced but it is not a job for most home owners, let us replace the panel and use your time to paint or finish the door. Be aware that it is not unusual for us find that the damage is not as localized as it first appeared and we need to recommend replacing the whole door.
Call us at 651-683-0307 to talk with a residential garage door specialist
Maintenance
Like all mechanical systems your garage door will perform much better with regular maintenance. For example, overtime springs can lose tension resulting in unbalanced forces on your door. Improper spring tension and door misalignment will drastically reduce the life of your garage door opener system.
We want to help you keep your door operating as it was designed.
For your convenience we offer 3 options to keep your door in tip top condition
1. Do-it-yourself garage door maintenance kit including:
Inspection instructions for spring adjustment, door alignment, reversing feature, door balance and weather stripping.
Also included is a surge suppressor protecting your opener from power surges and lightning strikes and lubrication instructions with a 16 oz can of lubricant specifically designed for Minnesota winters. Kit price $43.65
Click on the links below to see a two part video inspection guide
2. One Year renewable garage door maintenance plan, including:
We will professionally service your door and operator once every year for as long as you own your home and the price will never increase. Includes 12 point inspection, spring adjustment and lubrication of the door and opener. Price annually: $84 (parts not included)
3. Of course you can call us at 651- 683-0307 if you have a problem.
We are usually able to respond within the same day during normal business hours. Regular service rates apply.
Summer may have given you the push to follow May’s blog
“Let’s get your garage ready for summer” and finally clean it out. You may have
held a garage sale and allowed yourself to let go of some of those items you’ve
been holding onto for far too long. Or it maybe your garage got the best of you
and you decided to park the car outside for the few months. Regardless of your
decision your garage is likely the largest room of your house and the one with
the most curb appeal (or lack there of).
Next time you drive through a neighborhood, take note. The
houses might look similar, the yards and driveways familiar, but behind that garage
door holds the secret about those living there.
Which are you? See what your garage is saying about you.
The Family Type
The stereotypical family centered
garage is filled with memories of children first learning to ride a bike, oodles
of first Little Tyke’s™ toys, Dad’s mini-hardware store, Mom’s gardening essentials,
and ALL the sporting equipment. Your garage probably looks messy, but you
convince yourself it is that way out of love. You excuse the mess thinking: “It
will be clean when the kids move out.” You may love your family and all the
activities your kids are involved in, but this is no excuse for a messy garage.
With just a few shelves and hooks, your garage can look like the one below,
while teaching your kids to be organized and timely.
Really pays off in the summer time when you can
leave your garage door open. Let those gawkers see what kind of household you
are running!
If your garage doesn’t portray your true personality, and
you wish it said something different about you, set aside some time to clean it
up and make it not only the biggest room of your house but the best! It is the
room with the most curb attention so why not make it the most appealing and
allow yourself to show it off and feel great leaving and entering your home. Who
knows maybe one day it will turn into something like this:
The Horder
Does your garage look like this?
Does your car sit outside most months because you can’t find the space or time
to move it in? Don’t you hate having to always keep your garage door shut, or
only opening it halfway because it is such a mess? People love to collect
“valuable” items, for fear that, “someday I will need this.” But how often do
you really find yourself needing thirteen coolers, six cans of weed eliminator,
or a collection of broken fishing poles? Usually these treasures just collect
dust, and the expiration dates age a little further. Take the challenge! Clean
it out! Then open that garage door wide for all to see, relish in the “oohs and
aahs” that you will get from your neighbors.
The Man Cave
Ah, the glory land! If you are
privileged enough to have a man cave, take advantage of it! This is your place
to escape so make it a true happy place where you can be productive or just be
confident showing it off to your jealous friends!
Organized
You win! You may have the most organized garage
on the block. Everyone who walks by envies your design and spotless floor. We
are proud of you for following our “Let’s get your garage ready for summer”
blog! Your “neat freak” personality.
