Frequently Asked Garage Door Questions

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1. Why should I choose Performance Door Service?

We pride ourselves on providing the best local garage door repair service and garage door supplies in Phoenix, AZ. We have been doing it for 20 years and our aim is to bring satisfaction to each and every customer by offering our expertise of highly trained door specialists and five-star customer service.

 

2. I am not from Phoenix, can you still help me with my garage door?

We also operate in the following areas: Anthem, Cave Creek, Deer Valley, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Scottsdale. Even if you are not located within these areas give us a call and we will try our best to help you too.

 

3. How long does it take to repair my garage door?

Sometimes it takes under 1 hour but most of the time it is a same day repair anyway. In rare cases depending on the complexity of the issue it can take longer.

 

4. Do you charge extra in Weekends?

No extra charges regardless if it is Weekend or night time.

 

5. Can I also buy a new garage door from you, or you just do repairs?

Yes, we can provide a wide range of garage doors for you at discounted prices. Delivery and installation included.

 

6. What types of garage doors do you offer?

We offer a huge selection of residential and commercial garage doors from the following manufacturers: 1st United Door Technologies, Amarr, Craftsman and Chamberlin, Genie, Liftmaster, Wayne Dalton.

 

7. I know how to repair my garage door, I just need some parts.

We have a large inventory of garage door supplies so we can sell you anything you need.

 

8. Do you use subcontractors ?

Our team is made of full time certified specialists which are highly trained and we do not use subcontractors.

 

9. When I replace my garage door, can I keep my old track ?

Since each brand of garage door has been specifically designed to work with a specific type of track we recommend that you replace it. Installing a track also ensures that your door warranty will apply.

 

10. Can I paint my new garage door after you installed it ?

Go right ahead and paint it. Usually our steel doors are prepainted with a topcoat for the convenience of choosing a different color right after installation.

 

11. I need a new garage door, but it’s not at standard size, can you help me?

Yes we can provide you with a custom door size and color.

 

12. What type of spring is better for my garage door, torsion or extension ?

Extension springs are more popular. These are attached on either side of the door and stretch along the horizontal part of the track when the door is closed. However torsion springs do not expand or contract when the door is moved which makes them superior, mostly because the door is balanced better with a smoother operation. But give us a call and we can tell you more.

 

13. What maintenance is necessary for my garage door and hardware ?

Typically a steel door needs to be washed at least one time per year using 1 cup of detergent (containing less than 0.6% phosphate) dissolved into 5 gallons of water, preferably warm. You can use household ammonia instead of detergent. However lubricating the door is the most important part of maintaining it. You need to lubricate your hardware (pulleys, rollers, springs and hinges. You need to be extra careful when lubricating springs under high tension. If you have any difficulties give us a call, we can provide the maintenance for you.

 

14. How do I select the right opener ?

You need to check the height, width, thickness of your garage door along with construction (wood, steel, insulated) to determine the size of the motor and type of drive needed to lift the door. Give us a call and we can send an inspection team right away and we will determine exactly what opener you need.

 

15. How long does a door opener last ?

On average a door opener’s life span varies from 10 to 20 years depending mostly on usage. With a proper maintenance it can last more then 20 years.

 

16. What can I do about condensation on my garage door ?

If it’s too much moisture in the air it usually is interior humidity. You can reduce it by checking your venting, using a dehumidifier or using ceiling fans to promote air movement.

 

17. How is the cost determined for my door repair?

We will first give you a rough estimate when you contact us for a quote but the exact price will be determined by our inspection team at your house. Our rates are affordable and we offer discounts.

 

18. Do you charge anything just for coming to my house ?

There is a $55 inspection fee, but we can waive it with any repair or installation service that you order.

 

19. Should I tip the guys repairing my door ?

Every specialist coming to your house is already paid by us, so they won’t be expecting any tips. We pride ourselves on delivering excellent customer service at a great price and we do not believe anyone that calls us should ever feel pressured to tip us for doing our job professionally and on-time.

 

20. Do you have any special offers ?

Yes we constantly offer various discounts on garage doors, parts and services. You can check out our coupon deals on the coupons and specials page.

Why won’t my garage door close?

There are several reasons why you may have trouble getting your garage door to close. If you are having trouble with your garage door not closing, the first thing to check is the safety eye sensors. These sensors are designed to prevent the garage door from closing if there is something or someone in the way. Make sure your sensors are lined up and not blocked by something. If your sensors are lined up and there is not anything in the way, you should have your garage door looked at by a certified garage door technician.

My garage door won’t close. Is there a way to close it manually?

If you cannot get your garage door to close and nothing is blocking the sensors, you should not try to force it down. Doing so could make the problem much worse. For example, the wheels could come off the track or the garage door could become crooked. If you try to force the door down, often times you will do more damage and end up increasing the cost of your repair.

Why won’t my garage door open?

There are a number of reasons that could contribute to your garage door not opening. Your garage door may not open as a result of the gear in the motor failing or burning out, a broken spring, or poorly running bearings and rollers. While each of these repairs require a certified garage door technician to repair, there is one thing you can check before picking up the phone. Check your wall mounted garage door control to make sure it is not in lock mode. When lock mode is engaged, your garage door opener remotes will not open the door.

If your garage door opener is not in lock mode or you are continuing to have issues with your garage door opening, the best way to diagnose it is to have a certified garage door technician come out to look at it.

Why can’t I open my garage door manually?

Many people will attempt to open the garage door manually, especially then they face time or budget constraints. If you attempt to open your garage door manually but are unable to, that usually is an indicator that you have a broken spring. Most garage doors weight about 300lbs. The spring is used to offset this weight, however when your spring is broken, the door will be dead weight. Springs can be dangerous to replace and should only be done by a certified garage door specialist.

What type of maintenance do I need to have done on my garage door?

The best way to maintain your garage door and keep it running at top performance is to have the spring balance checked. The spring balance will ultimately decide how long your garage door opener will last. When there is excessive weight, the gears in the garage door opener can become stripped. This can cause the garage door to have trouble opening or closing.

What is included in a garage door tune up?

Just like you tune up and maintain your car, you should tune up your garage door. Garage doors need to be lubed to prevent them from becoming noisy and running poorly. Also, over time and with the settling of your home, the garage door tracks need to be adjusted. At Performance Door Service, we recommend that you have your garage door serviced at least one a year. At minimum you should be getting a lube service and having the spring balance checked. However, for a more thorough tune up, we offer custom maintenance packages. With these you get a complete overhaul service that includes checking the springs, center bearing, drums, end bearing, cable and replacing plastic rollers with ball bearing neoprene rollers. Our complete overhaul comes with a lifetime warranty, making it the best value and easiest way to ensure your garage door continues to run at peak performance.

Why should I replace plastic rollers with ball bearing neoprene rollers?

Garage doors come standard with plastic rollers. These are not designed to last and overtime can cause your garage door panels to bend because the garage door opener is pulling so hard. Ball bearing neoprene rollers are made of nylon and are designed to last longer and keep your garage door running smoothly.

How often should I have my garage door serviced?

Your garage door should be serviced at least one a year. At minimum you want to have at least a lube service and check the spring balance. Performance Door Service does offer a more comprehensive service that comes with a lifetime warranty.

How long should my garage door springs last?

The life of your garage door springs depends on what type you have. Regular springs tend to last about 5-7 years, whereas high cycle springs can last as long as 15 years. Performance Door Service offers a 3 year warranty on regular springs, and a 10 year warranty on all high cycle springs.

Do I need a lock on my garage door?

If you are running your garage door with a motorized garage door opener, then your garage door opener is your lock. The only reason to have a manual lock is if you are not running a machine. Having both a motorized garage door opener and a manual lock can be very dangerous. For example, if you have your garage door manually locked, and someone presses the opener, you could damage garage door.

If you are concerned about someone breaking into your home through your garage door and have a motorized opener, you could install a security shield. A security shield goes across the top of the door to prevent people from prying the top sections open.

Is an extension spring or a torsion spring better?

Extension springs are primitive and dangerous. When an extension spring breaks it can fly off and result in serious injury. Torsion springs are more modern. A torsion spring unwinds in a circular motion, and if it ever breaks it stays on the shaft and vibrates, preventing serious injury.

Although extension springs are more of a thing of the past nowadays, many one piece doors may still require an extension spring to be used. If that is the case, we can repair and replace your extension spring.

How do I tell if my door is balanced?

To test to see if your door is balanced, pull the cord and manually open your garage door. If the door slams to the ground, you have a big problem and should have a certified garage door technician come take a look.

My garage door is dented. Do I need to replace the entire door?

No, you can just replace the individual panels. Individual panels can be replaced up to a certain number of years (about 8) depending on if you can find them from the manufacturer. What many people don’t realize is that you can also fix the dented panel rather than replacing it. At Performance Door Service, we can repair your dented garage door panel, usually to about 97% perfection, by straightening the panel, adding new support struts, aluminum bottom retainers and adding a new bottom seal.

Is it safe to repair your garage door yourself?

Attempting to repair your garage door yourself is very dangerous. If you are not trained in garage door repair you could end up losing a finger or a hand. When you need your garage door repaired, it is best to leave the job to a certified garage door repair technician.

Can I buy just parts and install it myself?

If you know what you need, we can either directly sell it to you or order it on your behalf. We always encourage contractors to let us install any part you need purchased but that decision is always for you to make.

How much do you charge to come to my house?

At Performance Door Service, we pride ourselves on providing quality service at an affordable price. In most cases we will waive the service fee with a repair, saving you $55. Be sure to take full advantage of our coupons when we arrive.