Force Setting Test:

Test the force setting of your garage door opener by holding the bottom of the door as it closes. If the door does not reverse readily, the force may be excessive and need adjusting.  See your owners manual for details on how to make adjustments.  Test the reversing feature after any adjustment.

Door Balance Test -
You should periodically test the balance of your door.

With the door in the closed position and the operator disconnected, lift the door. It should lift smoothly and with little resistance and should remain open. If the door does not lift smoothly or remain open, have the door inspected and adjusted by one of our qualified technicians. To schedule contact our service department. 

Garage door springs, cables, brackets, and other hardware attached to the springs, are under very high tension and, if handled improperly, can cause serious injury. Only a qualified professional or a mechanically experienced person carefully following the manufacturer's instructions should adjust them. The torsion springs (the springs above the door) should only be adjusted by a professional. Do not attempt to repair or adjust the torsion springs yourself.

A restraining cable or other device should be installed on the extension spring (the spring along the side of the door) to help contain the spring if it breaks.

Never remove, adjust or loosen the screws on the bottom brackets of the door. These brackets are connected to the spring by the lift cable and are under extreme tension. 

Visual Inspection - Look at the garage door components for signs of wear. Do not attempt to fix without consulting with one of our trained service technicians. Failure to do so can result in serious bodily injury. This post is not a how-to fix but more of a what to LOOK for. 

Torsion Springs - Do the springs appear dry? Do they make popping or grinding sounds when you operate the door? If so, your springs are in need of service.  No one can tell you when your springs will break, but to get the most life out of your springs it is imperative that your springs remain lubricated.  If you have extension springs, be sure to check if you have safety cables, if you do not or you are not sure what to look for, contact our service department.  All springs are under great tension, if an extension spring breaks and has no safety cables to keep it in place, an extension spring has the energy upon breaking to go through walls, damage vehicles or seriously injure someone. DO NOT attempt to adjust your spring tension on your own, all spring systems are under an extreme amount of tension and can cause serious bodily harm. 

Cables - Inspect the cables - do you see any signs of wear - frayed wires, rust (especially the very bottom).  If so, call our service department to schedule a maintenance call. DO NOT attempt to adjust cables on your own, the cables are under an extreme amount of tension and can cause serious bodily harm. 

Rollers - Inspect each roller and check for signs of wear - with the door in the down position, try and move each roller wheel, if you notice any "play" in the wheel - your roller bearings have become worn out.  Look for rusting (bottom rollers).  When a roller goes bad, it has the ability to cause further damage to the rest of your door and opener. If you notice any signs of wear contact our service department to schedule a maintenance call. 

Pulleys - On older doors with extension springs - run the door up and down and watch the pulley, does the pulley turn or is the cable just sliding around it?  Does there appear to be any "play" in the pulley?  If so, contact our service department to schedule a maintenance call.  DO NOT attempt to adjust on your own, the cables running around the pulleys are under extreme tension and can cause severe bodily harm. 

In all cases it is strongly recommended that you contact our service department to determine the appropriate course of action for your situation. 

Print off one of these coloring pages: (Flyer Girl) (Flyer Boy) or stop in at our store to pick the coloring sheets up. Coloring contest is for children ages 12 and under. There will be one winner in all 3 categories: ages 4 and under, 5-8 and 9-12. 1 entry per child. Winners will receive a $25 gift card to Toys “R” Us. Deadline to have pictures into our office will be June 28th. Judging will take place the week of July 5, 2013. Winners will be announced with a phone call to their home and will be shown on our Facebook page. Drop off picture at our Waite Park location (2150 Frontage Road South) or mail to St. Cloud Overhead Door, 2150 Frontage Road South, Waite Park, MN 56387, Attn: Coloring Contest.

June is garage door safety month - check back here, or on facebook all month long.  We will be having a Coloring Contest for Kids, winners will receive gift cards to Toy's R Us. In addition to the coloring contest, we will be posting articles all related to door safety.

HOME SHOW SPECIAL PRICING

  Come visit us in Booth 719 at the 2013 CMBA Home Show at the St. Cloud Rivers Edge Convention Center.  We will be displaying our very popular Lifestyle Garage Door Screen as well our UltraGrain Carriage Style Doors.  Now is the time to buy, we are offering Home Show discounts on all of doors, openers and garage door screens. 

Show Hours

Friday: 12 PM - 9 PM

Saturday:  9 AM - 7 PM

Sunday:  10 AM - 4 PM 

St. Cloud Overhead Door Company is giving away $85.50 daily starting Monday, December 10th. “Like” our Facebook page and sign up on the App (just under the cover picture). We will choose a daily winner, plus Our daily winners will qualify to win the king of garage door openers – the LiftMaster 8550.

Qualifiers will come together for the giveaway at St. Cloud Overhead Door on Friday, December 21st from 5-7 PM. At this time, qualifiers will select a garage door opener and the one that opens the garage door will win the GRAND PRIZE - a LiftMaster 8550 Garage Door Opener. (valued at $500)!

This opener even lets you control your garage door with a smartphone app - so you'll never have to worry about if you've left your garage door open! Just tap a button on your phone, and instantly open or close your garage door from anywhere!

1. Visual Inspection: stand inside the garage with the garage door closed.  Look over the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys and mounting hardware for signs of wear or damage.  Look for cable wear or fraying.  If something doesn't look right or you see signs of wear, contact us, this could be a symptom of a more serious issue. If nothing appears to be worn, move on to the next step.  

2. Lubricate all hinges, rollers, springs and bearings.  Do not use WD-40.  WD-40 is a fantastic product for a number of applications, just not lubricating doors.  You can use a good silicone or preferably a light weight motor oil.  Areas you will want to lubricate are:

A. All hinges, apply a small amount in the pivot point of each hinge, where metal meets metal. 

B. All rollers, apply a small amount to the bearings in the wheel of each roller. 

C. Torsion springs, run a small bead of motor oil across the top of each spring. Don't apply too much, or it will drip onto the door. 

D. Opener rail and chain, in most cases you shouldn't need to lubricate these areas.  However, if you should notice rust, on the chain or rail apply a minimal amount to affected area.  If you have a screw drive opener, only a high quality low temperature grease should be used. 

E. Never lubricate your tracks.

3. Check for loose screws, nuts and bolts on all hinges, tighten where needed.  Do not attempt to adjust any bolts or screws on torsion spring system or bottom fixtures.  These areas are under extremely high tension, serious injury can occur.  If you should notice a loose bolt or screw in these areas, call us immediately for repair. 

*Do not adjust anything within highlighted area

4. Door Balance Test. The majority of doors springs are rated for a cycle lift of 10,000-15,000 cycles. Springs will weaken throughout their life and additional tension may be needed.  If your door is equipped with an automatic opener system: close door and disconnect the automatic opener.  Once you are able to life the door manually: lift the door.  It should lift smoothly with little resistance and should remain fully open.  If the door is difficult to open or does not remain open, the door may be out of balance. Contact us to schedule a spring adjustment or possible replacement. 

5. Garage Door Opener Reversing Mechanism Test. (Note: Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993, are required by federal law to be equipped with a reversing mechanism and a photo eye or edge sensor as added measures of safety to prevent entrapment.  If your system does not have these features, replacement of your automatic operating system is recommended.)  With the door fully open, lay a piece of wood such as a section of a 2x4 on the floor in the center of the garage door opening where the door would touch the floor.  Push your garage door button to close the door.  When the door strikes the wood, the door should automatically reverse.  If the door does not reverse, contact us to schedule a service call. 

6. Garage Door Opener Photo Eye Test.  With the door fully open,  push your garage door opener's transmitter or button to close the garage door.  Wave a long object, such as a broomstick or shovel, in front of one of the door's photo eyes so it "breaks the beam." The door should reverse immediately.  If the door does not reverse contact us to schedule a service call.