Should you have your garage door insulated? Benefits of garage door insulation

January 27, 2021/0 Comments/in Garage Doors, Uncategorized /by capadmin

The garage door is the biggest opening of any home. With most garage doors being used multiple times throughout the day, the garage is more susceptible to extreme shifts in temperature and loss of heat than any other room. Moreover, many homeowners choose not to insulate the garage as it is not normally considered a living space. But insulating garage doors is not just useful but a necessary investment, especially for homes located in places that experience extreme temperatures like we do in Canada. The following are just a few advantages of having your garage door properly insulated by experienced and reliable installers.

Helps protect your car and other valuables– Having a properly insulated garage door can make a difference of 10-20 degrees centigrade between indoor and outdoor temperature. This can be a huge difference for homeowners who experience freezing temperatures during winter. Dead batteries, lower tire pressure, unreliable spark plugs and thickened fluids are an annual event which can be prevented by a properly insulated garage door. An insulated door can make a big difference for storing products like paint, cleaning products, oil in the garage that require a stable room temperature and protection from moisture.

Lowers energy bills – A well-insulated garage door is designed to prevent warmth from escaping and maintain a moderate temperature inside. While garages might not be considered a living space, most home constructions have rooms attached above and adjacent to garages. Leaky doors allow in cold drafts which lower the temperature in the adjacent rooms. Thus, a well-insulated garage door can reduce energy bills by lowering the energy required to warm the rest of the house.

Increase Strength and Durability – Insulated garage doors are much stronger than regular ones. They are made by sandwiching solid-core insulation between panels of aluminum, steel or fiberglass. This gives them increased strength and durability. Insulated garage doors are lighter, sturdier and are able to withstand the effects of natural elements for longer. Compared to older garage doors which can be easily dented and scratched, modern insulated doors don’t require much maintenance. This also saves homeowners from expensive repair bills.

Reduces noise– Traditional garage doors make a lot of noise as the panels vibrate and produce a lot of noise while being operated. This can be a nuisance for people living and working next to the garage. A well-insulated garage door absorbs much of the noise as their panels are constructed more tightly than regular doors making them less susceptible to jolts and vibrations. It also prevents outside noise from coming in and provides homeowners enhanced tranquility and peace of mind.

Other Benefits– Modern insulated garage doors are available in various materials and different designs that can enhance the façade of your household while increasing its curb appeal. Besides raising visual appeal, insulated garage doors also raise the value of your home. For people that use the garage space for various kinds of activity, an insulated garage door makes for a more comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Looking to upgrade to an insulated garage door for your home? Here at Capital Garage Door Ottawa, we combine reliable components and unparalleled skill to ensure your garage door installation ottawa and insulated with zero leaks or maintenance issues.

capital garage emergency 24 7 garage door repair

Need to get your broken garage door repaired at night? We are available!

November 16, 2020/0 Comments/in Garage Doors /by capadmin

Has your garage door given up the ghost at night? Don’t worry, Capital Garage Door Ottawa is one of the largest garage door repair companies in Ottawa and Ottawa Valley that provides 24/7 garage door repair. Call us at +1 (613) 604 9779 and have your door repaired immediately.

Our emergency repair hotline is available all day and all night, seven days a week, over weekends and holidays.

Whether your door is not responding to commands, has become stuck at an odd angle or been broken because of impact, it must be repaired immediately. Don’t delay repair till the morning! A broken garage door will prevent you from being able to take out your car. If the door is stuck open it puts you and your family’s safety at risk. Worse, if you don’t get emergency garage door repair at night you will still have to deal with the problem in the morning – just as you will be leaving for work!

Call Our Emergency Repair Hotline

Open 24/7 | We service all doors and openers

Full-service garage door repair near you

A team of garage door repair specialists is always on the alert to answer urgent repair calls. The nearest garage door repair specialist will be dispatched to your address after your call. Our team is professional, clear about pricing and fully equipped to repair all makes and models of garage doors and garage door openers. We regularly repair:

Broken wall switches
Inoperative garage door openers
Broken springs
Broken trolleys
Snapped cables
Bent rollers
Collapsed doors

We repair garage door openers from Chamberlain, Genie, LiftMaster, Skylink, NEXX and other brands.

Repairing all types of residential, commercial and industrial garage doors.

Same day garage repair

Don’t leave a broken garage door hanging for later – get it repaired right away! We guarantee repairs within 4 hours of your call or you get a $25 refund on your bill! (only applicable for calls between 8 am and 4 pm).

Winter garage door repair

Cold temperatures, snow and ice take a toll on garage door components, especially if they are old. If your door has suffered damage due to snow and ice, we are the team for you. With years of experience fixing doors in the cold winters of the Ottawa Valley we are veterans at fixing: frozen rollers, burnt out motors, broken motion sensors and even snow breaches!

Trusted, reliable, safe garage repair in Ottawa

Capital Garage Door Ottawa is an established, well-known garage door repair company. We are committed to delivering customer satisfaction, ensuring repairs are completed the way you want them. Speak to us for transparent pricing; our service technicians will be upfront about cost after an initial inspection of your door.

Call now for emergency garage door repair in Ottawa Valley. We are available 24/7 across Barrhaven, Carleton Place, Carp, Gloucester, Greely, Kanata, Kemptville, Manotick, Nepean, Orleans, Rockland, Stittsville and other areas.

capital garage winterize your garage door 2020

5 things you need to do to prepare your garage door for winter

October 28, 2020/0 Comments/in Garage Doors /by capadmin

A colder wetter winter. Words to warm the hearts of any Ottawa resident, surely, but especially for homeowners in the Ottawa Valley wondering how they are going to keep their houses warm and safe.

In this article we are looking at 5 simple things that can prevent your door from jamming, squeaking, creaking or grinding. If you are unsure ask a Capital Garage Door Ottawa professional to service your garage. Keep reading to find out how you can ready your garage door for the cold and snow load.

How do you winterize a garage door?

A well-maintained door will protect the building envelope, keep your possessions and keep you comfortable when you work in the garage. Here are a few simple maintenance tips to prepare your garage door for winter.

Replace weatherstripping

Weatherstripping is the rubber/foam tip at the end of the garage door that completes a tight seal against the garage floor. It will harden and break over time as the door is used and with changing seasons. Over time small cracks will start to let in cold air and water. Replace weatherstripping if it has become particularly hard to touch or is looking worse for wear.

Check rollers

Rollers guide the movement of the door along the rails. There are several different types: some have exposed bearings, others are sealed. Check if the rollers are moving without skipping or squeaking. Rollers with exposed bearings can be sprayed with a little grease to lubricate the parts.

Lubricate moving parts

Moving parts like springs, joints, door hinges and pulleys are crucial for the operation of the door. Lubricate parts (safely!) to protect them from moisture damage and prevent jams. Use a little WD40 to clean the rail if needed.

Tighten hardware

Slightly slack springs, loose chains don’t make all that much of a difference during summer but cold weather can exacerbate the problem hugely. Snow load in particular places a lot of stress on components and anything that is not properly screwed together can shear because of the forces involved.

How often do garage doors need maintenance?

There is no strict advice on how regularly garage doors need to be maintained. Quality doors and openers can last at least a couple of years with no maintenance but will start to emit a lot more noise and vibration during operation. For older doors regular maintenance is essential.

Do garage doors need regular maintenance?

Yes, Canada’s cold winters place immense stresses on garage door components. Things like springs and motors need to be checked for safety; moving parts need to be serviced; doors need to be realigned slightly too to ensure a watertight building.

Can cold weather affect your garage door?

Yes, the cold will change the properties of the springs, make motors sluggish; old cables are known to snap in the extreme cold too (cold causes metals to contract). Rubber bushings and weatherstripping become brittle after constant exposure to cold and can make the door less safe.

Schedule a service call with Capital Garage Door Ottawa. We schedule visits at times convenient to you and offer competitive rates.

capital garage door replacement garage door opener

Top 7 reasons to replace your garage door opener

September 9, 2020/0 Comments/in Garage Doors /by capadmin

Garage doors tend to last 10 or 15 years with a little maintenance. But they can last 20 years or more if they are serviced regularly! That said there are some very good reasons to replace your ageing garage door opener. New replacement garage door openers boast better safety features, security, modern conveniences and far quieter operation.

1. Injury protection (obstruction detection and automatic reversing)

To prevent crushing injury or damage while the door is closing, old garage door openers used a pressure sensor. If the motor detects a sudden decrease in pressure, it stops the door from closing further. The obvious drawback is that whatever is caught under the door receives a severe injury – before the door retracts. In 1993, Canadian and American authorities mandated that new garage door openers should have a second safety mechanism – using a light beam mounted either side of the door just above ground level.

2. Protection from hijacking

That old garage door openers’ signal can be hijacked and imitated is very well known. That’s because old models use remotes (and receivers) with some something called ‘fixed code’. It means the remote only sends out the same code to the opener. Once someone intercepts it, they can operate the door freely. New replacement garage door openers use the modern ‘rolling code’ system. The remote and motor unit rotate the code after every use, which makes hacking far less likely.

3. Keypads

Old garage door openers don’t have provision for a keypad – you have to use the switch inside the garage or the remote. With new openers you get a keypad mounted on the outside, which adds a lot of convenience and saves you from having to fumble for the keys with cold fingers. The newest garage door openers even come with fingerprint sensors!

4. Smoother and quieter

Motors may not break but they sure become noisy over time. Old models, particularly ones that use chain drive, can rattle the entire house no matter how much grease you apply. A new opener motor will offer far quieter and smoother operation right away. If you buy a screw drive or belt drive model, it will be virtually silent!

5. Battery operation

Are you in a part of Ottawa Valley that experiences frequent power outages? Cabin owners face this problem a lot during winter storms. New models come with built-in battery back-up that lets you operate the door for about 10 cycles (open and close) even without grid power.

6. Smart home integration

With lights, security systems and doorbells all integrated into your ‘smart home’ setup, why should your garage door opener be dumb? New openers come with Wi-Fi that lets them connect to an app on your phone. Smart home models also integrate with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri and let you control the door with your voice! Doors can even be scheduled to be locked at pre-set times.

7. Reliable operation

Let’s face it: your old opener motor can give out any minute. You know it already requires a lot of maintenance to keep running today. A new motor will come with peace of mind, a long warranty and low-to-nil maintenance costs. You’ll save yourself from getting your hands dirty too.

Get smart garage door openers for your home

August 11, 2020/in Garage Doors /by capadmin

Have you ever had to turn your car back and rush home to check whether you closed the garage door or not? Did a noise at night prompt you to grudgingly leave your cozy bed and go down to check if the garage door has been left open? Then it’s time to ease your life and upgrade your home with a smart garage door controller.

What is a smart garage door controller?

Connected to a smart device of your choice (smartphone, tablet, or computer), a smart garage-door controller device gives you the control to open, close, or simply, check your garage door from anywhere through an app on your smart device. You can also control your garage door with your voice by connecting your smart door opener with smart-home devices, such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Homekit.

Most smart garage door openers also feature the standard remote for your car and on-wall controls to let you open or close the door for when you do not want to fumble around for your devices.

You can simply buy an add-on controller compatible with your existing door opener. If your garage door opener is old and due for an update or not compatible with any smart device, you can purchase one of the new garage door openers that come with all the smart features and do not need any add-on.

Why do you need a smart garage door opener?

A smart garage door opener would not only save your unnecessary panic runs or ease your routine by letting you check the status of your door from the comfort of your bed, it is an important security tool as well.

You might not always be near enough your home to make an emergency visit and check your garage door. An open garage door can leave your home vulnerable to thieves and other natural forces. Being able to check and secure your garage door from a distance will keep your home safe.

Most smart garage door openers allow you to enable a video feed and would send a notification everytime the garage door is accessed.

Installing the smart door controller

The first step is to make sure that your garage receives a strong, continuous WiFi signal. Install a new modem if needed. Depending on your door make and preference, you can either buy a simple adaptor/hub/bridge to convert your door to a smart door; or buy a new, fully-smart garage door.

Making your existing door smart: If your current garage door opener is functioning well and is not very old, you would probably be able to turn it into a smart garage door opener by using a compatible smart door hub. This device can be easily installed and most of them have all the features of common new smart garage door openers. You will just need to install the frame for mounting the hub, connect the device, and install the sensors as instructed in the manual.

If your current garage door opener is very old or not compatible with any available hub, you can get a new smart door controller device installed. The installation would take a few hours and you might need to call in a professional.

Once the device of your choice is up and running, you will need to follow simple steps in your device app to get the system running.

There is a wide range of smart devices available in the market, each offering attractive features and deals. It could be tricky selecting the right product for your home but you can always consult an expert about your garage door needs. Give us a call and we will help you select the perfect device for your garage!

Garage door replacement

capital garage door broken cable repair ottawa

Why garage door cables break and what you should do

July 23, 2020/in Garage Doors /by capadmin

Garage door cables breaking is one of the most common reasons for non-operational doors. It is no surprise that cables fail from time to time: they must bear the weight of the door, hold it in place and pull it upward when the opener commands. Most garage doors have one of two types of cables:

Lifting cables – These are found in doors with torsion springs. The cables are connected to the torsion spring and attached to the bottom of the garage door.

Retaining cables – These are found in doors with vertical extension springs that run alongside the door. The cables are located inside the springs.

Cables can break from wear and tear, rusting and if they get snagged. The best thing to do in the event of a garage door broken cable is to call a garage door company in Ottawa immediately. Cables can be under tensions and may injure people if they snap further.

Do not operate your door if the cable is stuck, jammed or broken!

Why do garage door cables break?

Garage door cable breaks can happen for a number of reasons:

Incorrectly wound
Becoming completely unwound
Old cables can break because of metal fatigue
Rust can eat through the cable
Frayed cables can get snagged

Can I open a garage door with broken cable?

If your garage door has broken it is best to call a garage door company in Orleans immediately. We would advise against operating the door till it has been looked at by a professional. Trying to move a jammed door or one with a broken cable can cause it to whip around and cause injuries (!) or cause the door to become crooked.

As a local garage company in Nepean and serving the entire Ottawa valley, we won’t keep you waiting long.

Capital Garage Door (serving Ottawa and Ottawa Valley) is open 24/7!

Call for repair

How do I lower my garage door with a broken cable?

Again, lowering a door with a broken cable can be extremely unsafe and you should wait till a garage company in Orleans has taken a look at it. We’d suggest locking the inner door in the garage leading to the house and moving valuables till the door is repaired. Some people hang sheets to temporarily cover the garage.

In any event do not operate the garage door opener!

Importance of getting professional garage door repair

Garage door broken cable repair must be performed by a professional. It is unfortunately too common hearing of people getting injured while trying to repair a broken garage door or being injured due to incorrect installation. Broken cables can cause life-threatening injuries to you and your family.

Call Capital Garage Door, a reputed garage door company in Ottawa for your repair.

All types of garage doors repaired in Ottawa-Gatineau

May 19, 2020/in Garage Doors /by capadmin

A garage door – automatic or manual – has many little parts that must all work together for the mechanism to work. Damaged frames, jammed hinges and broken springs can bring the door to a grinding halt. That’s where having a garage door repair company like Capital Garage Door Ottawa in your contacts list is so important.

Remember torsion and extension springs are under extreme pressure and should only be repaired by a professional garage door company!

All garage door repair services

Prevention is better than cure and we recommend regular maintenance to keep doors operating smoothly. If something has gone wrong, though, here are some things we fix:

Routine greasing
Jammed rollers
Strange sounds
Broken springs
Failed sensors
Damaged brackets
New rubber bottom
Manual to automatic conversion
Snapped cables
Stuck doors
Garage door opener repair
Rusting and bent rails
Faulty DIY garage door opener installation

Not sure what’s wrong with your door? Schedule a time for a repair person to inspect your garage door. If you have just bought a house with a rusty old door, garage door replacement may be more cost-effective than trying to correct the many different problems with the existing door.

One-stop-shop for garage door repair

We are the complete one-stop-shop for all types of repairs. Our pros bring years of experience installing and maintaining garage doors in the Ottawa-Gatineau area. We provide round-the-clock emergency repair and offer same day service as well.

Garage door repair near you

Capital Garage Door services the entire National Capital Region (Ottawa-Gatineau) and Ottawa valley.

Don’t try these things if your garage door is stuck (open or closed)

Broken spring – If you can see the extension or torsion spring is broken, do not try to open or repair the door! The spring can snap and cause serious injury. In fact, nobody should be in the garage till the repair person comes to fix the door.
Door is crooked – A crooked or misaligned door (where one or more cables have snapped) should not be operated under any circumstances. Overloaded cables can snap and are very serious safety hazards.
Clicking the opener repeatedly – If the door is obstructed, the opener motor can overexert itself and burn out. If door movement looks clear, call a repair pro.

Garage door company in Ottawa

Capital Garage Door has ensured homeowners have access to professional garage repair and garage door replacement services during the Covid-19 lockdown. We have taken the necessary physical distancing precautions, included PPE and regular sanitizing and hand washing to keep you and our crews safe. Call now and have your garage door repaired.

Repair and maintenance | Door openers | New door installation

How to Fix A Garage Door Opener?

January 16, 2020/in Garage Doors /by capadmin

Is your garage door not lifting all the way? Are you hearing loud screeching sounds when you use your garage door opener? Is your garage door switch/remote playing dead?

Usually, a little troubleshooting can fix minor issues with garage doors. Take a look at some common ailments and the garage door repair that is required. Remember, if you aren’t confident about making the repair yourself, call a professional. Improper repairs can make your doors unsafe for you and your family.

Remote and switch don’t activate the garage door opener

If the garage door doesn’t make any sound when you press the buttons it is likely a fault in the power source. Change the battery in the remote and try again. If a hardwired switch doesn’t work, the motor may be unplugged. Check the motor’s plug and if it has come loose.

If this doesn’t work check your mains to see if the system has tripped. Garage lights not working will be a dead giveaway that the circuit is tripped or a fuse has been burnt out.

If none of these work it’s possible the motor has malfunctioned. You’ll need a professional to repair it.

Garage door won’t shut all the way

If your garage doors open fine but leave a gap between the ground, the close-limit switch may need to be adjusted. The close-limit switch basically tells your motor to stop turning. It also protects people from being crushed under closing garage doors. The switch is usually located on the motor itself. Use a screwdriver to change the close-limit setting.

It’s also possible that safety sensors on the bottom are detecting an obstruction even if there is none. Tighten the safety eyes in their holders. If they are out of alignment, they will send a false obstruction signal to the motor.

Finally, if the above methods fail, check your rollers. If there is rust or debris in them, they may be preventing the door from closing fully. Clear out any blockages and lubricate the rollers with silicone lubricant.

Late night garage door emergency? Don’t worry, our garage repair professionals are available 24/7!

The door reverses before touching the ground

This usually happens when the close-force setting needs adjusting or roller resistance is fooling the system into thinking the doors have closed.

The close-force setting detects when the pressure on the motor has eased (like when the door rests on the ground) and tells the motor to shut off. If it is too sensitive a setting, even slight resistance on the tracks can cause the motor to think the door has closed. Similarly, rust on rollers will increase rolling resistance and send a false signal to the motor.

The close-force setting is found on the motor. Again, use a screwdriver to turn the setting dial. Make the system less sensitive to close-force. Note if you reduce it too much, the motor may not stop even once the door has closed.

Read more
Before and after photos from garage door repair | Complete garage door repair and replacement

Refusing to open in winters

It is not uncommon for garage doors to refuse to open in really cold weather. This can happen to garage doors that are open too, but who leaves their garage door open all night?

If your motor is making a humming sound and you cannot detect any other reason why the door isn’t moving, it’s probably because the rollers have become stiff. Cold causes metals to contract and can jam rollers. Lubricate them properly and your garage door is repaired. Consider adjusting the close-force sensitivity too.

Garage doors open but the motor doesn’t stop running (trolley rams into the motor)

This is a relatively rare problem and one you are likely to encounter when your doors are new. The up-limit switch tells the motor when the doors are their maximum opening setting. You’ll normally see it the first time you operate the door.

You want to make sure the door is open all the way and the trolley is four-six inches from the motor in that fully open position.

If it happens, turn the up-limit switch on the motor to change the setting. Make sure you run the garage door for a complete cycle to test if the setting has worked.

Garage door opener repair in Ottawa

Need same-day garage door repair in Ottawa? Call Capital Garage Door in Ottawa and get your garage doors replaced within a few hours. Our professionals are available 24/7.