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Diagnosing Garage Door Trouble

What is that sound? Why won't your garage door close? It isn't always easy to figure out why your garage door isn't working, which is why I put together this website. I have been installing doors for several years, and I can tell you that garage door problems are some of the toughest issues out there to resolve. In addition to working with complicated motors and difficult panels, you might also find yourself struggling with remote control issues. On my blog, you can learn how to diagnose trouble, so that you aren't left trying to solve illusive, seemingly impossible problems.

Diagnosing Garage Door Trouble

How To Keep Your Garage Accessible And Secure It From Burglars

by Stacey Howell

Preventing a burglar from entering your home through the garage is a necessary step towards your personal comfort and security. However, if you go overboard on security, you risk endangering yourself. Here's how to get reinforced garage security – and still have emergency entry options.

Prevent Outdoor Manual Access

Thieves have been using garage doors to gain entry for years, but it seems to have grown in burglar popularity. They can use a wire hanger to access the manual opener that is located on the inside of your garage. This is the emergency red cord for power outages, broken springs, or dead batteries that prevent the automatic opener from working.

The simplest way to prevent outdoor access is to use a zip tie or small cord. Simply tighten the zip tie or cord around the lever and the track so that a lightweight wire can't pull it down. This prevents outdoor access, but it isn't too strong for indoor use. In an emergency, you can pull the red emergency cord and it will break the tie and manually open the door.

If you are going out of town for a long period of time and worry that a cord won't offer adequate protection, use a padlock to secure your garage (either putting it into the emergency pull or a spot along the track). This isn't recommended for everyday use, however, because it takes too long to undo in an emergency situation.

Secure Windows from Break-Ins

Windows are another way thieves get into your garage. Whether windows are high along the walls or part of the garage door, it's important to secure them from break-ins. The best way to do this is to install burglar bars on the inside. If the window is broken, the thief is unable to fit through the bars and access your home.

You can install burglar bars yourself or hire a professional. If you worry about damaging the curb appeal of your home, rest assured that these bars are difficult to see from the outside. They offer long-term protection without impeding your garage door, too.

To prevent unwanted outdoor access to your home, secure your garage door. Two basic ways to do this are to reinforce your garage's manual entry lever as well as its windows. Make sure that you can still access the manual entry from the inside so you aren't stuck in an emergency. When installing burglar bars, also make sure they don't slow down or limit the garage door's function. If you do this, your garage will be accessible to you, but not so accessible to thieves. To learn more about garage doors, visit a website like http://www.shankdoor.com.

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