Does Home Insurance Cover Your Garage Door?

Homeowners insurance does cover garage doors in some circumstances. As a homeowner, you want to ensure you’re prepared should you need to repair or replace your garage door. Discover the ins and outs of when home insurance may cover garage door damage. 

Understanding Home Insurance and Garage Door Coverage

Garage doors are sometimes covered by home insurance. Explore when you’ll typically be covered and situations where your insurer may not cover the damage.

What Is Typically Covered?

These are some of the common instances where you are likely covered:

• Damage from windstorms, hail and lightning strikes: You are typically covered against weather-related perils like lightning strikes, hail and wind. Even so, it is a good idea to invest in a garage door that can withstand heavy winds and extreme weather.
• Fire damage: If a fire breaks out in your garage or home and damages the garage door, your policy usually covers the repair or replacement costs. Damage from soot and smoke is included. 
• Break-ins: Break-ins that damage your garage door are generally covered by insurers.
• Vehicle damage: If a vehicle accidentally damages your garage door, your policy often covers the repair costs. Auto insurance may come into play in some scenarios, which we’ll cover in greater depth below. 

Exceptions and Exclusions

There are certain exceptions and exclusions to understand. Additionally, depending on how comprehensive your insurance is, specific damage may or may not be covered. These are some common scenarios in which your garage door might not be covered:

• General wear and tear: Damage caused by normal wear and tear is typically not covered by home insurance policies, and you will need to cover the repair expense.
• Intentional damage: If the insurer finds that the damage was caused intentionally by the homeowner or other residents, it is excluded from coverage.
• Poor maintenance and upkeep: If the damage is due to a lack of proper garage door maintenance and long-term neglect, your insurer will likely not cover the repairs. 
• Floods, earthquakes and wildfires: Standard home insurance policies often exclude damage caused by certain natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes and wildfires. You can usually add endorsements or separate policies to ensure you are covered in the event of such disasters. 

A Closer Look at What Is and Isn’t Covered 

Understanding the extent of your home insurance coverage is crucial. Explore some specific circumstances below. 

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Detached Garage Doors?

Detached garages often require separate coverage under an “other structures” policy because they are not attached to your home. Without one of these policies, damage to your detached garage might not be covered, and you would be responsible for covering the costs of repairs or full garage door replacement. 

Attached garages are typically covered under your standard home insurance policy. However, you should always check your policy details to ensure you are adequately covered for either type of garage door. 

Does Home Insurance Cover Garage Door Repairs?

While standard home insurance policies generally cover garage door repairs, the extent of coverage can vary significantly based on specific policy terms. Factors such as the type of damage, the cause and the policy’s coverage limits play crucial roles in determining how much the insurer will potentially pay out. 

For instance, some policies may fully cover repairs and damage caused by falling trees or theft, while others might have exclusions or require higher deductibles. Additionally, certain policies might offer extra endorsements for enhanced protection. 

It is essential to review your policy details and consult with your insurance provider to understand the exact terms and extent of your coverage. 

Does Home Insurance Cover Garage Door Springs?

Home insurance generally covers garage door springs if the damage was due to a covered peril, such as fire or theft. However, damage from general wear and tear or poor maintenance is typically not covered. To be sure, check your policy’s specific details. 

Does Car Insurance Cover Hitting a Garage Door?

If you accidentally hit your garage door with your car, your homeowners insurance policy will typically cover the damage done to the door. If you have collision coverage, you can likely use it to cover the damage to your vehicle. However, in some circumstances, auto insurance can cover damage to garage doors. For example, if someone else’s vehicle hits your garage door, their liability car insurance should cover the damage. 

Filing a Claim for Garage Door Damage

Knowing how to file a claim streamlines and quickens the repair process when your garage door sustains damage. Here are the steps to take when filing a claim:

1. Assess the damage: Inspect the damage and take detailed photos and videos as evidence.
2. Determine who is at fault: Identify what or who caused the damage. Was it you, a third party or natural elements?
3. Review your policy: Check your insurance policy to understand what is covered and determine if any deductibles apply.
4. Contact your insurance provider: Notify your insurance company immediately and ask what documentation is required.
5. Gather documentation: Collect all the necessary documentation, including your insurance policy, third-party insurance information, photos of the damage and repair estimates.
6. Submit the claim: Your insurer will provide you with a claims form, which you must fill out and attach all the required documentation to.
7. Schedule an inspection: An adjuster might be sent out to inspect the damage and assess the claim — this step is not always applicable.
8. Follow up and maintain contact: Keep in contact with your insurer to track the progress and state of your claim.
9. Repair and reimbursement: Once approved, have your garage door repaired by a reputable company. 

The entire process can take a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the claim and the insurer’s responsiveness. It might be worth seeing if you can repair the damage and then receive a reimbursement. 

Consult Your Insurance Provider and Speak to Continental Door, Co. About Our Garage Services

As a homeowner, it is essential to know what type of coverage you currently have and whether you need to change or upgrade your policy to ensure your garage door is covered. You can contact your insurance provider to find the best way forward for your needs.

When you need 24/7 emergency garage door repairs or any other residential garage door products and services, Continental Door is here to help. We have been serving residents of the greater Spokane and north Idaho areas since 2000 and continue to provide value-added services, such as free estimates and quotes. 

When you’re looking for a responsive repair team or wish to install a new garage door, get in touch with us online, and we’ll see that you are helped without delay. 

How to Make a Garage Door Quieter

As a homeowner or business owner, you want your garage door to operate smoothly and quietly. However, sometimes garage doors can make disturbing noises — thankfully, there are ways to resolve these issues with at-home solutions and professional help.

Common Garage Door Noises

Understanding and identifying the noise source is the first step to knowing how to make a garage door quieter. Some of the most likely culprits for your garage door’s noise include:

• Loose hardware
• Worn-out rollers
• Unbalanced door
• Lack of lubrication
• Faulty garage door opener
• Damaged tracks
• Old or worn-out springs

Identifying the Cause of the Noise

To identify the source of your garage door’s noise, follow these steps:

• Visual inspection: Examine the door’s hardware, rollers, tracks and springs for any visible signs of wear or damage.
• Audible inspection: Operate the door and listen for specific noises such as squeaking, grinding or banging. Try to pinpoint where the sound is coming from.
• Manual operation: Disconnect the opener and manually open and close the door to see if the noise persists. If it doesn’t, the issue is with the opener. 
• Balance check: Test the door’s balance by opening it halfway and stopping. It may be unbalanced if both sides do not stay in place immediately.

5 Tips on How to Make Your Garage Door Quieter

There are several ways to make your garage door quieter, and the tips you need likely depend on your issue. It may be a case of implementing preventive maintenance or requiring an upgrade. The following are five tips for making your garage door quieter. 

1. Taking Preventive Measures and Doing Maintenance

You can do routine garage door maintenance yourself. However, it is typically advisable to contact a professional to work through the following checklist:

• Inspect hardware: Regularly check and tighten all nuts, bolts and screws to prevent them from coming loose and to stop any rattling or vibrating.
• Clean tracks: Remove dirt and debris from the tracks to ensure the door operates smoothly.
• Examine rollers: Inspect rollers for wear and replace them if necessary, especially metal ones.
• Test the auto-reverse: To ensure the safety of people and objects, ensure the auto-reverse feature is functioning correctly. 
• Inspect the weatherstripping: Check and replace weatherstripping to keep out dirt, prevent drafts and reduce noise. 

2. Implementing Proper Lubrication

Proper lubrication is crucial to maintaining a quiet and smoothly operating garage door. It assists in reducing friction, prevents wear and tear and minimizes noise. Regular lubrication extends the life span of the door’s various moving components and ensures efficient operation.

You’ll want to apply a high-quality lubricant to rollers, hinges, tracks and springs to reduce friction and noise. 

3. Ensuring Quiet Garage Door Hinges

Hinges on a garage door can produce noise due to friction between metal components, lack of lubrication or general wear and tear over time. Additionally, rust and dirt accumulation can contribute to squeaking or grinding sounds.

The following are steps to help quieten your garage door hinges:

•  Clean the hinges: Remove any dirt, dust or rust from the hinges using a cloth or small non-abrasive brush. Rust removal may require adding a protective layer afterward or replacing the hinges.
• Apply lubricant: Use a silicone-based spray or white lithium grease to lubricate the hinges’ pivot points every few months. 
• Tighten screws: It is crucial to ensure all screws and bolts are securely tightened to prevent rattling or the hinges from coming loose.
• Check for wear: Inspect the hinges for signs of wear, damage or excessive rust and replace them if necessary. 

4. Insulating a Garage Door to Make It Quieter

Insulation is another way to make your garage doors quieter, as it reduces noise and improves energy efficiency, making your garage more comfortable and cost-effective.

The benefits of insulating your garage door include:

• Noise reduction: Insulation helps dampen the sound of your garage door opening and closing and muffles external sounds, too. 
• Energy efficiency: Insulated doors assist with maintaining a stable temperature inside the garage door, ultimately reducing heating and cooling costs.
• Enhanced durability: Most insulation adds strength to the door, making it more resistant to excessive damage from dents and other harm.
• Improved comfort: If you work in your garage, a well-insulated door makes it more comfortable, especially in extreme weather conditions.
• Increased home value: Upgrades like this can boost your home’s market value as an added benefit, should you wish to sell eventually.

There are various types of insulation materials available, which you can speak to a professional about, and these are:

• Foam board: These rigid panels provide excellent thermal resistance and are easy to install.
• Reflective insulation: This consists of reflective foil that reduces heat transfer and is ideal for warm or hot climates.
• Spray foam: It expands to fill gaps and provides a high R-value, offering superior insulation.
• Fiberglass batts: These are a more traditional insulation material that is highly effective and widely available.
• Polystyrene panels: This is a good choice if you want a lightweight, moisture-resistant option with good insulation properties.

5. Making Strategic Upgrades to Quieter Components

Upgrading your garage door to noise-reducing hardware can significantly enhance its quietness and performance. Here are some considerations when making upgrades to quieter components:

1. Noise-reducing hardware options: Consider installing nylon rollers and rubber belt drives for a quieter solution. Nylon rollers are quieter than metal ones, and rubber belt drives reduce vibrations and noise compared to chain drives.
2. Benefits of nylon rollers: Nylon rollers offer smoother and quieter operation than metal rollers, and they reduce friction and wear. This leads to less noise and longer-lasting performance.
3. Investing in high-quality models: Opting for high-quality, quiet garage door models can provide long-term peace of mind. These models are designed with noise reduction in mind to ensure a quieter and more efficient operation.
4. Cost-benefit evaluation: While the initial investment in noise-reducing components may be higher, the long-term benefits include reduced maintenance costs, improved performance and a quieter garage door. 

When to Consider Professional Installation for Maximum Quietness

If your garage door continues to make persistent noise despite regular maintenance and attempted do-it-yourself (DIY) fixes, consider contacting a professional. Signs that a professional is needed include:

• Unusual grinding or banging sounds
• Difficulty in balancing the door 
• Visible wear and tear on critical components
• Persistent and irregular noise despite your attempts

Professional garage door and component installers have the expertise to diagnose and address complex issues, ensuring optimal performance and quiet operation of your door. They can also recommend and install high-quality, noise-reducing components, providing long-term solutions. Additionally, professional installation often comes with warranties, which helps to ensure your investment is protected.  

Trust the Professionals at Continental Door to Reduce Your Garage Door Noise

If you are in the greater Spokane and north Idaho area and need help reducing or eliminating the noise from your garage door, please ask for professional assistance from Continental Door. We provide a range of services and repair options, as well as residential garage door products and commercial garage door solutions, with offerings sure to meet your needs.

Please contact us online for a free quote, general questions, or to ask about our offerings. We will use our years of service history and knowledge to help you. 

Manual Garage Door Security

Manual Garage Door Security Solutions

We live in a time when technology has automated many aspects of life, from your car’s transmission system to daily household operations. Garage doors are one of the areas that enjoy automation because nowadays, they come fit or designed to operate with garage door openers. These devices use electricity to open and close the garage door, and some come with a battery backup. 

However, in the event of an extended power outage where the battery runs out, you’ll need another way to lock your garage door because the opener doesn’t work. This guide shows you how to lock a garage door manually.

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How to Lock a Garage Door Manually From the Inside 

It’s easy to manually lock garage doors from the inside if they already have a built-in locking system that serves as a backup when the door opener stops working. If your garage door has a built-in lock, simply slide the locking mechanism into place to prevent the door from opening from the outside. Before engaging the lock, however, disconnect your door opener so you can manually open and close the garage door. Doing that prevents automatic operation while the manual lock is in place, which can damage the door.

If your garage door doesn’t have a built-in locking system, you’ll need to install a manual feature. This can be as simple as inserting a padlock or zip tie through preexisting holes in the track. If you can’t find any holes in the track, you may have to drill them yourself to allow different locking methods, such as a padlock, a clamp or a slide lock.

It’s advisable to let a professional install a manual lock on your garage door to enhance security and prevent accidental damage to your door. As you wait out a power outage or repairs to your garage door opener, try a temporary locking solution like a C-clamp or vice grips. To lock a garage door manually from inside, stick the C-clamp on the track to prevent sliding.

How to Lock a Garage Door Manually From the Outside 

Use a quick and easy solution like installing a hasp where the door touches the ground, and secure the garage door with a padlock. You could also weld loops on both sides of your garage door and secure it with strong padlocks if it’s a metal door. For wooden garage doors or those made from other materials, you could install a garage door kit since it comes with a key that allows you to lock and unlock your garage door from the outside.

There are two phases to installing a garage door kit. The lock has assemblies that you attach inside and outside the garage door. You first drill precise holes on the outside to drive the screws that hold the handle in place and then fit the matching assembly on the inside.

Installing a lock assembly on your garage door will allow you to lock it from the outside, but it can be a complex process as it requires exact measurements for proper installation. It’s best to let garage door service and repair experts handle the installation.

Types of Manual Locks for Garage Doors

Usually, quality garage door openers handle everything, from opening and closing the garage door to locking it. With that automatic feature unavailable, you’ll need to install a manual locking system. Here are common types of manual locks you can use:

1. Slide Locks

Slide locks function the same way as deadbolts but are a heavy-duty option for manually locking a garage door from the inside. You install a slide lock by screwing it at the edge of your garage door and making a hole in the tracks where the lock’s metal bar goes through. Since you need to push the bar through the hole in the tracks, you can only operate a slide lock from inside your garage.

2. Deadbolt Locks

Deadbolts are secure locks that drive a bolt into a hole in the tracks. They can be keyed or keyless. Keyed deadbolts require a key to activate the bolt, meaning you can install them on the outside. However, you can only operate a keyless deadbolt from inside your garage because you need to push the bolt into place to secure the door.

3. Keyed Locks

Keyed locks are some of the most effective in the market, ranging from traditional to modern and sophisticated ones. The most basic keyed locks are padlocks, which you can use to secure your garage door from the inside and outside. Their main advantage is that they are simple and effective once you make holes or hoops to run them through.

The more sophisticated and reliable keyed locks are T handles and L handles, which you assemble on both sides of the door to allow locking and unlocking from the outside. These locks are stronger and more challenging to intruders than padlocks.

Common Lock Issues and Troubleshooting

Manual garage door locks can experience problems even if they don’t rely on electricity. Here are common issues you may notice with your manual locks:

• Misalignment: Garage door misalignment is a common issue that may occur due to damage or aging. A misalignment can also shift your manual lock out of position. Check and tighten loose screws or correct the misalignment to resolve the issue.
• Key issues: Challenges with keyed locks include breakage and the inability to turn the key properly inside the lock. You may use a tool like long-nose pliers to remove the broken key stuck inside the lock. Lubricating the lock will also help you turn the key with ease.
• Corrosion and rust: Since your garage door is exposed to the elements, the manual lock mechanism may show signs of corrosion and rust, which can damage the lock over time. Clean the lock to remove dirt and debris, and use recommended rust removers to eliminate rust. You may also lubricate the lock to prevent further corrosion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some FAQs about garage door locks:

Can You Lock a Garage Door Without Power?

If your power is out and you need to lock your garage door quickly, unplug the door opener and pull down the emergency release cord to put the door into manual mode. Then, find any type of clamping device and attach it to the tracks on top of the roller to prevent the door from going up.

How Do I Switch to the Automatic Lock?

Switching back to the automatic feature allows your door opener to operate its automatic lock. Pull the emergency release cord down and forward toward the door, and it’ll reengage the door opener. On your wall station, press the button to open the door. It’ll click and lift the door. The automatic lock will function normally the next time you close your garage door.

Improve Garage Door Security With Continental Door

Knowing how to manually lock a garage door is important because you never know when the need will arise. You can use the temporary clamping-the-tracks method to keep your garage safe. However, you may want to invest in a professional installation as a permanent solution.

Work with a reliable garage door company like Continental Door for services you can trust. If you’re a resident of the greater Spokane area, contact Continental Door for professional assistance!

How to Change a Garage Door Opener Code

How to Change And Set a Garage Door Opener Code

If you have a garage door opener, you probably enjoy the incredible ease and convenience it provides. Most of the time, you probably use a remote control or digital app to open and close your door without difficulty, but if you need help programming or changing a keyless entry PIN code, here is a basic rundown.

How To Set Your Garage Door Code

Follow these four steps to change a garage door opener code through keypad reprogramming: 

1. Find the “Learn” button: You’ll find this button on the back of most garage door openers.
2. Reset the code: To change a garage code, you first need to clear existing codes from the unit’s memory. You can erase the memory by pressing and holding down the “Learn” button until the indicator light next to it turns off. 
3. Enter your new code: Press the “Learn” button again and hold it down until the light turns on. You will have 30 seconds to input the new code and press “Enter.” The light should go off, indicating that you have successfully programmed the code.
4. Test the code: Enter the code on the garage door keypad and wait for a response. If the reprogramming is successful, the door should open or close.

If the remote does not work after you attempt to change a garage keypad code, an error during the setup, like holding the “Learn” button, can be the cause. The button is responsible for programming and erasing linked remotes — holding it down can have the opposite effect. Try repeating the steps for changing a garage door code and note how long you press and release the “Learn” button.

How To Change Your Garage Door Code

1. Enter your existing PIN: After entering your current PIN, hold down the # key.
2. Enter new PIN: When the light blinks, release the # key and type in the new PIN. The light should blink again to indicate a successful PIN change.
3. Test the new code: Wait 10 seconds, then input your PIN code and press enter. The door should now open or close.

Access Code Management

Managing garage door access codes involves regularly and securely changing them, using unique and hard-to-guess combinations and limiting the number of people who know the code. It’s also crucial to maintain control over who can access your garage door to protect against potential security vulnerabilities.

How To Set a Temporary Garage Door PIN

In some circumstances, you might set a temporary PIN to allow guests or service workers to access to your home without giving away your permanent PIN code. Setting a temporary PIN is simple:

1. Type in your PIN and hold down the * key. When the light blinks three times, release the * key.
2. Enter the temporary four-digit PIN of your choosing. The opener light should blink four times.
3. Set the parameters for the temporary password. For time, type in the number of hours you want the PIN to work for and press *. For quantity, type in the number of times you want the password to work and press #. The highest number you can choose is 255. The light should blink once.
4. After 10 seconds, test the opener. Remember that the test run counts as use. To clear a temporary password prematurely, follow the procedure for setting up the temporary PIN and set the number of hours or times to 0.

Smart Technology Integration

Garage door openers from leading manufacturers, like LiftMaster and Linear, integrate smart technology into their units for enhanced access and better control. These openers allow you to access your garage door from anywhere, lock it, control who goes in and out and track activity. 

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Garage door openers have slightly different procedures for changing codes depending on the model. Your installer should let you know if this is the case.

If you are still struggling to set your PIN code for your garage door opener, or if you have any other questions or issues regarding your garage door or opener, contact Continental Door for assistance. Our knowledgeable team serves the Spokane and Northern Idaho areas with quality residential and commercial garage door products and services. We also offer 24/7 emergency services and free estimates and quotes.

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