What Is a Garage Door Emergency Cord?

What Is a Garage Door Emergency Cord?

What is a Garage Door Emergency Cord?

Most days, your garage door opener functions smoothly, and you never think twice about what would happen if power were suddenly lost or your system malfunctioned. If your garage door opener malfunctions, you may need to use the release to open and close your garage door. Additionally, if the power is out and you need to leave for work or an event, you’ll need to use the emergency cord to get your car out of the garage. 

A garage release cord is a safety feature that disengages your opener from your door, turning your garage door back into a manual one. You may have noticed the cord with the red handle dangling from your door but never had an occasion to use the release. The feature is actually quite easy to use and re-engage once the issue has been resolved.

How to Use the Emergency Cord on a Garage Door

Some people might be a little afraid of a manual garage door because they are so used to a machine doing the lifting. Using the red release lever is quite easy, though, and quality garage doors slide easily up and down.

Start with your door in a down position. Never disengage the door when it is in the up position — if the spring is broken, the door may fall suddenly and create a dangerous situation or cause damage to your door. 

Pull the garage door’s red release cord. The trolley, which attaches to the opener mechanism will disengage from the automatic opener. This turns your door back into a manual one. You can now open and close the door. Keep in mind that functions such as the sensors that stop the door when something is in its path will not work during this time, so take the necessary precautions to avoid injury. 

How to Reattach the Garage Door Emergency Pull

Once the power is restored or you’ve determined you need to repair or replace your garage door opener, you may wonder how to re-engage the garage door opener. 

Again, start with the garage door in the down position. If your unit is newer, it may have an automatic reconnect feature that initiates when you hit the open button on your remote. If your garage door opener doesn’t have this ability, you’ll need to reconnect the trolley to the opener.

Pull the cord down and toward the door. This will typically reconnect the lever. You may even hear it click into place. You can tell by the spring whether the door is connected or not. When it’s disconnected, the spring is extended. When it’s engaged the spring is compressed. 

Be sure not to pull on the cord too hard. If it isn’t reattaching, there may be another issue that needs addressing. Tugging too forcefully can cause damage. Test the opener by hitting the button to send your garage door open. If it works without issue, everything is reattached correctly.

When to Call for Help

If your garage door is stuck in the open position, call for help. Never use the emergency release in this position as it can cause harm to yourself, others and the door itself. If you are unable to open your door, there may be other issues that require the help of a professional to repair or replace broken parts. For service in Northern Idaho or the greater Spokane, WA area, contact Continental Door’s 24/7 emergency service. 

Everything You Need to Know About Adding Siding to Your Garage Door

Adding Siding to Your Garage Door

If your garage door needs an update, you can add wood or faux wood siding to your garage door to create a wood overlay garage door. With this technique, you can create a door to complete your home’s sophisticated look.

As you consider how to make your garage door match your home exterior, you can choose a wood design for your garage door to complement your wooden front door. Whether you add siding or buy a custom wood door, you should hire a professional installer to replace or redesign your garage door.

Jump to Key Section

• Can You Add Siding to a Garage Door?
• Pros and Cons of Adding Siding to Your Garage Door
• Benefits of Hiring a Professional Installer to Add Siding to Your Garage Door
• Should You Add Siding to Your Garage Door or Purchase a Custom Garage Door?

Can You Add Siding to a Garage Door?

By adding wood siding to a garage door, you can create a wood overlay garage door. Overlaying your garage door with wood can give your garage door more depth to complement and match the rest of your home. Wood siding will adhere to your vinyl garage door with a special type of wood glue.

Pros and Cons of Adding Siding to Your Garage Door

Adding siding to your garage door can give your home a classic look while keeping up with the modern trend. While you can add a wood finish or stain your garage door to give it a wooden appearance, adding siding to your garage door comes with unique benefits:

• Siding offers extra protection: Adding that extra layer could provide even more insulation and protection from the heat and outside damage.
• You can easily customize your garage door to keep up with trends: By adding siding to your garage door, you can create your garage door without having to replace your old one. As the trends change, you can remove your garage door siding and replace it with new siding.
• You can complement the exterior of your home: Home designers suggest coordinating your garage door color and material with your front door. You can complete the sophisticated theme of your home by adding wood or faux wood to your garage door.

There are also drawbacks to adding siding to your garage door:

• Wood can be too bulky: Adding wood or faux wood to your existing garage door could weigh it down, making it difficult to open and close. If your garage door is not designed to handle the extra weight, your siding could damage it.
• Garage doors made of different materials are harder to clean: Wood garage doors are easy to maintain when you have the right equipment and information. If you place wood over a steel garage door, you’ll have to take care of both the wood and the steel pieces.
• Adding siding to your garage door can be complicated: In many cases, purchasing a custom made door instead of adding siding to an existing door will be easier. If you decide to add siding to your garage door, it’s best that you contact a professional garage door installer to handle the task.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Installer to Add Siding to Your Garage Door

You can install siding on your garage door yourself to create a wood overlay, or you can hire a professional. A professional garage door installer has experience and resources to help you remodel your garage door. Hiring a professional installer to add siding to your garage door may be beneficial to you because:

• A professional installer has experience: If you’ve done home renovation projects on your own in the past, you might be able to create your own siding for your custom door. However, a DIY home project can be frustrating if you are new to exterior design, so you may want to hire a professional who knows what to do. A professional garage door installer typically has years of experience installing and repairing garage doors.
• A professional installer has resources: To create your custom door on your own, you’ll need to buy all the supplies. You also likely need friends or family to help you take on this task of enhancing your home’s curb appeal. A professional will have all the resources and power needed to add siding to your garage door.
• A professional installer has time: While adding siding to your garage door should only take a couple of days, you may have to sacrifice work or a relaxing weekend to put up your siding.
• A professional installer can give you more for your money: A DIY project may save you money if you are experienced. But you will likely pay more money to repair any mistakes you make along the way. A professional installer may cost money, but you know that the professional will do the job right.

As you choose a professional installer to remodel your garage door, you should hire a reputable professional who has years of experience and is highly recommended by previous clients.

Should You Add Siding to Your Garage Door or Purchase a Custom Garage Door?

Instead of adding siding to your existing door, you can purchase a custom garage door. Custom sided garage doors will set your house apart from the rest of the houses on your block. Here are some of the benefits of custom garage doors:

• Extra insulation: In places as cold as Spokane and Northern Idaho, adding insulation to your garage door can also help you lower the cost of your energy bill each month.
• Increased return on investment: Your custom garage door can help enhance your home’s curb appeal and increase your home’s resale value.
• You are in control: When you choose your custom garage door, you can choose the material, finish and design of your door that will complement your home’s design.

If it’s time to renovate your home, consider installing a modern and contemporary garage door. If you would rather have a wood garage door, you can install a door with a wood finish. To prolong the life of your wood garage door, clean it with soapy water and add a stain or finish to it to protect it from extreme weather conditions.

Continental Door Can Help You Create Your Custom Wood Overlay Garage Door

Continental Door has been providing the Spokane and Northern Idaho area with garage door installation and repair services for more than 15 years. We have a wide selection of Clopay^® modern garage doors and wooden garage doors to give your home a sophisticated appearance. We can also help you create a custom garage door with or without siding that will complement your home’s exterior.

We are here to answer any questions you may have about customizing your garage door. You can fill out a contact form online or call us at 509.921.2260.

4 Things to Know About Installing a Drain in Your Garage

Installing a Garage Drain

Whatever you use your garage for, there is a good chance that you would benefit from having a garage drain. This is especially true for garages that are used for vehicle storage. The garage door is frequently opened and closed, even on rainy and snowy days — and water is likely to run off of cars, bikes, raincoats and boots to pool on the garage floor.

A drain is a great solution for this issue, but here are four things you should know before installing a drain in your garage:

1. You need to look into local garage floor drain codes. There are different codes and regulations for residential and commercial floor drain installation. Find out what the rules are in your area before you do anything else.
2. A garage drain can lower health risks. Pools of water and other excess moisture left in your garage can lead to the development of mold and other potential health risks, including the chance of breeding mosquitoes. 
3. You can’t pour just anything into a drain. There are specific regulations about what can be poured into a drain in different areas. For example, you should never pour any kind of chemical down your garage drain.
4. A garage drain needs to be cleaned regularly. Like any other drain, a garage floor drain needs regular cleaning and maintenance to stay in good working order. Just because it’s out of sight does not mean your garage drain should be out of mind.

What Is a Garage Drain?

Like any other drain, a garage drain is meant to control the flow of water. The key to a successful garage drain is the floor — it needs to be pitched or sloped so that water will run down the drain naturally.

What Is a French Drain System?

A French drain is one garage floor drain option. In a French drain system, a trench lined with gravel and a perforated pipe is used to redirect water away from an area.

Does a Garage Need a Drain?

For residential garages, the answer depends on where your home is located. Many cities do not allow the installation of garage drains. Instead, garage floors may be sloped so that any water can run out of the garage on its own or be swept and squeegeed out. If that water isn’t dealt with, either by a drain or by you, it could make the floor slippery and potentially cause accidents. 

Benefits of Having a Garage Drain

• A drain will prevent water from pooling in your garage and save you the labor of sweeping it out.
• You can easily wash your car inside your garage.
• A drain can prevent ice from building up in the winter.

How to Install a Drain in Your Residential Garage

In general, it is a good idea to leave complicated plumbing to experts. However, there are a few steps you should take when you consider installing a drain: 

• Check local ordinances before doing any installations.
• Decide whether you want to connect to the sewer system or route the water to a storm drain. 
• Make sure the floor is pitched or sloped so that water will run into the drain naturally. If the current slope is insufficient, be prepared to pour new concrete.

Contact Continental Door for Garage Door Services

Adding a drain to your garage is a great way to improve its safety and convenience, but you need to be sure you’re in compliance with city codes before calling a contractor. If so, there are several garage floor drain options you can explore to increase the utility of your space.

Planning to renovate your entire garage? Top it off with a new insulated door from Continental Door. Home and business owners in Spokane, Coeur D’Alene and the surrounding areas can count on Continental Door for high-quality, professional garage door services and expertise. Get in touch today for a free estimate or service request.