Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do to help extend the life of my garage door Springs?

• Twice a year spray your garage door springs with W-D 40. October and April are recommended times for this maintenance.

How often should I replace my rollers?

• When the garage door is open the full weight of the door is on the rollers. We recommended you replace your rollers ever 6 to 7 years to prevent added stress to your hinges and door.

Things you should never do to your garage door or garage door opener.

• You should never put any lubrications in the vertical or horizontal track of your garage door. Over time Lubrications in your track will collect dust and dirt particles. This will greatly affect the up and down travel of your garage door.
• You should never attempt to replace a torsion spring on your garage door. You should call the professional at Assurance Overhead Doors to take care of this task.
• You should never place the pressure strength on your garage door opener on high. If the opener will not lift the door on low or mid strength then you should call Assurance Overhead Doors to come out and service your garage door opener. Placing the pressure strength on high can do damage to your door and increases the risk of harming anything that is under the garage door when closed.

What horsepower garage door opener do I need to lift my door?

• Before installing a garage door opener, you should ensure that the door operates easily manually. The rule of thumb is that if a ten year old child can lift the door with little or no effort, the door is well balanced. If the door is hard to lift, you should have a professional authorized dealer check the springs and other hardware on the door before installing an opener.
• Generally speaking, if you have a two car garage door, you can use either the one third (1/3) or one half (1/2) horsepower garage door opener.
  Remember that the easier it is to open the door manually, the easier it will be for the garage door opener to open the door and that means the longer your garage door opener will last.

Which model is better, the chain drive, the belt drive or the screw drive?

• Each garage door opener has its advantages. The chain drive and belt drive are good in all applications, and the screw drive is best used on one piece doors that tilt rather than go up on a track. The screw drive runs a little slower than the other two garage door openers.
• The belt drive is the quietest garage door opener and would be recommended for garages that have a room above them.
• The chain drive is the garage door opener that we have been making the longest and offers dependable performance year after year. All of our garage door openers are very reliable and require virtually no maintenance.

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How do I test the automatic reverse system?

• Your garage door opener has two safety systems. The first and most apparent is the Safety Sensor System® which is located 4 to 6 inches above the garage floor on both sides of the door. To test the sensors, first open the door, then place a carton or an item that completely blocks the infrared beam of the sensors. When commanded to close, the door will not move more than an inch and the opener´s light bulb will flash for 5 seconds, equaling 10 flashes. Removal of the carton or item will allow normal operation. If the safety sensors become misaligned or obstructed, the garage door can be closed by pressing and holding the wall door control button until down travel is completed.
• The second safety feature is a built-in automatic reverse system that will reverse upon striking an obstruction, provided the opener and door are installed and adjusted properly.
  After adjusting the opener, always test the safety reverse system. We recommend repeating this test monthly.
• Place a one inch board (or 2 x 4 laid flat) on the floor, centered under the garage door.
• Operate the door in the down direction. The door must reverse upon striking the board. If it does not, refer to your owner´s manual.
• Failure to pass the above test could result in serious injury or death.
• Please remember to repeat this test once a month.

Why does my garage door reverse as it is closing?

• All garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 include the federally mandated Safety Sensor Reversing System®. These sensors are found 4 to 6 inches above the garage floor and protect the door opening with an invisible beam. If there is any problem with the safety sensors, the light bulb on the opener will flash 10 times and the garage door will not close unless constant pressure is applied to the wall button.
• Both the sending and receiving sensors have a small LED light to help us align and troubleshoot them. The LED on the sending eye will glow regardless of alignment or obstruction. The LED on the receiving eye will go out when the beam is obstructed, and it will flicker if out of alignment.
• The first step is to make sure that each sensor has a steady glowing LED light. If both lights are on, but one appears to be flickering very slightly, chances are the sensors are misaligned. To check for misalignment, first obstruct the beam of the sensors so that they cannot see each other. When the beam is blocked, the indicator light on one of the two sensors will temporarily go out. This is the receiving eye. Remove the obstruction so the light on the receiving eye comes back on. Then loosen the wingnut on the back of this sensor. Move the sensor around and make sure the green indicator light is bright and steady before you re-tightens the wingnut. This can take a few attempts before it is back in alignment.
• If an indicator light is out on only one of the sensors, check for a possible loose wire. The sensor wires are attached to the white and black terminals on the back or side-panel of the overhead motor unit. Make sure the wires are securely connected to the terminals. If everything looks okay here, check the wires at the sensors. Move the wire around where it is connected in the back of the sensor. If the indicator light comes on, you have a short in the wires and/or sensor, and will have to replace the sensors.
• If the problem seems to occur only during the daytime, check to make sure the receiving eye is not in direct sunlight. If this is the case, remount or adjust sensor back toward the side of the garage.
• After any adjustment to the sensors, the opener itself or the door, test both reversing systems.
• To test the safety sensors with the door open, press the remote control or pushbutton to close the door. Break the beam using your hand or a carton. The door should immediately reverse to a fully open position and the opener bulb will flash 10 times.

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How do I control my limit adjustments?

• The limit adjustments are accessed through the cover or end panel of your garage door opener by using a flat head screwdriver. Refer to your owner´s manual for the exact location on your specific model.
• Each adjustment screw attaches to an individual switch, one for up and one for down. Increasing the down, for example, allows the motor to run longer, moving the trolley farther down the rail, and consequently lowering the door onto the floor. Decreasing the down acts in reverse. The more you decrease, the less time the motor runs, therefore stopping the trolley and the door before it completely closes.
• This same principle applies to the up travel adjustment. Turn the screw towards the increase and the door will open farther. Turning the screw towards the decrease button will have the opposite effect.
• Things to remember during this adjustment phase:
• One complete turn of the adjustment screw is equivalent to approximately 2 inches of travel.
• Turning the adjustment screw the direction of the arrow always increases travel. Turning it the opposite of the arrow decreases travel.
• The motor may overheat and shut off with repeated operation. Simply wait at least 30 minutes and try again.
• Always test the safety reverse system after adjusting the opener. We recommend repeating this test monthly.

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