The warehousing industry has made many technological advancements over the decades. Many important loading dock equipment has come into being. A dock leveler is one element that has gained significant importance. Why? Because it’s essential for unloading and loading trucks and trailers. Most importantly, dock levelers help reduce accidents.

Before discussing the importance of dock levelers, let’s understand what they are and how they function.

What Are Dock Levelers?

Simply put, a dock leveler is a permanent fixture placed at the dock’s door. It mainly comprises a metal plate known as a lip. Such levelers are placed in a stowed position and function by being lowered onto the truck’s or trailer’s body.

These dock levelers carry out various functions and can be automatic or manual and, similarly, telescopic or hinged.

The Importance of Dock Levelers

Dock levelers, unlike dock boards, dock plates, and truck lifts, are highly functional because they are feature-rich. In many cases, your dock may not match the height of the trucks that serve the loading zone, and that’s why dock levelers are incredibly important.

When your dock and the truck’s height don’t match, there’s a gap left between the dock and the truck, making it cumbersome and dangerous for you to load at your dock. Dock levelers can also be a permanent part of the dock. That way, they bridge the gap between the dock and the truck or the warehouse floor.

Dock levelers are worth investing because:

• They are sturdy and capable of carrying heavy loads.
• Many types of dock levelers are highly suitable for motorized forklifts.
• Safety in the warehouseis vastly improved with such levelers.
• They ensure an easy and smooth transition between the trailers and the docks, and can prevent various warehouse accidents that could lead to severe damage and injury.
• Their design helps them absorb bumps and shocks during the dock’s daily unloading and loading process.
• They are known to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your loading and unloading operations.
• They are durable and come with a low maintenance

Choosing the Right Dock Levelers

Before settling on your dock leveler from Automated Door Systems, consider the following factors to pick the ideal option:

1. What do you need the leveler for

When determining the right leveler, decide whether or not you’ll be using a forklift or pallet jack to load and unload the trucks and how much weight capacity you need.

Levelers like the hydraulic ones are best suited for handling heavy loads. And, if you have wide trailers coming to your dock, be sure to choose one that’s functional enough to meet all your needs.

2. Dimensions

The dock leveler’s width and length are determined by the vehicles that come to your warehouse. High-capacity trailers with a bed of 6 to 18 in. have become quite popular. The low-profile tires and air ride suspensions are also getting popular more and more popular.

However, they create a massive gap between the truck bed and the dock. If that happens, you need a dock leveler that is long enough to ensure a smooth operation.

3. Safety

The safety of your workers is imperative if you wish to run a productive business. Therefore, you need a safe dock leveler. Before deciding on a dock leveler from Automated Door Systems, consider all the factors regarding the loaded and offloaded goods and the truck specs.

Contact Automated Door Systems if You Need to Install Dock Levelers in Your Facility

If you want a high-quality service provider that you can trust for installing dock levelers, “Automated Door Systems” is your best option.

We offer various kinds of dock levelers, but Automated Door Systems’s team of experts is ready to help you choose a dock leveler that is perfect for your business needs.

Click here if you want to know more about Loading Dock Equipment at Automated Door Systems. We have Dock Lifts, Scissors table, Conversion Kits, Vehicle Restraints, and other accessories.

When it comes to your home, you don’t want to risk trusting the wrong garage door repair company with your maintenance. The outcome can be costly and dangerous to your family. Many repair companies try to perform overhead door repairs but are not qualified to handle the job. Therefore, it is essential to know what to look for when hiring a garage door repair company.

Most companies that call themselves professionals try to take advantage of you if they realize that you’re an uninformed customer. The industry is highly specialized and technical so the average person is uninformed.

Below are some tips to help you choose the right company and sideline companies that try to manipulate you.

1. Check Critical Information

Always do your due diligence before considering a garage door repair company. You need to verify the critical information, but also try to review the following:

• Physical address:Any reputable overhead door repair company will have a physical address listed online. Always verify this address using Google Maps. Bogus companies will often list fake addresses, including gas stations, apartment buildings, and more.
• Website:In this day and age, every reliable company has a website. Don’t fault an overhead door repair company for having a poor website, but be skeptical if there’s no site at all.

All this information should give you a good idea of whether the garage door repair company is genuine and how they’re viewed locally. Some companies may have a stronger web presence than others but avoid doing business with ones that have no online footprint.

2. Ask Friends for Recommendations

One of the best ways of finding a trustworthy garage door repair company is to ask friends, family, neighbours, and co-workers. There’s a good chance that you know someone we’ve worked for in the past. A positive referral or even a warning can help you find a reputable company.

The great thing about asking for recommendations is that the person you ask has no skin in the game. They’re going to be honest and upfront with you as they don’t want to damage their relationship with you by pointing you in the wrong direction. Plus, they have no reason to provide erroneous information.

3. Look Out for Red Flags

If you want to avoid working with untrustworthy companies, be aware of some of the red flags, especially the following:

• Excessive advertising: An overhead door repair company needs to advertise, but excessive advertising is cause for concern. When a huge amount of advertising is in play, the company has to recoup its expenses by charging high prices.
• Multiple company names:If a company uses different names on its website, advertisements, and customer service phone lines, it indicates that they’re evading someone or something. Consistency is best in this area.
• Weird feeling: If you get an uneasy feeling when calling or meeting with a repair company, trust your intuition. An honest overhead door repair company will make you feel at ease.

Call Automated Door Systems, the Most Professional Overhead Door Repair Company in Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston & Toronto

We hope that with these tips, you can avoid hiring unprofessional companies that may cost more and endanger you and your family. The next time you want garage door repair services, call Automated Door Systems. We’re a highly experienced and highly professional garage door repair and installation company, and we can immediately handle any problem related to your garage door. Get in touch with us today!!

If you have holes on your garage door drywall, or if your screen doors are falling off their tracks, it’s time to call the commercial door repair professionals from Automated Door Systems. We are your one-stop solution for any commercial garage door repair require, and we provide workmanship you can trust.

Our commercial door repair professionals are always equipped with all the tools they need to repair your broken doors. And if something is beyond repair, we install a replacement that fits your business’s specifications and style.

Your commercial garage door serves two important functions for your office: security and style. It is vital that you consider both aspects of your door. If you’re tired of dealing with damaged, broken, or unhinged doors or if you aren’t happy with the way your doors look, our garage door repair professionals are ready to step into action. We can provide fast and effective repairs and best-in-class installation for new doors.

Schedule a Service Call with Automated Door Systems

Before scheduling a service call for your garage door/opener, we suggest you take a look at your garage door system and answer a few questions, such as:

Is there any visible reason the door is not working? 

For instance, broken spring, cable, track, roller, hinge, etc.

Do you already know why the door is not working? 

For example, the door worked last night, but when you pushed the button this morning, nothing happened.

If a broken spring is the problem, does it stretch out from the rear hanger support of the track that’s mounted to the ceiling (extension or stretch spring)? Or is the spring mounted and wound on a pipe above the top of the upper door section (torsion spring)?

Does your garage door accommodate one car or two cars? 

Determine if the door is single car wide or two car wide.

What about the material composition of your garage door?

Wood, high-end custom wood, steel, vinyl, fiberglass, etc.?

Is the door electrically/automatically operated? 

If so, was the garage door opener working reliably until the door failed to operate?

Did any specific event lead to the service requirement? 

Was the door hit by your vehicle, damaged when it closed on an object, or was it frozen to the ground and failed to open when activated.

How to Prepare Your Garage Door for Your Service Call

The following tips will help us to provide the best possible service experience:

Vehicle: Vehicles must be removed from the work area if possible. If the vehicle is trapped in the garage, be prepared to move it for the technician when they open the door for you.

Tools/hobby equipment: You must move items out of the work area.

Children and pets: Be prepared to keep children and pets away from the work area while our experts are on-site.

Conclusion

Before ordering a service call, a bit of preparation can pay big dividends by giving us more information before dispatching a technician. This can reduce service costs and downtime as the technician will be as informed and prepared as possible to address your specific needs.

Moreover, at Automated Door Systems, ensuring your doors are properly installed and looking their best is just part of the job for us. Get in touch with us today!

When we buy a car, we want to be sure we keep it safe. Garages with strong doors are built to protect our cars. Although these garage doors ensure safety, they’re not going to last forever. With time, they start to wear down and become a headache for you. In these situations, rather than tackling the problem yourself, it is always better to hire a professional garage door repair company like Automated Door Systems. 

5 Benefits Of Professional Garage Door Repair Service

1. Time and Money Savings

If your garage door is broken or needs extensive repairs, it can disrupt your business. It results in loss of revenue and missed opportunities. You should always look to hire a dedicated repair service provider like Automated Door Systems to maintain your residential and commercial garage door and alleviate potential headaches.

2. Minimize the Risk of Injury

If your garage door is not functioning properly or in dire need of maintenance, chances are you’ll hurt yourself sooner than later. While you can handle basic maintenance and repair tasks such as knocking the tracks back into place, you should leave more sophisticated issues like replacing the garage door opener to a professional company like Automated Door Systems. A professional crew has experience handling heavy garage doors and knows how to minimize the risk of injury.

3. Skilled, Experienced Professionals

Without the right skills, even a small issue with a garage door opener can turn into something significant and costly. Instead of coming up with a perfect solution, you may be doing more damage to your door.

So, before you repair your garage door yourself, ask yourself:

• Do I know where the problem is?
• Do I have the right tools to fix this?
• Does it need simple maintenance or repair to ensure proper operation?

If you answered no to these questions, calling a professional is the right thing. Sometimes, you need to lubricate the chains instead of replacing them, but an unskilled individual like yourself might not be able to recognize the difference. That’s where professional skills come in!

Our technicians at Automated Door Systems will draw upon years of experience servicing different doors in various settings. These experiences ensure your repair needs are addressed with a great customer experience.

4. Latest Tools and Equipment

You can find garage door companies that offer you various door services at a very reasonable price. But it is imperative that you hire experienced and professional technicians from Automated Door Systems. We offer you garage door installation, garage door opener installation, spring repair, and other services. And our professionals are trained to use the latest equipment and tools to handle any garage door problem.

5. You’ll Always Get 100% Successful Repairs

Even if you attempt to repair the garage door yourself, you may not be able to do it perfectly. If you continue to use it in less-than-optimal condition, it can get significantly damaged again, leaving your home and assets vulnerable.

Hiring a professional will ensure that the repair is 100% successful. Therefore, it’s better not to risk an incomplete repair and instead opt for Automated Door Systems’s local garage door repair services in Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, or Toronto.

Ready to Call a Commercial Door Repair Service Partner? Call Automated Door Systems!

Automated Door Systems is ready to handle your residential and commercial garage door repair requirements! Whether your business faces an emergency or is looking for a maintenance program, we are ready to serve you. With locations in Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, or Toronto and years of experience helping customers of all sorts, our technicians are ready to help keep your home or business running. Get in touch with us today!

Garage door repair can be a time-consuming exercise that causes headaches, inconvenience, and forces you to spend your hard-earned money. But if problems are overlooked, and you don’t hire us for garage door repair at the right time, many safety issues can result.

People hardly have time to stand around and stare at their garage door, so it is only natural that minor things are missed until the problem escalates to a serious issue. While our garage doors can just fade into the background, it is essential to maintain them regularly.

Here are some tips to help you maintain your garage door:

• A widespread perception is that all garage door problems are related to the opener, but this is not always true. There may be problems with the garage door itself. It is essential to look beyond the garage door opener to understand if you need garage door repair.
• Regularly lubricating the tracks and bolts and inspecting the entire structure of your garage door once every two days or at least twice a week is an excellent way to maintain your garage door.
• It is always better to avoid garage door repair, and to accomplish this, you should regularly attend to every aspect of the door system. It would be best if you also cleaned the tracks of dirt. This should be done using recommended lubricants rather than those that hold on to dirt and grime instead of cleansing them. Further, tracks can often get misaligned, and screws and bolts may loosen with time. Wear and tear is always common with commercial or industrial garage doors. But no need to worry; we will meticulously fix the alignment of the tracks and tighten the screws and bolts as required.
• There may be times when the need for a garage door repair specialist like Automated Door Systems becomes unavoidable. Almost all the tasks are difficult for you to carry out and call for expertise. In such cases, you shouldn’t delay garage door repair, as the problem may escalate to a new level altogether. Keep in mind that maintaining the garage door or performing regular garage door repair is always a wise decision, and it will help you avoid bigger problems.

If Your Garage Door Needs Repair or Maintenance, Don’t Worry, Automated Door Systems is Here for You

For these reasons and more, garage door repair service is important and is better left to the experts and professionals such as Automated Door Systems. We have been installing, replacing, and repairing garage doors for many years.

Technicians at our garage door company can also tell you when it’s time for a new garage door and which one would be a perfect fit for your home. If you’ve got a residential or commercial garage door in the Montreal, Ottawa, or Kingston area that needs repair or maintenance, put away your toolbox and make a service call to schedule a repair or find out more about a new garage door installation or to get a free estimate.

And if your garage door needs to be fixed immediately, you can use our emergency service, too.

Garage doors are made up of several parts that work together. But as the parts work, they grind against one another and create friction, which hampers your garage door performance. Hence, garage door repair and, more specifically, garage door lubrication is necessary for your door systems to function well.

In winter, expanding and contracting caused by the elements can also cause your garage door to need repair and lubrication. Proper lubrication for many garage door parts is necessary to prevent shearing and grating, which can damage your garage door. It also reduces friction between moving parts, ensures proper functionality, and makes your door less noisy.

Although your to-do list may be long, the one maintenance item that you should never leave off the list is lubricating your garage door. Further, customers also ask us how often they should lubricate their garage doors. We recommend lubricating hinges, springs, and rollers every 3 months, and the track should be lubricated once a year. Read on to learn more about lubricating your garage door.

What parts of your garage door need to be lubricated?

Many components of your garage door need to be properly lubricated to perform optimally, and these include:

Springs

The torsion springs do the heavy lifting for the door every day. But over time, their lubrication tends to wear down, leading to annoying squeals and squeaks. We can spray the springs with enough lubricant that they’ll move more easily.

Hinges

Don’t forget about hinges! You can ask us to lubricate steel hinges at their pivot points. On the other hand, plastic hinges should be left alone, as plastic can be damaged by lubrication.

Rollers

The rollers need to be lubricated as well, so the door opens and closes without a hitch. If your rollers have nylon wheels, we’ll ensure that only the bearings are lubricated and not the nylon itself. If you’re attempting to DIY, you don’t need to be as careful with all-metal rollers, but don’t overdo it as you don’t want the lubrication dripping onto your car.

Tracks

As mentioned, the track should be lubricated once a year. However, it’s a good idea to wipe down the track every few months to reduce any dirt buildup that can lead to a malfunction.

Locks

This isn’t a vital part of garage door lubrication in the Montreal, Ottawa, and Kingston area, and probably doesn’t need to be done very often, but if the lock is difficult to open and close, or if the key sticks, it doesn’t hurt to spray it with some lubricant.

Contact our garage door company for tune-up services

If you have a residential or commercial garage door that makes grinding noises, you may not be able to tell whether the problem is lubrication or something else. If that’s the case, contact Automated Door Systems for maintenance, including lubrication. 

Our professionals can ensure your commercial or industrial garage doors are working correctly and stay that way. Automated Door Systems has also been helping Montreal, Ottawa, and Kingston homeowners enjoy reliable garage doors with our maintenance and tune-up services.

Do you need a commercial garage door repair? Business owners whose properties feature a garage door are bound to face maintenance needs at some point. In this situation, you have the option of hiring a repair professional. Using a commercial garage door repair service offers several benefits. Keep reading to find out the five most important benefits of commercial garage door repair service.

5 Benefits of Using Commercial Garage Door Repair Services

1. Access to the Latest Repair Tech

As experts in the field, our commercial garage door repair service team at Automated Door Systems has high-quality up-to-date equipment to ensure the job gets done quickly and safely the first time!

Sure, you’ve probably thought of buying the repair tools and attempting to DIY, as you might believe it will save you time and money in the long run. However, this isn’t usually the case, as you are likely to buy the wrong equipment, and may face nasty consequences.

With a professional door repair service company like Automated Door Systems, you can rest assured that all the tools used for the task won’t just be advanced but will be of high quality as well. We don’t compromise on the service we offer, so you can rest easy knowing that we’ll only use the best equipment possible to repair your door.

2. Access to Experts

Technicians will be able to draw upon years of experience servicing different door systems in various settings. This experience, coupled with a desire to protect the Automated Door Systems reputation, will help ensure we address your repair needs with great customer experience.

Furthermore, are you sure you can handle the repair on your own? Many DIY videos and guides give people a false sense of confidence that they can repair their garage door on their own, with sometimes disastrous consequences.

Do not risk life and limb if you do not have repair experience. If you’re unsure of what you’re supposed to do, don’t push it, as garage door repair can be hazardous. Repairing your door by yourself or even with the help of someone else poses many risks, and can be downright dangerous.

What’s more, door repair companies like ours have the best experienced, professional workers to perform the repairs. So, you’ll do well to hire our services right away.

3. Time & Money Savings

Depending on the repairs needed, a broken garage door can disrupt your business. It could result in lost revenue, so you should hire a dedicated repair service provider like us to maintain your commercial garage door and alleviate potential headaches.

4. Decreased Risk of Hurting Yourself or Others

Garage doors are dangerous, so spare yourself and your loved ones from the risk of getting hurt while working with heavy and dangerous garage door components. Leave these repairs to our professionals.

5. Make us Your Go-to Resource for the Future

After your first great experience, you can establish a lasting professional relationship with us for future issues.

No Need to Look Further for a Commercial Door Repair Service Company, Automated Door Systems is Here!

At Automated Door Systems, we can easily handle your commercial garage door repair requirements! Whether your business faces an emergency or wishes to enroll for regular maintenance, we are ready to serve you. With multiple locations in the Montreal, Ottawa, and Kingston areas, and years of experience helping companies of all kinds, our best-in-class technicians are ready to help keep your business running. Contact us to book your service today! 

Keeping a regular home maintenance schedule is an excellent way to control repair costs and reduce the likelihood of accidents. Spring is the ideal time for these projects, including modern garage door service, which is best done at least twice a year.

If you don’t know what tasks to include in a garage door maintenance to-do list, read this blog; we have created a 10-point checklist for you. And in the end, you will understand why we are the best where modern garage door installation, service, or maintenance is concerned.

10-Point Spring Garage Door Maintenance Checklist by Automated Door Systems

Check for garage door noises

Excessively noisy doors, particularly those emitting scraping or grating sounds, should be immediately inspected by our garage door professionals at Automated Door Systems.

Clean garage door tracks

Clean the dirt and dust out of door tracks with compressed air. Avoid using lubricant, as it can cause your home’s garage door to slip.

Check garage door safety sensors

Place an object, any object, in the garage door’s path to verify sensor alignment. Check to see if your garage door stops when it approaches the object.

Tighten screws and lubricate hinges

Check all screws and tighten the loose hardware that can cause vibrations throughout your home.

Visually inspect pulleys and cables

Cables and pulleys are high tension and extremely dangerous. Visually inspect them, looking for signs of wear. If they need attention, leave it to our experienced garage door maintenance specialists.

Check garage door rollers

Replace torn, cracked rollers for optimal performance. Remember not to replace rollers connected to high-tension cables on your own, as this requires professional attention.

Replace garage door opener batteries

By replacing your garage door remote battery regularly, you can easily avoid the inconvenience of an inoperable door. And the battery backup in your garage door opener will save you from headaches.

Replace worn weather stripping

Replace cracked, torn weather stripping to keep your garage weathertight.

Tighten garage door chains and belts

Tighten sagging chains and belts on your garage door.

Address surface damage

Clean the garage door surface, addressing peeling paint, faded stain, and rusty spots on metal doors. Keep the damage from progressing, or you may soon find yourself needing a new garage door.

If you have any further questions regarding garage door repair, installation, or maintenance, please feel free to contact our team at Automated Door Systems.

Find Some Unexpected Garage Door Issues?

Spring is the time for garage door service. Check this task off your to-do list with help from Automated Door Systems. Contact us for a free repair estimate or to schedule garage door maintenance for Ottawa, Kingston, or Montreal homes today.

If your garage door still makes noise, is cracked or broken, or your garage door issues involve dangerous repairs, call the pros at Automated Door Systems now. No need to worry if you have common garage door issues. We have decades of experience installing, repairing, and maintaining garage doors. Our team is proud to provide you with the best service available. 

We also have a wide range of modern steel garage doors available. Our world-class product range includes overhead doors, garage door windows, and other contemporary garage doors to update the look of your home, while maintaining its curb appeal and modern styling.

If your garage door needs maintenance, call us today.

Garage doors require many essential parts to be in tune to function properly, including garage door springs and other important accessories such as garage door openers. After your new garage door is installed, your garage door springs and garage door openers should work fine. But after a few years, they may become an issue.

Our expert team at Automated Door Systems is always there to handle these issues. In this blog, we decided to tell you a bit about garage door springs and accessories for your troubleshooting knowledge. Read on to find out more:

What Should You Know About Garage Door Springs?

Extension springs and torsion springs are the two main types of garage door springs used in the installation and operation of garage doors.

Here’s a breakdown of the purpose, different functions, and different costs of these garage door springs:

Torsion Springs

Torsion springs are amongst the most common garage door springs. Torsion springs use torque to function while extension springs extend. Torsion springs are sturdy and typically last longer than other kinds of springs.

Torque is a twisting force, which causes rotation. And when the force of the garage door opening or closing is applied (by hand or motor), the coil twists and coils on the shaft. Standard torsion springs come in various lengths and sizes, and the spring you choose should be based on the size and opening dimensions of the garage door.

Extension Springs

People generally use extension springs in places with low headroom where they are unable to install rear torsion springs. You can find these in the upper horizontal tracks on each side of the garage door.

The springs extend to open your garage door, creating a counterbalance that supports the garage door. The more the door is open (and the springs are extended), the more force is exerted on the garage door extension springs.

With this amount of force on these heavy-duty garage springs, we recommend using safety measures in the installation. And that’s why each extension spring is paired with a safety cable.

If there’s a malfunction, the safety cable will prevent the spring from shooting freely, preventing serious harm to you and your loved ones. The safety cable also protects homeowners in case the cable or bracket fails. These safety cables must remain in place at all times, like when the door is open, closed, or in motion, as there is a risk of the spring breaking free.

Garage Door Opener Parts

There are four basic types of garage door openers, and all of them have one thing in common: they all consist of a motor that moves a trolley. This trolley is connected to the door. And when the trolley gets activated, it causes the door to move up or down. 

We at Automated Door Systems carry a wide range of replacement parts for commercial or residential garage door openers to meet your needs, whatever model of door opener you use or have, including those in apartment or condominium buildings.

Contact Us to Repair or Install Any Type of Garage Door Springs and Accessories

If you’re anticipating that you will repair your garage door or add to your garage, or you’re thinking about upgrading your garage door opener or even having a new garage door installed, consult Automated Door Systems. As a professional garage door repair company, we can easily determine which types of garage door springs are better for you, your family, or your business.

For garage door spring or garage door opener issues, or for garage door installation and repair, give us a call now.