Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. Why do I need a maintenance plan?

  2. Crawford Door Platinum Customers can expect to save both time and money, reducing expensive malfunctions and wasted time as well as ensure longevity/efficiency of the door and its operating equipment.

    • 10% Savings on labor and repair work while a Platinum Plan Member
    • 10% Savings on all new door equipment and parts
    • Guaranteed same day service
    • Priority scheduling for installation, and service repairs
    • Extended operational efficiency of your companies equipment
    • Savings on energy bills, providing a heat loss visual detection
    • Safety Inspections, lowering risk of injury
    • Fire Door testing compliance with NFPA 80 standards
    • Higher performance from operators and dock equipment, reduction in malfunctions
    • Elimination of major repairs from failure to maintain
    • Ensure Products Warranty which will require annual inspections by authorized distributor

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  3. Why do I need my fire door tested?

  4. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards require building owners to have their rolling and sliding fire doors inspected and tested annually, and to maintain written documentation of such inspections. Crawford Door's Fire Door Drop Testing (FDDT) Program helps building owners and managers stay in compliance with NFPA 80 standards, while maintaining the proper operation and full closure of all facility rolling and sliding fire doors.

    Fire Door Drop Testing Services Include:

    • The inspection, testing and certification of your facility's rolling and sliding fire doors to meet NFPA 80 Section 15-2.4.3-5 requirements by trained and certified technicians.
    • A written Fire Door Inspection and Drop Test Report, which documents each FDDT service, call for your facility's records along with recommendations for any needed repairs or product replacement.
    • A "Fire Door Certification" tag is attached to each serviced fire door indicating the date the door was inspected, tested and certified.
    • Copies of your facility's Fire Door Inspection and Drop Test Reports are kept in our Company records in case of an emergency or any compliance questions.

    You will be contacted on an annual basis to schedule future FDDT service appointments to help keep your fire doors in compliance with NFPA 80 Section 15-2.4.3-5 and in good working order.

    Fire doors play a key role in building safety. Properly operating fire doors help protect property and save lives in the event of an emergency. Defective, damaged or non- functional fire doors can lead to tragic results and may subject building owners and managers to catastrophic losses and increased legal liability. Crawford Door's FDDT Program provides for your facility's ongoing compliance with NFPA 80 Section 15-2.4.3-5 requirements, while establishing and maintaining FDDT records for your facility on an annual basis

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  5. Can I purchase parts from Crawford Door?

  6. Crawford Door located at 18095 Sherwood Detroit, MI 48234 has a fully stocked warehouse with over $1,000,000 in inventory and parts. Our parts department is open between 8am-3pm. To be sure that your exact part is available please contact Crawford (313.366.5400) before traveling to our location. This will ensure product availability and as well as quick checkout.

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  7. Why are the slats in my rolling door bunched together?

  8. A common problem amongst commercial rolling steel doors is contributed to a simple adjustment of limits. Your door may appear to be bunching together causing a significant decrease in lifespan of both the door and motor. By signing up for our Platinum Plan this is a routine check which all limits will be test on a regular basis to eliminate this problem, as well as increasing the longevity of the door and motor.

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  9. Can I replace just a section/slat of my door, or do I need to replace the whole door?

  10. Depending on the overall damage/age of the door you may be able to replace just a section or the entire door. By having one of Crawford's professional sales representatives come to your location he will either quote you a complete replacement or section. Our job at Crawford Door is to provide you with the most efficient fix to any and all of your issues.

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  11. Why do I feel a draft from my door?

  12. Numerous causes can contribute to a draft or breeze coming from your residential or commercial door.

    • You may simply just need to add weather-stripping.
    • The door was not properly installed
    • Hinges may need to be adjusted
    • The limit may not be properly set
    • A window may be cracked or not sealed properly

    All of these issues can and will be addressed under Crawford Doors Platinum Plan with regularly scheduled maintenance appointments.

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  13. How come when I press the opener my garage door sounds like it is trying to open but does not work?

  14. Possible reasons for your garage door sounding as if it wants to function properly but does not would be:

    • Malfunction/failure of the motor.
    • The connection between the door and the operator "J arm" has come lose.
    • Spring may be broke
    • If recent impact the door may be off track

    In order to diagnose the issue properly please call our service department to have a certified technician come to your home and answer your questions.

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  15. When I try to open my garage door with the opener it only opens partially.

  16. This can usually be addressed with a quick fix by our service team. Most likely the spring needs to be adjusted or replaced.

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  17. Does a wood door last longer than a steel door?

  18. Steel doors may require less maintenance than a wood door. Steel doors are pre-painted with a factory-applied baked-on coating. Crawford Door recommends an annual cleaning of the exterior of the door with a common household detergent and warm water at least one time per year. Crawford Door wood doors are finished primed and painted or stained on all six sides of the door upon delivery. Crawford Door recommends visual inspection of the paint or stain finish on wood doors one time per year to confirm if another finish application is necessary

    For theses reasons a wood door in most cases will outlast a steel door. Crawford Door installations use a combination of premium woods. Each is chosen because of natural characteristics: Strong, light hemlock makes a superb painting surface. Cedar, an excellent insulator, is highly resistant to rot this and insects. Mahogany's tight, smooth grain surface is very weather-resistant. High-grade Douglas fir contains no patches that can show through paint. However, in order for wood door longevity to outlast a steel door there is much more upkeep involved. This is a service provided by Crawford Door Platinum Plan.

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  19. Why does my steel hollow metal door have rust on it?

  20. Although, hollow Metal doors are made of galvanized steel, rust and corrosion will occur if door the door is not properly cared for. Hollow metal doors and frames must be handled, installed, and finish painted to the manufactures recommendations. Other recommendations include a simply installation of a drip strip which can be purchased and installed by Crawford Door to ensure the longevity of the door. With all areas covered your door will be guaranteed for a lifetime against rust.

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  21. What is an "R" value?

  22. R Value/U Value:

    R-value is defined as a material's resistance to the flow of heat.

    There are three typical "R" values reported by sectional door manufacturers.

    Calculated "R" value: This is simply a calculation of the resistance of each of the components Calculated through a cross section of the door including the air film that surrounds the actual material. This figure is typically very impressive, but has little indication of the actual resistance to heat flow of the entire door.

    Tested cross section "R" value: This value is derived by actually testing the resistance to heat flow through a cross section at one point on a door section. This value very closely mirrors the calculated "R"Value, but may actually be higher than the calculated value because the combination of materials actually provide more resistance than the calculated value.

    The installed "R" value: This value is derived by actually testing the thermal conductivity of an entire door in the installed state and dividing the amount of heat flow by the total square ft. area of the door. This tested value gives the most accurate "R" value because it considers not only the construction of the section, but also the entire configuration of the installed door. The sectional door industry typically uses polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, or sometimes Mineral Wool as insulating materials. The characteristics of polyurethane foam provide higher "R" values per inch of thickness than polystyrene, and both of these provide more insulation value than mineral wool.

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  23. Why do I need to have an insulated door?

  24. Crawford Door provides premium thermal efficiency and low maintenance costs, resulting in a door that costs less to own. Continuous foamed-in-place polyurethane insulation and a non-conductive thermal break between the inner and outer skins combine to provide a U-value of .057 and an R-value of 17.50.

    The secret behind this exceptional energy efficiency is a patented manufacturing process, during which the polyurethane core is continuously foamed-in-place between the outer and inner steel skins to form a homogenous sandwich of steel/polyurethane/steel. The technique produces outstanding thermal, strength and bonding characteristics. Additionally, a non-conductive thermal break virtually stops hot or cold outside temperatures from being transmitted to the inside.

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  25. Why does my garage door reverse as its closing?

  26. All garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 include the federally mandated Safety Sensor Reversing System®. These sensors are found four to six 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.

    There are a few different things that can cause this type of problem, which are listed below with corresponding solutions:

    1. Clear any obstruction from between the safety sensors. Loose leaves, trash, and dirt on the lens of the sensor itself are all examples of things that can obstruct the sensor's signal.
    2. Check each sensor for a steady glowing indicator light. If both indicator lights are on, or if one indicator light is flickering, the sensors may be slightly misaligned. To check for misalignment; 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 sensor. Remove the obstruction and loosen the wing nut on the back of the receiving sensor. Adjust the receiving sensor until the green indicator light goes out, if not already out, then realign until the green light is bright and steady, then retighten the wing nut. This usually takes a couple of attempts before it is back in alignment.
    3. If an indicator light is out on one or both sensors, check for a possible loose or shorted wire. Sensor wires are attached to the white and black terminals on the back or side panel of the overhead motor unit. Check that they are securely connected to each terminal. Also check the wires for any breaks, especially anywhere they are spliced together.

      4. After any adjustment to the sensors, the opener itself, or the garage door, both safety systems must be tested:

    4. Press the remote control push button to raise the garage door.
    5. Place a box or similar object in the path of the door.
    6. Press the remote control push button to close the door. The door will not move more than one inch, and the opener lights will flash.

      7. The garage door opener will not close from a remote control if the indicator light in either one of the sensors is off (alerting you to the fact that the sensor is misaligned or obstructed).

    7. With the door fully open, place a 1 1/2 inch board (or 2x4 laid flat) on the floor, centered under the garage door.
    8. Operate the door in the down direction. The door must reverse upon striking an obstruction.
    9. If the door stops on the obstruction, it is not traveling far enough in the down direction. Refer to your owner's manual for instructions on increasing the down limit adjustment, along with more information concerning the safety reversal test

    WARNING:

    Without a properly installed safety reversal system, persons (particularly small children) can be seriously injured or killed by a closing garage door. If the opener closes the door when the safety-reversing sensor is obstructed (and the sensors are no more than 6 inches above the floor), call Crawford Door for a trained door systems technician.

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  27. Why do I need a professional installation?

  28. At Crawford Door, we believe that the installation of a garage door is not a do-it-yourself job. A garage door is the largest moving object in your home and because of the large number of small parts; installation of a garage door is highly technical. Connecting the springs can be particularly dangerous and proper installation is critical to the performance of your door.

    Professional garage door dealer/installers can typically install a door in a few hours and are careful to make sure safety requirements are met. Installations by most homeowners typically span several days and cause much frustration. In addition, incorrect installation can void certain warranties, so we recommend a professional handle the job for you. One of the other services a professional garage door dealer/installer can provide is the disposal of your old door, if you are replacing a door.

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  29. How can I be sure my door is balanced properly?

  30. There are several tests you can perform to tell if your door is balanced. Before testing your door, disengage you electronic opener.

    1. Raise your door in 1' increments, and the door should stay in place.
    2. When you lower the door, the door lowers in a controlled manner and doesn't slam down.
    3. When you raise the door, the door rises at a controlled pace.
    4. When the door is fully-raised in the open position, the bottom of the door should be aligned with the bottom of the header of the door opening.

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  31. What type of operator do I need?

  32. Commercial operators depend on numerous variables including door size, type of door, headroom, and other specifications. Operator types and usage include the following.

    Trolley operators are typically used for standard lift sectional doors, and are available in light, medium, and industrial-duty.

    Hoist operators are designed for use on rolling doors and grilles, as well as industrial sectional doors with high or vertical lift.

    High cycle trolley operators are designed for use on high-traffic doors and low-profile applications.

    Jackshaft operators are designed for use on rolling grilles and shutters, as well as rolling doors. Some operators are also designed for use on industrial sectional doors with high or vertical lift.

    Sliding door operators are designed for use on single and bi-parting slide doors and fire doors.

    Fire Door Systems control the closure of a rolling fire door, counter fire door, fire shutter, or track door in an emergency situation, and stop the spread of fire and smoke from one area to another.

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  33. Do I need to replace my track when I replace my door, or can I reuse the old one?

  34. In most cases, unless the track is made from heavy duty steel, track should be replaced with the entire door. Manufactures design doors and counterbalance systems to work with specific measurements provided by their track layouts. If tracks are not replaced, the door owner will find that the new sections do not work properly with the old track systems or cables will not stay on the drums. This leads to service calls, roller and/or hinge failure, and possible section damage. In most cases it is easier to replace the entire track while installing the new door sections and springs. Also by replacing the track, you could be removing an improperly hung existing garage door and track assembly. Existing track may have been hit, curls pinched or straightened out or even the horizontal track may have been hit.

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  35. What qualifies a garage door for a tax credit?

  36. Residential garage doors that have a U-factor of equal to or less than 0.35 qualify for this tax credit. Additional requirements are:

    1. The garage door must be installed on an insulated garage (conditioned space).
    2. The garage door must be part of the customer's principal residence.
    3. The garage door perimeter must have a means to control air infiltration.
    4. The garage door must be installed in the year 2009
    5. The garage door must be expected to remain in service for at least five years.

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  37. Under this policy, how much credit may a homeowner receive?

  38. Taxpayers receive a tax credit of 10 percent of the qualified energy-efficiency improvements installed during 2009, up to $500. Cost of installation does not qualify.

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  39. What does a homeowner need to do to obtain the tax credit if the garage door that meets all the qualifications?

  40. A Manufacturer Certification provided by the dealer or found on the manufacturer's website and the dealer's breakdown of the door cost and the cost of labor should be obtained by the homeowner. Copies should be kept for records, but do not need to be submitted with tax return.

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  41. How do I learn more about the Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2009?

  42. Visit www.energy.gov

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