Articles & Insights by Ken Mickey
Average Number of Times a Garage Door Is Used Per Day (And Why It Matters)
June 25, 2026
You don’t think about your garage door spring until it’s gone. One morning it’s there, doing its job. The next, there’s a sharp bang from the garage, and the door won’t move. You’re standing there in work clothes, already running late, staring at 300 pounds of door that suddenly has no interest in ...
How to Disable a Lost Garage Door Opener Remote: A Complete Guide for Northern Nevada Homeowners
June 25, 2026
It’s the end of a long day. You pull into the driveway, reach up out of habit, and your hand closes around nothing. The visor clip is empty. You search the seat, the console, and your bag. Still nothing. Somewhere between this morning and right now, your garage door remote has disappeared. There’s ...
LiftMaster L979M Keyless Entry Guide – Wireless Keypad MAX
June 12, 2026
At Thompson Garage Doors, the LiftMaster L979M is one of the most popular keypad upgrades we install for homeowners across Reno and Northern Nevada. It provides convenient keyless access to your garage without requiring a remote, key, or smartphone every time you come and go. The LiftMaster L979M Wireless Keypad MAX is also ...
10+ Garage Door Design Ideas to Instantly Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal
June 9, 2026
Most homeowners spend thousands upgrading landscaping, repainting siding, replacing light fixtures, and decorating entryways… while completely ignoring the garage door sitting front and center on the house. It’s a mistake. For many homes, the garage door takes up a huge portion of the front exterior. So, if yours looks outdated, flat, dented, faded, ...
Garage Door Sensor Light Colors Explained: What Red, Green, Orange & Amber Really Mean
June 5, 2026
Garage door sensor lights are one of the few “diagnostics” your garage door system gives you for free. Two tiny LEDs can tell you why the door will not close, why it reverses, or why it suddenly acts unreliable. Most homeowners, though, were never shown how to interpret them. So, what could be ...
Garage Door Opener Blinking? Here’s What Every Flash Means and How to Fix It
June 5, 2026
A garage door opener blinking is one of the clearest “help me” signals your home can give you. And yet, it’s also one of the most misunderstood. At Thompson Garage Doors, a large percentage of service calls tied to a garage door opener light flashing trace back to something minor: dusty safety sensors, ...
A Homeowner’s Complete Buying Guide to Garage Door Openers
June 4, 2026
A garage door opener is something you use constantly without thinking about it. Over time, you start noticing the difference between a good system and a frustrating one. Some units shake the ceiling and rattle the walls. Others operate so smoothly you barely think about them. The challenge is that homeowners don’t really ...
LiftMaster 6690L Premium Series Opener – Complete Guide
June 4, 2026
Part of LiftMaster’s Premium Series lineup, the 6690L is designed for homeowners who want more than basic open-and-close functionality. Along with a powerful belt-drive system, it includes built-in Wi-Fi, smartphone control through the myQ app, an integrated HD camera, battery backup, and enhanced Security+ 3.0 technology. Whether you’re setting up a new opener ...
May is Garage Door Safety Month: Let’s Celebrate
June 1, 2026
Imagine heading out for work on a busy May morning, coffee in hand and a full schedule ahead, only to find your garage door won’t budge. It’s a frustrating scenario many homeowners face when mechanical or electrical failures strike without warning. From broken springs and faulty openers to stuck panels, these issues often ...
How to Install a Man Door in a Garage (Step-by-Step Guide)
May 29, 2026
Imagine coming home late on a rainy Tuesday night, clicking your remote and hearing nothing but a dull click. Your main door is stuck, and you realize with a sinking heart that you have no other way inside. You’re facing a garage door emergency, wondering who you should call for emergency garage door ...