Frequently Asked Questions

A: The PlexiDor closes through heavy-duty springs hidden in the frame. Pets don't get stuck in the door - even if the cat or dog were to start going outside, turn, and go back in with the tail still in the door, the panels swing so easily that the pet will not get stuck. The springs allow the panels to open easily enough for a small pet to use a larger door, yet without blowing open. Once the pet is through, the springs pull the panels shut, quickly and safely. The doors are quiet, and you won't have to worry about banging panels that may frighten your pet or disturb you. The springs will withstand strong winds, but if there are extreme weather conditions they may not be able to keep the panels closed. If there is a hurricane or similar, it isn't safe for your pet to be outside unsupervised. Bring your pets inside, lock the PlexiDor, and attach the security plate.

A: The PlexiDor Electronic can remember up to ten different keys. If the door is already programmed for ten keys, a new key will not work. Assuming the pets aren't using all ten - maybe a pet lost one and needs a replacement - the solution is to delete all the collar keys and start over. Please read this article to learn how to delete your current collar keys. You do not need to have the keys present for this step. This article will tell you how to add a key - or reprogram them once you have deleted them from the door's memory.

A: It's currently not possible to remove a specific key from the door's programming, you have to remove all of them and reprogram the ones you want to keep. The process is easy, just follow these steps. You have to start the process for key deletion within 15 seconds of powering on the door. Power down or unplug the door. The power button is on the upper right side of the pet door frame. Remove the motor cover on the door. Squeeze it from both sides and tip it down and out. Turn the power back on, or plug the door back in. When you hear the door beep and the blue light flashes, press the Program Button five times in a row. The door will beep louder after the 5th press. This means the door is ready to delete the keys. Hold the Program Button down and press and hold the Test Button. You'll need to keep the buttons down for about five seconds. The door will beep to let you know the process worked and the keys were deleted. Now, you can reprogram the keys you want to keep. Click here for instructions!  

A: When you purchase a PlexiDor Electronic pet door, it is delivered with collar keys. These are pre-programmed to fit the door. If you get more keys, you need to program them in order for the door to recognize them, and doing so is easy. Just follow these four steps: Remove the motor cover on the door. This is easily done by squeezing from both sides and tipping the cover down and out. With the cover gone, you should see a circuit board, a motor, and a metal spring. Hold they new key in front of the antenna loop area. You need to keep it there until the on/off light (blue) flashes. If the light blinks quickly, the door senses the key, but doesn't recognize the code. That is, it's not yet programmed. Locate the Program Button on the circuit board. Push and hold it for about four seconds. When you're done, you will hear a quick beep and the Program Light will flash green. Test that the keys works by holding it in front of the door. The panel should slide up. If it doesn't, check that the blue On/Off light is on. It should blink every 1.5 seconds.  

A: Having the right size dog door or cat door will make it even more enjoyable for your pet. Many think pet doors look small, and our eyes trick us into thinking the pet needs a much larger door than is necessary. We humans are used to doors that are much bigger than we are, but pets don't need that much space to go through. On the other hand, they shouldn't have to crawl to get through the door. The solution is: measure. The opening width should be a little wider than the widest part of your cat or dog. If you have more than one pet - measure the largest one. To find the opening height, measure your pet from the top of the shoulders to the chest - just behind the front legs. The door doesn't have to be as tall as the pet is - they will duck their head and lift their legs when going through - but they shouldn't have to squeeze through. We recommend installing the pet door with a two inch clearance from the top of a dog's back. A tip for measuring dogs is, call the dog to you and mark the height with your finger on your own leg. It's easier to measure yourself than the dog. Once you have these measurements, look at our size chart to see which door will be the best fit. You can test the door size through cutting a hole in a piece of cardboard and testing if your pet can go through. If a small and a large pet will share the door Make sure the door is installed high enough for the tallest pet to pass through without hitting their back - remember the two inch clearance - but still low enough for the small pet to get over the threshold. Measure your smallest pet from the ground to its belly - the bottom of the opening shouldn't be higher up than this. You may have to go up a size and get a bigger door to accommodate all the pets. The panels on a PlexiDor swing so easily that a smaller pet can open a larger door. In some cases you can also put a step up to the opening of the door, to help the smaller pet.   If your pet is older, or has joint issues Pets age just as we do, and deserve to have the best in their golden years. Some are prone to back problems, others may get arthritis. This means they may not be as keen on ducking down to get through a pet door as when they were younger. Some get problems lifting their legs high, or are reluctant to jump. In these cases, it's a good idea to go up a size and get a larger door. This way, you can mount it closer to the floor and give the pet a lower threshold while still keeping the top high enough to avoid having to crouch, or hitting their back. There is usually a drop-down on the outside of a house. The older dog may need a ramp or steps, so they don't have to jump. Dogs with long backs, like Dachshunds, can have a hard time with wall-mounted doors. They can't reach to step over the threshold and the tunnel. In these cases, a ramp or steps may  be a great solution.

A: The small PlexiDor is recommended for dogs up to 9 pounds and cats up to 24 pounds. This is a big difference in weight, but cats and dogs are completely different types of animals, with different builds. A dog that weighs 24 pounds will appear much larger than a cat that weighs 24 pounds. Also, cats are more comfortable with tight spaces. The average cat doesn't care about having to go through a small opening - they may even enjoy it - but the average dog will find it unsettling. The best way to find out if the small PlexiDor is a good fit is cutting out the opening size in a piece of cardboard. The opening is 6 1/2 x 7 1/4 inches. If your dog can get through this and seems comfortable with it, the small door will be fine. Otherwise, go up a size and get a medium door. There are other differences than the size between the small and medium PlexiDors. The small door has a single panel, and the medium has two saloon style panels. The small door has a four-way lock that can be set to: Open both ways Locked both ways Open either in or out, but not in the other direction. That is, the small door is able to let your pets in and not let them out again - or the other way around. The medium door has a regular lock and key, located on the inside of the house.

A: The PlexiDor Electronic opens automatically for pets with a key. The saloon-style PlexiDors are manual pet doors and the cat or dog pushes the panels open when going through. The electronic version of the PlexiDor operates with an RF-ID collar key. That means the pet carries a water-proof and impact-proof key that has a unique code. The door senses the key when it's within range and slides up, like a miniature garage door. The key will only work for the door it's programmed for, and one door can manage up to ten different keys. Even if all your neighbors were to have the same type of door, their pets can't open yours or vice versa. It is important to know that while only pets with keys can open the door, that doesn't mean other animals can't run through once the door is open. Many pet door manufacturers claim their electronic doors will prevent cats from going outside, since the cat can't technically unlock the door. Cats are very smart. They will wait for the dog to open and run outside with it. Some cats run behind the dog, others go to the side or ahead of it. Some even run under the dog. No pet door can prevent that. These situations require other solutions, for instance an indoor electronic cat fence. The PlexiDor Electronic is available for installation through a household door or a wall.  

A: All manual PlexiDors share the same key. It doesn't matter, because the key is used inside the house. A potential intruder can't use someone else's key to gain entry through the locked door, because they can't reach the keyhole. An advantage of all keys being the same is, it's easy to get a replacement. The PlexiDor Electronic is different; it works with collar keys with RFID codes. There are innumerable different codes and every key is unique. The door will only open for codes it recognizes - that is, keys programmed into its memory. The keys that come with it are pre-programmed, but it's easy to add more, and the current version of the door can remember up to ten different keys.  

A: The PlexiDor is constructed together with pet owners to solve common problems. It doesn't require replacement flaps, it is sturdy, easy for pets to use, secure, and energy efficient. Some of the things that distinguish the PlexiDor from other pet doors include: The Frame Many pet doors have plastic frames, or frames made by thin sheets of metal, and these frames can crack, rust, bend, or warp. The PlexiDor has a frame from thick anodized aluminum on both the inside and the outside of the house. This makes the door extremely durable. The Panels Other pet doors have flaps made from plastic, vinyl, or rubber. The PlexiDor has see-through panels made from a material specially developed for this purpose - it is similar to the material used for airplane windshields. The panels open with a gentle push and close automatically. They open so easily that a small dog or cat can share pet door with an extra large dog. A flap door for a Great Dane would be very heavy and impossible for a small pet to open, but with a PlexiDor, they figure out how to open one half of the saloon door and go through. When the panels close, they do so automatically and without banging. There are springs concealed in the frame that ensure the panels never get stuck in the open position. Many doors make a lot of noise that can irritate humans and scare the pets. The PlexiDor is quiet. Energy Efficiency Weather needs to stay outside. The PlexiDor panels are lined with nylon pile weather seal to prevent drafts, and the panels themselves are molded to insulate against heat and cold. Compared to opening and closing a human-sized door, the PlexiDor will save money on heating and cooling. Security In many cases, a pet door and the prospect of meeting a dog is enough to deter intruders. But for extra security, the PlexiDor has a lock and key - and a steel security plate that screws onto the frame.    

A: The PlexiDor frames are available in brushed aluminum, white, and bronze. The panels are always see-through, for your pet's convenience. Accessories such as the PlexiDor awning come in white or bronze. Colors are baked-on for durability and will look good for years to come. You can also paint the frame, if you want another color. Just make sure to choose a type of paint suitable for aluminum, and follow the instructions on the can.