If the time has come to replace your garage door opener, either as part of a system upgrade or because the old one has outlived its useful life, you are likely in unfamiliar territory. In this article, we’ll help you narrow down your options, ensuring you’re able to choose the perfect garage door opener for your home.
Garage Door Opener Drive Units
The first choice to make is the way your opener will be operated: either by chain, belt or screw drive.
Chain drive openers are the most common and least expensive units available. As their name implies, these openers rely on a bicycle-like chain to push the trolley connected to the J-arm, which is attached to the garage itself. One caveat is noise. For that reason, chain drive units are typically best suited for detached garages.
Belt drive openers are a good choice if your living quarters are directly above or adjacent the garage. Belt drive units use the same mechanisms as chain drive openers, with the exception that instead of a chain, they use a steel-reinforced rubber belt. These openers are almost silent by comparison with other types of openers.
Screw drive openers are an excellent alternative to chain drive units because they’re durable and low-maintenance. The downside is that screw drive openers are somewhat sensitive to temperature. Noise wise, screw drive units tend to be nosier than belt drive openers, but quieter than chain drive units.
Garage Door Opener Features and Accessories
The second choice is to decide which features and accessories you’d like your opener to have.
Horsepower: The higher the horsepower, the more weight the opener can handle, with the least amount of strain. Today’s standards are ¼, ½, ¾, 1 and 1 ¼. Some newer models offer 2. You will need to know the weight of your door to determine the minimum horsepower needed.
Battery Backup: Do you need a battery backup? Depends. A battery backup provides 24-hours of reverse power to operate the garage door up to 20 full cycles during a power outage. If you’re in a region that experiences severe weather, such as monsoons or thunderstorm, you’ll likely benefit from a battery backup.
Internet Connectivity: A relatively new feature is the addition of home automation capabilities to garage door openers courtesy of a Wi-Fi connection. Smart openers allow you to operate and monitor your door remotely via a smartphone app. Some models can also integrate with other smart devices for total home automation.
Keyless Entry Keypad: This convenient and time-saving technology makes it very popular with today’s homeowners. Keyless entry allows you and other family members to open the garage door without a remote or key in hand. You can also set temporary codes for guests or service workers and use one button to close the door when you head out to walk the dogs.
Wall Mount: If the height of your garage doesn’t permit standard, ceiling mount openers, a wall mount opener (also known as a jackshaft operator) may be an excellent choice. A powerful, 24V DC motor delivers relatively no noise.
Rolling Code Technology: In addition to the above, all garage door openers should feature rolling code technology, which selects a new, non-repeating access code from approximately one million possible code options each time you press the button on your opener remote.
Installing Your New Garage Door Opener
If you’d like your garage door opener professionally installed, our experienced, licensed and insured technicians are ready to help. In addition to garage door opener installation, we can with garage door opener repair, new garage door installation, and garage door repair. Contact us today at (918) 938-1338 or visit us at www.tulsagaragedoorrepairs.com for a free quote.