5 Considerations When Shopping for a Garage Door Opener

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Are you shopping for a new garage door opener? If so, how do you choose from the many available openers on the market? Below, you will find a short list that can help you determine which garage door opener is the best investment for your home.

Horsepower

Every garage door is rated by the amount of horsepower it has. The higher the horsepower, the heavier the door it can raise safely. Single-car garage doors can typically be safely lifted with a ½ horsepower opener. Double-doors or heavy custom-made wooden garage doors should have ¾ horsepower openers installed.

Drive

There are four types of drives to choose from.

1. Chain drive – inexpensive, long-lasting, reliable and easy to install, but relatively noisy.
2. Belt drive – quiet, but not as reliable, long-lasting and inexpensive as chain drives.
3. Direct drive – very quiet, reliable and low-maintenance, but costly.
4. Screw drive – quiet and reliable, but complicated to install and expensive.

Most residential garage door openers are either chain or belt driven. If noise isn't an issue, the chain drive openers are likely your best option. If noise is a concern, choose a belt drive opener, but expect to replace it sooner than you would a chain drive.

Battery Backup

How reliable is the electricity where you live? If you experience outings often, choose an opener with a battery backup. This will allow you go open and close your garage door and have a lighted garage even when the power is out.

Entry Pad

Do you want access to your garage from outside without using the remote? An entry pad is available for some models of garage door openers. To open the garage door using the entry pad, you enter a short code and the garage door will open.

Warranty

The warranties offered on garage door openers vary greatly. Some offer a standard 1 year warranty, while others offer an extended 15 year warranty. Be aware that not every manufacturer offers warranty protection on the entire opener for the length of the warranty. The types of warranties available include

• Full warranty – covers any repair needed
• Limited warranty – covers the cost of parts and labor for certain elements of the opener.
• Belt warranty – only covers the cost of repairs to the belt
• Parts warranty – only covers the cost of replacement parts
• Motor warranty – only covers repairs to the motor
• Accessory warranty – covers the repairs to any accessories

If you are still unsure of the garage door opener that will suit your needs best, talk with your local garage door expert for assistance.

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25 August 2015