Most people take garage door openers for granted. After all, these modern conveniences have now been around for decades, thus the majority of us have never known life without them.
Garage door openers help you stay warm and dry. With the simple click of a button, your garage door opens so that you can easily pull your car inside and park. When building a new home, it’s important to choose the right door opener to meet your needs. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place for advice on how to choose a garage door opener that will be perfect for your house.
This article takes a look at the various types of garage door openers, the basics of garage door installation, as well as a few other details to consider. Keep reading to get the inside scoop.
What Is Your Budget?
Before you start shopping for garage door openers, you need to decide how much you can afford to spend. After all, there is a wide price range depending on the type of door opener you choose and the feature you desire.
The fact is that you can spend as much as you like, and yet you don’t have to spend a fortune to find a model that will serve your needs.
The key is to take the time to study your finances, set an amount that you’re comfortable with, and then be disciplined about staying within your budget as you begin the process of finding the right model for your home.
Types of Garage Door Openers
Now let’s take a look at the drive options. Keep in mind that most garage door openers are very similar in their overall design, except when it comes to the type of powertrain drive used to make them operate. The three main types are chain, screw, and belt drives.
A chain-drive door opener uses a metal chain to lift or lower the door. This type of door opener is typically affordable and durable, and yet they also tend to be noisier than other types and also produce a bit more vibration.
A screw-drive door opener uses threaded steel rods to lift and lower the door. This design reduces noise and vibration, and also requires less maintenance than a chain-drive opener. But it also increases the price point.
A belt-drive opener utilizes a belt to lift and lower the door. This makes it quite than the previous two types of garage door openers, which also makes it the most expensive of the three.
Here’s more information about belt vs chain.
Materials
When it comes to materials, the majority of garage door openers are made from either steel, aluminum, wood, or a fiberglass, PVC overlay. Before you start shopping, keep in mind that the specific material you choose will directly impact the price and the amount of maintenance that will be required to keep your door opener operational.
Size and Weight
Garage door openers come in different sizes, thus you need to choose one that fits the size of your garage. It’s also important to understand that a screw-drive opener isn’t the best option for a home with a large, heavy garage door.
Speed
The speed of your door opener might not seem like a major issue for consideration. But remember that a slow model can get annoying when you’re in a hurry to get inside and park your car.
Noise
As discussed earlier, each type of garage door opener produces a different noise level. That’s why you should give serious consideration to the amount of noise and vibration you’re willing to put up with before purchasing and installing a door opener in your home.
Primary Features to Look For
What features should you look for when comparing models? Great question.
Some of the most important features include remotes, keypads for the exterior of the door, a security light that activates when the door is opening, built-in Wi-Fi, smart-device compatibility, vehicle compatibility, a backup battery, and a motion-sensing light.
Horsepower
Horsepower is another key factor in choosing a quality garage door opener. It’s important to understand that every door opener features an HP rating that refers to its ability to lift a door.
For example, most door openers provide HP ratings ranging from 1/2 horsepower to 1.5 horsepower for residential homes.
If you have a big door, you’d be wise to select a higher HP rating. And if your door is small, you should be fine with a 1/2 horsepower model.
Safety and Security Features
Safety is another important factor when choosing a garage door opener. Fortunately, most modern models of openers feature a sensor that detects any obstructions in the path of the door. This trigger will stop a closing door, and then reverse the motor to prevent anyone from getting crushed.
You should also look for a door opener that’s protected by an anti-theft code. This will prevent it from being opened by your neighbor’s remote.
This is especially important if you have small children or pets at home. After all, it only takes a fraction of a second for someone to step beneath a closing door. Fortunately, a safety trigger eliminates this danger so that your garage will be a more safe and secure environment.
Get Referrals From Family and Friends
It’s also a good idea to talk to family and friends. Tell them what you need, and then ask for referrals. This is a great way to narrow down your options and to find out the models that people you trust have had positive and negative experiences with.
Read Reviews
Once you’ve gathered some solid recommendations from the people around you, spend time reading reviews online. This provides a wealth of information regarding any garage door opener model that you might be interested in.
Focus On Quality
Again, you don’t have to spend a small fortune to purchase a quality garage door opener. And buying an expensive model doesn’t ensure a quality product. The key is to do your research ahead of time so that you’ll get the most quality for the money.
A Homeowner’s Guide to How to Choose a Garage Door Opener
Keep your home safe should be your top priority. Fortunately, these tips for how to choose a garage door opener will help protect your family and make your life a little less stressful.
Keep scrolling to discover more great home improvement and real estate advice on this blog.
