Selecting a replacement electric garage door opener or having new garage door openers installed can be a confusing process. Sizes, Horsepower ratings, belt drive, screw drive. I’m guessing you’re thinking to yourself, “What is all that stuff!?” If replacing your garage door opener is in the near future and you are unsure of what you need to know and the right questions to ask, Read on!
Door openers are sold according to the height of garage door, this is a very, very important measurement! You might recall driving down your street and catching a glance at a neighbor’s garage doors and noticing how they never seem to be open all the way. This is primarily caused by consumer ignorance, a door contractor’s incorrect “guess-timation” or a sales person’s failure to ask how tall the garage door is!
Most “out of the box” door openers are designed for the typical seven foot high garage door. First step is to measure your garage door’s height and write it down. If the door height is 7’6” or greater, then you will need to buy what is called an “extra height rail” to make your garage door open ALL the way.
The second step is to manually operate the garage door to make sure it works well in manual mode. If your door works hard (loud screeching sounds, metal on metal grinding) and feels heavy, installing a door opener will only magnify the problem. An improperly balanced garage door or a worn out set of springs will burn through the motor of a new door opener like a hot knife through butter! The electric door openers manufactured today are very sensitive compared to the ones built decades ago. If the door operates well and you have the measurement written down, you are all set to decide which opener will work best for you!
Residential door openers are offered in three primary configurations.
(1) Chain Drive
(2) Belt Drive
(3) Screw Drive (if you value your eardrums, never, ever, buy this!!!!!)
I always recommend a motor that is ½ hp or better.
If an affordable and dependable electric door opener is what you are looking for, I recommend the chain drive with a 1/2 hp motor.
If a little more money is available and you desire a quieter door opener, I recommend the Belt drive.
The latest and greatest door opener on the scene is the ultra-quiet and eco friendly, D.C. motor. These tend to be the quietest and smoothest operating garage door openers you can buy for your home. If you have an active living space (bedroom, living room…ect) above your garage, this is almost a must have.
All door openers come with standard equipment like a car, which includes photo electric safety eyes, one or two remote controls for the car, a wireless key pad, and one interior wall button switch. There are some units which have battery back-up systems, this is a great system to have if you live in an area prone to losing power.
Garage door openers on average will last 15 years or better if the garage door is routinely serviced. The D.C. belt drive openers tend to be the quietest made.
