Imagine pulling up to your house in the middle of the rain. Would you rather get out of the car and open the garage or just roll right in? You won’t want to leave your chilly car in the hot sun while you open the garage. The answer to this issue is garage door openers, which let you open your garage door without ever getting out of your car.
However, before purchasing the garage door opener with the nicest appearance, you should ensure that it satisfies several criteria. For instance, it needs to be strong and dependable, has a user-friendly remote control, a quiet motor, and a backup power supply in case of a power outage. It also needs to be able to lift a hefty garage door without giving up.
Everything is going smart, so why shouldn’t your garage door? The finest garage door opener will be the one that most satisfies your needs and budget, and we’ll help you find it using our guide. Let’s get started.
Before You Buy: A Few Considerations
Power Requirement
There are three different sizes of garage door opener motors: one-third, one-half, and three-quarter horsepower. The type of door being lifted and the number of doors you intend to lift must be considered. For instance, a minimum of half a horsepower is required to lift double doors effectively. For your garage door opener, a one-third horsepower motor will suffice if you only need to lift a single garage door.
Power Options
Both AC and DC electricity can be used to operate garage door openers, which both connect to a regular power socket. The AC power will be converted by the DC-powered openers. The DC garage door openers are smaller, lighter, quieter, and have softer beginnings. You can open and close the door even when the power is out, thanks to the readily accessible battery backups for DC power devices.
Types of Garage Drive System
For your garage door opener, you can select from three different drive systems: belt drives, chain drives, and screw drives. The belt drive system is the priciest and most advanced of these three drive systems. Although the other two systems are less expensive, they are not as quiet as belt drive systems.
Belt drives
A rubber belt is used in this system to move the trolley and raise or lower the garage door. Fiberglass, Kevlar polymer, and steel-reinforced rubber made the belt. Compared to the other two systems, these operate with the lowest noise levels. Therefore, you should choose a belt drive system if you intend to utilize a garage door opener for your residential property that includes a garage attached to the main home. The cost of belt drive systems is its only drawback.
Chain drives
As the name suggests, chain drive systems use a chain to lower and raise the garage door, which makes a pounding sound when used. This one operates similarly to a bicycle, using a chain wrapped around a rail and pulled by a trolley to raise and lower the garage door.
The most incredible thing about these systems is that they can be handled manually even when the power is down, making them cheaper than belt drive systems.
Screw drives
The door is moved by this system’s threaded rod mechanism. Compared to the other two drive systems, the garage door openers that utilize this mechanism require the fewest parts. Comparatively, these systems are quieter than chain drives. A screw drive system is less prone to break than the other two since it has fewer parts.
This system must be lubricated twice a year to prevent damage to the screw heads. Heavy garage doors should not be operated with screw drive systems as the added stress could cause the screw heads to quickly wear down.
What Should a Garage Door Opener Have?
- Think about the size and weight of the door if you’re completely changing your garage door opener. The majority of garage door openers work with typical door sizes and configurations. However, you might require an extension kit to make it fit for larger doors (usually those over 7 feet). Although 1/2 horsepower will suffice for most doors, you might want to increase it to 3/4 horsepower for heavier doors (such as solid wood doors).
- A belt or chain garage door opener may be more suitable for you. These are two common choices if you change your garage door opener completely. Although less expensive and often able to support more weight, chain drives are louder. Although more expensive, belt drives are quieter but may require adjustments over time as the belt stretches.
- Ensure that the garage door opener works with your present setup. Make sure the garage door opener satisfies the specifications of the door, whether you’re replacing the system altogether or upgrading to a smart garage door opener.
- When using smart garage door openers, ensure they are compatible with your smart home system so that the various smart features can talk to one another.
- Using a smart garage door opener with wireless internet, ensure your garage has a strong connection. If not, the smart features could not function as smoothly or might experience problems with the garage door opener.
The Benefits of Using Garage Door Opener
One of the newest developments that have surprised the industry regarding garage doors is using smart garage door openers. The functionality of smart garage door openers extends beyond simple door opening and closing. They offer the highest level of security and give your fantastic item an additional layer of protection.
The benefits of a garage door opener are listed below if you intend to install one for the best outcomes.
1. Convenience
Imagine that you have just returned from work while it is raining. Do you wish to walk to open the garage door while holding an umbrella, if you have one? How much simpler would it be to press a button and drive into the garage’s secure area? That kind of ease is provided by an automatic garage door.
2. Security
These doors are also much safer than manual alternatives. You may feel satisfied with the increased security and peace of mind when you choose this kind of system.
3. Lighting
The fact that automatic garage doors frequently have lights is an unusual benefit but one that you’ll learn to value. Whether or not your garage has lights already, the lighting that comes with these doors will make it brighter and more functional.
4. Low Cost
It is unnecessary to spend a fortune to enjoy the advantages of an automatic garage door. You’ll be shocked by how cheap it may be to purchase and install an automated garage door.
5. Maintenance
The easiness of maintenance is the key benefit of automated garage doors. Once your door is placed, you won’t have to worry about it breaking down or requiring constant maintenance, so you may use it daily.
6. Low Energy Use
A garage door opener uses very little energy and is one of the more practical garage door setups you can purchase. Therefore, you can relax if you worry that you’ll go broke merely by using such a terrific device. The device will last many years without spending all your energy expenses.
A few of the most well-known advantages of automatic garage door openers are listed above. You’ll see how convenient it may make your house and life after your door is fitted.
Final Verdict
A garage door opener gives you convenience because you can control it with your phone or the included remote control. You can choose from any of the items on the list above if you’re seeking the finest garage door opener for your house because they are all among the top products available today. Happy shopping!