Choosing a garage door opener is more than just deciding on a price range that fits your budget. There is new technology and different features that make some garage door openers a better fit for your needs. Before you decide on which opener to purchase, you may want to think about your needs first.
Do you want a quiet opener?
There are three different drive trains that are currently used. The least expensive is the chain drive, where the chain is looped around a rail. This is also the noisiest of your choices. The most expensive and most quiet type of drive is the metal reinforced rubber belt. For mid-range price and relative quiet, look for the openers using the screw drive. This is a mechanism that moves along a threaded steel rod. The screw drive is also looked at to be the most dependable and powerful of the three types of openers.
Are you concerned about the safety of children and pets?
Most openers have a safety sensor that reverses the garage door if anything trips the sensor. For example, a toddler walking through the garage door as it is closing will trip the safety sensor and the garage door will automatically reverse itself.
Are you concerned about access to the garage?
Perhaps two remotes aren’t enough for your family. Or perhaps a family member keeps losing his remote. Many openers have an outside keypad feature that allows a user to punch in a code to open the garage door. This is also great when you need someone else to get into your garage. If they don’t have a remote, all you have to do is give them the access code. And you can always change that code later.
Do you have a heavy door?
The heavier your garage door, the more horsepower you should look for. Typically, a 1/2 horsepower motor should lift your door and not burn out. If you opt for the 1/4 or 1/3 horsepower openers, you may have to replace parts or the whole opener in the near future.
Are you a patient person?
Believe it or not, different openers have different rates of speed. If you want the garage to close faster than ten inches per second, then you may want to look closely and ask a salesperson for the exact rate of speed that the garage door opener is capable of. And keep in mind that the opener will have different rates of speed for closing and opening the door. Typically, closing takes longer and goes slower for your (and others’) safety.
Worried about the power going out?
Most openers have a manual release that allows you to open the door in the event of a power outage. Some manual releases are easier to handle than others. If the manual release calls for more than pulling a red handle, then you might want to think twice. When you’re in a hurry to get out the door and you have to perform several functions, it will be frustrating and time consuming.
What about safety?
Most openers have lights that automatically turn on whenever the garage door opener is used. This light can stay on for one minute or more. Many openers now have the “vacation lock” feature that allows you to lock the garage door. This means that anyone with a remote will not be able to use it to open the garage door. The door may only be opened by pressing the button on the main keypad inside the garage, until the “vacation lock” feature is taken off.
While price is obviously a big concern, think about what you need in a garage door opener before you rule anything out. You might find that a less expensive model works best for you. Or you might find it in your best interest to spend a few more dollars on that opener that gives you everything you want in an opener.
