What to Know Before You Buy a Garage Door Opener

Buying a new garage door opener near Pflugerville is not as straightforward as you might imagine. There are many different options, each offering advantages and drawbacks of their own. To learn more about what you should know before you buy a garage door opener, contact Advanced Garage Door today.

Drive Type

There are three different types of drive on modern garage doors . Chain-drive operators are the oldest type; they are popular and a good value. Unfortunately, chain-drive operators can be noisy, so they are probably not a good choice if the garage is located beneath a bedroom, or next to a room that you would like to keep quiet. Belt-drive openers have the same construction as chain-drive operators, but they operate with a rubber belt instead of a chain. They are the quietest type of drive, but tend to cost a bit more than chain-drive operators. In between these two options, in terms of cost and noise, are screw-drive openers. They have very few moving parts and require only minimal maintenance.

Size and Power

Most standard garage doors are 7-feet tall. Garage door openers typically fit doors that are up to 6 inches taller than that, but taller doors will need an extension kit. A two-car garage door needs a 1/2-horsepower opener. Smaller motors are fine if you have a light door or a one-car garage. Carriage doors and other heavy garage doors will need a 3/4-horsepower motor. If you’re unsure of how much power you need, err on the side of more power. Battery backup is available on some models; this allows you to operate the garage door even if the power is out in your house.

Features

All garage door openers sold from 1993 must have a safety mechanism that stops and reverses a closing door if an object passes underneath it. For additional security against burglars, invest in a garage door opener with a rolling code. And opt for a keyless entry pad if you want to be able to open the garage door without needing the remote.