Picking the Right Garage Door Opener

People hardly pay attention to their garage door openers, till something actually goes wrong and they need to be repaired or replaced. It is important to select the right garage door opener, whether for the purpose of new installation or replacement. This minimizes the chances of frequent repairs in the future.

Here are some tips on the things to consider before picking a garage door opener.

 

Selecting the Brand and Design

First and foremost, you need to take a decision about the brand and the style of opener that you want to buy. You also need to think about whether you want to purchase your garage door opener from a home supplies store or online. There will be a wide variety of styles, brand and power ratings displayed in a store and you can pick one that suits your budget and your requirements best.

If you are planning to purchase your garage door opener online, make sure that you go through customer reviews in order to get an idea about the different models under consideration. You can easily make a comparison between the specifications, dimensions, price, weight, warranty and features based on such reviews.

There are basically three types of garage door openers that you can pick from. These are:

• Chain Drive
• Belt Drive
• Screw Drive

All of them have their own unique advantages and suit different kinds of garage doors. There are some things that you should consider before deciding on the style of opener you wish to buy, such as the garage door’s width and height and the building material and insulation of the garage door.

Belt drive openers make minimal sound when opening a garage door and are perfect for garages that are close to living spaces. Chain drive openers are suitable for almost all kinds of garage doors and are used for lifting extremely heavy doors. Screw drive openers are built for single-piece doors which tilt. They are quieter as compared to chain drive openers and quite durable when used as opening systems for garages.

Horse Power

Another factor to consider while choosing a garage door opener is the amount of horse power that is needed to raise the door. For instance, if you need an opener for lifting a 22’ width door, you will require a minimum of ½ horsepower.

Heavy and oversized doors require a minimum of ¾ horsepower.  It is also important to consider the opener speed. An average garage door opener can raise the door about 7inches/ second. However, certain models might be able to lift the garage door at twice the speed.

There are various other factors which also require your attention when looking to buy a garage door opener. If you require a good amount of light in the garage, hunt for models which make use of 100 watt bulbs (or comparable LED bulbs).

It is a good idea to do some research and consult a technician before picking the right garage door opener.