What You Need To Know Before Buying A Garage Door Opener

0
97
Need To Know Before Buying A Garage Door Opener

It goes up, it goes down; that’s all most people keep in mind when looking to buy a new garage door opener. Realistically, there is so much more to the average garage door opener than what meets the eye. From safety features to power and installation best practices, there are a few key aspects to buying a garage door opener that every potential buyer must heed.

Consider Horsepower

What comes to mind when you think of horsepower? Odds are, your garage door opener is pretty low on the list. Many buyers don’t even realize a garage door opener requires horsepower at all. In reality, each garage door opener boasts a different horsepower. How powerful do you need a garage door opener to be?

The amount of horsepower you require depends on how heavy your garage door is. If a garage door is well over 20’ in width, then you will require an opener with 1/2 horsepower at a minimum. Another thing to keep in mind is the speed at which you would like your garage door to open and close. This all depends on the horsepower of the opener.

In general, it is optimal to go for a garage door opener that is overpowered rather than one that is under-powered. On average, a garage door opener can lift a door at a rate of 6 inches per second. What is the most popular horsepower for garage door openers? Half horsepower is the most popular option and can lift the majority of garage doors. 

Embrace Tech Features

Let’s face it, we live in a world where technology can streamline anything and everything, including your garage door opener. If you’re someone who loves a bit of “smart” technology, you may want to look to a more modern garage door opener. It isn’t uncommon to find brands offering smartphone technology.  This allows you to use your phone to open and close your door remotely through the use of an app.

In addition to giving you the option of opening and closing a door remotely, these apps can also alert you when your garage door is left open or if it has been opened manually (not be an authorized user). This can bring great peace of mind and leave you feeling confident that your home is secure even when you’re not home.

Consider Installation Needs

In a world where “DIY” (Do It Yourself) projects are more popular than ever, it is important to consider how you would like your garage door opener to be installed. Is this something you would like to do on your own or will you hire a professional? Installing a garage door opener does require some basic skills, such as the ability to use a screwdriver socket wrench, and ladder. Additionally, it tends to be a two-person job, as mounting the unit to the ceiling of the garage can be tricky and time-consuming. Do-it-yourself installations tend to take around six hours to complete.

In contrast, you can hire a garage door opener installation service. These professionals are proficient, offering expertise that can bring peace-of-mind. Since they install units each day, they know how to handle the intricacies that different brands can bring, and how to install an opener safely. Cost-wise,  hiring a garage door opener installation service will only run you between $100 and $200 depending on the size of your garage door and your exact needs.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here