Garage door openers have changed the lives of many Americans (if only on a relatively small scale in the grand scheme of things!), and if you’re in the position of choosing one for your new garage, or are seeking to replace your existing one because it simply isn’t performing how you want it to, below are some of the things you might want to keep in mind:
Horsepower
This is what drives a garage door opener and gives it the power to lift the door. Horsepower ratings are usually displayed for each model, but if you’re unsure, you can check with the garage door salesperson.
For residential garages, anything between 0.5 to 1.5 horsepower is usually sufficient, but for commercial garages which tend to be heavier, a higher power garage door opener is typically required, so that it will open the heavy door with ease and cause less wear and tear to the motor.
Dual frequency
It can sometimes happen that the signals from your neighbors garage door opener can interfere with your own opener, and this can be a common and frustrating issue for those living in densely populated areas. To prevent this from happening, choose a garage door opener that accepts dual frequency, and which can switch automatically from one frequency to another, to reduce any interference.
Battery backup
Should you suffer a power outage, a garage door opener with battery backup will mean that you can still operate the door but note that this feature doesn’t come as standard on most models, and you may have to pay considerably more for this feature.
If you don’t opt for battery backup, you will need to use the manual release cord to open and close the door during a power outage.
Rolling code technology
With a code that remains the same, week on week, month on month, year after year, your garage could be vulnerable to criminals who use methods to pick up the code and gain entry to the garage. With rolling code technology, on the other hand, you’re assigned a new code every time you use the remote control.
Internet connectivity
Many modern garage door openers have smart technology, enabling you to link it to your smart device and remotely check whether your door is open or closed, or even operate it remotely should the need arise.
Auto reverse
This is a standard feature on all modern garage door openers and helps to prevent anyone or anything from being seriously harmed if they get trapped beneath the door as it’s closing and uses a laser beam to detect motion and trigger the safety mechanism.
These are the most common attributes home and business owners look for in a garage door opener, and to find out which type would best suit your needs and budget, simply call into your local garage door showroom and chat to the experts there.
