Do you need to suddenly change your garage door opener because your existing one isn’t working properly? Often brand new installations are more practical and cost effective than a repair. Getting a new garage door opener can help ease the stress of a noisily grinding malfunctioning older garage door opener. Here’s a guide, authored by the experts at Garage Door Repair Chicago, to what’s important to know before buying a brand new garage door opener.

What types of openers are there?

Chain Drive Openers

• These are more popular and cheaper than belt drives
• Many of these door openers are fit with a chain and steel cable combo. Make sure not to get this, and buy a system that works with a full chain.

 

Belt Drive Openers

• These are quieter than chain drive openers
• The belt is made from rubber which is reinforced with tire-like metal wires
• This is a great choice if you have a living space like a bedroom or living room on top of the garage.

 

Jackshaft Openers

• These openers sit besides, rather than over doors
• This is a practical choice in situations where your garage ceiling is higher than the garage door
• This is smart for any garages with cathedral style or sloped roofing
• This type of garage door opener is required to operate with a torsion spring system since the door opener is attached to the spring shaft
• This type of garage door opener is more expensive than belt or chain drive openers

 

What sizes of garage door opener motors are available?

You can choose between a ½ or ¾ HP garage door opener motor.

• Electrical door openers replace manual opening, but it should still be easy to open the door with one hand with any opening system.
• The counterweight system of the torsion or extension springs helps lift the door, not just the motor
• Any well balanced garage door has a deadweight between 10 and 15 pounds when it’s stationarily 4 feet above the floor
• The door opener should be able to lift that amount of weight- meaning that we highly favor the use of the stronger ½ HP door opener motors.

 

AC and DC motors

Alternating Current (AC)

• This opener motor heats up slowly, gradually increases up to a normal speed, and then slows down before fully stopping.
• This type of motor measures power in newtons, rather than HP. 800 & 900 N (newtons) are the equal to ½ or ¾ HP.

 

Direct Current (DC)

• DC motors have a set, normally operating speed.
• These motors can be purchased in ⅓, ½, or ¾ HP.
• Backup batteries can be used in with DC motors, however they can’t be used with AC motors.

 

More to know

• Since about the mid-1990s, garage door opening technology has made great leaps and bounds. LiftMaster has created a rolling code system that works with their remotes, which changes it’s changing signal every time you use the remote – making it nearly impossible for someone to hijack your signal in order to improperly access your garage.
• Liftmaster MyQ technology, incepted in 2013, allows for garage door openers to be controlled through a smartphone & tablet app, as well as a computer program – and can be used from anywhere in the world, even when you’re not at home!