Electric garage door opener – necessity or luxury?
Well – when driving home in torrential rain – I would put it put it out there that it is a necessity. And for good reason. Advances in technology, lower manufacturing costs mean that an electric garage door opener can be purchased and installed in most cases from less than $200 upwards (with a DIY installation). To my way of thinking this makes an electric garage door opener in your garage within reach of the masses.
There are many manufacturers of electric garage door openers – the 2 standout companies being Liftmaster and Chamberlain – 2 companies that are specialists in the field.
You can’t go wrong with models produced by either of these companies – the trick is to first work out what your requirements are (especially in relation to security features) as well as the make up and construction of the actual garage in question.
- do you have a high/low ceiling
- are there any beams/shelving wtc. in the way
- is a source of power readily available
- is a ceiling mount or side mount unit best
Answer the above questions and you are well on the way to selecting the most appropriate model for you. Here you can search for the best models with the following criteria in mind.
Compare mechanisms. Chain drives ($130 to $180) can be noisy because they use a metal chain along a metal rail. Screw drives ($150 to $250) lift the door with a threaded steel rod. Some of the latest models that use a plastic-lined track to reduce noise and increase opening speed. Belt drives ($170 to $350) tend to be the quietest. They have flexible rubber belts that dampen vibrations and reduce noise.
Evaluate the motor. Some high-quality, efficient openers will use a direct current (DC) motor rather than standard alternating current (AC) motor. A DC motor will use less electricity and its speed can be controlled, allowing for a simpler drive mechanism to be used for more reliability and less noise. It also allows for a easy start and stop cycle to eliminate the loud clunk sounds. The door will start closing slowly, reach full speed and then slow down again just before it reaches the floor. Select a 1/2- or 3/4-HP opener instead of the basic 1/3 HP, especially if you have a large or heavy door. Compare model lift speed which is typically 7 inches (18 cm) per second.
Look at safety concerns. An automatic reverse feature stops and reverses the door if it comes into contact with something–a child, for example. For extra security, you can get a remote control that uses rolling codes to transmit a different opening signal each time it is operated.
Buy an opener and put it in yourself, or pay $125 to $175 plus for the unit for contractot installation. Most openers will include two remotes. A wireless outdoor keypad will come in handy if you forget the remote or its battery is flat. An indoor keypad also adds convenience.