Greater safety. Quieter operation. Heightened security. These are just a few good reasons to replace your garage door opener. Or maybe your current garage door opener has now served you for over a decade, and you would like to replace it before it has the opportunity to fail at an inopportune time!

Not all garage door openers are ideal for your home. Some are poorly made. Others are phenomenal but just aren’t suited to your unique needs. Here’s how you can choose the right garage door opener for your home!

Choose the Right Drive

A garage door opener’s motor typically utilizes one of three types of drives while opening and closing the door: chain, screw or belt. Chain drives are reliable and economical, albeit noisy – not a problem as far as detached garages are concerned, but potentially bothersome if your attached garage borders a bedroom. Although they cost more, screw drives are significantly quieter. They also feature fewer parts, which necessitates less maintenance. If you want the quietest possible operation, then you want a belt drive. It’s often the most expensive option, but there is no substitution when noise reduction is of the essence.

Choose the Right Horsepower

Your new opener’s optimal horsepower depends on your garage door’s size and weight. A 1/3 horsepower opener represents your cheapest option, and should perform reliably if you have a single-car garage with a lightweight door. A 1/2 horsepower opener represents a good compromise between affordability and longevity. A 3/4 horsepower opener is the costliest option, and typically only necessary if your garage has an unusually large and heavy door.

Theoretically, any opener is powerful enough to open and close any garage door so long as its weight is balanced. That said, the greater its horsepower, the longer an opener is likely to last.

Choose the Right Current Flow

Garage door openers are available with either alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) power. AC motors typically cost less, boast better durability and require lower maintenance. They also commonly feature chain drives, which, as indicated earlier, tend to produce the most noise during operation. DC motors typically cost more, boast better energy efficiency, and reverse directions more smoothly than AC alternatives. DC motors commonly feature belt drives that are virtually inaudible during operation. 

Unlike AC motors, DC motors can include backup batteries that permit operation during blackouts. A backup battery can only store a limited amount of electricity, however, so you will need a garage door opener with a manual release if you wish to be able to continually operate it during a power outage.

Choose the Right Size

The majority of residential garage door openers are designed to accommodate overhead doors that are 7′ tall, as that height is standard in the United States. There is a chance that your garage door is irregularly sized, however, which is why a quick measurement is in order before you begin shopping for a new opener.

Choose the Right Features

Garage door openers become more sophisticated with each passing year. If you haven’t bought one in over a decade, it’s worth reviewing all the features they are now available with. For example, you may opt for rolling code technology, which greatly enhances security by generating a new garage door code every time you activate the remote. Over 100 billion possible codes virtually eliminate any risk of your neighbor accidentally opening your garage door with their own remote.

A door opener with Wi-Fi connectivity can alert you every time someone opens or closes your garage. It also allows you to operate your garage door from anywhere in the world – perfect for when you’re at work or on vacation and wish to give someone access to your home. A Wi-Fi enabled opener will let you open your garage door with your phone instead of requiring you to keep track of a separate remote controller. It can also be integrated with your home security system to provide even greater peace of mind.

Finally, consider purchasing an opener that features dual-frequency signals. It helps to reduce interference with your neighbors’ garage door openers, which is of especial benefit if you live in a densely populated area.

Choose the Right Brand

Some brands emphasize affordability at the expense of overall quality. Some brands take the inverse approach. Many others succeed at providing both. Once you have determined your priorities, do your research and learn which garage door opener manufacturers are poised to create the greatest value for your home and lifestyle.

Would you rather let a professional garage door service determine which garage door opener is best suited for your home? Then we welcome you to contact Shawn’s Garage Door today. Our garage door repair & replace services in Sioux City, IA include opener installation, and we make certain our clients receive the ideal models for their budgets and preferences. Same day garage door service is our business!