Garage doors are a very noticeable part of a home and can immediately give a good or bad impression of a house depending on how they look. A garage door opener is a logical and convenient add on especially if you routinely park your car inside your garage.
Here are 7 secrets about garage door openers (and garage doors) to help you choose the best combination for your home.
1. Expect to pay $200 – $500 to buy and install an electric garage door opener
Depending on the model, style and functions of the garage door opener you choose, expect to pay $200 – $500 to buy and install one. Garage door openers are typically sold at large retailers who often also offer installation services through a third party contractor. You can also buy a garage door opener and get it installed from local companies who specialize in garage door systems and sales.
The most well-known and available garage door opener brands include Chamberlain, LiftMaster, Genie and Craftsman.
2. Belt and chain driven garage door openers are the two most common styles
There are 5 main types of garage door openers, the two most common being belt-driven and chain driven.
Belt-driven: A belt-driven model tends to be slightly more expensive than a chain model but is quieter and softer given that they operate using a belt. They also have less moving parts than their chain-driven counterparts and operate smoother. A quality model comes with a mechanism that slows down slightly right before the door completes closes so the door doesn’t hit the ground hard.
Metal chain-driven: A metal chain-driven garage door opener is louder and a bit clunkier and is an older style. They are still very common but you will find over time that they tend to break down more often given the increase in moving parts.
Screw-driven: Suitable for lighter doors only, a screw-driven opener uses a threaded metal rod that turns like a screw to open the garage door rather than physically pulling the door like the belt and chain models do. They tend to be able to lift more than a comparable chain model.
Jackshaft: Unlike the other models, a jackshaft door opener is installed on your wall rather than the ceiling of your garage. One advantage is that they come with a deadbolt to help secure your garage door closed. They are very computerized if you like technology but tend to be more expensive than their counterparts.
Direct-driven: Direct-driven garage door openers also use a belt or chain but unlike traditional models, a direct-driven opener’s belt or chain is stationary and only the motor moves. They tend to be very quiet and reliable but also more expensive.
Something to keep in mind: If your garage is attached to your home and especially if the garage is over top of a bedroom, the extra money spent on a quieter belt-driven model could pay for itself with that feature alone.
3. A garage door opener is a fairly quick install with convenient add-ons available
A typical garage door opener system takes about 1 hour to professionally install.
You can add a keypad that attaches outside the home for about $50 that enables you to enter the garage by inputting a 4-digit code if you forget your remote opener or need outside access quickly for you or someone else in your household.
A garage door company usually sells and installs a line of various models and can advise you as to what you require in terms of specifications. Hardware and other larger retailers also offer sales and installation services that they can arrange for you.
4. Thieves steal garage door opener remotes left in cars
If you park your car outside, do not leave your garage door remote door opener inside the car. While it’s convenient to attach the opener on your visor with the handy metal clip which it’s designed for, there have been plenty of stories of thieves breaking into cars to rob and then using the remote to enter the garage.
Some garage door opener models now come with a key fob that can be attached to your keychain so keep an eye open for models that feature this convenience feature rather than leaving the remote opener in your car.
5. Different size motors exist for garage door openers
Garage door openers utilize a motor rated in horsepower (HP). A garage door motor typically ranges from 1/2 HP to 1.5 HP. A standard garage door requires a 1/2 HP motor but a double garage door or heavier model might require more.
A garage door up to 350 lbs can sufficiently use a garage door opener with a 1/2 HP whereas a heavier door up to 650 lbs could utilize a 3/4 HP model.
The more the HP your model has within reason, the less strain and stress will be placed upon it each time you use it. Speak with your chosen garage door opener provider to ensure your model suits your door size and weight.
6. Many security and safety features exist that you may benefit from
Garage door openers operate with small infra red sensors installed along the floor to stop the door from closing if something (ie. a person, animal, vehicle) crosses the barrier to prevent the door from closing on it. A mechanism will kick in when triggered and the door will reverse direction and open up again. If you have children this is particularly useful.
There have been cases of people having their garage door opener systems accessed by a children’s toy or other unauthorized device that manages to trick the opener into thinking it’s your remote. Some garage door openers have a Rolling Code feature which resets the code that the opener and remote use after every use to prevent someone from accessing your garage without authorization. Think of it like a constantly changing IP address for your computer and wifi.
One feature that is more a convenience that will come in handy during a power failure is a battery back up. Since a garage door opener runs on electricity, if the power goes out, the battery back up will kick in and enable you to open and close the door as required typically for up to 24 hours.
7. Smart features can be used to better control your garage door opener
You can connect many modern garage door openers to your existing smart home system. Are you expecting a package and would like to remotely open the garage door so the delivery person can stick it in your garage to avoid porch piracy? Have you ever faced the classic I’m away from home and can’t remember if I closed the garage door scenario?
Modern garage door opener systems often come with a smart app for your cellphone so you can open and close it remotely and check on its status. Some also come with a feature that enables you to add a one-time use PIN for the keypad for a delivery driver to enter the code to put a package inside your garage.
You can even choose a model that opens and closes your garage door automatically as you come and go so you never wonder if you accidentally left it open.
And all quality garage door openers come with an LED light which turns on the moment the garage door is opened so the garage is illuminated as you drive in. The light typically also turns off automatically after several minutes and will turn on again if someone walks past the electronic eye barrier.
Garage door and garage door opener tips
A garage door opener might set you back $600 – $1,500 installed for a single garage door and $800 – $1,500 for a double garage door according to HomeAdvisor
. Since garage doors and electric garage door openers go hand in hand, it’s worth taking a quick look at options and considerations for your garage door(s) especially if you end up installing or replacing both at the same time.
Wood vs metal garage doors
Wood garage doors are very smart looking and professional. They stand out since most people tend to use metal doors these days. Wood doors tend to resist dents but do need to be refinished or painted over time with age. They also tend to be more expensive than metal but are also more energy-efficient.
Metal garage doors are cheaper and more durable than wood doors. They can dent even from something like tennis balls being hit against it if you have kids who play road hockey and can rust particularly at the bottom edges along the ground which tend to remain wet when damp. Modern metal doors do tend to last longer than wood and can be chosen as uninsulated or insulated models.
Insulated vs uninsulated garage door
An insulated metal garage door is ideal when you live in a cold weather environment. Not only does it help to keep the garage slightly warmer during cold months, it will also help to keep your car and anything you store in the garage slightly less cold too. Plus the insulation has a sound dampening effect.
You may especially notice the difference if you have a bedroom over top of your garage. The colder your garage, the potentially colder the room above your garage.
Secure the emergency pull cord with a zip tie to prevent theft
Garage door openers come with a pull cord usually with a red plastic handle that is used to manually release a garage door in the event of a power failure or when the opener breaks. Thieves are increasingly breaking into garages by accessing the cord using a coat hanger wire that they push into the garage from the outside to release the cable and enter the garage.
Solution: Use a plastic zip tie to hold and tie the emergency cord in place rather than allowing it to hang down where thieves can access it. The only person who needs to access this cord is the homeowner from inside the garage.
Lock your garage door when you’re away
Unplug your garage door opener and use the locking mechanism that many garage doors come with when you are on vacation. Check for two metal hooks that swing into place to prevent the garage door from being opened. They’re located near the ground on the garage door track. If you don’t have them, you can jam a piece of wood or a metal rod in to prevent the door from being forced open. By unplugging the garage door opener, you prevent yourself from accidentally using the opener while the garage door is jammed shut!
Additionally, if you have windows on your garage door, cover them with a privacy film so that prowlers can’t look into your garage to see what you have to steal. Plastic film lets light in but keeps thieving eyes out.
Summary
Having owned both chain-driven Craftsman and belt-driven LiftMaster garage door models, I prefer the newer and more modern belt-driven model. In fairness the belt-driven model we bought was a replacement for an older Craftsman model so the technology was much newer.
The biggest benefits are the quieter operation, keypad for outside the home, battery back up (which we used during an ice storm that knocked power out for 10 hours) and the slow closing feature where the motor slows its speed just as the door is about to touch the ground.