Electric garage door openers undoubtedly make our lives easier. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction you feel when it’s pouring down with rain and you can simply push that button from inside your car, drive into the garage and then step through the access door to your house without getting a single drop of rain on you… Bliss!
Electric garage door openers are very durable, but like all appliances, they may develop defects or break over time. For this reason, we have decided to write this blog post, detailing some of the main term garage specialists might use when talking about garage door openers, so you can easily follow the conversation!
Let’s start with the door opener
There are some basics you’re expected to know about your door opener, for instance, you should know what type of door opener you have, whether it’s AC (alternating current and the cheaper option) or DC (direct current, can be equipped with a backup battery). Likewise, you should also know what type of model you have, whether your door opener uses a chain drive (metal chain similar to a bicycle chain) or a belt drive (rubber belt reinforced with steel fibres).
There are other aspects you’re not really expected to know off the top of your head, such as the level of power. Like cars, the level of power is measured in horse power and your garage door opener will likely have 0.5 or 0.75 HP (not quite as powerful as a car, eh?). If your garage door was well‑installed and is properly balanced, your door opener probably has 0.5 HP, which is more than sufficient to lift a garage door with a perceived weight of 8‑10lbs.
Other things a garage door specialist might talk about are the trolley that pushes and pulls the door (either a 1‑piece, which is sturdier, or a 3‑piece), and the gears. Gears are generally made from very durable hard plastic; however, an improperly balanced garage door could cause them to wear down prematurely. Finally, as it is an electric garage door opener, there is an electronic component. The opener logic board controls the operation of the motor and the safety aspects. Again, this is very durable but the board could burn out following a power surge, in which case it would need replacing.
3 standard opener accessories
- Remote controls
Since 1993, all remote controls have been equipped with rolling code technology that prevents other people from intercepting the signal from your remote and accessing your garage.
- Control panels
Many door openers come with a control panel, others a door control button, both are installed close to the access door leading to the house. In our opinion, the control panel is a better option as you can block remotes from accessing your garage if you’re going to be away for a long time.
- Automatic reversal systems
Again, a standard feature since 1993, all door openers sold in North America come with this safety device that detects if there is resistance when closing the door and whether there is something in the door’s path. If it detects something, the door “reverses” and opens.
4 optional opener accessories
- Wi‑Fi
Yes, you read that right! Some garage door openers come with Wi‑Fi connectivity so you can operate your garage door opener from an app!
- Exterior keypad
A great alternative to carrying loose keys, especially if you have kids! Have an exterior keypad installed so you can access your home using a 4‑digit PIN.
- Laser parking sensors
Hit the right spot every time with a laser parking sensor. Never worry about pulling too far in or being too close to one wall ever again.
- Mini remote
Much less obvious than clipping a full‑size remote to your visor, mini‑remotes can simply be attached to your keychain
To learn more…
If you want to know anything else about garage door openers, speak to an expert! Give us a call anytime at 616-453-0164. If you’re shopping for a new garage door opener, we can even come out to your home and show you the complete range in person, or simply send you over a detailed quotation.
If you’re thinking about changing your garage door in the near future, look through our image gallery for inspiration or play around with our Design Centre.
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