You have finally made the decision to get a new garage door opener because the one you have currently just isn’t meeting your needs. Maybe it isn’t working at all. However, you might still be at a loss when it comes to understanding exactly what it is you should be looking for with your garage door opener. It’s time to get a better look at some of the things you will need to consider.
What Do You Need?
The first thing you have to do is think about the setup you have for your garage right now. This will make it easier for you to figure out the best garage door opener. Do you have an attached garage, or is it detached? Do you have a room above the garage? If the garage is attached, you will naturally want to have an opener that is nice and quiet so it doesn’t disturb everyone in the house. If it is not attached, it might not matter as much.
Space Above the Garage Door
You also have to consider the space over the door if you don’t have a garage door opener already, or if you are getting one for someone else’s garage. If the opener features a center trolley, then you will need to have two inches, minimum, available above the door. However, there is another option. We can come to and look at the garage and help you find the best possible option for your new garage door opener. Contact us.
Sloped and Cathedral Ceilings
What if you have a ceiling that’s a bit different from the norm for your garage? You can always install a trolley‑type door opener even in those cases where there is an incline on the horizontal tracks.
Another option is to use a side‑mounted opener, which also goes by the name of a jackshaft opener. With that type of opener, it is installed next to the door and is attached to a torsion bar. This is what holds the spring system. In order for this to work though, you need to have at least three inches from the ceiling to the torsion bar’s center. The opener measures six inches wide and 16 inches high. You need to have at least eight inches between the side garage wall and the far end of the torsion bar. The side‑mounted openers have the same types of features as the trolley‑type door opener. This includes safety reversal systems.
What Types of Garage Door Openers Are Available?
You can choose from three main types:
- Central chain‑driven trolley - These are popular because they are very economical.
- Central rubber belt‑driven trolley - These feature a metal‑reinforced belt, and they happen to be the quietest option.
- Jackshaft opener - This is installed beside the door, and is a good option when there is a lot of space over the door.
When it comes to trolley type openers, the best option is to choose a model that has an upside down T‑shape trolley in a single piece rather than three. This will allow you to more easily retighten the bolts in case they start to come loose.
What’s a Good Motor Size?
There are two popular options for motor sizes - the ½ HP and the ¾ HP:
- ½ HP - This is the best seller
- ¾ HP - This one is often used for solid wood doors that weigh more than 300 pounds, as well as on the heavy double‑wide doors.
AC and DC motors are available:
- AC (alternating current) - When the door opens, it will start slowly, and then increase to normal speed before slowing down at the end. This type of motor is measured in Newtons rather than horsepower.
- DC (direct current) - These motors have a constant speed. They are available in ⅓, ½ or ¾ HP. This is the only type of motor that has a backup battery.
Accessories
There are also plenty of different types of accessories available. You should think about your lifestyle and choose the ones that work best for you. All of the garage door openers have two safety reversal systems.
Quality Technology
The electric garage door openers have changed and improved drastically over the past few years. Quality systems such as LiftMaster’s MyQ even allow you to control the garage door with a phone, laptop or tablet no matter where you might be.
No matter what you need with your garage door, including accessories, arrange for a service call online or contact us at 508-875-3508. Check out our Design Centre to design your own garage door and get a free quotation as well. We have a trained staff that is ready to help.
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