Most homeowners are unsure of what they need or want in a garage door opener. You should look for something that works reliably and provides long-term value, but how do you sort through the many choices? Our guide on selecting a garage door opener will help you sort through the many options available.

9 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A GARAGE DOOR OPENER

Although all garage door openers open and close garage doors, they are not the same. In terms of durability, power, quiet operation, security, affordability, and various other factors, some options are superior to others. Consider the following factors when choosing a garage door opener: 

1. DRIVE OPTIONS

In general, garage door openers are designed similarly. A motor drives a carriage or trolley along a rail. When the trolley moves, it closes or opens the garage door. Different garage door opener models differ primarily in how the motor moves the trolley. 

Chains, screws, and belts drive garage door openers:

• Chain: A chain-drive garage door opener accomplishes lifting or lowering the garage door. The chain-drive opener is a durable and affordable drive type, but it produces more vibrations and noise than other types. Noise may not be an issue if your garage is not attached to your house. A quieter option may be better if your garage is next to a bedroom.

• The trolley is pushed by screw-drive openers using threaded steel rods. Lifting or lowering the garage door is accomplished by pushing the lifting mechanism along its track. Due to their relatively few moving parts, screw-drive openers generally make less noise than their chain-drive counterparts. However, they are more expensive than chain drives.

• Belt: A belt-drive opener works similarly to a chain-drive opener, except the trolley is driven by a belt rather than a chain. Compared with screw- or chain-driven systems, they operate more quietly and smoothly. You may want to consider a belt drive if your garage is adjacent to a bedroom or living area. Among the three types of drives, belt drives are the most expensive.

2. HORSEPOWER OPTIONS 

There are also a variety of horsepower options available. Considering the size and weight of your garage door will help you determine what horsepower you need. The weight can vary depending on the door’s material and whether it’s a single or double door. Your door's weight and the opener's horsepower must match for optimal operation.

Your opener should also have a long lifespan. It is not uncommon for some people to buy a motor of lower horsepower at a lower price and replace it after a short period. In addition, some people prefer a more expensive, higher-horsepower motor that will last a long time. Investing depends on what you want to do.

Residential doors are available in three horsepower options:

• 1/3 horsepower: Despite their affordability, 1/3 horsepower motors do not last as long as openers with 1/2 horsepower or 3/4 horsepower. Like those made of steel, lighter doors perform fairly well, but they may not last very long. Although they can lift doors with evenly distributed weights, using a 1/3-horsepower opener with a heavy door means you'll have to replace it more frequently than using an opener with more horsepower.

• 1/2-horsepower: As the most common option, 1/2-horsepower openers are best suited to moderately sized single and double doors. With its middle-of-the-road power and price, it's suitable for a wide range of garage doors. 

• 3/4-horsepower: Certain types of garage doors are very heavy, such as wood garage doors. For these doors and any doors wider than 14 feet, you will typically need a 3/4-horsepower opener if you want it to last for many years. 3/4-horsepower openers are the most powerful and last the longest.

Whatever option you choose, your door must always be balanced correctly. If your door is unbalanced, it won't matter how robust your opener is.

3. AC VS DC POWER 

AC or DC power is another decision you will have to make. Both are indeed designed to perform the same function - which is to convert electricity into motion - but their methods are different. The following is a comparison of each type: 

AC POWER

In AC motors, energy is generated by magnetic fields generated by coils encircling the output shaft. These motors have several components, including a rotor and a stator. There are some advantages to AC motors, including their durability, efficiency, and flexibility. 

AC motor garage door openers are characterized by the following features: 

• Less expensive than others.

• They are durable and require little maintenance. 

• It is more likely that they will feature a chain drive.

DC POWER

A DC motor is powered by batteries or another generator that provides a constant voltage. DC motors have several parts, such as shafts, bearings, gears, or a gearbox. Unlike AC motors, DC motors offer more torque, control, and speed variation.

Garage door openers with DC motors have the following characteristics:

• They were more costly.

• Compared to AC motors, they consume less energy.

• A belt drive is more likely to be found on these machines.

• As a result, the door is gentler on the surface because they can vary the speed at which they start and stop the process of opening and closing.

• Some models are virtually undetectable from inside your house when they're in motion.

• AC-powered openers have a more challenging time reversing smoothly and quickly.

• Battery backup is available in case of power outages. AC-powered openers can't do this due to their immense power requirements.

4. BACKUP POWER 

If the power goes out, you want a garage door opener that continues to work. There are at least one of the following features on garage door openers:

• Manual release: This important feature allows users to disconnect the opener from the garage door, allowing them to open it manually. Garage doors are weighty, but their spring system offers sufficient counterbalance so an adult can open them easily. The manual release feature is beneficial during an outage and determining if your garage door is appropriately balanced.

• Battery backup: When the power goes out temporarily, you can use your garage door with a battery backup. If you ration your battery backup use during an outage, your garage door will continue to operate during an extended power outage, even if you only use it a few times. The battery backup will begin charging again as soon as the power is restored. 

5. ROLLING CODE TECHNOLOGY 

Adding rolling code technology to your security and safety will make you feel more confident. There was a time when a neighbors could have the same garage door code as you. Each time you open your garage door, rolling code technology creates a new and secure code from billions of possibilities.

6. RELIABILITY 

The garage door opener must be dependable for convenience and safety.  Check to determine if the dual-frequency signals are available with your garage door opener options. This makes it such that there is less chance of interference from other garage door openers, giving you continuous access. The functionality of your garage door opener should improve the operation of your home and your overall lifestyle, and this feature can support that.

7. SIZE

7-foot high garage doors are the norm. Garage door openers are made to fit 7-foot garage doors due to their typical height. When you make a final decision, be sure you know the fees associated with customizing a certain garage door opener choice if your door size is out of the ordinary.

8. BRAND AND PRICE

How much you can afford to spend on a new garage door opener is something only you know. Prior to beginning, determine your spending limit and adhere to it. It's fantastic if you have allegiance to a particular brand that you have previously used. Make sure you stick with a reputable brand with a track record of providing the quality and longevity you desire in a garage door opener. A garage door opener can be found for a low price that advertises a lot of functions, but just like with many other products, you get what you pay for.

9. WI-FI CONNECTIVITY 

By connecting them to your home's Wi-Fi, smart garage door openers allow you to monitor and control them remotely from your phone. The following advantages are also offered by these sophisticated openers:

• Accessible monitoring: Monitoring your garage door's activity is easy with your smartphone or another smart device. Whenever your garage door is opened or closed, you will receive real-time alerts. For example, you can learn whether you accidentally left it open.

• Accessible control: Moreover, you can control the movements of your garage door from anywhere in the world. For example, Guests can access your house while you're on vacation. It is also possible to schedule the opening and closing of your door. 

• Simple setup: A smart garage door opener may seem complicated to set up if you've never used one, but it's actually quite straightforward. Connect your opener to your home's Wi-Fi, then download the myQ app to your Apple or Android device. You can monitor and control your door from anywhere using this app.

• With the myQ app, you can monitor your garage door along with your home security system. Xfinity Home, Nest, Wink, Apple HomeKit, and Nest Home can all be controlled with this app.

Garage door opener remotes can be challenging to keep track of, so you might be tempted to ditch them and just use your app to control your door instead. Despite the fact that the app is necessary to operate and monitor your garage door remotely, don't think of your smartphone as a replacement for your remote control. Apps aren't meant for regular garage door opening and closing, and the process takes longer than pressing a button.