Though most garage
doors are now equipped with the ability
to be opened mechanically, older homes may still use a door that requires the
owner to get out of their car and open the door manually. By either purchasing a new garage door for installation
or purchasing a garage door opener, an owner can increase the value of their
home, and the ease and enjoyment of their garage. Various options exist now in the realm of
garage door openers, so it is possible to evaluate the factors each consumer
might want in an opener, and move forward from there. Factors to consider include the size and
weight of the door to be opened and the safety features available in the garage
door opener of choice.
The size and weight of the door will
affect how much power is required of the garage
door opener motor. Larger doors require a motor with more
horsepower to lift them. Generally, for
a double door at least ½ hp is suggested.
Though a larger motor is not as necessary for a smaller door, it is
possible that these motors may last longer due to operating with less
strain. Many options will offer a
mechanism to help with gentle starting and stopping of the door when in use,
which will also help lengthen the usable time of the motor.
Especially important in homes with
children and pets, but a valuable concern for any home, are the safety
standards of the garage door opener. In
the United States, there are federal regulations about safety requirements for
garage doors. Among these requirements
is that the door close at a mandated speed.
Even when purchasing a model that will allow the door to open more
quickly, it will close slowly to prevent accidental damage to property or
injury to people and pets. Also, the
openers are required to have a feature that prevents the door from closing on
anything in its path. Most commonly, an
electronic beam acts as a sensor that will trigger the door to reverse if
something or someone breaks the beam. As
a security measure, garage doors change the code used between the door and the
remote each time the door is opened to prevent code theft that would otherwise
allow easy entry into a home. Many garage
door openers also feature a security light that activates when the garage is
open, giving the resident time to close the door, exit their car, and enter the
house.
As a garage
door opener works with movable parts, routine
maintenance and inspection is an important step in prolonging the life of the
door and protecting the investment.
Looking into these important factors will insure that maintenance can be
kept to minimum, reasonable levels.
Though there are many considerations in this sort of purchase, finding
the right garage door opener can happen with careful attention to the needs of
the purchaser and research into the options available.