Garage door openers are often unnoticed since your home likely came with one pre-installed when purchased. When shopping for a new garage door opener, the process may be overwhelming considering so many products available.
Modern systems have many features and add-ons, and there are now numerous types of garage door openers available in a wide range of prices. In most cases, garage door openers aren’t too expensive considering what features are available, but you’ll want to make sure you choose one that will last and has the features you are looking for.
Although there are a few different types of openers, their core functionality is the same. Every unit features a motor that moves a trolley that is connected to the door. When the trolley is engaged, it moves the garage door up or down and the main difference between the types is the driving utility.
Lets look deeper into the different types of garage door openers, features to look for, and how to choose the right one for your home
The top 3 leading manufacturers with a wide assortment of garage door openers.
With that, come many different features, look and styles
- Battery BackUp Requirement:
Most important is the SB-969 in California. In 2018, the bill was approved that ALL new garage door openers installed, or when a new garage door is installed, your automatic garage door opener must come with a battery backup in case of an electrical outage. A few years back, CA had major fires which caused electrical outages. Unfortunately, people ran to their garage to try and escape the fire but were trapped in their garage. Thus, now the battery backup kicks in automatically and the garage door will still work without the electricity.
Genie, LiftMaster and Chamberlain all provide the battery backup as an automatic feature. No automatic openers being sold in California comply unless equipped with the battery backup feature
- MyQ WiFi Enabled Smart Garage Door Feature
Kids coming home and forgot the key? Open the garage door from your smartphone and ensure their safety. Be in charge of your garage door even when you aren’t home. Monitor and control your garage door from anywhere. Get real time notifications, set schedules and share the app with family members. Never wonder if you left the garage door open again.
- Belt Drive or Chain Drive
What’s the difference between the two? Chain Driven garage door openers Use a heavy-duty, bicycle-like chain. Not as quiet, but just as durable, as the beltdrive. The chaindrive is also more budget friendly. Belt driven openers uses a steel-reinforced rubber belt. Both are reliable, no doubt, but the belt drive is quieter and runs much smoother. Highly suggested if your garage is under a bedroom or office.
- Overhead or Sidemount
No question about it, the Sidemount garage door opener looks much better without all the thin wires running across your ceiling from your garage door to the opener.
Depending on the weight of your garage door, the Sidemount isn’t always the best choice and may not have the horsepower your garage door requires. The overhead garage door is the most common in homes and may have features the Sidemount doesn’t offer. In most cases, the overhead garage door opener is also more budget friendly.
Always best to consult with a professional garage door technician who can show and explain the difference so that you can make the best decision. Reach out today 747-261-0570 and schedule a free consultation – we are happy to show you all we have to offer.
