Selecting Your New Garage Door Opener

What type garage door opener should you choose?

• Chain Drive
  Noisiest, but advances in technology, design, and materials have made them much quieter.
  With todays new operators the most noticeable noise on a new installation is from motor vibration.
  Models using enclosed chains are less noisy, permanently lubricated, and require no periodic adjustments to the chain.
  Get an optional noise dampening mounting system to eliminate most vibration noise.



• Screw Drive
  Fewest moving parts to wear out
  Some models use a coating on the rail to insure no metal-to-metal contact in order to reduce noise.
  Some open at twice the normal speed and close at the normal 7" per second for safety.



• Belt Drive
  Quiet
  belts are reinforced much like a radial tire
  no metal-to-metal contact



• Wall Mount
  No overhead rail
  Opens more overhead garage storage space
  May be quieter than belt drive
  

What HP do you need to open and close your door?

• 1/3 HP will lift lightweight doors, single or double wide



• 1/2 HP will operate all but the heaviest double wide carriage house doors



• 3/4 HP will handle any residential garage doors currently on the market

What Accessories will you need or want?

• Remote Control Transmitters
  Modern remotes use rolling code technology, changing the code each time you use your remote
  Available in sunvisor clip-on or keychain sizes
  Some new cars come with 'Homelink' remotes installed



• Keyless Entry
  Just enter your code numbers to operate your door opener.
  Panels are usually lighted.
  Wireless systems eliminate the need for wiring



• Parking Guide
  Easily park your car in the same spot each time
  Especially useful if limited space available



• Exterior Safety Locks With Cable
  Disconnect your opener from outside during power outage
  Keyed lock
  Compatible with all brands
  Attaches through the top of the garage door



• Motion-detector
  Automatically turns on your lights when entering the garage
  No tripping over obstacles in the dark
  Easy to install



• Lightning Suppressor Kit
  Used to protect the safety sensors and logic boards from electrical storms and power surges.



• Heavy Duty Light Bulbs
  Standard bulbs burn out often due to vibration
  Longer bulb life - 12,000 or 20,000 hours

A Final Word of Advice

My personal feeling is that garage door opener manufacturers should keep the manuals online for at least 10 years after a model is discontinued, but corporate America may not agree.

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