Neighborhood Garage Door Service of Portland, OR gets calls here and there about either replacing or even doing a first-time installation of a garage door opener. There are a lot of features to consider nowadays, and it can get confusing. Have no fear! We’re here to help you know how to choose the best garage door opener for your home.
Must-haves
When considering a new garage door opener, there are some bare minimum options you should be looking for. Most of these come standard now, but if any of them are missing, that should be a red flag.
Exterior keypad
An exterior keypad is installed just outside your garage door. This allows you easy access to your garage. It also provides security by relying on a numerical code to open the door.
Reliable remotes
When they first came out, remote controls that activate your overhead garage door opener were not incredibly secure. Over time, the technology associated with them has improved drastically. The key feature you’ll want to check on is a rolling code system. If the remote is programmed by physical dip switches, avoid that opener. Another feature to watch for with our remote is dual-frequency control. This allows the remote and receiver to utilize two radio frequencies to avoid the possibility of interference from other remotes and openers in your neighborhood. This can become a problem in dense neighborhoods.
Good options
There are other options that are good to have when considering the best garage door opener that aren’t essential like the above features. Many of these features are also becoming standard to many models. However, if you’re upgrading to a new opener, you might as well invest in the most up-to-date technologies.
Quiet operation
If noise is a big concern, you have options. The traditional chain-driven lift system can be fairly noisy. Newer belt-driven or screw-driven systems can cut back drastically on the operational noise.
Battery backup
Most garage door opener systems are equipped with an emergency pull cord. This allows you to disengage the drive system so that you can open the door manually during a power outage. More and more models are coming equipped with battery backup functionality. This allows for continuous automatic operation when power goes out.
Automatic lights
Overhead lights are standard in the housing of your garage door opener. Most of them cut on when the opener is activated and cut off after a set amount of time. You should also be able to cut these lights on independently of the opener’s operation. Now, we are seeing models with motion-activated lights. This can be very convenient when entering your garage from your house at night.
Internet gateway
The internet of things is the fastest growing aspect of the internet. It describes the increasing number of internet-connected devices. Many of these are home devices such as lights, tv’s, even appliances. Not to be left out, garage door openers have joined this list.
Using an internet gateway in your home paired with a smartphone app, you can open a host of new features.
- Monitor whether the door was left open
- Open or close the door from anywhere in the world
- Assign a temporary password while out of town
Know what you need
As with any home improvement, you need to know what features and functions you have to have to meet your needs. Here are some items to consider.
Garage door height
Most openers can handle a door that is 7’ tall. If yours is taller than that, you’ll need an extension kit. This will add to the overall price of your purchase. It may also impact your motor considerations.
Horsepower
The horsepower you need for your best garage door opener basically comes down to weight. Several things will impact this:
- Material the door is made of
- Width of the door
- Height of the door
Your garage door technician should be able to determine the horsepower to meet your needs.
Professional installation or DIY
Garage door installation is not quite like installing new sink faucet. It is a complicated process and can even be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. We at Neighborhood Garage Door Service of Portland, Oregon always recommend professional installation. We’re confident this is not only the safest option, but will yield the best results. Give us a call today and you’ll discover the benefits of a highly qualified garage door service company!
