Do You Need a New Garage Door Opener?

Most Americans put their garage doors through the wringer every day without even realizing it. If you're a typical homeowner with a garage, you open and close it three to five times a day – about 1,500 times each year – putting stress not only on the door itself, but the gears and mechanisms which make the open-close cycle a no-brain endeavor. For most people, that involves simply pushing a button on a remote, wall pad, or smartphone app. Voila! And the garage door magically opens and closes on command.

Reputable garage door installers will tell you the door, gears, springs, other components, and garage door opener itself can wear down over time and need maintenance or replacement. In some cases, it’s a matter of answering a simple question: Do you need a garage door opener or not?

If you have a one-car garage that’s rarely used and has a side entrance, you may not need a mechanized opener at all. Most small garages feature a single overhead door that normally weighs less than 80 pounds and opens very easily by grabbing the handle and giving it a lift. So opening the door occasionally isn’t a problem.

But if you have a two-car or larger garage which gets frequent use, you absolutely need a garage door opener to make your life easier and utilize garage space as intended. Of course, there are many other reasons or signs that you need a new model which a garage door installation company can tell you about.

Do You Need a New Garage Door Opener or Not?

• You might need a new garage door opener, after all. If you think there are mechanical issues, it’s best to consult with a garage door installation Denver professional first before making a decision, but here are some factors to consider.
• Physical limitations. As we said already, a one-car garage includes a fairly lightweight door that most adults can open with little effort. But a door for a two-car garage is normally 16 feet wide and can weigh hundreds of pounds – making it difficult to manually open and close several times a day, every day. And opening or closing a large, heavy garage door can be painful, especially if you have a medical condition that limits or restricts physical activity.
• A garage door opener may be quieter than manually opening and closing the door on your own. If you have an opener installed, new components besides the unit itself will likely be included, replacing worn-out springs and other parts that are noisy and disruptive every time you work the door on your own.
• A garage door opener increases security for your garage and home. If you operate the door manually, there’s no guarantee it will close completely or lock as expected. Thieves are adept at getting into garages without mechanized openers, so why take that chance?
• If your garage door is hard to open or won’t open at all, it may be time to call a maintenance or installation professional. This could be a sign of faulty springs, hinges, or other parts and be a sign of health or safety risks.
• Convenience. Using a garage door opener is simply handier than manually opening and closing the garage door on your own, especially 1,500 times a year. If you've pulled up to your garage during inclement weather, do you really want to get out of your car and struggle to open the door when it’s raining heavily?
• A garage door opener is a must-have feature if you’re selling or renting your home. Today’s newest models offer the convenience and features a potential home buyer will consider when looking for a new residence.

You May Need to Replace an Existing Garage Door Opener If...

• Unexpected vibrations could be a sign that armatures or shafts are worn out or bent in their housings. Garage door openers that work properly shouldn’t noticeably vibrate and may be a sign to call a maintenance professional.
• Your garage door opens and then reverses, there could be an issue with the motion sensors on either side of the garage door frame.
• Your garage door opener is old, and chain driven. These types of openers are noisier than belt-drive models and can wear down faster as they age.
• Your garage door opener doesn't work reliably. Some stuck garage doors can be chalked up to a faulty motion sensor, an electrical problem, a bad keypad, or any other reason indicating it may be time to get a new unit installed.

What a Garage Door Installation Company Will Tell You

You may also want to consider a new garage door opener because they feature what's known as a rolling code. This is a communication protocol that transmits a unique code, via radio signal, from the remote control to the garage door opener every time the remote is activated – making it harder for the code to be intercepted. Older door openers use the same code, increasing the chances that a thief could break into your garage. Battery backups, outside keypads, and "smart" garage door openers are other features to look for in a garage door opener.

Call a Trusted Professional

Buying a garage door opener is often a matter of personal preference and necessity. Today’s newer garage door models are more secure, reliable, and smarter than a unit installed 20 years ago. They’re easier and more convenient to operate and simpler to maintain. If you have questions about the best garage door opener to install, or desirable features, call the experts at A Better Garage Door. Contact us today at 303-920-2267 for more information or to schedule a consultation.