October 7, 2016

Things to Think About Before You Buy a Garage Door Opener

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You’ve finally decided to take the plunge and buy a new garage door opener! You know that this purchase will make life a lot easier and more convenient, but you should also know that there are a few things to consider as you choose the right garage door opener for your home.

Understand Your Needs

How is your garage set up now? If it’s detached from your house, you might not have to worry as much about noise when you open and close the door. On the other hand, if it’s attached to your house, and especially if there’s a bedroom overhead, you’ll want to get a garage door opener that’s quiet and won’t disturb people in the house when the garage door opens and closes.

How Much Space Do You Have Over Your Garage Door?

If you don’t already have a garage door opener in place, even if you have all the hardware installed already, you need to measure the space over the door before you select a garage door opener. A garage door opener with a central trolley will require at least two inches (51 mm) of overhead space above the door. Don’t worry if you don’t have that much space, though, as there are alternatives available. Contact us today to find out more about your options.

Do You Have a Sloped or Cathedral Ceiling in Your Garage?

Installing a trolley-type door opener in a garage with a cathedral or sloped ceiling isn’t a problem, even if your garage door’s tracks aren’t horizontal, but the length of the trolley may need to be adjusted, depending on the height of the door.

Instead of a central trolley, you might want to consider a side-mounted opener (sometimes called a jackshaft opener). This kind of garage door opener is 16 inches tall by six inches wide, and it has all the same features as a traditional trolley-style door opener. It’s just more convenient for a garage with a sloped roof and some other garages.

With a jackshaft opener system, the opener is attached to the torsion bar and installed beside the door. For it to work, though, you must have at least three inches (76 mm) of space between the middle of the torsion bar and the ceiling. You’ll also need to ensure that you have at least eight inches (20 m) of space between the end of the torsion bar and the garage wall.

What Are the Different Types of Garage Door Openers?

There are 3 main types of door openers:

  • Belt-driven central mounted trolley-style openers – Generally the quietest option.
  • Garage door openers with central chain-driven trolleys – Usually the most affordable option.
  • Jackshaft openers installed next to the door – Practical for garages with little headroom and/or sloped ceilings.

If you opt for a trolley-type door opener, we highly recommend going for a model with a one-piece trolley instead of a three-piece option. One-piece models are sturdier, and you won’t have to tighten any bolts later on to keep one of these working well and quietly.

What Size Motor Do You Need?

The two most common door opener motors are the ½ HP and the ¾  HP. The ½ HP is the most popular and works well for most doors. If you have a solid wood door and/or your door weighs more than 300 pounds (135 kg), you’ll want to go with a ¾ HP motor to ensure that your door opener can safely and efficiently open your garage door.

In addition to the size of the motor, you can also choose between AC and DC motors. An AC (alternating current) motor will start opening or closing the door slowly, increase speed as it travels along the rails, and then decrease speed as the door comes to a stop. Also, if you get an AC motor, you’ll be looking at its power in terms of Newtons (N) instead of horsepower (HP). An 800 N motor is roughly equivalent to a ½ HP motor, while a 900 N motor is similar to a ¾ HP motor.

With a DC (direct current) motor, the speed will be constant as the door opens and closes. You can get DC motors in 1/3, ½, and ¼ HP, and you can get a backup battery to ensure that your door opener will still work if the power is out, as well. This is not an option for an AC motor.

What About Door Opener Accessories?

There are actually a lot of accessories available that you can choose from, depending on which door opener you choose. Keep in mind that all openers come with 2 safety reversal systems – one that’s photoelectric and one that’s mechanical.

New Technology for Garage Door Openers

Newer garage door openers have come a long way over the last few years. In fact, when you opt for LiftMaster’s MyQ, you can actually open and close your garage door with any compatible mobile or web device, including your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. That means you can close or open your garage door from anywhere you happen to be!

Whether you’re replacing an old opener or you’ve never had a garage door opener before, we can help you. Call us today at

508-563-5633 or arrange for a service call online. And, if you have other garage door needs, you can also use our Design Centre to create your own custom garage door, and you can get a free quotation online, as well. Our staff members are highly skilled and qualified, and we’re standing by to help you find the best solutions for your garage door needs!

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