Understanding your home’s needs is critical to choosing the right garage door opener. Knowing what you need and want in a garage door opener will certainly help you make sense of the diverse range of options available in the market.
Even then, making the right choice may seem daunting. With expert advice from a professional who understands the features, capabilities and limitations of different garage door openers, you can choose an opener that works reliably and will deliver value for a long time. Our highly knowledgeable team at Lewis Door Service will offer you the professional guidance you need to make an informed choice.
Consider the Size and Weight of your Garage Door
Are your garage doors a standard or custom size? Most garage door openers are designed for use with standard-sized garage doors. These openers typically deliver a lifting power of ½ to 1 ¼ HP, which is sufficient for the seamless operation of garage doors of standard size and weight.
However, a standard opener may be unable to effectively do its job if used with a non-standard garage door size. Larger and heavier garage doors require more horsepower for smooth operation. If your garage door is a custom size, you must customize the standard opener. Before making the final purchase, ensure the opener is customized to meet your home’s needs. Our specialists at Lewis Door Service have the expertise and the experience to install both standard and customized garage door openers.
Evaluate Security and Safety Features
Safety should always be a priority as you select a garage door opener. Most modern openers have essential safety features, such as auto-reverse mechanisms. This feature enhances safety by automatically reversing the garage door if the opener detects an obstruction. Safety will be an even bigger concern for a household with pets and kids, and you will want to go for a garage door opener with more safety features, such as infrared beams.
Similarly, the more security features a garage door opener offers, the more confident you will feel about installing it. Rolling code technology, for example, changes the access code on your opener after use. This feature will offer next-level protection against unauthorized entry, as intruders will have a hard time duplicating your access code.
Look for Smart Features
A smart garage door opener can enhance convenience and improve your home’s security. Smart features such as Wi-Fi connectivity enable remote access. You can operate your garage door from anywhere via an app on your smartphone. With remote access, you can conveniently open the garage door while you are away and not have to worry about rushing home so that you can let a guest in. The smart garage opener system may also include two-way audio, allowing you to communicate with the guest or delivery personnel via devices mounted on the garage door or wall.
Advanced smart garage door openers allow you to integrate the opener with your other smart home systems. You can bolster real-time monitoring of the areas inside and outside your garage by integrating the garage opener with your smart home security system’s cameras. You can also set the garage door to trigger an alarm whenever someone opens or closes it.
Consider Noise Level
Some garage door openers operate more quietly than others, and this quiet operation depends largely on the opener’s drive type or operating mechanism. Wall-mounted and belt-drive openers are known for being able to run quietly. Consider your home’s layout and the ages of members of your household when deciding what garage opener to choose based on the noise level the garage door produces.
Much younger and much older family members are likely to get easily irritated by the noise your garage door opener produces. For this reason, you may want to limit your choices to the quieter openers. Similarly, if your garage sits close to your living spaces or bedrooms, a quieter garage door opener will be the best choice so you can avoid disrupting your family’s peace and quiet as they sleep or go about their day in the house.
Prioritize Continued Operation During Power Outages
Are power outages frequent in your area? If so, a garage door opener with reliable battery backup would be an excellent choice. Keep in mind, however, that you can only use the garage door a finite number of times when it is running on the battery backup. If you experience extended power outages in your area, ensure your garage door opener’s battery bank is sized accordingly. There’s always the manual release feature that’s standard on the vast majority of garage doors, if not all of them, too, which gives you a helpful option if the backup is too small or you get an opener without one.
Factor in Energy Efficiency
In addition to other advantages, such as a quieter operation and smoother reverse capabilities, garage door openers powered by DC motors use less energy than their counterparts driven by AC motors. For a homeowner who is keen on energy cost savings and reducing your carbon footprint, you may want to go for the more energy-efficient DC-powered openers.
Some garage door openers also feature energy-saving standby modes. Going for such options will enhance the overall energy efficiency of your garage door opening system.
Stick to Reputable Brands
Some garage door opener brands, such as LiftMaster, have set themselves apart from the rest, and with good reason. All factors considered, you will do well to narrow down your options to garage door openers from these top brands.
Why? These brands have built a reputation for innovation and consistency in quality. Garage door openers from these brands meet and even exceed industry standards, so you can be sure you are getting a premium-quality and reliable opener. The vast selection offered by these top brands will leave you with many options to choose from as you find a garage door opener that best suits your preferences and home’s needs. Also, these brands offer exceptional after-sales support, and you can expect a valid warranty and great support regarding spare parts, accessories, and more.
Likewise, ensure you stick to a trustworthy company for your garage door opener installation. We are committed to delivering the best service, and our technicians are trained to get the garage door installation done right the first time. Lewis Door Service is an authorized dealer of LiftMaster garage door openers, so you can rest assured you will be getting the latest products and the most professional service.
Get Expert Advice Today
With so many factors to consider, choosing the right garage door opener for your home can get overwhelming. While you may have an idea of what you expect from your garage door opener, narrowing down the options may not be so easy. Let us help you. We speak garage door openers at Lewis Door Service and can advise you on the selection that best suits your home’s needs and aligns with your preferences. Contact us today for an obligation-free consultation.
We are proud to be Kentuckiana’s trusted garage door experts since 1973. We offer professional garage door installation, maintenance and repair services to our ever-growing clientele in Louisville, KY, Southern Indiana and the surrounding areas.
