Choosing a Garage Door Opener

Written by admin on April 25th, 2011

Though most garage doors are now equipped with the ability to be opened mechanically, older homes may still use a door that requires the owner to get out of their car and open the door manually.  By either purchasing a new garage door for installation or purchasing a garage door opener, an owner can increase the value of their home, and the ease and enjoyment of their garage.  Various options exist now in the realm of garage door openers, so it is possible to evaluate the factors each consumer might want in an opener, and move forward from there.  Factors to consider include the size and weight of the door to be opened and the safety features available in the garage door opener of choice.

 

Especially important in homes with children and pets, but a valuable concern for any home, are the safety standards of the garage door opener.  In the United States, there are federal regulations about safety requirements for garage doors.  Among these requirements is that the door close at a mandated speed.  Even when purchasing a model that will allow the door to open more quickly, it will close slowly to prevent accidental damage to property or injury to people and pets.  Also, the openers are required to have a feature that prevents the door from closing on anything in its path.  Most commonly, an electronic beam acts as a sensor that will trigger the door to reverse if something or someone breaks the beam.  As a security measure, garage doors change the code used between the door and the remote each time the door is opened to prevent code theft that would otherwise allow easy entry into a home.  Many garage door openers also feature a security light that activates when the garage is open, giving the resident time to close the door, exit their car, and enter the house.

 

As a garage door opener works with movable parts, routine maintenance and inspection is an important step in prolonging the life of the door and protecting the investment.  Looking into these important factors will insure that maintenance can be kept to minimum, reasonable levels.  Though some may worry about the cost of annual garage door professional inspections, proper maintenance is less expensive than fixing serious problems.  Though there are many considerations in this sort of purchase, finding the right garage door opener can happen with careful attention to the needs of the purchaser and research into the options available.

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