| Garage door openers are a modern day convenience | | | | The quietest of all the garage door openers is the |
| and luxury investment invented in 1926 by C.G. | | | | belt drive type. Despite seeming flimsy and delicate, |
| Johnson. Since that time, door openers, as well as | | | | the rubber belt is reinforced by steel for durability. |
| garage doors, have undergone many refinements. | | | | Belt drive models also provide virtually maintenance |
| Originally, garage doors were composed of solid | | | | free operation, but often times cost more than their |
| wood and were exceptionally heavy and | | | | chain driven counterparts. |
| cumbersome to open or close. It was not until much | | | | If cost is the primary concern, then the chain driven |
| later that steel doors and fiberglass doors became | | | | openers are the least expensive to purchase. While |
| commonplace. A variety of openers have different | | | | chain driven models are the least expensive and the |
| horsepower ratings in order to handle the variety of | | | | most common to find throughout the majority of |
| doors on the market today. | | | | homes, the durable construction is a long proven |
| Gone are the days of the 1940s and 1950s when a | | | | method for opening a door. These particular units |
| home owner would open their door with the remote, | | | | usually require more routine attention as the opener |
| as well as the garage doors of multiple neighbors. | | | | ages. |
| Because of this and the use of scanner tools being | | | | The second main feature to be examined is if the |
| able to detect the transmitted codes of earlier | | | | opener is able to accept remote keypads and |
| openers, allowing unscrupulous individuals the ability to | | | | operate with a battery backup. A few openers on |
| program a remote and enter the home, | | | | the market are not able to accept additional |
| manufacturers developed the use of rolling codes. | | | | components, but these models are usually found at |
| The purpose of this rolling code technology is to | | | | the bottom of the pricing scale. A large number of |
| enhance the security and privacy of the home owner | | | | automatic door openers include keypads and extra |
| by preventing scanners the ability to hi-jack the | | | | transmitters. A few openers include a backup battery |
| transmitter codes, thereby leaving occupants | | | | which will allow the continued automatic operation i |
| protected and the contents of the home safe from | | | | the event of a power outage. Starting at the high |
| being stolen. Rolling codes are now universally found | | | | end of the mid-ranged price point openers also allow |
| on every garage door opener. | | | | the transmitter to operate more than one garage |
| Today's garage door openers have a plethora of | | | | door or gate for convenience. |
| additional features unheard of in the "good 'ol days". | | | | The most important feature of any garage door |
| Some of the mainstream features found with every | | | | opener, however, is the horse power rating. Carriage |
| opener are photoelectric sensors, or seeing eyes, | | | | gates or solid wood construction will determine what |
| pressure sensing technology, and a trolley quick | | | | rating of opener to buy. Should the garage door be |
| release handle. These features were developed for | | | | constructed from steel, fiberglass or wood |
| the safety of small children and preventing the door | | | | composite, a 1/2 horse power rated garage door |
| from crushing an object as it descends. While an | | | | opener should be sufficient. For maximum longevity |
| injury may still be possible, these changes have | | | | and superior lifting capabilities, a 3/4 horse power |
| greatly increased the safety of the automatic door | | | | opener should be considered. |
| operation. | | | | Once a garage door opener has been chosen, it is |
| The main features to be considered are the type of | | | | recommended to have it professionally installed. While |
| mechanical drive system the door opener utilizes. The | | | | the typical home owner may be handy with a |
| three main types are the proven chain drive, screw | | | | screwdriver and hammer, installing a garage door |
| drive and belt driven openers. If the speed of which | | | | opener can be an entire day or weekend project of |
| the garage door opens is of major concern, only one | | | | back and neck straining work. A professional installer |
| type needs to be considered. Screw drive openers | | | | will have the equipment and experience to make |
| generally provide the fastest opening of most garage | | | | quick work of any joist or ceiling reinforcement |
| doors. In addition to being the fastest at opening the | | | | necessary and install the opener in the least amount |
| door, the screw drive opener is one of the most | | | | of time possible. |
| maintenance free of all the openers. | | | | |