How Long to Expect Your Garage Door Opener to Last

 A garage door opener is a device that opens and closes a garage door. A remote control device, smartphone app, or keypad prompts the opener located on the ceiling or the side of the garage door entry to function. 

While openers are a convenient device that will last for years, unfortunately, no garage door opener lasts forever. 

Why Is a Garage Door Opener Essential?

 Garage doors are heavy and can be dangerous if opened manually. For example, if your garage door opener isn’t working properly, the door could fall on you when opening. Some of the most common door problems include: 

• Misaligned tracks or worn rollers and bearings
• Door opening and closing unevenly
• Extremely noisy operation
• Jerking motion while operating
• Motor running, but no door movement
• Keypad or remote not working

 Many homeowners believe garage door openers are complicated. However, they’re easy to operate—and inexpensive. A well-functioning opener will smoothly open and close your garage door because it only takes a fraction of the physical effort that it would manually. 

 For safety reasons, all openers manufactured since 1993 use an automatic reversal feature that if an obstruction blocks the sensors placed about six inches from the floor on each side of the garage door, the door stops automatically and reverses back to the open position. Also, the door will not close while the obstruction remains or if the sensor malfunctions. 

How a Garage Door Opener Works

There are four types of garage door openers, each has its negative aspects and also advantages, so determine what is best for your home. 

 The garage door opener is the motor/drive system that operates the door. They can be installed in two different ways: vertically or horizontally. The type of opener you install will depend on the size and weight of your door. 

Common Types of Garage Door Openers

Here are the most common types of garage door openers on the market today.

Belt Drive

 Belt drive openers are the quietest of the four types mentioned here and have the lowest number of maintenance issues.

Chain Drive

 While a chain drive is the least expensive, it still provides years of dependable service. One of the drawbacks is their comparatively loud operation. 

Screw Drive

 Many people prefer a screw-driven operator for their garage doors over a belt drive because it’s quiet with low vibration, making them ideal for areas where noise may be a problem. 

Direct Drive

The direct drive operator has only one moving part, making it quiet with little garage door maintenance necessary. No noisy moving chain and features a moving motor carriage. 

The Best Garage Door Openers

 When it comes to choosing the best garage door opener, the choices are plenty. Judging by the number of front-runners loaded with the latest technology and features, there isn’t much room at the top for newcomers because in those coveted top spots according to consumers. 

 You will find familiar brands like Genie by Overhead Door, Chamberlain, and Liftmaster by Chamberlain, and taking their respective places in the top three tiers. 

 Worthy of the top spot is the Genie StealthDrive Connect with its quiet steel-reinforced belt drive system operated by a robust 1.25 HP motor that includes a 50-use backup battery for those days when the power goes out. 

 This design has a five-piece rail system capable of operating up to 7 ft. tall garage doors with a max weight of up to 500 lbs. Included with this system are two pre-programmed remote controls ready-to-go, a wireless keypad, and a multi-function wall console switch. 

 Filling out the second-place slot of the top openers available today is the Chamberlain B4545 Smart Door Opener. They call it smart for a reason — its main features boast an HD 1080P built-in video camera that allows you to see inside the garage from your smartphone via a live feed or recorded video. 

 The heart of the communication system is the built-in WiFi giving you full control of everything from their myQ app.

In second place, is the Liftmaster 87504-267 Secure View Ultra-Quiet Belt Drive Smart Opener. It comes in at a respectable 3rd place on our Top 3 list of openers. 

 Like the others listed, this garage door opener has HD video with non-glare night vision that adjusts to various light levels in the garage. Also, you can live-stream video from your garage for free or add a myQ Video Storage Subscription to record and save videos if needed. 

Some may be concerned about the longevity of garage door openers but the cause of premature wear and short lifespans lies in the nature and frequency of preventative maintenance of the units. 

 Garage door operators last from 10 to 15 years or longer, provided owners properly maintain the opener and follow recommended service intervals. 

Rollers, bearings, and tracks require lubrication for maximum performance of the operator for its useful life. Adjustments such as alignment and replacement of worn parts also play an essential role in extending the life of a unit beyond the 15-year average. 

If you’re in need of a new garage door, then call Dodds Garage Doors today.