Today’s garage door openers provide many advantages over their predecessors. With increased safety features, convenient add-ons and Wi-Fi connectivity, there’s never been a better time to invest in a new garage door opener.

When researching your options, make sure to pay special attention to the opener’s lifting power, or horsepower ratings. While ½ HP is usually sufficient, a higher horsepower will mean less wear and tear on the motor, ensuring its longevity.

Here are some new garage door opener benefits.

Increased Safety

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requires all openers manufactured on or after January 1, 1993 to be equipped with electric eyes, also commonly referred to as photo eyes.

This system consists of two safety sensors installed on each side of the door, approximately six-inches from the garage floor, with one sending an invisible beam of light to the other.

If an obstruction is detected while the door is closing, its direction will be reversed. Malfunctioning or misaligned sensors will also cause the door to become non-operational. All openers sold today include this vital feature.

Power During Outages

Power outages happen – especially during Arizona’s monsoon season. When they do, you may not only find yourself stuck in the dark, but also in the house should you have parked your car in the garage. A new garage door opener with optional battery backup can ensure the door is operational for 24 hours or 20 full cycles, whichever comes first.

Quieter Operation

Designed with a bicycle-like chain and metal trolley, you should expect a significant amount of noise from a chain drive opener. These openers will only get louder with age as well. Invest in a belt drive opener for quieter operation. Other advantages to belt drives include reliable performance, low maintenance, and ease of use.

Vibration isolators can reduce garage door noise even further. These are installed between the opener motor and the metal brackets holding it to the ceiling. 13-ball bearing nylon rollers should also be considered. These are all recommended in homes with sleeping quarters directly above or adjacent to the garage.

Wi-Fi Connectivity

Smart garage door openers add convenience like remote access and scheduling. You can even connect it to other smart devices for total home automation. The greatest advantages to a smart garage door opener is the ability to receive real-time alerts each time the door is opened and/or closed.

You are in complete control of your garage door system via an accompanying app downloaded on your iPhone or Android. Purchasing a new opener may not be required as some manufacturers, LiftMaster® for example, offer retrofits. These retrofits are compatible with most newer garage door openers.

Keypads

Adding a keypad outside the garage door can really come in handy if you’re ever locked out of your house. Simply enter a 4-digit code on the keypad to raise the garage door. Many households with school aged children install these instead of giving their kids a house key. You can purchase a keypad that is compatible with your opener separately.

APEX Garage Door & Repair is a garage door service company with a team of dedicated and experienced professionals. We specialize in the repair, maintenance, and installation of most popular garage door and garage door opener brands. Contact us at (480) 460-1199 to schedule installation of your new garage door opener today!