The torsion spring, not the operator (or motor), does the heavy lifting. Aesthetics aside, the big changes in today's 300-pound steel doors are in insulation. Tighter perimeter seals and sandwiched polyurethane panels get some doors' U-factors, which measure resistance to heat flow and air infiltration, down as low as 0.2. A door under 0.3 qualifies for a 2010 tax credit of up to $1500.1. Motor & Gears: The motor is typically about a 1/2-hp, 6-amp machine hooked to a 120-volt outlet—that's all it takes to overcome the inertia of a stopped door. The machine also slows a door in transit, preventing it from crashing to the garage floor.2. Drive Guide: This track (aka the T-rail) guides and shields the chain, screw or belt as it moves the door open and closed. It connects the operator to the trolley, which in turn is connected to the door.3. Height Adjustment: Operator settings determine the distance the door travels. The machine kicks in to arrest the door's motion or to make adjustments if a door isn't opening or closing completely.
The force of the door's motion can also be adjusted so the door stops moving if grabbed.4. Inverter & Battery: To allow smaller, more efficient motors, most garage-door operators use DC current. An inverter switches household AC power to DC, which is also used to charge a battery backup system that kicks in when the power is out.In the past, suburban burglars sometimes gained access to garages by using radio scanners to eavesdrop on a code transmission between a remote control and a garage door. Doors in the 1960s were easy targets—they used only one code. In the 1970s and '80s, code grabbers pilfered one of 256 codes that the remotes cycled through. "Since the mid-1990s, we've had rolling codes with billions of combinations," door-operator manufacturer Chamberlain's Paul Accardo says. "The remote sends a code to the receiver; it opens the door and creates a new code for the next time the door opens. Someone could still capture that code, but it won't be used again." Among the quietest (and costliest) drive options, the belt's Kevlar polymer body is molded into nubby teeth on one side.
These rotate through a gear on the operator top to pull the trolley.The cheapest and oldest technology, the bike-chain-style chain sits slightly slack when the door is open—at least 1/2 inch above the bottom of the T-rail. The chain makes a racket, but maybe that's a good thing when your teenagers are sneaking out.A continuous threaded shaft connects the operator to the trolley, and its arm reaches for the door. Its threads require biannual lubrication with silicone, and it wears out the trolley more quickly than the other options. But the screw is the Goldilocks drive—median price and noise level. Truck & Tool Rental The Home Depot Logo DIY Projects & Ideas Flooring & Area Rugs Lighting & Ceiling Fans Find the right type of garage door opener to ensure home safety and security Having a good garage door opener can save you from getting drenched during a storm, and protect your home from intruders. With the touch of a button, you can access your garage during the harshest weather.
A technologically advanced opening system can make it very difficult for anyone to hack or break into your home.This buying guide highlights the technological platforms of garage door openers, along with the different types, controls and features. SHOP ALL GARAGE DOOR OPENERS There are three primary types of garage door openers, each with unique benefits. Require larger up-front investment Operation may be somewhat noisy Plastic-lined tracks reduce noise Remote access is the main benefit of garage door openers, and keypads offer additional security. Most remotes offer a one-touch button that triggers opening the garage door with the touch of a finger. Installing a wireless keypad is another feature to consider in case the remote battery runs out of power or you are outside the car and need to gain access, or are ever locked out of the house. Multiple-button remotes are great for garages with more than one door. Some remotes feature LED lights that alert you to malfunctions for easier maintenance.
Garage door openers can be vulnerable to key fob hacks and door release handle destruction. Purchase a garage door opener that features rolling-code technology whereby the codes expire after only a few seconds so the codes cannot be used by thieves looking to hack your key fob. Also, only press the key fob once, to eliminate transmitting multiple codes. The garage door release handle can be compromised with a coat hanger in as little as 30 seconds. To alleviate this potential entry point by thieves, tie a zip-tie around the door release handle as it is strong enough to prohibit the door release from being pulled down, and thus, the door opening. Choose a garage door with sensors that can detect when an object is in the path of the door and stop the door when attempting to close. Manual emergency releases are essential during power outages as you can manually open the garage door by pulling the cord that detaches from the opener. Lights are important for safety at night, so look for openers that feature lights that turn on whenever the opener is activated.
Motors that feature DC current rather than AC current tend to operate more quietly.Force guard control enhances safety by allowing you to select the minimum amount of force needed to fully open or close the door. Vacation settings enable you to disable the opener while you are away to prevent it from responding to any transmitter. Battery backups enable reserved battery power to activate should the primary battery fail. Garage Door Opener Remotes Garage Door Opener Accessories Remote Controls and Keypads Ask A Home Depot ExpertEdit ArticleHow to Choose a Garage Door Opener Two Parts:Considering the Drive OptionsConsidering the Horsepower OptionsCommunity Q&A With so many different types of garage door openers on the market, you may not be sure where to start. The main consideration for a garage door opener is the drive type, which refers to the actual chain, belt, or other mechanism that moves and lifts the door. In some circumstances, the horsepower output of the motor should be considered as well, but typically in commercial or industrial settings.
Whether for a home garage or something heftier, you can easily determine the type of opener best suited to your needs. Consider chain-drive openers as a cost-effective option. Chain drives are some of the most popular and durable openers on the market.[1] These drives use a metal chain on a sprocket to lift and lower doors.[2] Chain openers also tend to be some of the most affordable options; however, the affordability and strength of a chain drive come at the expense of noise. Chain drives are ideal for the heaviest garage door types, including oversized doors, one-piece wood doors, and wind-rated or heavily insulated doors. If you have a detached garage or a garage that is at the opposite end of the house from the bedrooms, then the noise will be less of an issue. Many upgraded chain-drive models can come with chain separators to help stop the chain from hitting against the track, which cuts down on the noise of a chain drive. Consider screw-drive openers for a well-rounded option.
Screw drives use a long metal rod threaded like a screw to lift and close garage doors.[7] Due to having relatively few moving parts, a screw drive tends to be quite reliable as well. If noise is your biggest consideration, screw-drive openers tend to be middle of the pack. They’re not nearly as quiet as belt or direct drives, but they are most typically quieter than chain drives. Screw drives also require a bit more maintenance than most of the other types. Despite having fewer moving parts, the threaded metal rod meshes against a drive section with plastic teeth to catch the threading. Without the proper lubrication on this drive, the rod can wear on the teeth and eventually strip them, so you must grease the works fairly regularly—approximately every few months. The type of garage door you have should also be taken into consideration. For heavy wood one-piece doors, the extra weight and strain can wear the teeth in the inner works of the drive down pretty quickly. This makes screw drives most effective with single-car garage doors or steel doors since the thinner materials cut down on weight.
Screw-drive openers also offer some of the faster speeds available. Newer models can open at 10” to 12” per second as opposed to the more standard 6” to 8” per second of most other drive types. Consider belt-drive openers for quiet operation. Belt-drive openers use a rubber or rubber-like belt on a cog to open and close doors.[13] Since the opener doesn’t have the loud, banging metal parts, it’s one of the quietest options available. Consider your particular garage door. If your door makes a lot of noise on its track, then the lower volume of the belt opener may be moot. Pay special attention to the current of belt-drive openers. Alternating current belt openers start and stop at full power, which can cause the door to jerk into movement and lead to noise despite the relative quiet of the drive. Direct current belt drives offer soft starts and stops that reduce noise even further, as well as reducing wear and tear. Consider direct-drive and jackshaft openers for quiet and highly dependable options.
Though less common than the other models, these alternatives are gaining in popularity, and both offer additional options for quiet door openers. Jackshaft openers attach directly to the front wall of the garage, meaning no overhead parts.[19] These models use cables attached directly to the garage door along with pulleys and a rolling torsion bar to lift and lower the door.[20] Many models of this computerized system even include an automatic deadbolt that locks when the door closes for added safety.[21] Due to the compact nature and computerization, jackshaft openers are some of the most expensive models available, and the cable system also means that they only work on sectioned garage doors. Direct-drive openers still have an overhead rail with a chain, but the actual motor moves along the track with the door connected to the motor via a J-arm.[24] Since the motor moves instead of the chain, these models are also extremely quiet, and since the only real moving part is the motor, they tend to come with extremely good—maybe even lifetime—warranties.
They are still on the pricey side, however—comparable to a belt drive opener. Consider 1/2-HP models for standard doors. 1/2-HP is the standard for most garage doors, and it is also the most popular motor speed.[26] Depending on the type of drive you pair it with, the 1/2-HP motor can lift most garage door types.[27] However, while it can lift most door types, well-insulated garage doors and one-piece, wooden doors can put extra strain on 1/2-HP motors that might lead to more wear and tear than with something more powerful. Consider 3/4-HP models for insulated or one-piece, wooden doors. 3/4-HP motors are the next step up from 1/2-HP models. The additional power makes these motors a more durable, longer-lasting option, but the increased durability comes with a higher price tag as well.[28] The extra power doesn’t just increase the life of these motors, but it also means they’re capable of lifting heavier doors more easily without as much wear. Door styles that might benefit from the additional power include one-piece wooden doors on two-car garages or specialty doors with heavy insulation and wind-load ratings.
Consider 1-HP models for oversized or industrial doors. 1-HP motors offer the maximum in efficiency and power.[30] These motors are perfect for the heaviest garage doors, including oversized doors and commercial or industrial doors.[31] When it comes to a standard, sectioned garage door, the extra power may prove unnecessary for your needs, especially at the larger price. Consider AC versus DC motors. In addition to the horsepower of a motor, you should also consider the current. Direct current motors are most common on belt drives, but more manufacturers are incorporating them into other drive types as well. Direct current motors are typically more expensive, but they offer the added benefit of soft starts and stops, which means that the drive begins a gradual lift and stop on the door, and this equates to much less noise than a motor that jerks to life and shakes the door. Direct current motors are also more likely to provide backup battery options, allowing you to get several uses out of your garage door even during a power outage.
Show more unanswered questions Review the care and maintenance information provided with your new garage door and opener. Perform a safety reverse test each month by deliberately interrupting the beam of infrared light while closing the door. The door should stop and reverse its motion. Garage doors often serve as one of the main entries or exits in homes today. That means you need a garage door opener that's safe and provides security for your home. Some garage door openers incorporate rolling code technology, which selects a new security code (from several billion possible new codes) each time you activate your garage door opener. Selecting a random new code with each use eliminates code duplication and prevents unwanted garage entry. Though you may find doors that open faster than others, all garage doors close at 7” per second, which is a required safety feature. To prevent accidental injury and damage to property, all garage door openers manufactured or installed after 1993 in the US must by law have a reversing mechanism that's activated when a beam of infrared light is interrupted.