Homeowners typically open and close their car garage doors from 3 to 5 times per day. In a year, that’s roughly about 1500 cycles. And no matter how much time you put into maintaining your garage door opener, this frequent usage still leads to wear and tear.
Sometimes, it can be hard to tell whether your garage door opener needs repair or replacement. Either way, when it malfunctions, you need to assess whether you can DIY fixes or call the experts.
A few considerations should be noted regarding garage door opener installation. Homeowners tend to try to fix issues themselves or install openers without professional help, which could pose risks to safety. Still, let’s talk about when you should install a new unit, how long it takes to install one, and how much it costs.
Things to Consider Before Selecting an Opener
There are several types of garage door openers, each unique from the other and functions differently as well. All these and their specific characteristics will be discussed below.
But before selecting a garage door opener, you should go through this list first:
- Your garage door size and weight. If your door is large and heavy, a chain drive works. Taller-than-usual doors may need some kind of an extension kit as well.
- The material of your garage door. You should select an opener that fits the material of your garage door, whether it has a PVC overlay, aluminum, steel, wood, or fiberglass.
- Horsepower and type of power used. Heavier doors will need more horsepower than lighter ones. These also run either on alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC).
- Noise. If you’re sensitive to noise, a belt or a screw drive is your best option.
- Safety. Different openers have various safety features, such as reversing action sensors, infrared beams, and rolling codes.
- Budget. The top-most consideration for every homeowner. Will it be a splurge or do you want to stick to the basics?
Types of Garage Door Openers
- Chain Drive – This is the most common type of opener. Chain drive almost fits all door sizes and is also one of the cheaper options. It is best used for heavy garage doors.
- Belt Drive – This type of door opener works like a chain drive opener, but instead of a chain, it uses a belt. It is great for both light and heavy doors and is the quietest type of door opener available.
- Screw Drive – This is powered by a threaded metal rod that works like a screw when it opens and closes. Also on the quiet side, but a bit cheaper than a belt drive.
- Jackshaft – This opener is mounted on the wall instead of the ceiling. It uses automatic deadbolts and has a computerized system with increased safety features.
- Direct Drive – This is challenging to find as it isn’t a very common choice for openers. It works with a gear wheel to move the trolley on a fixed chain.
- Drawbar – This is also known as a trolley opener and is compatible with most residential garage doors that use torsion or extension springs.
- Hoist – This is the best choice for huge overhead doors. Hoist openers work like jackshafts but still function even with power outages.
Unlike manual doors, garage openers are more complex and are more complicated to maintain and install. We highly suggest getting in touch with professional garage technicians for garage door repair in Los Angeles and neighboring areas for same-day installations.
Getting a New Garage Door Opener
There are countless reasons why homeowners like you would want to get a new garage opener unit. The most common reason is purchasing one for a new home or replacing an older unit. Some other reasons can be due to performance issues and safety concerns. Whatever your preferences are, we’re with you in this decision.
Here are some reasons why we think it’s a good choice:
- Shifting to using belt technology has been a popular choice among homeowners since it’s quiet and more efficient than the older chain drive models. Speed is also a parameter belt technology advances at.
- Newer door opener models have better noise-reduction features. So if you’re tired of the screeching noises every time you open or close your garage door, getting a new one is definitely a non-negotiable.
- Smartphone integration allows you to monitor, open, and close your garage door simply by using your phone.
- New models operate on unique codes for enhanced security – the best way to secure the largest entry point of your home.
Garage Door Opener Models and Installation Difficulty
Installation difficulty will heavily depend on 3 basic things – the garage door size, the opener type, and the person responsible for installation.
If you have successfully selected your choice of door opener, the next step is to install it. How would you go about this procedure? Installing an automatic door opener proves to be more complicated and complex than most DIYers think and here’s why:
Installing a garage opener requires a privacy notice. If you’re replacing an existing one for a newer model, you’ll have to dismantle the old unit first before starting the new installation. Lastly, modern garage door openers operate differently than previous models which can be confusing.
The best garage door openers for easy installation are still the most basic ones. Garage door opener installation guides can be found in the user manual for reference. But if you think installing a new unit can be tedious to your liking, consider getting a new garage door installation service instead.
Time to Install a Garage Door Opener
The duration for garage door opener installation varies on the complexity of the job and the expertise of the one doing it. Professional garage door opener installation time is significantly quicker and more efficient than a normal person doing it.
The comparison of garage door opener installation times is directly relevant to the expertise of the person doing it. A DIY garage door opener installation time takes about 6 long hours of work. While professionals like Rock Garage Door Repair could do it in half the time and within the same day.
Garage Door Opener Installation Cost
Since budget is a major deciding factor in installing a new garage door opener, let’s talk about the costs that go into it. Factors affecting garage door opener installation cost include: the unit cost itself, materials to use, and labor costs if you’re hiring a professional installer.
The cost comparison for garage door opener installation between doing it yourself and hiring a professional does not have much significance. Since your time and effort are valuable as well as your safety. Paying for a service can be much cheaper than missing a day’s work or quality time with your family.
Do-It-Yourself vs Hiring a Professional
If you reached this part, it means you already have read about all the pros and cons of doing a DIY vs hiring a professional installer. Ultimately, for DIYers, you need to comply with precautionary measures before jumping into the task.
The price of installing automatic garage door openers varies from one service provider to another. Call us if you want to get an accurate garage door opener installation price range. We’ll walk you through various garage door options together with a free and no-obligation quote.
