Which door opener is best for your home? The answer to this question will vary for each family, and the best way to do this is to answer a few basic questions:
Should I buy a ½ hp or ¾ hp motor?
The size and weight of the door will determine how much force the opener will require. While a door really only needs a 1/3 hp motor, few companies will stock it any more. A ½ hp opener can handle almost any double door, but if you have a high-end heavier double garage door, a ¾ hp opener may be better for you. You also need to know how high your door is. Both 7' and 8' heights are common, while some custom doors may be taller.
Chain, belt or screw drive?
chain drive opener
Chain drive openers are the cheapest and most commonly purchased models. The main benefit of the belt drive model is that it will be quieter and may have a longer warranty. Screw drive models generally do not perform well in cold temperatures, so most door companies do not stock them in Canada. If you want to free up ceiling space, you can also use a side-mounted opener mounted on the wall next to the door. They are more expensive but very quiet and can often be installed in situations where the opener cannot be installed properly.
AC motor or DC motor?
While AC (alternating current) motors have been the standard for many years, most manufacturers have adopted DC (direct current) motors in their high-end models over the past 10 years. The main reason is that DC motors are much quieter than AC motors. Since most of the noise produced by a door opener comes from the motor, using a DC motor will have the biggest impact on how quiet the door opener is. Using a belt drive instead of a chain drive makes a difference, but the big payoff for quietness comes from the DC motor. So if you're not worried about the tiny price difference, a DC motor is a good choice.
Should I buy from a professional door dealer or home improvement store?
The answer to this question usually lies in who will install it. If you have the skills and are willing to put in the time (about 3 hours for most people), you can usually save yourself around $100 to $150.00. If you're going to pay a store or someone else to install it anyway, you're usually better off buying it through a professional door company, including installation. You'll end up with similar prices, but the pro-grade models they carry are better quality and less prone to problems. One of the main differences is that the 10' to 12' long rail is broken down into short pieces that need to be assembled together in the retail store model so it can fit into a small box that you can take home.
What features might I like?
Below is a short list of features available on different corkscrews. If a feature is important to you, look for a model with that feature.
AC Motor (cheaper) - DC Motor (quieter)
Chain Drive (cheaper) - Belt Drive (quieter)
Battery backup - keeps the door running during a power outage so you don't have to manually lift the door
Wifi - allows you to download the app to your smartphone or tablet to control your door from anywhere in the world You have wifi
Motion-Sensing Wall Control - Turn on lights when motion is sensed so you don't have to go into a dark garage
Timer Off - Automatically will close the door if you forget after the selected time delay.
Warranty Period - Motors range from 4 years to service life, other parts from 1 year to 5 years
