July 25, 2019

Get your garage door opener on the right track with the right motor

Get your garage door opener on the right track with the right motor

If it’s time to upgrade the garage door, it’s time to upgrade how you think of garage door systems. Modern technology has made more than just quieter, more efficient systems. You can even install a new garage door system that connects to your smartphone -- because what doesn’t these days?

It can be hard to keep up with all of the options, but you’re in luck. Keep reading to learn more about choosing the best motor for your automatic garage door.

Let’s talk terms…

Most people have a basic understanding of garage door and motor-related terms, but we want to make sure that you get all the information that you need. HP, for example, stands for horsepower. That’s an easy one, though. Do you know what AC and DC motors are? This refers to the type of current used: alternating current or direct current. AC motors have a single speed while DC motors create multiple speeds when opening and closing the door. Performance is similar in comparison, but DC motors are typically quieter.

A little bit of backstory

The entire point of your garage door is to make life a little easier. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way. The door opener only replaces manual operation, which should be possible with one hand. This happens thanks to the springs, which either operate on a torsion or extension system. The springs counterbalance the door’s weight so that the usually 90 to 350-pound door will actually feel like it weighs less than 10 pounds. This makes it easy for just about anyone to lift manually.

A door that feels lighter to lift or lower is also going to feel lighter to your garage door motor, which means that it will run quietly and use minimal power when it is in proper working order. If the door is unbalanced, the motor will likely be louder or struggle to actually raise or lower the door completely.

How do you check for balance? First, you need to disconnect the door system with the red cord on the track while the door is closed. Then, you should be able to easily lift it with one hand. If you are struggling to lift the door, it probably needs service. If you can open the door, leave it about half-open and let go. It shouldn’t move when you do this. If the door springs open or slams closed when you let go, you need to contact a certified garage door technician immediately and try to avoid using the door until it is repaired.

Garage door openers have motors that are designed to lift up to 200 pounds or more, and they can also apply the same power to put the door down. Don’t worry, though, because no one is going to get crushed. Modern doors have safety features built in so that they won’t close if an object is in their path, and the motors operate slowly so that they can be easily stopped or reversed when needed.

So, what’s the verdict? Is bigger necessarily better?

Garage door motors come in a variety of sizes. The most common choice for residential doors is the ½ horsepower motor. In a DC model, this would be a 500-newton motor. Motors are available in the following sizes:

  • AC: ⅓, ½, and ¾ HP
  • DC: 500 N or 700 N (equivalent to ½ and ¾ HP, respectively)

In the commercial market, motors are available all the way up to 4 or 5 horsepower. This, of course, is expected since the doors are much bigger and will need more power to operate safely. For the sake of this article, we’re doing to stick to residential door motors.

So what do you really need? Well, there are a few things to take into account:

  • The size of your garage door- As a rule, single doors need a ½ HP motor while double doors need a ¾ HP motor.
  • The quality of the motor- Are you looking at a lifetime investment or just a slight upgrade? The selection available includes everything from basic models to high-end ultra-quiet motors.
  • The price- While cost shouldn’t be the deciding factor, you need to know what you’re paying for. If you consider a more expensive door, make sure that someone explains the price difference in detail so that you know whether it is worth the investment.
  • The add-ons- A lot of modern systems come with handheld remotes, monitors, remote switches, and other accessories. Low-end models don’t have as many options, but there are plenty of models that do.

A few safety tips for garage door systems

  1. If you can’t lift your garage door with one hand, it’s not in safe working order. A properly balanced door is a must and it’s up to you to know what to look for in case something goes wrong.
  2. Always disengage the automatic opener first so that you can manually test the door. This can be done by pulling on the red cord hanging from the track.
  3. Once you have manual control of the door, you need to raise it up a little over halfway. It should stay there. If it drops or wants to slide the rest of the way up, it is unbalanced, and you should call for service.
  4. If everything is working fine, you can re-engage the door by releasing the red cord once the door is in the down position.

What about that smartphone feature?

Thanks to technology, almost all mid-range and higher garage door openers currently on the market include Wi-Fi or have adaptable features so that you can add monitoring tools and smart device connectivity. It’s handy because you’ll save money by not buying remote openers.

Plus, the apps let you control your door from anywhere, adding an extra layer of security and giving you more peace of mind.

Make sure that you talk to your garage door technician about the smart connectivity features available on the market today. It might not seem like something that matters to you, but it really is an affordable upgrade. If nothing else, make sure you choose an adaptable system that you can add to in the future if you choose.

Want to know more?

We’ve got all the information that you need. Call us today at 709-368-7222, and we’ll be happy to assist you in exploring our garage door openers and finding what works for you. We can even offer email quotes so that you can see everything in print and look it over before you make a decision.

At our Design Centre, you can customize and choose the motor and opener system that suits your needs. Struggling to decide what you like? Use our image gallery to get inspired by other people’s garage door upgrades.

Contact us today to learn more.

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