Until this century and the Internet of Things era, garage door openers were quite basic and frequently not all that different from one another. Compared to openers installed 30 years ago, today’s models are quieter, built of more contemporary materials, and capable of much more: monitor your home and interact with your smartphone
The basics remain the same: these products will raise and lower your heavy garage door thousands of times over the years, so our main evaluation metrics focus on the most crucial qualities: quiet operation, lifting capacity, power to operate heavy or double doors, material construction, noise levels, durability, and user-friendly design. We also examine the added features that many of these products now offer, such as the connectivity and security levels.
Types of Garage Door Openers
Garage door openers come in four different varieties: chain drive, belt drive, screw drive, and wall mounted.
Chin Drive: A chain-drive garage door opener, which is renowned for its durability and affordability, raises the door by pulling a trolley up a track using a chain. Although the metal chain on this sort of garage door opener can be noisy, it is highly sturdy.
Belt Driven: Belt-driven garage door openers move a trolley that is attached to the garage door with the use of a rubber belt. Although they cost more, they are more expensive than chain drives and require less maintenance.
Screw Driven: A threaded steel rod and a wire are used in this kind of garage door opener. The door is raised as a result of the wire being wrapped around the rotating steel rod. Compared to other garage door openers, they operate more swiftly but typically require more maintenance.
Wall Mounted: Instead of being installed on the ceiling, wall-mounted garage door openers are fixed to the wall next to the garage door. The ceiling space above the vehicle may now be used for storage or other purposes, which is perfect for garages with low ceilings or for those who desire to do so.
Size of The Door
The average height of a garage door is 7 feet, hence almost all garage door openers are made to work with that height of a door. An extension kit that is compatible with your garage door opener and is available separately is needed if your garage door is 8 or 9 feet tall.
Horsepower and Lifting Capacity
Motors for garage door openers range from 1/2 to 2 horsepower. A garage door opener’s capacity to lift weight increases with its horsepower. A one-car garage door may typically be lifted using a 1/3 horsepower garage door opener. Most two-car garage doors can be handled by a 12-horsepower opener, which has a lifting capacity of 300 pounds, while a 12-horsepower opener is appropriate for heavier wood garage doors weighing up to 400 pounds.
Battery Backup
Although garage door openers are convenient, they can potentially confine a person outside in case of a power outage. In the event of a power outage, some garage door openers contain battery backups that can power opening and closing the door. On a single charge, the majority of battery backups can raise and lower a garage door 50 times.
Safety and Security
Since they can crush a person if they are caught underneath, garage door openers definitely have the potential to be harmful. The laser sensors that are positioned on either side of every garage door opener are no higher than 6 inches from the ground. If the laser eye is tripped, these sensors instantly stop the door from shutting, keeping kids and pets out of harm’s way.
Genie StealthDrive Connect Model 7155-TKV
There are numerous smart home systems that the Genie StealthDrive Connect Model 7155-TKV can connect to, including Alexa and Google Assistant. For simple setup, the software provides 3D installation instructions. You can open (or close) the garage door using voice control using the device from any location. In addition to connection, this model’s quiet belt drive has 1.5 horsepower, making it strong enough to open wider doors.
Chamberlain B550 Smart Garage Door Opener
The Chamberlain B550 Smart Garage Door Opener has a belt made of premium, rubber-like materials that reduces noise and is powered by a half-horsepower motor. It offers remote control when you’re away from home and is compatible with a number of well-known smart home systems. The app notifies you via push notifications whenever the garage door opens or if you accidentally left it open. You can grant three others access to your account and the garage using the myQ Guest feature. The model also includes two car remote controls, a wireless keyboard, and safety sensors.
LiftMaster 8165W ½ HP Chain Drive Garage Door Opener
One of the most dependable garage door openers on the market is the chain-driven Liftmaster 8165W. The simplicity with which this model may be installed and made ready for usage is one of its key selling points. Setting it up is simple if you have the necessary tools and adhere to the installation guidelines.
As you may infer from the brief description above, it has a chain drive and a 1/2 HP AC motor. For opening and shutting heavy-duty aluminium doors, it is hence ideal. In comparison to a belt drive, the chain drive system also ensures long-term durability and dependability.
BeamUp Centurion BU800
Three garage door opener models are made by BeamUp. the Centurion BU800, the Sentry BU400, and the Workhorse BU 100.
The top-of-the-line BU800 Centurion has the maximum lift power of 1-1/4 HPE and can raise huge carriage house garage doors up to and including a 16-foot double door.
The BU800 has an ultra-silent steel reinforced belt drive instead of a chain, which offers quiet operation perfect for garages close to living and sleeping areas. The Beamup BU800 Centurion has motion-activated 3000 lumen LED lighting that helps illuminate the entire garage for convenience, safety, and increased security. Any movement in the garage activates the motion sensors and LED lighting for visibility and security.
