What To Check Before Buying A Third-Party Garage Door Opener

When you come home, it's great to have a safe and secure place to park your car for the night. But to access your garage, you first need to open it of course, and one of the most convenient ways to do so is with a garage door opener. It's easy to forget the role these little devices play in your day-to-day life, but when they stop working, you'll appreciate just how vital they are. 

When it comes time to get a new one, you may consider getting a third-party garage door opener as a way of saving money. But when combing through your options, you might be surprised to learn of sheer variety at your disposal. From trusty traditional models to newer smart openers with enhanced features, it's easy to be overwhelmed. However, choosing the right opener for your garage is important, not only for your convenience but also to properly support your garage and keep it secure. 

A little research can go a long way. If you're in the market for a new garage door opener, then it's worth considering your specific needs and preferences as well as knowing more about what makes for a quality garage door opener, especially if going for a third-party item. 

One thing that may not be apparent when looking at an opener is that each is designed to work with a specific garage door. More specifically, the weight and dimensions of your garage door will determine what kind of opener is compatible. After taking detailed notes of your door's measurements, you can better pinpoint what opener will work best for you. 

The main spec you want to look for in a garage door opener when determining how it will pair with your door is its horsepower rating. While most of the heavy-lifting of your garage door is handled by the rods, springs, and other moving physical elements, the door opener is nevertheless essential to providing lifting power to these components. Choosing one with too low a horsepower rating can risk rapid wear and tear to the opener's motor, as well as the door itself failing to open properly.

For most typical residential areas where traditional aluminum garage doors rarely exceed 200 pounds, a door opener with a 1/2 horsepower rating is more than sufficient. However, in cases where the door goes well above this weight, such as with industrial doors or those made out of wood, a horsepower rating of 1 or more may even be necessary. If you're unsure, consult with a technician or salesperson to better point you in the right direction.

Openers have come a long way from being simple overhead appliances introduced in the 1920s. As the decades progressed, garage door openers have evolved, with most you'll find nowadays containing a set of standard features you should look out for. 

As the primary function of an opener is opening and closing the garage door, you should make sure it can perform these actions in any situation. These days, it's standard for garage door openers to have multiple ways of being activated, such as keypads, remotes, and wall switches, allowing you to open and close the door whether you're in or outside of the house. Likewise, the opener should also come equipped with a light that activates when the door is opening. The light shouldn't turn off right away and may even blink for a period of time, which is usually an indicator that the lock is engaged. In the state of California, all garage door openers are required to have a backup battery in case of power outages. 

There are a multitude of garage door openers to choose from, ranging from quiet belt drive openers to economical screw drive openers. Of course, there's also no shortage of app-controlled smart garage openers out there, such as the Chamberlain system, which is one of the best smart gadget upgrades for any garage. Whichever third-party brand you go with, collect as many honest reviews and opinions as possible before making the move to ensure it's something users consider worthwhile.