These days, it is safe to say that modern technology works to our advantage and makes our daily life simpler and much more enjoyable. Automatic garage doors have become increasingly popular as a convenient alternative to manual garage door that force us to get out of the car and pull up the garage door ourselves. To profit from this whole new level of convenience, one would have to know how to identify and buy the perfect garage door opener. To make a more than satisfactory purchase, start by analyzing the following guidelines.
Ask around and Consult Online Reviews
There are hundreds of types of garage door openers currently available on the market. You can narrow down your search and select the best candidates for this job by doing extensive research on your own. Talk to your friends and family members about the kind of garage door opener that they have. Are they pleased with it?
Would they recommend it? Does it display a good quality-price relationship? To avoid costly mistakes and potential scams, also take a closer look at online reviews and review ratings, showing you which products are a good investment and which ones are a mere waste of money.
Set Up Your Own Selection Criteria
Do you feel the need to dig a little deeper before making the final call? In this case, set up your own selection criteria, by analyzing the factors that you consider important, like for instance price, additional features, horsepower, and opener type and so on.
You should know that there are various models of garage door openers and all of them display different price tags. In general, for new items, prices range from $130 to $300 and up, depending on the manufacturing company, horsepower, and features. Furthermore, there are several types of openers: chain drive, belt drive, direct drive, and screw drive openers are 4 of the most common options at hand. You may be wondering: what are the main pros and cons of each kind of opener?
In short, belt drives are extremely quiet and usually come with a lifetime guarantee. This means that they are high-quality products that you can rely on. In some cases, the belt can display signs of wear and tear and require replacement. The same attributes are displayed by the direct drive model: they are quiet and durable.
Moreover, they have a reduced number of moving parts, so they generally function flawlessly for a prolonged period of time.
Chain drives are usually noisy, require significant upkeep, and in some cases frequent repairs, as the chain could easily start to grow loose after a certain period. Their low price, compared to the one associated with belt drives and direct drives, is considered a great advantage.
Power is another essential element that you should factor in. Most openers come with a ½ horsepower (HP) motor, which is strong enough to handle a residential garage door. Nonetheless, keep in mind that there are also models that have 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.25 HP motors.
Weigh the pros and cons of each type of opener before making a final decision. When in doubt, discuss your options with a reputable handyman who installs garage door openers in your ZIP code.
