It's quite common for homeowners to have an electric garage door motor or opener; trying to manually lift a heavy garage door is downright dangerous, as you can easily strain your back muscles with every lift and lower of the door. Since electric garage door motors and openers are so affordable and easy to install, there's little reason to go without one at your home. If you're looking to get one installed or already have an electric garage door opener, you might have some questions about their use and the choices you have. Note the following.
1. What type of drive is best for the home's garage door opener?
There are usually belt, chain, and screw drives for an electric garage door opener, and they're very different in the noise they create versus how strong and durable they are. Belt drives are the quietest choice and are best for when the garage is near the living area. A chain drive is very rugged and powerful and may be the best option for heavier garage doors including thick steel and double doors; however, chain drives can be a bit noisy so they're not the best for a nearby garage. Screw drives are not as rugged as chain drives but offer a bit more quiet, and are good for fast operation. A garage door installer can usually recommend the best option for your garage if you're not sure the right choice.
2. Will an electric opener or motor make the garage unsafe?
Being able to open your garage door with an electric motor and remote doesn't mean your garage is unsafe. You can rotate the signal of your garage door opener to keep other people from using their own remote to open your door. You can also add a padlock or other heavy-duty deadbolt on the inside of your garage so you can keep it locked at night if you're concerned about a break-in.
Note too that an electric garage door opener or motor can actually add to your safety, as they may have mechanisms in place that stop them from opening or closing the door if they sense something in their path. The motor may also freeze the garage door in place if it breaks, rather than simply letting the door drop. It's also good to use common sense even with an electric garage door opener; stay out of its path during opening and closing and be sure the door is in good repair to help avoid accidents.
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