Your garage door opener is old, and you have decided it is time to get a new one. Sounds like an easy thing to do right? So, not as easy as you may think. There are number of different brands and each brand has several different models. So, which of the brands will be the right for you? Which model will be the right fit for your garage door?

We know it is not easy to choose but we are here to help. Here are all the questions you need to ask yourself before you buy a new garage door opener:

1. What is your budget?

When it comes to price, a chain drive opener is the most affordable, and you will not be disappointed by its performance. On the other hand, a belt drive opener might be more expensive but it is a better choice for the long run. Belt drive openers are long-lasting since they are made from strong rubber, unlike the chain drive which is made of a metal that may wear down quicker.

As for a side mount opener, it is the most expensive option, but its advantages make the investment worthwhile in a lot of cases.

2. Where is the garage door located in relation to bedrooms or living room?

You probably asking yourself- why does it matter. The reason is the noise. A chain drive opener is much noisier than a belt drive opener because of the metal chain.

If your garage is disconnected from your house or far away from any living rooms or bedrooms, you can go with the chain drive opener. On the other hand, if your garage is under a bedroom or attached to your living room or even a working area, you may want to consider a belt drive opener or side mount opener.

Both openers are significantly quieter than the chain drive and will not disturb your day-to-day routine every time someone opens the garage door.  

3. How much overhead room you have?

Do you have an extremely high or exceptionally low ceiling? Do you have overhead storage units, or are you thinking to install one in the future? Sometimes you simply do not have enough room for an overhead opener, or it is not most beneficial to use an overhead opener. There is a great solution to your problem. A side Mount opener is a garage door opener that does not have a chain or belt drive. It attaches alongside the garage door and saves space. Regarding the noise, it is very quiet so you do not need to worry about the noise if you have a bedroom or living room above the garage.

4. How heavy is your door? Is it one car door or two-car doors?

As mentioned before, both chain and belt drives function the same, but it is important to remember that a chain drive is much stronger than a belt drive.

Chain drive opener can lift double and triple doors or even a very heavy wooden door with no problem. Belt drive and Wall mount on the other hand should be used for a single-car door that is significantly lighter.

5. Do you need a back up battery?

If you live in the U.S it is mandatory to purchase a garage door opener with a backup battery. In Canada, it is recommended but not mandatory yet.

In the event of a power outage, the battery will go into action and prevent a situation where you will have to open the door manually. It is not as simple as it sounds, especially if you have a heavy door. A backup battery will solve this issue.

There are backup batteries for all the openers we have mentioned, but it is important to remember that not all models have the option to add a backup battery. So, if you want your opener to have a backup battery, make sure that the model you choose supports it.

Important facts:

• A fully charged battery will supply a door opener with 24 hours of standby power during which it can operate up to 20 full cycles (1X open+ close).
• It takes about 4 ½ hours to recharge.
• The backup battery can be recycled.

6. Do you want a camera on your opener?

Did you know that some belt drive openers come with a built-in camera? The garage door is sometimes the most vulnerable area in the house and the fear that you forgot to close it or that it is not locked properly can be very disturbing. Today you can find belt drive openers that have a built-in camera so you can check at any time or from anywhere what is going on in your garage, who came in, let Amazon leave packages for you inside your garage with the new Amazon Key, and check whether you closed the garage door or left it open. The camera on an opener can give peace of mind and will allow you to take better care of your home and family safety.

Feel That you need more help to decide? Call us today and our expert advisers will answer any question you may have!