Choosing A Garage Door Opener | Primos Garage Doors

What kind of opener is going to be best for you? First, we need to figure out what kind of opener you are looking for specifically, that is going to meet and fulfill your every garage door need. Primos Garage Doors is here to help you make the right choice for you, your home, and ease for your family. 

What aspects are most important to you when it comes to your garage door opener? Some aspects to consider while searching and choosing your opener consist of:

Living space

Is your home attached to your garage? Consider the possibility of vibrations and reducing to minimal noise

Ceiling clearance

• Trolley-type opener is best for cathedral ceilings – Span is based on height of garage door
• Side-mount, also called a jackshaft

Motor selection

• What size motor is going to support the weight of your door

Technology

• Remote control
• Keypad
• Wi-Fi – Compatibility with electronics (i.e. laptop, tablet, phone)

Accessories

• Safety reversal system

1. Photo-electric
2. Mechanical

A little planning around your choice can go a long way to finding the ideal door opener.

Measuring Clearance

DO NOT order a garage door opener without first ensuring it will fit above your garage door. There are a few styles of openers that require minimal amounts of space. A trolley-style opener – most common style on the market – requires 2 inches. The trolley’s span will be based on the height of the garage door. If there is not enough space, you can always give Primos Garage Doors a call to discuss other options and come out for an estimate.

A side‑mounted opener is also a good option, especially for cathedral. A side-mount is also called a jackshaft. This type is installed next to the garage door and connected to the torsion bar. Jackshaft openers require a minimum of 3 inches between the torsion bar and ceiling. But also 8 inches from the garage wall and torsion bar. Most of these units are generally small, measuring roughly 6 inches in height and 16 inches in width. Most units come equipped with the same safety options as other types of openers (i.e. door reversal systems and sensors).

Motor Selection

The most important aspect in choosing a motor is solely dependent on the size and weight of your garage door! There are two popular sizes when it comes to motors:

• ½ HP – most common size
• ¾ HP

1. used for solid wood doors weighing over 300 lbs.
2. large doors – up to 16 feet

Door openers are available in two types of motors:

AC or Alternating Current – openers start slow until they reach their full speed, then slow back down near the end

DC or Direct Current – openers operate at a steady speed and come in a variety of motor sizes

are the most common, and are the best choice if you are looking for a unit with backup battery power

Technology Choices

The advances in technology have come leaps and bounds! There are now options in openers that allow for the owner to monitor and operate the garage door using smartphones, tablets, and laptops through specific apps.

There are quite a few options based off the specifics you are searching for. There is a basic garage door opener with less features and frills that is great for anyone looking for a reliable, inexpensive, and functional opener. These more basic openers are proven to work and have been around for years. These simple and effective openers are the perfect option for residential and rental homes, that are going to get various uses and possibly lost due to interchanges. They are easy to replace in case of loss, damage, and accidents.

Another option is possibly a fully loaded garage door opener with LED lighting or video camera options. If you are someone who likes every feature, this is the route for you! Options can include control of your garage door and lights, informed if your garage door was opened while you were away, and notifications when the door is opened.

There are 3 main types of units:

1. Central chain driven trolley openers: top choice due to cost-effectiveness and most commonly sold among the competition
2. Central belt driven trolley openers (metal-reinforced rubber belt): quietest models on the market, perfect for garages attached to your home due to the reduced vibrations
3. Jackshaft openers: most ideal in high ceiling garages regardless of what you choose, there is something for everyone!

Accessories

There are copious options when it comes to accessories. After selecting the right type of opener for you and your home, which accessories come with the unit, or which ones can be added to your desired perfection? Just for future knowledge, every unit already comes with 2 safety reversal systems – photo-electric and mechanical.

Mechanical: if the bottom section of descending door hits an object, the motor detects the resistance and the door reverses.

Photo-electric: consists of two units installed just a few inches from the floor and on each side of the door. While one of the units emits an infrared beam – invisible to the naked eye – the other unit is used as a reflector. In case of damage or breaks while the door is closing, the beam from the unit will automatically reverse the motor and direction and open the door.

Once an opener is chosen, which Primos Garage Doors is happy to assist finding the right opener for you, there are many accessories that can come with the unit:

Typically, 2 remotes

• An outside keypad
• Motion sensing wall button – can come with temperature and time controls

1. Battery backup – for possible power outages
2. Safety sensors – for children, pets, personal belongings, etc.

There are a plethora of accessories to choose from, and as intimidating as all the options may be, take your time and pick the choices for you that are going to allow ease of access, functionality, and reliability. Primos Garage Doors wants you to get a bang for your buck!

We Are Here for You

Here at Primos Garage Doors we understand that this may be a daunting and tedious task. As time consuming and frustrating it may appear, we are here for serve you. Give us a call at (720) 621-7737 and we will be more than happy to assist in measurements, recommendations, installation, replacements, and repairs. Whatever the job may be, it is never too big or too small for Primos Garage Doors.