Here’s all the basic information you’ll want to know about how garage door openers operate.
Are you a home or business owner in the Memphis area who is considering installing or upgrading your garage door equipment? Want to know more about garage door openers? Here’s some basic information to get you started.
In a nutshell, the electronic or automatic garage door opener is a device that opens and closes a garage door when activated. Garage door openers have become so common that we sometimes take them for granted, without appreciating just how much convenience, comfort and security they bring to our busy lives.
The majority of garage door openers are primarily operated by remote controllers that can operate up to a distance of 150 feet. Remote controllers often can also be programmed to turn garage lights on and off. Most garage door openers are sold with keypads to install on the outside of the building to enable opening or closing the garage door if the remote is unavailable or its batteries are dead. Nearly all garage door openers also provide an emergency release switch to allow manual door operation in case of power failures or other emergencies.
Electric garage door openers are operated either by AC or DC power. AC power is most commonly used, but motors operated by DC power have some advantages. DC-powered openers use less electricity than AC models, their speed of opening and closing is more easily controlled, and they tend to operate more quietly than AC-powered models.
Mechanically-speaking, garage door openers are fairly simple. Most openers use one of three basic drive mechanisms — chain drives, screw drives or belt drives.
Chain drives consist of metal chains and trollies which inclines them to be somewhat noisy when they operate. However these common drives are also among the most economical choices, averaging about $130.
A screw drive opener operates with a threaded lead screw. Modern models reduce the noise factor and increase operation speed through the use of plastic-lined tracks. The price of screw drive garage door openers generally starts at approximately $150.
Belt-driven garage door openers operate the most quietly, but also are the pricier models, beginning in the $170 range.
Garage door installation types fall into one of two categories. One is identified as the “jackshaft” type, which generally takes up less space in the garage than the other kind — the trolley. The latter type engages a trolley which is attached to the motor and to the door. Although the trolley type takes up a bit more garage space in the ceiling, it is popular mainly because it is safer than the jackshaft type, which is more likely to fail to stop when something — or someone — is caught under a closing door.
Finally, it is widely, but incorrectly, believed that garage door openers actually lift overhead garage doors or push side-opening doors open and close. In fact, a garage door opener simply triggers the process, while the actual lifting is done by springs. Two kinds of spring mechanisms are used to open garage doors — linear expansion spring systems and torsional spring systems.
As you can easily see, there are many considerations in choosing a garage door opener that is appropriate for your needs. Fortunately, if your home or business is located in the Memphis area — including Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, Memphis, Millingtom, Cordova, Covington, Atoka and Jackson — ASAP Garage Door & Gate’s friendly experts are available to assist you. Please feel free to call for a consultation: (901) 461-0385.