In addition to installing new garage doors, we offer garage door opener repair and installation and are a full-service garage door company that provides garage door service and repair. Whether your opener is a LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Genie, Linear, or any other brand–we’ve seen them all and we’ve worked on them all!
…and anything else you may need to get your garage door opener up-and-running!
Your garage door opener is an essential part of your house and most people use their garage door as their primary entry and exit to their homes! This means, when something should go wrong, it can create a major dilemma—from being late for work or a family gathering—to prevent you from leaving in an emergency. Most people don’t think about something going wrong, but the truth is, things DO go wrong and you need someone to call in those moments!
We understand that things don’t always go according to plan—it happens to all of us! We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency service and in most instances, we are able to make it to an emergency call within the hour!
The garage door is dependent on the garage door opener if you have a motorized garage door. The opener is a motorized device that opens and closes garage doors. Most are controlled by switches on the garage wall, as well as by remote controls that most people place in their cars.
On average, residential garage doors open and close approximately 1500 times per year. The mechanisms that allow the garage door opener to operate the door up and down are critical to the functionality of your home. This means, when an opener breaks, your vehicle could be stuck in the garage until the opener is repaired, and this can be a major inconvenience!
There are 4 basic types of Garage door openers, but they all have one thing in common—they all have a motor controls a trolley. The Trolley is connected to the door and when it the trolley is activated, it causes the door to go up or down. The difference between the 4 opener types is simply the way they are made to move—some openers run on chains (“Chain Drive”), while others run on belts (“Belt Drives”) or Threaded parts.
Chain Drive Openers consist of a metal chain, much like a bicycle chain, that elevates and lowers the garage door. They are usually lower priced, making them a popular choice among homeowners. However, they can also be quite a bit louder than other openers because of the chain. If your garage is detached from your home, this may be the better option for you. However, if you have a main living space above the garage, you may want to opt for a more quiet opener—like the belt driven opener.
Openers on a Belt-driven system use a rubber belt that slides the trolley when the door is activated to open or close. The movement is much smoother and quieter since the trolley moves along rubber instead of metal. A door that runs on a belt drive will produce fewer vibrations than a door that functions by a chain-driven system. There are also less moving parts, which in turn results in less need for maintenance than chain drive openers.
Screw-driven openers operate by a threaded steel rod which lifts and lowers as the rod rotates like you would use a screwdriver. As with the belt drive, a screw drive consists of fewer moving parts which relates to fewer problems and less maintenance over the long run. Screw Drive openers are also smoother and quieter than chain drive openers and they are ideal for all types of houses. They usually put off little to no vibration and are very quiet, much like the belt drive.
A Direct Drive Opener, quite simply, moves the trolley by the motor itself. It doesn’t have a belt, chain, or threaded steel rod. This results in a smooth, quiet operation that requires very little maintenance. This option is ideal for any property.
1/3 HP: A single-car garage door can generally operate on 1/3 HP, but will require more maintenance, more often because of the constant strain on the opener.
½ HP: A double-car garage door with sectional-door garage units usually have sufficient power with this amount of HP and lasts much longer than the 1/3 HP openers.
¾ to 1 ½ HP: On larger doors, wood doors, or more custom homes, HP at or above ¾ is recommended, especially if the door is used more frequently.
The motor of a garage door will run on one of two currents; Alternating Currents (AC) or Direct Current (DC). Direct Currents are usually preferred because DC-powered garage door openers can turn AC into DC power. DC motors are also smaller in size, as well as smoother and quieter in terms of performance.