When Should You Replace Your Garage Door Opener?

The average garage door opener will last between 15 and 20 years, though possibly even longer if you stay on top of garage door maintenance. If your opener is aging and at the risk of failing, it makes sense to get it replaced. However, this isn’t the only time that an upgrade is in order.

Here are some points to consider when judging whether you’re due for a new garage door opener.

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Operation

The clearest indication that you need a new opener is that your current one is no longer working properly or consistently. One sign that an opener is past its prime and needs replacement is slow garage door operation. If your unit can no longer deliver the oomph needed to move your door up and down in timely fashion, you know it’s on its last legs.

Another sign of trouble is intermittent or erratic operation. If your opener doesn’t work reliably or it’s prone to whimsical direction changes, this may be a sign of faulty electronics necessitating repair or replacement. However, these issues could also arise due to misaligned garage door sensors, which is an easy fix. So, always check your sensors as a first troubleshooting step.


Safety

Since 1991, garage door openers have come standard with an auto-reverse function. This causes the door to stop and reverse direction should it come into contact with a person, pet, car, or anything else while closing. And since 1993, all openers have included sensors, or photo eyes, which send a beam across the garage door opening and ensure that the door stops and reverses direction when anything enters into its path while closing.

If you have an older garage door that has stood the test of time but doesn’t have these safety features, you should upgrade your device so that you and your family aren’t at risk of a garage door accident.

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Security

Many older garage door openers have fixed-code systems, which present a serious security risk. With a special device, a burglar can hack this kind of opener and gain access to your garage in less than ten seconds. Modern garage door openers, on the other hand, have a rolling-code system that randomly generates a new code every time the unit is used, making it impervious to hacking. If you have a garage door with a fixed-code system, you should switch it out for a newer, more secure unit.

Noise

Does your garage door make a racket every time you open and close it? Very often, the culprit is a garage door chain. Garage door openers can have a chain, belt, or screw drive, and chain drives are the loudest of the bunch, especially on older openers. By upgrading to a belt drive or screw drive opener, or even a more modern and quieter chain drive opener, you and your family will gain more peace and quiet.

An excessively noisy garage door opener is also a sign that it isn’t working correctly. Motors start to get loud as they near the end of their lifespan, and slack and loudly vibrating chains will likely need to be replaced.

Convenience

Many people upgrade their garage door openers to take advantage of certain features and functionalities offered with newer units. One of the most popular technologies is keypad entry, which allows you to access your garage by entering a code into an exterior keypad. Depending on your opener, you may be able to retrofit this technology. However, in some cases, you’ll need to get a newer model.

Another extra that many homeowners appreciate is battery backup, which is integrated into certain models of garage door openers. Battery backup can be a lifesaver in the event of a power outage, as it will ensure that you can still open and close your garage door when the lights go out.

At Creative Door Services, we offer a number of garage door opener models with integrated battery backup.

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Smart technology

Garage door openers have entered into the digital age with technologies such as myQ from Chamberlain. MyQ technology allows you to control and monitor your garage door when you’re away from home using an app on your smartphone. You can use it to ensure that your kids got home safe, to check if you closed the garage door when leaving, and to provide others access to your home remotely (a dog walker, delivery service, cleaning person, Aunt Sally, etc.). The app will also alert you of any suspicious activity.

Every model of LiftMaster garage door opener is myQ compatible. And certain Genie models we carry include Aladdin Connect, another smart garage door technology that permits remote monitoring.

To learn more about myQ, read our comprehensive article.

Garage Door Opener Replacement in Western Canada

At Creative Door Services, we carry and install a variety of Genie garage door openers. We’re proud to offer the top products from this industry-leading brand. In addition, our experienced technicians can repair and service any brand of garage door opener. To learn more about our garage door products and services, contact us today.

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