Should I Get A Bigger Garage Door Opener

Garage door size and frequency of use.

Should i get a bigger garage door opener.

If the garage is the main entrance to your home or you have a one piece door or a heavy oversized garage door you ll probably need one with the lifting power of a 3 4 to 1. Standard garage door openers have a similar design. One car garages with steel doors only need a 1 2 horsepower garage door opener. Depending on the model a garage door opener can last up to 10 years or more so it is important to get one that is right for you and fits with the type of garage door you have.

For example if you would like to lift a double garage door one might suggest using a 1 2 horsepower because the door is heavier and larger. Before you purchase a new garage door opener consider these important factors. Here s a detailed breakdown of the most crucial factors and how the chain and belt drive stack up. Garages with carriage doors should opt for 1 hp garage door openers or higher.

1 2 horsepower garage door openers work well with standard aluminum doors in a residential garage. Two car garages or one car garages with insulated or wooden doors need at least a 3 4 horsepower garage door opener. Garage door openers typically range from 1 3 to over 1 horsepower. A motor drives a trolley or carriage along a rail.

While both garage openers use the same mechanical principle to raise and lower the doors chain drives have a higher load bearing capacity. The trolley is connected to the garage door and as the trolley moves it pulls the door open or pushes it closed. A 1 3 horsepower opener can handle most doors 10 feet wide by 8 feet tall made of lightweight material. The main difference between garage door opener models is how the motor moves the trolley.

Look for an opener that has the horsepower necessary for your garage door size based on size and weight. Garage door openers typically last a long time depending on the type you get. The horsepower needed for your garage door opener is dependent on whether or not you want a long lasting opener verses replacing it every few cycles or the size of the door.