Call: (954) 830-9661
A garage is a wonderful thing to have, even if you only use it for storage and still park in the driveway; however, it’s even better when used it for its intended purpose for obvious reasons. The luxury of getting in and out of your vehicle high and dry in all kinds of weather and being able to load and unload in that same condition is a wonderful benefit. Part of that benefit is the system that allows you to open and close the garage door from inside your vehicle, because if you couldn’t, it would negate the benefit of being out of the weather and what allows you to push that button on your remote and open and close the door is the garage door opener system.
How Does it Work?
This system controls all the door action; it communicates to your door how far to go, guides it along the track, and starts stops and slows the motion of the door. You probably take this wonderful machine completely for granted; however, like any other machine, it will eventually wear out and the life-span of most garage door openers is typically in the range of 10 to 15 years. Naturally, there are some things you can do to mitigate wear and tear and assist in extending the life-span so you might get more in the 20-year range of use versus 15.
What Can You Do?
Choose your drive type wisely; as you know, the motor raises and lowers the door along the track but the type of drive does make a difference in longevity. A belt drive, as opposed to a chain drive which uses a bicycle-like chain or screw drive which uses a threaded rod, has been proven to outlast the other two as well as provide the quietest and most efficient operation.
As with anything, the more you use it, the quicker it will wear out. Machines, in general, have only so many uses over their lifetime and the 10 to 15-year life expectancy of a garage door opener system is based on three to five uses per day for approximately 300 days a year. Naturally, if you use the door more than the estimated times in a day, the life of your system will be shorted proportionately. Most garages have a house-sized door in addition to the large garage door, so using this door as an alternative when possible, such as retrieving stored items like children’s bicycles or Christmas decorations can add to your system’s days.
Perhaps the biggest factor that can increase your garage door openers useful life is routine maintenance which includes checking seals, preparing for seasonal weather changes, and being attentive to any unusual sounds your system is making, repairing broken or replacing worn parts in a timely manner, and getting a professional garage door repair Sunrise company to service and replace things like broken springs immediately.
Garage Door Service and Replacement
In some cases, you may want to consider replacing your current garage door opener even though it is still operational. Many older model garage door opener systems lack today’s current safety features such as infrared sensors placed approximately six inches above the floor that detect objects in the path of the closing garage door and while this is a good feature to keep objects from damaging your door, it is much more desirable for detecting more valuable objects in the door’s path such as humans or pets.
Should a child or pet pass through the beam from the sensor, the system automatically halts and reverses the door. In addition, older doors may not meet current standards for extraction and other entrapment protection devices and safety should always trump economics. Other reasons for replacing a still functioning system are better noise control and more efficient battery backup systems on newer model garage door openers as well as better security. Last, but not least, updating your garage door opener system offers a return on your investment greater than many other home improvement projects.
Sunrise Garage Door Service
Garage Doors Pros has three convenient locations in Broward County, Miami Dade, and West Palm Beach, Florida offering repair, installation, and maintenance in the most timely, effective, and cost-efficient manner possible since 2012. When you are in need, we are your go-to guys.
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.