The torsion spring, not the operator (or motor), does the heavy lifting. Aesthetics aside, the big changes in today's 300-pound steel doors are in insulation. Tighter perimeter seals and sandwiched polyurethane panels get some doors' U-factors, which measure resistance to heat flow and air infiltration, down as low as 0.2. A door under 0.3 qualifies for a 2010 tax credit of up to $1500.1. Motor & Gears: The motor is typically about a 1/2-hp, 6-amp machine hooked to a 120-volt outlet—that's all it takes to overcome the inertia of a stopped door. The machine also slows a door in transit, preventing it from crashing to the garage floor.2. Drive Guide: This track (aka the T-rail) guides and shields the chain, screw or belt as it moves the door open and closed. It connects the operator to the trolley, which in turn is connected to the door.3. Height Adjustment: Operator settings determine the distance the door travels. The machine kicks in to arrest the door's motion or to make adjustments if a door isn't opening or closing completely.

The force of the door's motion can also be adjusted so the door stops moving if grabbed.4. Inverter & Battery: To allow smaller, more efficient motors, most garage-door operators use DC current. glass door repair saskatoonAn inverter switches household AC power to DC, which is also used to charge a battery backup system that kicks in when the power is out.2003 toyota tacoma 4 door 4x4 for saleIn the past, suburban burglars sometimes gained access to garages by using radio scanners to eavesdrop on a code transmission between a remote control and a garage door. sliding wardrobe doors canadaDoors in the 1960s were easy targets—they used only one code. sears patio door handle

In the 1970s and '80s, code grabbers pilfered one of 256 codes that the remotes cycled through. "Since the mid-1990s, we've had rolling codes with billions of combinations," door-operator manufacturer Chamberlain's Paul Accardo says. plastic folding doors philippines"The remote sends a code to the receiver; car window repair wilmington ncit opens the door and creates a new code for the next time the door opens. garage door repair castle rock coSomeone could still capture that code, but it won't be used again." Among the quietest (and costliest) drive options, the belt's Kevlar polymer body is molded into nubby teeth on one side. These rotate through a gear on the operator top to pull the trolley.

The cheapest and oldest technology, the bike-chain-style chain sits slightly slack when the door is open—at least 1/2 inch above the bottom of the T-rail. The chain makes a racket, but maybe that's a good thing when your teenagers are sneaking out.A continuous threaded shaft connects the operator to the trolley, and its arm reaches for the door. Its threads require biannual lubrication with silicone, and it wears out the trolley more quickly than the other options. But the screw is the Goldilocks drive—median price and noise level.Types of Garage Door Openers Standard garage door openers have a similar design. A motor drives a trolley or carriage along a rail. The trolley is connected to the garage door and as the trolley moves, it pulls the door open or pushes it closed. The main difference between garage door opener models is how the motor moves the trolley. A chain-drive garage door opener uses a metal chain to drive the trolley and raise or lower the door. Chain-drive systems are economical choices but tend to create more noise and vibration than other types.

If your garage is detached from the house, noise may not be a concern, but if the garage is under a living space or a bedroom, you may want to consider a quieter option. Shop for Chain-Drive Garage Door Openers A belt-drive garage door opener functions similarly to the chain-drive system, but uses a belt rather than a chain to move the trolley. This belt provides quieter, smoother operation, making it a good choice for homes with living or sleeping spaces above or adjacent to the garage. Belt-drive systems have fewer moving parts, resulting in lower maintenance needs. Shop for Belt-Drive Garage Door Openers A screw-drive garage door opener uses a threaded steel rod to move the lifting mechanism. As the rod rotates, it drives the trolley along the track to raise or lower the door. These units are usually quieter than chain-drive systems. Like belt-drive openers, fewer moving parts mean reduced maintenance. Shop for Screw-Drive Garage Door Openers A direct-drive garage door opener also offers a quiet mechanism.

The motor itself functions as the trolley and travels along the track, raising or lowering the door. This means the system has a single moving part — the motor — which results in reduced noise and vibration, as well as fewer maintenance requirements. Shop for Direct-Drive Garage Door Openers Good to KnowGarage door openers have motors that run on either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). Both plug into a standard home power outlet, but DC-powered openers convert AC to DC power. The advantages of a DC motor include smaller size, quieter operation and softer starts and stops. Some DC-motor openers include battery backup, allowing operation when the power is out. Look for horsepower (HP) ratings to compare the lifting power between garage door opener models. Ratings ranging from 1/2-horsepower to 1-1/2 horsepower are typical for residential models. If you have a sectional double-car garage door, a 1/2-horsepower motor should be sufficient, but a higher-power model will operate with less effort and less wear and tear on the motor.

Heavier or one-piece doors may require higher-horsepower openers. Read our Garage Door Buying Guide to learn about different types of garage doors. Good to KnowGarage door openers with DC motors may use ratings such as HPS (horsepower similar) or HPc (horsepower comparable) to help you compare power options. Garage Door Opener Features Standard garage door openers share common components: Remotes and wall-mount buttons or keypads open the garage door. A manual release allows you to disengage the opener from inside the garage and raise or lower the door manually. A security light activates when you operate the system and turns off automatically after a set period of time. Rail segments are typically sized for garage doors up to 7 feet tall. In addition, look for other features: Miniature keychain remotes fit in a pocket. Home-automation system connectivity allows you to control your opener remotely. Built-in Wi-Fi connects the opener directly to your home wireless network and lets you operate the door from a mobile app without the need for an automation system.

Smart-device compatibility — built-in or available with an optional accessory for some models — allows you to operate and monitor the opener from a mobile device. Vehicle compatibility allows operation of the opener from controls built into some vehicles. Auto-close functionality lowers a garage door automatically after a pre-programmed period of time. Locks give you the option to prevent remotes from opening the garage door. Soft-start / stop motors reduce wear and tear on the opener and make operation quieter. Battery backup lets you operate the opener in the event of a power outage. Included rail extensions make the opener compatible with 8-foot-high doors. Motion-sensing security lights operate automatically. Shop for Garage Door Openers Shop for Garage Door Opener Remotes, Keypads & Other Accessories Shop for Garage Doors Good to KnowMany remotes and wall-mount buttons and keypads can control more than one garage door opener — useful if you have multiple garage bays with separate doors.

Good to KnowCheck the product information to make sure a garage door opener and its features are compatible with your garage door and suit the height of your garage ceiling. If you have an older garage door opener (manufactured before January 1, 1993), consider upgrading the device to take advantage of safety features. To provide entrapment prevention and protection, modern openers generate electronic beams that extend across the garage door opening. When a person, animal or object breaks the beam, it triggers the safety mechanism, causing a closing door to reverse direction. Garage door openers also feature a mechanism that reverses a closing door when the door contacts an obstacle. Follow the opener manufacturer's instructions for testing the unit's safety features. Newer garage door openers can also improve security. Remotes transmit a unique code to activate the opener. Look for a rolling code feature to prevent code theft and ensure that a neighbor's remote control won't open your garage.