13/11/2019
Did you know an average garage door opens and closes 1,500 times a year? If you own a smart garage door opener system, you probably don’t give much thought to it. You just press a button, and the door automatically rolls up and down.
The mechanized device is one of the most crucial, yet one of the most overlooked equipment in your garage. It has average longevity of 10 to 15 years. With proper care and maintenance, it can last for more than 20 years.
At Crowfoot & Cross Town Garage Door Services, we understand how important a reliable garage door opener is for the functionality of your home. In this blog, we have discussed everything you should know about the device. Read on to know more.
What Are the Various Types of Drive Systems for Garage Door Openers?
There are five commonly-used types of garage door openers available with different types of drive systems and horsepower levels. Let’s take a look at them.
Belt-driven garage door opener:
This uses a rubber belt to pull or push the trolley, which in turn opens and closes the garage door. This system has the following advantages:
Durability
Low maintenance
Less noisy
Good for attached garages
Chain-driven garage door opener:
In this system, a chain rides on a sprocket to open and close the garage door. Some of the benefits of this are:
Reliable
Affordable
Commonly available
Screw-driven Garage Door Opener:
This system uses a threaded rod to move the door. This has fewer moving parts than other systems and has the following advantages:
Low maintenance
Easily installed
Less noisy
Jackshaft garage door opener:
Powered by a 24-volt DC motor, this opener propels cables and pulleys to turn the torsion bar and raise the door. The motor reverses, and cable tension is loosened to close the door. Some of the advantages it offers are:
Reliable and quiet
Suitable for high or low ceiling garages
Keeps ceiling free for overhead storage
DC-powered garage door opener:
DC motors are faster, lighter, quieter, smoother and more efficient than AC motors. It can continue to function for up to two days in case of power failure, subject to the frequency of usage. It has the following benefits:
Comes with variable speeds
Battery backup will enable operation of other functions including garage lighting, afety and security alerts in case of a power outage
Components of a Garage Door Opener
Several components work in tandem with each other to make a garage door opener function efficiently and smoothly. Let’s see what they are.
Motors and gears:
The motor is usually a half horsepower, 6-amp machine paired to a 120-volt outlet. It controls the speed of the door at the time of opening and closing.
Driver guide:
It guides and shields the belt, chain or screw as the door opens and closes. It connects the trolley to the operator.
Height adjustment:
Operator settings determine the distance travelled by the door. The machine controls the door’s motion to make adjustments if it fails to open or close completely.
Battery and the inverter:
Most garage door operators use DC current as it powers motors more efficiently. An inverter transforms household AC power to DC.
Standard Accessories of Garage Door Openers
Door openers come with some key accessories, enabling you to open and close your garage doors easily and efficiently. Three of those are listed below.
Remote controls:
These portable devices enable you to open and close your garage door with just a press of a button from a particular range of distance.
Control panels:
Like remote controls, these can open the door with just a press of a switch. However, these aren’t portable and are installed near the access door.
Automatic reversal systems:
It detects the resistance and the obstacles in the path of the door as it is closing. If it finds something in the path, the door reverses and opens.
How Your Garage Door Opener Works
Springs balance the door’s weight and take off the pressure from the motor. The tension on the springs determines how hard it will be to open or close. The higher the tension, the harder it is to open. The lower the tension, the harder it is to close.
Cables are connected to a drum at the top and bottom of the garage door to help it lift and lower when in motion.
Rail tracks connect the operator to the trolley, which directs the garage door as it moves.
A motor helps in pulling up and slowly lowering the door to prevent it from crashing on to the garage floor.
Rail extension kits are used for garage doors that are higher than the standard door height of seven feet.
Equipped with more than 20 years of experience, our experts can help you find the right garage door opener in Calgary. We also install and repair garage doors. For more information, contact us today.