Garage Door Opener

By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2004-02-01 00:00:00-05:00

No one feels like tugging on a heavy garage door to get it open or closed. It's a pain in the neck when you set out from home in the morning. And it's too much work when you come home after a hard day.

Opening the garage door can be hard on your back. Plus, jumping in and out of your car in bad weather isn't any fun. That's why many people buy a garage door opener. These devices use a motor to open and close your garage door. You don't even have to get out of the car.

A garage door opener has three parts. You keep a remote control in your car. You push a button on that remote when you pull into the driveway. This sends a special code to a receiver in the garage. The receiver then turns on a motor. The motor is on the ceiling of the garage. It lifts the garage door.

How does it Work?

Not all garage door openers work the same way.

Some use a steel chain to raise and lower the door. These "chain-drive systems" work well and cost less than other openers. They are also very noisy. If your garage is part of your house, they may be too noisy.

Other openers use a steel rod to lift the door. These are called "screw-drive" systems. That's because the rod looks like a giant screw. These units work best with one-piece doors that tilt up when they open.

Some garage door openers use a strong, rubber belt to lift the door. These "belt-drive" units are quiet. They cost more than other openers.

Safety Features

Garage door openers run on electric current. So they won't work if you lose power. To avoid getting locked in or out of your garage, make sure you can open your garage door by hand.

All garage door openers must have two safety features to keep people or pets from being crushed by the garage door when it closes. Make sure you have both of these features.

A " Contact Safety Reverse " opens the door if it hits something.
A " Non-Contact Safety Reverse " opens the door if someone moves under it. These openers shine a beam of light across the garage doorway. The beam breaks if someone walks through the doorway. Then the door opens again.

Preventing a Break-in

Don't make it easy for someone to break into your home through your garage. Always lock the door between your garage and your house.

Get a garage door opener that thieves can't trick. Each time you open your garage door, a special code goes to the receiver in your garage. A thief can break into your house by stealing this code.

Some openers send the same code every time you want to open the door. This makes it easier for someone to steal your code. Look for an opener that sends a different code to your receiver every time you use it. This is called "Rolling-Code Technology." It makes your code harder to steal.

AARP Resources

Getting Bids and Selecting a Contractor: A Worksheet
A handy worksheet to help you find the best contractor.

Choosing a Home Improvement Contractor
Find out the steps to follow when hiring a home improvement contractor.

Other Resources

Consumer Tips
The International Door Association offers tips on purchasing and maintaining a garage door opener.

Accessible Entrances
The Paralyzed Veterans of America web site offers tips and drawings to help you create a clear pathway into your home. One article provides information about garage entrances.

Creating an Easy-to-Visit Home
The Iowa State University Extension tells you how to create a retirement home that is easy-visiting, easy-living, and easy on the budget. (Free Adobe Reader required.)

Books

Find these books online at Borders.com.

The Accessible Home: Updating Your Home for Changing Physical Needs
Bryan Trandem, Creative Publishing International, Incorporated, January 2003

Home Sweet Home: How to Help Older Adults Live Independently
Dennis R. La Buda, Vicki Schmall, AAL QualityLife Resources, November 2000

Elder House: Planning Your Best Home Ever
Adelaide Altman, Chelsea Green Publishing, October 2002