What to Look for in a Garage Door Opener

Two things to know when choosing a garage door opener.

Commercial or DIY(Do It Yourself)

Sounds simple, but what we are really talking about is quality. If you are looking for a long lasting garage door opener you immediately limit your choices in Sacramento. Why? Because you are not going to find one at your local hardware or big box store.

Sure there are great DIY models available, and frankly, most garage door companies will tell you either to pick one up at Home Depot or Lowes and they will install it. Or, they’ll just go ahead and purchase one from one of these stores and install it for you.

Abel Garage Door is different! We only sell commercial grade, professional quality garage door openers. Why? Because we back all of our work and we hate call backs. If you’re on a tight budget, we will help you to select the best value garage door opener from one of the big box stores and we will install it for you, while saving you money.

Here are a couple of things to look for when shopping for a garage door opener:

Quiet Functions
Chain-driven openers make more noise than the belt-driven ones. Since you are already willing to invest in this technology, why not go all out and go for belt-driven ones. The price difference is not really that great. Also, there are some integrated with durable belts to help it function for long years.

Can Detect Obstruction
It depends on how it can do it but it basically needs to detect if it is about to crash into something. Garage doors are heavy so it can cause problems and mishaps when it does not have a sensor. Companies use light beams to detect if something is obstructing its way and immediately opens up again.

½ Horsepower Or More
This motor power can typically hold average garage doors. Some still need to have a separate tool kit in order for it to work seamlessly on heavier doors. But basically, one integrated with this horsepower is already ideal as it is.

Keyless Wireless Pad
If you want total convenience, you have to get one with a keyless wireless pad. The good news is, there are lots of companies that offer wireless pads that can receive transmission from your garage even if it is made by a different manufacturing company.

Pick someone that is keyless and can let you change your code frequently so there would be no problem with radio scanner interference that may leak your code to burglars.

And if you need our input, feel free to give us a call, or send us an email, and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

Chamberlain Garage Door Opener WD962KD

Premium Whisper Drive® Plus with EverCharge® Standby Power System WD962KD

Now when the power goes out, your garage door opener will still work. The Chamberlain® Premium Whisper Drive® Plus with EverCharge® Standby Power System will operate the garage door opener for 20 cycles within a 24-hour period, and recharges automatically when the power comes back on. The safety and security features will continue to operate as well, ensuring your family is protected in a power failure. The opener also features smooth start and smooth stop to reduce the noise of the garage door as it opens and closes – perfect for homes with a room above the garage.

* horsepower strength with same lifting force specifications as 3/4 HP Chamberlain garage door openers

• 3/4 HPS®* DC belt drive system for the ultimate in quiet performance
• Belt is built like a steel-belted tire, reinforced with flexible steel cords
• Auto force-sensing technology constantly monitors garage door opener system and adjusts forces to temperature fluctuations, floor height, and door track movement
• Enclosed gear case provides continuous lubrication and protection for longer life and smoother operation
• Quick-install rail system provides faster and easier installation – assembles in 60 seconds
• Delivers 200 watts of light with adjustable light time delay
• HomeLink® compatible – the in-vehicle remote control system
• Includes two 3-button remote controls

SAFETY & SECURITY FEATURES

• Protector System® safety sensors with Rapid-Snap® brackets project an invisible light beam across the garage door opening and automatically reverse the door if anything interrupts the beam while the door is going down
• Sensing technology will stop the door from closing if contact is made with a person or object
• Opener lights turn on automatically when The Protector System’s infrared beam is broken
• Security+® anti-burglary technology assures a new code is sent every time the remote control is used
• PosiLock® theft protection assures that once the door is closed, it stays locked
• Manual release handle in case of power failure

WARRANTY

• Lifetime motor warranty
• 10-year belt warranty
• 1-year warranty on EverCharge® Standby Power System

Garage Door Openers

Back in the day, a garage was separate from your home where you had to go outside, lift the garage door open with a handle at the bottom of the door, get in your car, drive out, stop the car, and then go back to pull it shut with a long cord that hung from the top of the door. Jump ahead to today, where garages are entire rooms, heated, decorated, attached to the home and remote control accessed.

Gone are the days of manually opening the garage door. Remote control garage door openers have been around for a while, but keep getting perfected. A simple device such as this, makes our lives so much more convenient. As we pull up to our homes, we can start opening the garage from the top of the street, so it is already open when we arrive, to pull right in. Abel Garage Doors has been providing garage door openers since 1981.

With products ranging from replacement remote control garage door openers to wireless and wiredkeypads, drivers can find any part they need. When using any remote control product, we want reliability. What good is it to us, or how much convenience does it offer, if it only works some of the time? When choosing Garage Door Openers.com stocks major brands such as Genie, Sears Craftsman, Stanley, Linear, Multicode, Chamberlain, Liftmaster, Allister, Pulsar, Skylink or other major brands specific to your product. With low costs and same day installation 95% of the time, customers are ensured a long lasting product, delivered quickly and without hassle.

Garage door openers are either belt drive, chain driven or direct drive with an average speed of 7 inches/drop per second. There are faster openers that open at double the speed – 14 inches/drop per second. All automatic garage door openers are mandated to contain a sensor beam to detect a person or object in the way of a closing garage door, which then causes the door to stop losing and reverse back to open. They are also required to have a manual emergency release cord, a time reversing feature, automatic lights and a force adjustment feature. Safety is an important aspect to anything that automatically closes or opens, and a garage door is no exception.

With remote control garage door openers, it is important to have a rolling radio signal code to prevent thieves from capturing the code and breaking in. The ease of opening the garage should not be an invitation for burglar to come in. When approaching home, do open your garage door too soon and when you are not in sight of the garage. Look around the area and garage before pulling in and look in your rear view mirror as you come to a stop. Keep the door to your home from inside the garage locked. And, before you close the garage door, look around the car on both sides to make sure an intruder has not entered the garage undetected behind you. These are safety precautions everyone should be aware of to protect their home and family.

GARAGE DOORS & GARAGE DOOR OPENERS:

A DOZEN REASONS WHY YOU NEED NEW ONES

It goes up, it goes down. But a new garage door can do a lot more than that. Here are a dozen reasons why you need a new garage door and garage door opener.

1. New garage doors can increase the value of your home.
   An online survey says that 71% of homeowners who recently replaced their garage door believe it increased the value of their home. When nationwide real estate agents were shown “before” and “after” photos of houses upgraded with new, stylish garage doors, they increased the list price of the home anywhere from 1 to 4 percent. That means a $2,000+ investment in a garage door could increase the sale value of your home by as much as $7,000 if you’re selling a $175,000 home. Look at some dramatic “before and after” photos at GarageWowNow.com, and you’ll see the difference a new garage door can make.
2. New garage doors can put money back in your pocket.
   The Federal Government’s Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 extends tax credits for energy efficient home improvements. This includes qualifying insulated garage doors. That means that adding a new garage door in 2009 can save you money by helping to lower home energy consumption and costs AND it will help pay for itself this year through the tax credit incentive, worth up to $500.
3. New garage doors help you Lower The Door On Crime.
   According to statistics compiled by metropolitan police departments, approximately 50 percent of all residential burglaries can be traced to an open or an unsecured garage door. How many times have you gone in your house after working in your yard or carrying groceries out of your car and left the garage door open? The garage door industry suggests that you Lower the Door on Crime in 2009 by making it a practice to always close and secure your garage door to protect the valuables in both your home and your garage.  

   If you’re looking for helpful security devices to remind you to close your door, you can purchase an open garage door indicator that can be affixed to your door. When a garage door is left open, a warning light will indicate “open door.” Homeowners can sleep easy, knowing their garage doors are closed and their families are safe.

4. New garage door openers have built-in safety features.
   Photoelectric eyes – mounted about six inches above the floor – cast an invisible beam across the door opening and provide extra protection against entrapment. If a door is closing and a child or pet runs underneath the door, the beam breaks, causing the door to automatically reverse.
5. New garage doors can work even during power outages.
   A popular accessory sold with new garage door openers is a battery back-up system that allows you to use your opener several times, even after the loss of power to your home. It’s a wonderful feature that prevents you from being trapped outside in a storm.
6. New garage doors are today’s front door.
   A nationwide survey of consumers said that 71 percent of homeowners use their garage door openers to get into their homes every day, even more often than the front entry door. The key to the front door is now the garage door’s remote control and keypad. Yesterday’s latchkey kids are today’s keypad kids.
7. New garage doors can help you keep your house clean.
   With a keyless entry pad mounted outside your garage door, why traipse dirt in through the front door when you can enter through the garage? You can leave muddy shoes or boots and drenched coats in the garage and keep your house cleaner.
8. New garage doors can be a fashion statement.
   People are becoming more style conscious when replacing their garage door. On many American homes, the garage door claims a third of the facade, so it’s a snap to quickly makeover the look of your whole house. You can easily increase curb appeal when you choose from hundreds of different looks in elegant and stylish carriage house, contemporary or raised panel doors.
9. New garage doors can express your individuality.
   Housing developments have their advantages, but individuality usually isn’t one of them. In homes that are more than five years old, chances are your door is a solid-colored, raised-panel door that looks like every other garage door. Choose a fashionable contemporary or carriage house garage door, and your house instantly stands out from the crowd. Check them out for yourself by viewing the “Garage Door Styles” page at GarageWowNow.com. Wow!
10. New garage doors can protect your family from powerful winds.
    Reinforced garage doors are now available to help your home stand up to brutal winds. Researchers studying the wind effects of devastating storms know that garage doors are often the entry point for severe damage. A new strong garage door is an integral part of maintaining the structural integrity of your home.
11. New garage doors can help accessorize your life.
    Garage door opener accessories abound. Many new garage door openers switch on lights in your home as you’re pulling up the driveway. Some alert you if you left the garage door open. Some door openers are activated only by your fingerprint. You can even make a fashion statement with your garage door remote by customizing it to match your car’s interior.
12. New garage doors should be installed by a professional.
    Don’t try to install the door yourself. It’s a complex and dangerous task. Garage door springs are under extreme pressure and, if not handled properly, can release with enough power to seriously harm or kill someone. Specific tools and training are needed; therefore, it’s highly recommended that you have a professional who can do the job in just a few hours and haul the old door away. The cost of installation is well worth it. Find a professional near you at GarageWowNow.com’s “Your Local Garage Door Professionals” page.

Automatic Garage Door Opener and Garage Door Safety & Maintenance Guide

Garage Door System Safety – An Automatic Decision A garage door is the largest moving object in the home. They are often operated by electric door openers. Proper installation, operation, and maintenance and testing are necessary to provide safe, trouble-free operation. An improperly adjusted garage door or automatic opener can exert deadly force when the door closes. This could lead to serious injury or death from being hit by a closing garage door or from being trapped under the door.    Safety is Everyone’s Business A few simple precautions can protect your family and friends from potential harm. Please take a few minutes to read the following safety and maintenance information. Refer to your garage door and opener’s manual for details specific to the model you own. Then check the operation of your garage door and automatic opener.

Garage Door Openers are not Toys Do Not stand or walk under a moving door! Do not let children or adults play “beat the door”. It is dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. Adults should set a good example. Know how to use the emergency release, in case someone is pinned by the door.   Do Not let children play with or use the transmitters or remote controls. Always place and store them out of the reach of children. The pushbutton wall control should be out of the reach of children (at least 5 feet from the floor) and away from all moving parts. Mount and use the button where you can clearly see the moving garage door.

Teach Your Children About Garage Door and Opener Safety Garage door openers are not toys. Careless operation and allowing children to play with or use garage door opener controls can lead to tragic results. Discuss garage door safety with your children. Explain the danger of being trapped under the door.   When using the pushbutton or transmitter, keep the door in sight until it completely stops moving. Teach children never to play under or near an open garage door. Teach children to keep their hands and fingers clear of section joints, hinges, tracks, springs and other door parts. Contact with a moving door or its hardware could cause serious injury. These injuries can also happen with garage doors that don’t have automatic openers.

Routine Maintenance Can Prevent Tragedies Take a few minutes to inspect and test your complete garage door system. Make monthly inspection and testing a part of your regular routine. Safety is everyone’s business. Make garage door and garage door opener safety automatic in your home.   Monthly Maintenance Checklist Garage Door Opener   Reversal Test Force Setting Test Additional Safety Devices Garage Door   Visual Inspection – Springs, Rollers, Pulleys, Cables, and Track Lubrication Door Balance Consult owner’s manual for additional recommended maintenance for your models of door and opener.

Testing and Maintaining the Garage Door Opener There are routine safety and maintenance steps that you should follow once a month. Review your owner’s manual for the door opener. If you do not have an owners manual, look for the opener model number on the back of the power unit and request a manual from the manufacturer.   Reversal Test Make sure your opener has a reversing feature. If a reversing feature is not present, it should be replaced. Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 are required by federal law to have advanced safety features which comply with the latest U.L. 325 standards: Contact your manufacturer or installer for additional information. Test the reversing feature every month. First, test the balance of the door (see “Testing and Maintaining The Garage Door.”). If the door is properly balanced, then proceed. With the door fully open, place a 1-1/2″ thich piece of wood (a 2″x4″ laid flat) on the floor in the center of the door. Push the transmitter or wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when it strikes the wood. (Note that the bottom part of “one piece doors” must be rigid so that the door will not close without reversing.) If the door does not reverse, have it repaired or replaced. Have a qualified individual adjust, repair or replace the opener or door. Force Setting Test Test the force setting of your garage door opener by holding the bottom of the door as it closes. If the door does not reverse readily, the force may be excessive and need adjusting. See your owners manual for details on how to make the adjustment. Test the revesring feature after any adjustment. Additional Safety Devices Many garage door openers can be equipped with additional safety devices. Consider adding a photo eye or edge sensor as an extra measure of safety to prevent against entrapment. Keep in mind that adding more safety devices will not make an old opener meet current U.L. standards. Make sure the additional safety devices, such as photoeyes or edge sensors, are properly installed and adjusted (see owner’s manual).

Testing and Maintaining the Garage Door Perform routine maintenance steps once a month. Review your owner’s manual for the garage door. If you don’t have a manual, look for the model number on the back of the door, or check the lock handle, hinges, or other hardware for the manufacturer’s name and request a manual from the manufacturer.   Visual Inspection Look at the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys, and other door hardware for signs of wear. If you suspect problems, have a qualified person make repairs. Warning – Springs are under high tension. Only qualified persons should adjust them Garage door springs, cables, brackets, and other hardware attached to the springs, are under very high tension and, if handled improperly, can cause serious injury. Only a qualified professional or a mechanically experienced person carefully following the manufacturer’s instructions should adjust them. The torsion springs (the springs above the door) should only be adjusted by a professional. Do not attempt to repair or adjust the torsion springs yourself. A restraining cable or other device should be installed on the extension spring (the spring along the side of the door) to help contain the spring if it breaks. Never remove, adjust or loosen the screws on the bottom brackets of the door. These brackets are connected to the spring by the lift cable and are under extreme tension. Lubrication Regularly lubricate the moving parts of the door. However, do not lubricate plastic parts such as plastic rollers and plastic idler bearings. Consult the door owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation. Door Balance Periodically test the balance of your door. Start with the door closed If you have a garage door opener, use the release mechanism so you can operate the door by hand when doing this test You should be able to lift the door smoothly and with little resistance. It should stay open around three or four feet above the floor. If it does not, it is out of adjustment. Have it adjusted by a qualified service person.

Garage Door Opener Safety – An Automatic Decision This important information is provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National Safety Counsel and the Industry Coalition for Automatic Garage Door Opener Safety.

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