Security Options for Garage Door Openers

September 25th, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Openers
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If your garage is connected to your home, it could be the most vulnerable point of access for any intruder. Too often, it becomes the main entry into the house so interior connecting doors are left unlocked, even when the garage door is open. The simple ease of entry and exit through our garage doors have left us unconcerned about its safety.  

Fortunately, today’s advanced technology has also found its way into improving garage door openers with additional security features. If you still have an older garage door opener, then it is time to upgrade. Today’s openers utilize random revolving numbers for their remote openers. Mini remote openers are available that can fit on a key chain, so as to enable them to be carried at all times instead of leaving it in the car. That means, if your car is stolen or burglarized, your garage and home are still secured. Another addition option is to install a keyless entry pad, wherein you manually enter a code, much like a security alarm.  

Your local garage door service professional should be aware of the very latest in garage door opener security options and will certainly be able to steer you in the right direction for your particular needs. Furthermore, your service company will be more than happy to walk you through additional tips to make sure that your garage is as safe from intrusion as is possible. There is no need to allow your garage door to threaten the safety and security of your home. Having your garage’s remote opener and entry system inspected, as well as updated with today’s available security technology, will help ensure the safety of your home and family from unwanted intruders.

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How Safe Is Your Garage Door?

June 19th, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Openers
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This is certainly the time of year when everyone seems to be running in and out of the house, usually through the garage door. Not only has it become the standard mode of entry into your home after parking the car, but with the “busyness” of summer activities it seems to be the main area of high traffic; the ins and outs of getting the yard tools and supplies, bird feeders, pet supplies, tools for various household projects, barbeque grills, bicycles and other recreational items. Your garage door in the summer might as well be a revolving door, for you, your kids, the neighbors’ kids, and pets. So much more important, then, becomes the safety of your door. 

Since January 1, 1993, to prevent doors from crushing objects in their path, all garage doors with an automatic garage door opener have been required by federal law to have optic sensors that can detect a person or object below the door, prompting it to reverse. This can be tested by placing an object directly in line with the door, which should reverse immediately upon contact or  by using an object to break the electronic eye beams on either side of the door. Your garage door should also be balanced; meaning, you should be able to lift your garage door smoothly and easily with one hand. If the door is out of balance, it could be using excessive force to close, which could pose a safety hazard. 

If your optic sensors are not working correctly, the automatic reverse feature or door balance seems even slightly off, it is a good idea to have your garage door inspected by your local overhead door technician. Checking these few items will ensure the safety of your garage door.

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A Primer on Garage Door Openers

January 27th, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Openers
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If you’ve been shopping for a new garage door opener, you’ve no doubt been bombarded with a wide number of options. What you’ll find, however, is that the majority of openers fall into one of three main categories:  chain drive, belt drive and screw drive. Each has its pros and cons for the homeowner. 

Chain Drive: The chain drive garage door opener is probably the most common type of opener. It uses a chain, similar to a bicycle chain, to move a trolley, or carriage, that is connected to a metal arm, called a J-arm, that is connected to the garage door. This is the least expensive type of opener and the most reliable, but also the noisiest. As such, it is not the model to use if your garage is located under a bedroom. If the garage is detached, however, it is ideal. 

Belt Drive: This type of opener works basically in the same way as a chain drive opener except instead of using a chain, it uses a belt made of fiberglass, polyurethane or rubber.  Belt-driven openers are just as reliable as chain driven openers, but they are a lot quieter, making them ideal for built-in garages. The major drawback for belt drives is that they are usually more expensive, up to $100 more than a chain driven unit. 

Screw-Drive: The shaft drive opener uses a threaded metal shaft to connect the motor to the door. Since the shaft does not bend like a belt or chain, the garage door cannot be budged open, resulting in better security for the homeowner. This type of opener is also quicker, opening a door at up to a foot a second, compared to the average 7 inches per second of other types of openers. Cons with screw-dive openers are that they do not respond well to temperature extremes, hot and cold, and are noisier than belt drives. They are also the most expensive of the three types of openers.

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