Garage door openers have evolved a lot over the last 15 years. Almost every opener model has been replaced with a complete redesign including lots of improvements and optional addons.
- New security on your remotes
- Upgraded protection for obstructions
- Quieter operation. People are shocked with how quiet the new openers operate.
- WiFi phone app at an extra cost
- Wireless keypad extra cost
- Smaller handsets
- Slow start and stop
- Battery backup
- Peace of mind
Security improvements.
Early garage door openers came with remote controls that communicate from the handheld remote to the opener in a very simple way. The system used radio frequency as it still does today. But the code was fixed and didn’t offer much protection. Savvy thieves took advantage of this and made lite work of cracking opener codes.
Remote openers today still use a fixed frequency but have a complex algorithm that changes the code with each operation. Even if a crook were able to capture the code you used on your last operation their attempt to use that code again will fail.
Improved obstruction detection.
From time to time we all have left obstacles in the path of the garage door. While all garage door openers had obstruction detection many still failed to stop when they should have. Defect, wear and tare or installer error were common reasons for obstruction detection failure.
Newer systems monitor the electrical current demand from the internal motor and obstruction detection is usually set up automatically as part of the initial programming of the opener to the door. This ensures that the opener has the right level of detection for the door size and avoids haphazard workmanship from the installer.
Many opener models can even detect the difference between an increase in wind pressure against the door compared to impact with an obstacle.
Quiet operation.
There is no doubt about it. Older garage door openers do tend to be a bit noisy. Admittedly they were only designed to open and close the door and not much thought was given to how loud they were. Many older homes had detached or semi detached garages so the noise wasn’t really a bother to the occupants. As newer homes included the garage as a part of the house then noise became more of an issue.
Manufactures have converted to the quieter dc motors and have even redesigned the motors to reduce noise. In the case of sectional door openers other components have been redesigned and re-thought to improve the product as well.
As a service technician myself I get the chance to change out a lot of openers and customers are pleasantly surprised at how quiet the new openers really are. It is usually the first thing they mention when I show them the operation of the new opener during the product walkthrough.
WiFi phone app.
Home automation has become a significant trend over the last few years and many opener brands have embraced the opportunity to add the new feature to their product lines. With the addition of an app, some additional hardware and your home WiFi you can control and monitor your garage door via your phone.
Once it is all set up you can let members of the family have access to the garage via their phone or even give a visitor single use access. With the addition of a video enabled front door chime you could give access for delivery drivers without actually being at home.
If you are looking to update your garage door opener you might give some thought to this new optional feature. But be aware that it comes with an additional cost and you need WiFi in your home to network with the door opener.
Wireless keypad.
A wireless keypad is an access control point that you fit outside of your garage to allow entry to your garage. It utilizes a standard keypad where you can create PIN codes for private access.
The wireless keypad is a great addition if you want to give access to the garage but don’t want to give out remote handsets. This is a good option if you have kids coming home from school and you don’t want them to have to carry a remote handset. You can also set up single use codes for one time access.
Smaller handsets.
If you have old handsets and are looking to replace them then you have to weigh up the cost of replacement. Some of the older handsets are not well supported and can be expensive to replace. This may come at a time when you suspect that you might not have much life left in your opener.
If you are at this point then you will be very pleased that the new remote control handsets are much smaller than older handsets. Older handsets were large and heavy while the newer ones are about a quarter of the size. The smaller size means that you can attach them to your keychain or comfortably put them in your pocket. Additional handsets are also readily available from your supplier or online due to better product support.
Slow start and stop.
One of the great features of new garage door openers is the standard inclusion of slow start and slow stop during operation. When you press the button to start your garage door it moves slowly at first before transitioning to normal speed. Near the end of the travel it slows down again before stopping.
The inclusion of slow start/stop protects your door from a whole range of issues that would normally result in a service call to your technician. Out of all the improvements that have been made to door openers over the years this is the one that I feel has mattered the most to reliable door operation.
Battery backup.
While all garage door openers give you the ability to disconnect the door from the opener when the power fails it can still be a real problem and at best an inconvenience. Some are hard to disconnect and reconnect and others are just confusing to use.
Battery backup allows you to continue to use your door when the power has gone out. There are a couple of reasons to include battery backup with a new door opener. In some cases the manual override is not a convenient option. Or, If you have a family member who has mobility issues that would prevent them from using the openers manual override.
In these cases the optional battery backup will give you peace of mind that you can still operate your door in a power outage.
Peace of mind.
With a new door opener comes the expectation of reliable operation for years to come. Not only do you replace an opener that was nearing the end of your life you also get a full door service.
Whenever a new opener is installed to an existing garage door the service technician will carry out a full service and adjustment to your door. It’s part of the price of the new opener and ensures trouble free operation.