Sommer Garage Door Opener

Without a garage door opener, you’d have to manually lift the door every time you needed access, which would be especially annoying if you parked your car in there. A garage door opener is a modern convenience many people take for granted. If your home has an opener already, chances are it was already there when you bought the house. But you don’t have to wait until it malfunctions to replace it. In fact, you may find that you can upgrade to a quieter, more efficient model that offers capabilities you don’t currently have.

One feature found with many modern garage door openers is battery backup. This means instead of dragging out a ladder and trying to find the cord to release the door, you’ll be able to continue to use the garage door until the power comes back on. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll be limited in the number of times you can open and close your garage door before the backup runs out.

You’ve likely noticed that some garage door openers are noisier than others. Although you can purchase a new garage door opener that will offer this feature, you can actually purchase a noise reduction kit for a fraction of the price. You’ll also save yourself the trouble of switching out your existing garage door opener if noise is your only concern.

You also don’t have to buy a new garage door opener if you simply want mobile connectivity. The Chamberlain MyQ Smart Hub works with most garage door openers and gives you control over your remote from wherever you are. If you leave for work in the morning and can’t remember if you closed your garage door, you’ll no longer have to turn around and go back to check. Just open the app on your smartphone and, if you forgot, close it and go on with your day. You can also set notifications to alert you if you leave the door open.

• Although you’ll certainly hear about other features, one thing matters most when it comes to a garage door opener: the motor. Your opener’s motor powers everything, so you’ll want one that is built to last. The Chamberlain B730 Garage Door Opener, Genie Garage Door Opener and Decko Garage Door Opener have ¾-horsepower motors that provide reliable, smooth performance. The Chamberlain B730 Garage Door Opener uses a steel-reinforced belt drive, adding to that advanced capacity.
• Some garage door openers slam the door into its final position. The Genie Garage Door Opener uses a soft-start and soft-stop to ensure your door lands smoothly.
• If you’re looking for a less noisy garage door opener, the Chamberlain B730 Garage Door Opener specializes in keeping noise to a minimum. It also has antivibration technology.
• If your home’s power goes out, you’ll have to use a manual bypass to open your garage. The Chamberlain B730 Garage Door Opener’s integrated backup battery lets you open your garage door up to 20 times during the 24 hours after your power goes out.
• If you’re installing the garage door opener yourself, the Decko Garage Door Opener has non-polarized wiring, which makes it easier to install than many of its competitors.
• It’s important to measure your garage door size before you buy. Many garage door openers are built for 7-foot garage doors, which are standard. However, some newer garages have doors that are either 8 or 10 feet. The Decko Garage Door Opener comes with an 8-foot extension. If you buy the Chamberlain B730 Garage Door Opener, you can separately purchase an extension kit that will make it work.
• Smartphone compatibility is a hot feature in today’s garage door openers. For less than $100, you can purchase the Chamberlain MyQ Smart, which works with most garage door openers manufactured after 1993. Using the MyQ, you can open and close your garage door from anywhere, as well as set alerts that let you know when your door is left open or opened unexpectedly.
• If you’re most interested in smartphone features, steer clear of the Decko Garage Door Opener since it isn’t smartphone compatible.
• You likely won’t need your remote if you have a newer car with HomeLink built in. The Chamberlain B730 Garage Door Opener, Genie Garage Door Opener and Decko Garage Door Opener are all HomeLink compatible.
• Most garage door openers use sensors to stop the door from closing if an object gets in the way. If you have children or pets, this is especially important. The Genie Garage Door Opener has one of the most dependable safety systems available on garage door openers today. The Decko Garage Door Opener uses an auto-reversal sensor that also stops the garage door when an object is detected.
• Many garage door openers have a limited range, which means you’ll practically have to be parked directly in front of your door to get it to open using your remote. The Chamberlain B730 Garage Door Opener has a range of at least 1,500 feet to let you get the door started as you’re nearing it.
• One benefit of the Genie Garage Door Opener is its wireless entry keypad. Instead of needing to have your remote with you to enter through the garage, you can input a series of numbers and enter that way.
• Price may be a consideration, but the Chamberlain B730 Garage Door Opener, Genie Garage Door Opener and Decko Garage Door Opener all retail in the $200-$300 range. If you want smartphone capability, you’ll need to set aside another $100 or so to buy the Chamberlain MyQ Smart control.