A garage door opener makes it easy and convenient to park in your garage, but it can fail with age and use, plus older garage door openers tend to have inherent problems that have been corrected in newer models.
So when is it time to replace the garage door opener in your Cincinnati home? It will depend on the age of the system and its specifications.
How Long Does a Garage Door Opener Last?
Most garage door openers will last about 10 to 15 years. If yours is approaching the 15-year mark, it may be time to consider an upgrade. New models tend to have better safety features, improved security and quieter, longer-lasting drive systems.
If your garage door opener is starting to have problems or needs repairs, replacing it may be the best way to avoid a complete failure that leaves you locked in or out of the garage or relying on manually opening the door.
When To Consider a Garage Door Opener Replacement
A faulty garage door opener is inconvenient and could pose a safety risk. Here are a few good reasons to consider a garage door opener replacement for your Cincinnati home:
It Needs Repairs Often
If you find yourself scheduling garage door opener repairs more often than you’d like, it may be time to replace it. With age, parts like sprockets and bearings can wear, lubrication can dry up, and the motor may lose power as resistance in the windings increases. These issues can lead to intermittent problems or complete failures.
It’s Insecure
Garage door remotes let you open the door and pull into the garage without ever stepping out of the car. Unfortunately, older garage door openers feature a simple system with a fixed code that pairs the remote to the opener, and the pool of codes was rather small.
Someone who has a remote with the same code can easily open the door, even a neighbor by accident, and enterprising criminals soon developed devices that could cycle through these codes quickly, opening nearly any garage door. New garage door openers use a rolling code system that’s far more secure.
It Lacks Safety Features
Since1993, garage door openers have included safety reversal systems that detect when an object is underneath the door as it closes and reverses it to prevent injuries to children or pets.
The system features a sensor on each side of the door, and it uses a beam of ultraviolet light to detect when an object is in the way. Once something breaks that beam, the door reverses. If your garage door opener lacks this feature, it’s a good idea to upgrade, especially if you have young children in the house.
It’s Loud During Use
Older garage door openers often use a chain-drive system to open the door, which can be rather loud, especially at night when there’s not as much background noise. A new garage door opener installation will often feature a screw-drive or belt-drive system that’s more reliable and much quieter.
It Lacks a Keypad
Today’s garage door openers often feature a keypad that allows keyless entry into your garage. This can be a great option for anyone prone to misplacing keys, and it can provide access to your home if the garage is attached. If your garage door opener lacks a keypad, consider upgrading to a model that has one, and for enhanced security, consider one with a fingerprint reader.
Schedule a Garage Door Opener Replacement in Southwestern Ohio
When it’s time for a new garage door opener, turn to our experts at Overhead Door Co. of Greater Cincinnati™. We offer a full line of garage door opener services, including garage door opener maintenance, repairs, replacements and more.
Our company has served the Cincinnati area for over 90 years, and we offer exceptional quality, great service and 24/7 emergency garage door repairs.
Call (513) 394-6938 today or contact us to schedule a garage door opener installation or replacement in Cincinnati or the surrounding area.
