Yes, garage door openers can be replaced with new ones, but before you jump to conclusions, you should first explore whether or not it can also be repaired. Depending on whether your door opener is on the more mature side, or has some minor issues – you may be able to get a few more years out of your current system.
The average length of time a garage door opener lasts is dependent on various factors – but typically, can work for 10,000 cycles. Depending on the frequency
of use, that can equate to anywhere between 10 and 15 years. With good maintenance, that can be extended to last even 20 years or more.
However, whether it’s an older version or not, you may just be ready to take the plunge and enhance your current system. Depending on when you last shopped for a new system, the advantages of the modern garage door opener may be exactly what you need – more secure, quieter and safer.
Over the years, the garage space has transformed into playrooms, offices and exercise areas - and the advances in openers have increased to allow for safer, quieter and stronger systems that keep people comfortable and safe. But at its core, not much has changed. Overhead door systems are complicated systems but are essentially the same operationally. Most system include a motor, a trolley and a type of driver that work together to lift and lower the doors. Now, you can choose from various drivers depending on the level of power, noise and function that you need for your home.
Safer
If your garage door opener was installed before 1993, the experts at New Braunfels Overhead Door Pros would highly recommend replacing it. This is because that year, a law was passed to ensure the safety of children, pets and other items. It requires that two sensors are placed on each side of the door to automatically reverse a closing door when something runs through them. Also, a lot of them come with LED lights or spotlights inside, which helps you navigate better in the dark so you don’t trip or get hurt.
Quieter
If your garage door opener is like the shot heard around the world, and it makes your dog howl whenever you come home – it might be time to get a silencer. The variety of opening systems allows you to pick and choose a more comfortable, and sometimes, unnoticeable noise level when opening and closing your door. Plus, many doors are now insulated, which can help to muffle outside noises and regulate temperature better in extreme hot or cold weather.
More Secure
In older remotes, the access code that triggered the opening of the garage door could easily have been hacked – leaving your house vulnerable to potential intruders. Nowadays, these systems have what is called a “rolling code” which changes every time a garage door is opened and closed so the same code won’t work again.
Since then, it has been more popular to place keypads outside of the door, so that children, relatives and other essential people can have access to your home without a remote or key. In the age of technology, fingerprint detection is available for the keypad – making it even more secure.
So while you may be able to fix and repair some of the issues, depending on the age and extent of the damages – it might be time to get excited for an upgrade. The seasoned experts at New Braunfels Overhead Door Pros can help you decide whether it makes more sense to repair, or replace it. Contact our team today for a free consultation and inspection.