How To Determine What Size Garage Door Opener You Need

Measure the width and height of your garage door with a tape measure so you know what you have.

How to determine what size garage door opener you need.

For example if you would like to lift a double garage door one might suggest using a 1 2 horsepower because the door is heavier and larger. These doors don t need too much power to open so you can buy a garage door opener that s around 1 3 horsepower as this will be more than enough to lift it. Hopefully now you feel better informed to purchase a garage door opener. The main consideration for a garage door opener is the drive type which refers to the actual chain belt or other mechanism that moves and lifts the door.

1 3 hp garage door opener. A 1 3 horsepower model also works with steel doors because they are the lightest. A minimum depth of the door s height plus 18 is required for manually operated doors whereas a garage door opener can require the door height plus an additional 3 to 4 for standard 7 or 8 high doors depending on model. Modern openers generate electronic beams that extend across the garage door opening to provide entrapment prevention and protection.

The easiest way to determine the correct size of the rollers is to remove one to take a proper measurement if removing the rollers is not possible opening the door half way so the rollers are at eye level for measurement will work. Garage door openers are found in three different sizes which are determined by horsepower. If you have an older garage door opener manufactured before jan. The horsepower needed for your garage door opener is dependent on whether or not you want a long lasting opener verses replacing it every few cycles or the size of the door.

Doors that are 10 feet wide by 8 feet tall are single car garage doors. 1 1993 consider upgrading the device to take advantage of safety features. Technology allows us to do amazing things so take advantage of the security these devices can provide. If you use a 1 3 horsepower garage door opener on a heavy door it will lift the door up but won t work as long and garage door openers aren t cheap.

Single garage door openers generally do fine with smaller openers while double doors may need a little more horsepower. Doors larger than this are considered double car garage doors. Most garage door openers come in a range of 1 3 horsepower to 1 horsepower.