Garage door openers typically range from 1 3 to over 1 horsepower.
Should i get a bigger garage door opener.
A motor drives a trolley or carriage along a rail.
Garages with carriage doors should opt for 1 hp garage door openers or higher.
Look for an opener that has the horsepower necessary for your garage door size based on size and weight.
Here s a detailed breakdown of the most crucial factors and how the chain and belt drive stack up.
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.
Garage door size and frequency of use.
Two car garages or one car garages with insulated or wooden doors need at least a 3 4 horsepower garage door opener.
A 1 3 horsepower opener can handle most doors 10 feet wide by 8 feet tall made of lightweight material.
Before you purchase a new garage door opener consider these important factors.
One car garages with steel doors only need a 1 2 horsepower garage door opener.
While both garage openers use the same mechanical principle to raise and lower the doors chain drives have a higher load bearing capacity.
Garage door openers typically last a long time depending on the type you get.
The trolley is connected to the garage door and as the trolley moves it pulls the door open or pushes it closed.
1 2 horsepower garage door openers work well with standard aluminum doors in a residential garage.
The main difference between garage door opener models is how the motor moves the trolley.
Depending on the model a garage door opener can last up to 10 years or more so it is important to get one that is right for you and fits with the type of garage door you have.
Standard garage door openers have a similar design.
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.
Horsepower is really just a starting point for garage door openers.