When it comes to garage door openers, you may have questions! When do you need to replace your garage door opener? Which model should you buy? Do all door openers work in all garages?
There are so many models of garage door openers you could buy. When it comes to buying or upgrading any essential household item, you first need to determine your family needs, budget, garage space, and door size. Each of these factors can influence your final decision.
While you, like many homeowners, may believe that the only automatic garage door opener is the trolley operator, that's just not true. Now there are many garage door opener models available for residential purposes like the side-mount, wall-mount, or jackshaft garage door opener.
What is a wall-mounted garage door opener?
As you might guess, wall-mounted garage door openers are mounted on a garage door's sidewall. It works much like other garage door openers, but the mechanism operates differently than you may expect. The device is connected directly to the torsion shaft, which is mounted above the door, and it holds the torsion counterbalance system. Once the opener is activated, it turns the shaft, causing the door to open or close.
Interested in this jackshaft-type garage door opener? Try out the LiftMaster 8500W model.
Though somewhat more expensive than traditional trolley garage door openers, residential jackshaft-type garage door openers are sleek devices that offer more than just an aesthetics upgrade if you decide to outfit your garage with one. Read about all the benefits of a jackshaft-type below!
Cluttered Garage? Let’s Makes Some Space!
Are you sick of clutter in your garage, but you don’t know how to free up space? The garage is often the resting place of things you don’t know what to do with, so how can you organize these things when all your space seems to be used up? Well, we have some helpful solutions!
Let’s help you keep only what you need…
When you’re someone who holds onto things in case you need them on a rainy day, deciding what you want to keep can be challenging. However, if your space is too cluttered when that rainy day comes you might not be able to find what you need. If you’re struggling with the idea of going through your clutter we recommend you read this blog before proceeding. This author highlights three critical questions you should ask yourself:
- Are these useful items accessible in an emergency?
- Would it be costly to replace this item?
- Why do you “need” this item? And is this need realistic?
Decluttering doesn’t just free up space in your home according to WebMD, an American healthcare information site, it can offer many health benefits. Including:
● Increased focus
Clutter often brings distractions into your daily routine. Looking around for things in a mess can also waste a lot of time. Once removed, you will see a difference in your productivity.
● Build self-esteem
When you’re organized, you reduce stress by knowing where everything you need is. Once everything is orderly, there’s no need to worry about the clutter anymore. When you’re confident in your space, you can be confident in yourself!
● Strengthen relationships
If your home is always cluttered, you may be less willing to invite friends over for dinner or a hang-out. Also, roommates will be more appreciative of you if you keep tidy.
● Reduce allergic reactions and asthma
Build-ups of dust, pollen, animal hair, or even mold, can be harmful to your reparatory system and cause allergic reactions. Cleaning improves your air quality and reduces allergens in your home.
● Improve health conditions
There’s nothing more important to your health than a good night’s sleep. An orderly room improves sleep and allows you to more easily clear your mind before bed. Not to mention, it’s much more fun to cook in a well-organized kitchen.
What a mess! Think of all the space you could utilize if this garage was better organized… Image from Unsplash.
After getting past your initial hesitancy, the first step to organizing your garage is by taking stock of what you have. This means clearing everything out! Depending on the size of your garage, you may want to start by clearing out one section at a time. While you take things out, you can decide what you’ll donate, sell, keep, or throw out. This process can take all day (sometimes several days) for some households!
Once your garage is cleared out, and you can once again see the floor space and shelves, you’ll be able to better understand your space and how to better organize your items going forward.
Next, let’s make sure everything that should be stored, is stored.
If you’re looking to store large appliance items like old washers, or any car supplies, with an emptied-out garage you’re sure to find some space. However, when it comes to other items, sometimes they shouldn’t be stored in the garage at all!
Looking at this blog, a list of 15 things you shouldn’t store in your garage if you want to avoid any unpleasant surprises in your garage as the seasons change. But keeping these items in mind will also help you keep unwanted hazards out of your space.
There are three main groups of items to be aware of:
● Hazardous objects or substances
Oily rags, propane tanks, gasoline
● Things that attract insects and small rodents
Pet food, books, firewood, bedding, toys
● Delicate and precious items vulnerable to weather
Electronics, printed photographs, essential documents, wine, clothes, canned food
A new garage door opener can also help you make more space!
Choosing a garage door opener that is installed on the wall instead of a bulky overhead unit will provide you with more overhead space. With a new door opener replacing an old trolley model, you will no longer have to deal with a large electronic unit taking up space on your ceiling where you could add extra storage.
If you are still looking to utilize your garage space more effectively, there are many affordable storage devices available. This home improvement blog offers many innovative storage ideas, teaching you how to take complete advantage of your unused ceiling space. There is a range of options out there, from simply installed coated hooks for bikes and other medium-sized objects, to mounted shelves with plastic bins to store tools in.
DID YOU KNOW? Jackshaft-type garage door openers work with any ceiling type! If you have a cathedral type, or just a tall, garage ceiling there are more practical options to choose for your garage door opener than a trolley, which greatly restricts the headspace available in your garage. The only restriction when installing a jackshaft is a space of at least 8 inches on the side of your garage door, which isn’t much space at all!
Just look at how much space this woman could save if she could safely mount these shelves elsewhere in her garage! Make more efficient use of your overhead space by switching to a wall-mounted garage door opener.
Become Safer!
Traditional trolley-mounted garage door openers have all kinds of safety hazards. While there are many kinds of door openers that have a photoelectric reversal system, a safety feature which forces the door to open when any obstruction beneath it is detected, what makes the wall-mounted garage door opener safer than other models is the box that covers the motor, so you’re not exposed to any dangerous mechanical movement. Not to mention, with a wall-mounted system there will be no more hazardous chains or belts which you, your children, or even your pet, can get trapped in.
These kinds of motors are not just nicer to look at than trolley-type motors, they are also quieter. This is very useful if you have a bedroom right over the garage, or if you like to use your garage as an easy indoor-outdoor living space.
Become secure with MyQ
While you won’t find many side-mount garage door openers that come with a security camera, like for many things in life now—there is an app for that! After purchasing and installing a compatible camera, we recommend looking into the MyQ intelligent camera brought to you by LiftMaster.
By downloading the MyQ app on your phone or laptop, you can control both the attached camera and the door directly from your personal device. Each time the camera detects movement with its 140⁰ wide-angle lens, you’ll receive a notification. This makes sure you can keep an eye on your home, even when you’re away.
Go to LiftMaster’s website to learn more about this amazing product!
Keep an eye on your garage from anywhere with the MyQ app from LiftMaster.
Keep Maintenance Costs Down!
Because the side-mount garage door opener doesn’t operate by using a traditional trolley rail system, there are fewer parts to keep lubricated for efficient usage. There are no belts or chains to clean or adjust either.
With a wall-mounted unit, you also keep your car, possessions, and even your person cleaner. There will be no more lubricant accidents spilling or dripping from the machinery, as a wall-mounted isn’t constantly hanging over you.
Get your household a jackshaft-type garage door opener and leave the traditional trolley behind!
Interested in a jackshaft-type door opener? Take a look at this LiftMaster 8500C model!
Ready to make a change, but need more help? Have no fear!
In the end, this can be a choice you need a lot more time to think about, as it can be an overwhelming market. If you want to get a new wall-mounted opener, or if you’re thinking about getting a trolley-type, all residential garage door openers have unique features to offer any home.
Schedule a consultation by calling 902-439-7907!
Don’t know where to start? Need help understanding garage door terminology? Our specialists over at Island Overhead Doors are happy to help! Please contact us during our open hours to get all your garage door questions answered!
At Island Overhead Doors, we understand that each client has different needs. We take time with each customer to understand what your best option is and to answer all your lingering questions as you explore the world of garage door openers. We can even send you a free quotation regarding your preferred garage door opener.
We’re not just for garage door openers. If you’re considering buying a new garage door to go with your new garage door opener, we encourage you to look at our photo gallery for inspiration. There are many happy homeowners out there who we’ve helped complete their dream projects, and we want to help you achieve yours as well.
Add new comment