Do you know when your garage door opener is too old?

On average, the typical electric garage door opener is going to last from about 10 to 15 years. However, that doesn’t take into account that there may sometimes be changes in government regulations or there may be large technological upgrades that make upgrading sooner a good option. (As an example, after the tremendous wildfires in 2017 in California, which were followed up by even more destructive fires the next year, that state’s governor chose to sign a bill saying that all residential openers sold new now must include a battery backup.) It’s also worth noting that some openers, such as the LiftMaster’s Elite Series last longer, while those that are extremely inexpensive may not even last 10 years.

Regardless of the exact garage door opener, it isn’t going to last for decades or at least not while giving you the proper operation that you want. The amount that you use the door opener will have an effect on this. Since most houses nowadays have an attached garage rather than a detached one, this increasingly situations the garage as the main access point into the home. However, there are other factors to consider. We’ll look at those in this powerful but often ignored device.

Do you know how old it actually is?

It is far from uncommon to live in a house for a long period of time and not know exactly how old it is. Maybe the same garage door opener has been there as long as you can remember, which means you aren’t exactly sure how old it is. Don’t worry. We can help you find out.

There are two different easy ways to find out:

• The first thing to consider is whether your electric garage door has an automatic photoelectric reverse system. If you aren’t sure, it’s a set of two sensors which are installed on the sides of the garage door opening at about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) from the floor. If there is nothing there, that means your door opener was manufactured before 1993.
• The other option is to get up on a ladder and look at the metal housing that covers the motor. There should be a year listed for the manufacture date along with a serial number and model number.

In either case, if the door opener is older than 10 to 15 years old, it is almost certainly time for you to upgrade your door opener. Remember that as you continue to use the door opener, it will continue to wear it out. In addition to that, if you put off replacing it when it’s making odd noises, that is often a sign of a malfunction and can mean that more wear is being placed on it. Both how often you use the door opener and how often you do maintenance (or have it done) will have an effect on how long it lasts, as is the case with most of your other home appliances.

It might feel like 10 or 15 years isn’t a very long period, but you have to put it in perspective. For instance, your garage door spring system, whether torsion or extension, which is the counterweight for the entire weight of the garage door only lasts around 5 to 7 years on average.

If you still aren't sure that all of this sounds correct, at Atlas Door Systems, we can give you better information about whether you need to change out your door opener immediately or whether getting a tune-up is all you need for safety and efficiency.

Additional reasons you may wish to switch out your garage door opener

While age is one of the most common reasons to replace your garage door opener, it is far from the only one. Some of the others include:

• You find out the manufacturer of the door opener is not in business anymore
  Sometimes you will find that your door opener was made by a manufacturer who is no longer in business, so the opener isn’t on the market. One of the reasons we recommend Chamberlain / LiftMaster garage door openers is because the company has been around since 1954 and show no signs of going anywhere.

• The safety of you and your family is a priority for you
  Up until 1982, it wasn’t a requirement for door openers to have a reversal system, which made them dangerous. In 1982, a standard was set that all garage door openers offer an automatic reversing mechanism. What that means is that when a garage door is coming down if something is in the way, the door will stop in its tracks and reverse to avoid crushing the item there. Then in 1993, legislation improved on safety once more by having door openers with automatic photoelectric reversal systems equipped. Those who have an older door opener without both of these safety features, it’s much more likely that an accident will happen while the door is descending, so we recommend an upgrade.

• You want to avoid a robbery if at all possible
  Garage door openers manufactured before 1993 were programmed in a simplistic way with 7 or 8 dip switches that could be set to either -, +, or 0. The problem is that a thief could detect the code and then use the door at any time they wish to. In the time between 1993 and 1995, Chamberlain / Liftmaster added a new coding system by the name of Security, which implemented the option for millions of possible codes. In 1996, the same companies put out the Security+ system, which made the potential for billions of codes, meaning it would be nearly impossible to determine yours.

• You are tired of your noisy current system
  The garage door openers today are often very quiet due to using metal-reinforced rubber belts. On top of that, wall-mounted openers can now be placed by the door, called Jackshaft door openers, making them ideal for residential use. If you have a room right over the garage, especially in the case of a bedroom, installing a new door opener can help prevent noise being transferred into the room through the garage ceiling joists

• You’re ready to lead a simpler life
  As of 2013, Chamberlain / Liftmaster brought to the market a system called the MyQ system, which was revolutionary for garage door openers. Using this technology, you can now operate the garage door from anywhere you are rather than having to be in the garage. All it takes is downloading the MyQ app and using it to open or close the door. You can use a laptop, smartphone, or tablet to find out every time the garage door is opened or closed. It also gives you the ability to set a time to open or close the door automatically, so you don’t have to. This can be a great reassurance that the door will be closed even if you’re at work when you notice you forgot to do it at home.

Are you ready to learn more?

If you are located in or near Enfield, CT, we urge you to contact us at 1-877-828-5279. We offer a full range of Liftmaster door openers with both chain drives and belt drives that can be installed beside the door or more centrally. Each of them is reliable and quiet and some models offer an emergency button that allows you to close or open your door even during a power outage.

We’d also be happy to send you a quotation by email. Our showroom is also open for your visit. If you make the decision to get a new garage door, you can use our Design Centre to decide on what style of door appeals most to you. We also offer an image gallery with many examples to help you make your final choice.