Here Are Some Good Reasons to Replace Your Old Garage Door Opener

You may not give a lot of thought to your current garage door opener, especially if it's in full working order. However, there are a lot of benefits to be found in modern garage door opener models that go beyond pure functionality. If you've ever felt concerned about security, noise, ease of use, or simply want a change, you might want to consider swapping out that old model for a newer, more reliable garage door opener. Here are just a few reasons why.

Safety and Security

Chances are, if you had an older garage door model, it was high on basic function and not that helpful when it came to advanced security measures. With newer openers, owners can link the device to their smartphone via an app to reset passwords, check on a door's open/close status and more. Installing a newer garage door opening system will allow you to check in on your garage at any time to make sure everything is secure, and will only allow access to you and whoever else you add to the app. If you have a large family, you can give access to a number of different phones at any given time, making it easy for different members of the household to come and go as they please.

Noise

One of the big drawbacks of older garage door openers is that they were built on a chain drive, which is a cheaper (though much noisier), driving mechanism. Newer openers are built on a belt system, which provides a smooth and virtually silent opening and closing mechanism, making it the perfect option for garages in smaller, more suburban neighborhoods. Belt drives also leave less room for unpleasant moisture-related damage like rust or warping.

Easier Access

If your garage door opener still works with a key, you might want to think about getting an upgrade. Newer garage door openers can be opened remotely via sensor, and can also communicate with your smartphone to make getting in and out of your garage that much easier. There's no fumbling with a key in the dark or dealing with something that could potentially be lost or stolen. With modern garage door openers, you have full control over who comes in and who goes out at all times.

Time for an Update

Even if you don't have any issues with your current garage door opener, you'll still want to swap it out if it was made before 1993. After a series of accidents with older garage door models in the '90s, companies put in a number of new security measures in doors built after 1993 to reduce the risk of injury and malfunction. These include a reverse mechanism, which forces the door to instantly stop when it comes in contact with another object on the way down, sensors which guarantee that the system will shut down in this case, and the need for a photo eye sensor for extra protection. If your opener was made before 1993, it lacks all these protections and should be replaced immediately.