Garage door openers are found in three different sizes which are determined by horsepower.
Too powerful garage door opener.
1 2 hp openers have proven to be the more versatile option of them all.
Where it really shines as a high end garage door opener is in the features category.
The three horsepowers suitable for residential garage door openers are 1 3 1 2 and 3 4 hp garage door openers.
This powerful garage door opener has the equivalent of 1 and horsepower giving extra lifting power to the belt drive system.
Wooden garage doors may provide charm and sturdiness but they can be seriously weighty.
The trolley is connected to the garage door and as the trolley moves it pulls the door open or pushes it closed.
For doors that are more than 16 feet wide or very heavy an even large opener that s 1 horsepower or higher can reduce strain on the motor.
Standard garage door openers have a similar design.
If you choose a 1 3 horsepower opener for a heavy door it will still be able to lift it but the opener will have to be replaced sooner than usual.
Most major manufacturers stopped making a 1 3 horsepower garage door opener.
Listed below are the three different sizes and the suggested doors that can be used with them.
This is the new entry level garage door opener.
Given the fact that garage door openers aren t cheap and you need to pay for a replacement buying a high powered one makes the most sense.
You may still be able to find old stock lying around but i d steer clear of these.
It handles lightweight single garage doors without being too powerful and capable of lifting heavy garage doors with no problem.
Certain garage doors like those made out of wood can be extremely heavy.
You won t find too many bells and whistles.
When the door is lowered the spring winds up tightly creating a pulling force that helps lift the door up.
While it s the most expensive option it s also long lasting and durable with the maximum amount of power.
It can lift even heavy paneled garage doors according to users.
The main difference between garage door opener models is how the motor moves the trolley.
Can technically lift any garage door as long as the garage door is balanced properly and the weight is evenly distributed but is not always recommended because the long term benefit isn t high.
Many garage doors have a powerful torsion spring located horizontally above the door.
There s just one problem.
These and oversized doors over 14 feet in width require a 3 4 hp opener in order for the component to function long term.
To make sure that they don t come crashing down on your car or you you ll want a powerful opener to heft.