Is It Best to Hire a Pro to Install a Garage Door Opener?

When your garage door opener starts to malfunction, it becomes an inconvenience you probably can’t stand. Your garage door may begin squeaking when opening, take an unusually long time to open and close or fail to open at all. When this happens, you have to find a solution right away, and it often calls for a new garage door opener installation.

You then have to decide whether to DIY or hire a pro to install your new garage door opener. Subsequently, you may wonder, “How hard is it to install a garage door opener?” We can tell you it’s quite complex and technical, especially if your garage door is tall and heavy-duty. Having installed garage door openers in South Central Pennsylvania for more than two decades, we know the intricacies first-hand.

While you can pull off a DIY installation, it’s not without drawbacks. A broken torsion spring may snap and hurt you, you may get the wrong garage door opener, or you may just install it incorrectly. When you call a professional to install your opener, you’ll get expert installation and even benefit from their vast knowledge of other garage-related issues like garage door insulation.

What to Know About Garage Door Opener Installation

Garage door technicians make garage door opener installation seem so effortless. An experienced technician can install a garage door opener in a matter of minutes. But behind the fast and masterfully done installations, a lot goes into play — it takes significant planning and garage-door knowledge to pull off an installation job.

These are some of the factors a pro will consider:

Garage Door Opener Horsepower

Garage door openers have a horsepower (HP) rating that indicates their lifting power. Typically, the horsepower rating for residential garage doors ranges between 1/2 horsepower and 1-1/2 horsepower.

Heavier garage doors require more lifting power, mostly ¾ horsepower or more like the wooden and heavily-insulated double car doors. Lightweight garage doors like fiberglass or aluminum require less lifting power, typically ½ horsepower.

Before installation, a technician will consider the weight of your garage door to determine the exact amount of garage door opener horsepower needed.

Type of Garage Door Opener

There are many types of garage door openers available in the market today. They include:

• Screw-drive openers

• Belt-drive openers

• Chain-drive openers

• Direct-drive openers

• Jackshaft-drive openers

• DC-powered openers

Each opener operates differently and varies in cost and maintenance. For instance, Jackshaft and direct-drive openers are more expensive, while chain-drive and belt-drive openers are more affordable. Also, screw-drive and chain-drive openers are noisier, while belt-drive and direct-drive openers operate more quietly. Hence, before installation, a professional will first determine which type is the best fit for your garage.

State of the Torsion Bar

Above your garage door, you’ll find a torsion tube with a spring coiled around it. This torsion bar helps the opener lift the garage door. So, if the torsion spring is worn-out, your garage door opener will struggle to lift the door by itself, and it’ll malfunction with time. That’s why garage door technicians will first inspect the torsion bar and other parts of the door to ensure they’re working optimally.

Tech Features of the Garage Door Opener

Today’s garage door openers are fitted with multiple high-tech features to ease accessibility and boost safety. These features include floor-mounted lasers, Wi-Fi capabilities, rolling code technology, security lights, battery backup, and customizable settings. Such door openers may require specialized techniques and equipment to install correctly.

Overall Health of Your Garage Door

Before installing your garage door opener, a professional will inspect the state of your garage door. Maybe it’s off-balance, the moving parts aren’t well-lubricated, or some cables need replacement. Additionally, technicians will assess the height of your garage door and determine whether they require a rail extension kit to install the garage door opener.

Should You Install a Garage Door Opener by Yourself?

If you’re a handy DIYer, you can successfully install your garage door opener if you follow the installation instructions to the T. And this is assuming all the other parts of the garage door are working perfectly, and you only need to install a new door opener. However, if your DIY installation goes south, you’ll have no warranty to count on, as most manufacturers require a qualified technician to install the garage door opener.

When Is It Best to Hire a Pro?

A basic garage door opener installation isn’t overly complicated. For instance, if you have a standard single car garage door 8 feet wide by 7 feet tall, you may handle the installation well. But if your garage door is one of those large and heavy-duty doors or the wooden double car doors, it’s best to leave garage door opener installation to the pros.

Also, if it’s been a minute since you last inspected your garage door, it’s safer and more efficient to hire a professional to install your door opener. This way, in case there’s a need for part replacement, the technician will handle the work in one go. With a professional installer, you’ll have more peace of mind knowing your door opener will work seamlessly. And if there’s a hitch, you’ll be protected by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Learn More About Garage Door Opener Installation Today!

Hiring a professional installer is the most convenient way when you need to install a new garage door opener. Even if you’re an avid DIYer, you may not always have the muscle power and equipment required to install a garage door opener expertly and safely.

Fortunately, you can count on Legacy Door Co to help you find the right garage door opener as well as install it. And if you have other garage-door issues, we’ll help you figure out the best solution to fix the problems so your garage door can keep working optimally.