It’s the time. Time to replace your garage door opener. Maybe you’re trying to get more space in your garage. Either way, you might be trying to figure out which model you should buy.
We’re here to help.
When it comes to models of garage door openers, there are so many to choose from. To help narrow down your options, you must first determine why you’re changing your garage door opener, followed by cataloging out your needs, budget, garage space, and door size.
It’s important to have all this information in mind, as all these factors can affect your choice.
If you’re under the assumption that the only option is a trolley garage door operator, you’ve been led astray! While that may have once been true, it’s no longer. About a decade ago, a new type of garage door opener came out – it’s been called by many names, including a side-mount, wall-mount, or jackshaft. This type of mount was created specifically for residences.
Don’t know what a wall-mounted opener is?
Wall-mounted garage door openers are installed on the side of a garage’s side wall. Although it uses the same accessories as a central opener uses, their mechanisms are different.
Wall-mounted openers connect to the torsion shaft (which is the part mounted above the door to maintain the counterbalance system). When the garage door is opened or closed, the wall-mounted opener turns the shaft, which is how the door opens and closes.
Like this jackshaft-type garage door opener? This is the Liftmaster 8500W model.
However, when it comes to residential jackshaft-type garage door openers, their value goes beyond just how they look. The other benefits they offer are widespread, and some of them are even described in more detail below.
Gift yourself the gift of extra space
We’ve all been there, having a garage that is so cluttered you can barely move around without courting injury. On top of that, you don’t even have enough space to store all your stuff!
Look no further for a solution.
Before that, though, it’s time for some spring cleaning
If you like to hoard everything like a dragon “just in case”, doing large, deep cleaning projects can be a huge pain. But, if this is you, try this before you despair: read this blog before you start to clean. In the blog, the author tells you to ask yourself the following three questions:
- Do I even know where this item is? Or is it lost in all the clutter?
- Could I just buy another if I needed it one day?
- Do I even actually need it? What does needing it even mean?
If you’re still not certain about your cleaning willpower, consider this. According to WebMD, an American healthcare information services website, it’s been proven that less house clutter can lead to health benefits. Indeed, decluttering your space can:
● Increase focus
A clean and decluttered space means you’ll have fewer things to distract your focus. Clean spaces tend to increase your productivity.
● Increase your idea of self-worth
The more organized you are, the more you’ll feel like you’re able to face challenges that hound you in your daily life. And, the more challenges you conquer, the more you’ll feel confident when it comes to taking on more challenges.
● Strengthen your relationships
It’s hard to have a social life if your house is too messy to host people. When you declutter, you also increase the opportunity to open up your home to others in your social circle.
● Combat allergens and asthma
When you clean your house, doing so can increase the ventilation and air circulation in your place. This can reduce allergens, dust, pollen, animal hair, and mold – making your house safer for the others in your life!
● Improve your health
If you have order instead of chaos in your room, you’ll sleep better and be able to clear your mind more quickly. A good night’s sleep can go a long way towards increasing your health. And, if you declutter and organize your kitchen, you’ll be more likely to actually cook in the space! Nothing beats a home-cooked meal.
Would you work in this environment? Imagine all the space you can save if you organize and clutter all your things! Image from Unsplash.
When it comes to large-scale cleaning projects, it helps to first clean out the space completely you’re working on. Depending on the size of your garage and what you’re storing in there, it might be best to do this step section by section.
Separating your things into keep, donate, sell, or throw away piles can take more time than you expect, so make sure to give yourself a lot of time. And be patient with your progress.
Once your space – in this case, your garage – is cleared out, it’ll be easier to give a good, thorough cleaning to the floors and empty shelves. Once the space is emptied out, you’ll also have a better visual idea when it comes to future organizational systems.
Confirm that your items will be safe in the garage
No matter what you’re trying to store in your garage, you’ll have the space after you begin cleaning. However, before you start restocking stuff, check to see if you have any items that don’t belong in the garage.
Check out this article that features a list of 15 things you shouldn’t store in your garage. Keep yourself and your space free of hazardous materials and unpleasant surprises.
The three main categories of items to avoid are:
● 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
Research clean tips to rework your storage techniques
Another thing that might help you gain more space in your garage is if you install your garage door opener on the wall. This will save you overhead space, as you won’t have to deal with the trolley running across the entirety of your garage ceiling.
There are also several garage storage products out there that will help with your new organizational system. This blog from a home improvement project magazine is full of ideas that allow you to maximize your space and have it look nice and professional to boot. Ideas include simple coated hooks for bikes to mounted shelves with plastic bins. However, there are many more options as well, so make sure to take a look.
IMPORTANT! It doesn’t matter what type of ceiling you have – a jackshaft-type garage door opener will work with it. Especially if you have a cathedral or high ceiling, this is the opener to consider. This garage door opener only requires at least 8 inches of space on one side of your door, so it’s very versatile when it comes to placement.
Imagine how much space this woman could have if she’d removed the shelves on the side! Maximize your overhead garage storage by choosing a wall-mounted opener instead!
Increase your safety
No matter the type of garage door opener you end up using, all of them have a photoelectric reversal system installed. This is the system that will force the garage door to open if something crosses under it while it’s closing. However, when it comes to a wall-mounted opener, there’s also a box that covers the motor. This means that there is no visible mechanical movement, chains, belts, or winches to act as dangerous finger traps for your children.
Also, wall-mounted openers are both quieter and cleaner than their trolley brethren. It’s the best choice if you have a bedroom or office right above your garage or you want to turn the space into a relaxing meditation area.
MyQ security camera
The one downside of side-mount garage door openers is that they lack an internal security camera. However, this is a very easy problem to remedy! If you’re tech-savvy, we highly recommend you buy the myQ intelligent camera from LiftMaster, which is very easy to install and extremely convenient to have.
With this intelligent camera, you gain the ability to control your camera from the myQ app on your smart device. If the camera notices movement within its 140⁰ wide-angle, it’ll activate, allowing you to see what’s going on in your garage no matter how far away from home you are.
Check out all the amazing bells and whistles included in the myQ connectivity on LiftMaster’s website!
Control any movement around your garage with the myQ app from LiftMaster.
Don’t do maintenance too often
When you have a side-mounted garage door opener, you’re not going to have to service it as often as one of the other types. Because the opener doesn’t use a trolley or a rail, there are fewer moving parts – as such, it requires less lubrication and less maintenance.
Don’t concern yourself with cleaning the system or adjusting any of the internal mechanics when it comes to side-mounted openers. Additionally, since your garage door opener isn’t installed near the ceiling, there’s little risk of falling and hurting yourself when it comes to the few times you have to perform maintenance.
And, if you’ve ever dealt with trying to lubricate a trolly-system operator, you know that lubricant gets everywhere. When it comes to side-mounted openers, however, you get to skip that entire headache – you don’t have to worry about cleaning up spilled lubricant to prevent a fire hazard!
When you purchase a side-mounted garage door opener, you’re purchasing safety and peace of mind, too.
You like this jackshaft-type garage door opener? This is the 8500C model.
Want help choosing your product?
There are many factors to keep in mind when it comes to these sorts of devices, especially when all the garage door openers of different residential models come with so many functions and designs. Don’t overthink it and try not to worry. The decision doesn’t have to be difficult.
We’re here to help you out! Please call us at 1-800-590-4455!
Making these sorts of decisions for products and installation can be hard if you’ve never done it before. Even if it’s just that you don’t understand specific garage door technology, we’re here to help! Here at Dor‑Co Garage Doors, our specialists are here to answer your questions. Make sure to contact us during our opening hours so we can get your situation sorted.
One of the things we know is that every customer requires a unique touch. We’ll make sure to ask questions and answer queries so that we can figure out what the best options are for your specific project. And if you want, we can provide you with a free quotation once you’ve settled on the opener you want.
If you happen to also be looking into an entirely new garage door, check out our photo gallery for inspiration. Out homeowner clients have all been aided by our swift and efficient service, and you can be the next one whose garage door dreams we help come to fruition.
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