subject: Understanding The Differences Among Various Types Of Garage Door Openers [print this page] In the UK, there has been a steady increase in the number of cars stretching a period of thirty years. At present, there is now nearly one car for each person with a license. According to a projection of the Royal Automobile Club Foundation, London, a further growth of 30% in car ownership should be expected by 2020. What this all means is that there will also be a corresponding increase in the number of garage door openers being purchased in the coming years.
Due to this growing trend, choosing the right door opener that suits your requirements and technical specifications may be more important than you think. Owing to their increasingly important role in preserving the safety and security of cars and car owners in the UK, there is a need for prospective buyers to understand what these garage door openers are about and how they work in order to help you buy the perfect unit or model. It is true that not all garage door openers are created equal, and there are those that are better and more superior when it comes to different functions and vice versa. First of these factors is the type of mechanism used.
Mechanism
Garage door openers can be classified into three main types: chain drive openers, screw drive openers, and belt drive openers. These indicate different operating mechanisms used for each type. For example, a chain drive opener uses a metal chain connected to opener motor, which when activated, will retract the metal chain and perform the open/close function. A belt drive opener uses a similar operating mechanism although it uses a rubber belt instead of metal, minimizing the noise factor. Of the three, the screw drive opener is different and more powerful because of the unique lifting mechanism it uses powered by a threaded steel rod
Retracting Speed
When you browse through catalogues or online shops, you will see figures such as 22 cm/s or 14 cm/s among others. These indicate the speed at which the door opener can open and close the door. Since one of the main points of getting a garage door opener is to minimize the time it takes you to open and close a door manually, then speed is definitely an important consideration.
Installation
Some models can be installed in as quickly as five minutes, while others require a professional electrician to install the device. Product specifications often indicate whether or not a product can be easily installed. If you have a limited budget and do not require a high-powered unit, consider getting the simpler garage door openers. However, if you have many vehicles parked in the garage, necessitating the use of a heavier door and a more complex system, then you should definitely get the models with higher horsepower.
In the end, apart from these features, what will also determine your decision is the price. Thus, feel free to browse through different models, earmark the ones that fall within your budget, and then begin searching for specifications that you might require. This will help make the selection process easier and hassle-free.