You walk out to your garage to hop in the car and head to the grocery store, but when you put your garage code in, nothing happens! Maybe you try a couple more times before realizing it’s something to do with the garage door opener.
It was making a weird sound for a bit but you didn’t think much of it and now the opener isn’t working at all. Now you’re wondering whether you can call a company to repair it or if they’ll have to install a whole new opener.
Garage door openers become temperamental between 10–15 years. Repairing your garage door opener may be the less expensive option depending on the situation. However, it’s important to know when to replace your opener because it could help save you money in the long run. You wouldn’t put a new engine in a car with over 200,000 miles, would ya?
When to repair your opener
If it’s relatively new but is malfunctioning: A new garage door opener with issues can likely be repaired by a professional after conducting an inspection. Parts can come loose, or wires can be disconnected, and it may be a relatively simple fix to get your garage door opener working again. For example, if your garage door opener is operating louder than usual, it may just be as simple as tightening the opener’s belt or chain to make it run more smoothly.
If it’s still under warranty: A warranty is meant to protect your purchase should something happen to it within a specific time frame. But be aware that warranties cover malfunctions with opener parts during normal operation of the opener. Warranties do not cover user error or tampering. You should check to see if your garage door opener is still protected under warranty. It’s also a good idea to call the company that installed the opener in the first place. Some companies will not honor the warranty if they’re not the ones who installed the opener themselves.
If the repair doesn’t exceed $300: A repair will save you money now, but you’ll want to be sure that it is, in fact, the most cost-effective choice. A repair that is $150-$300 is worth it, but anything more should probably result in a new opener.
Those repairs could include keypad, remote, or wall control panel replacements, repairing safety eyes, or replacing a malfunctioning logic board.
When to replace you opener
If it’s more than 12 years old and you use your garage door often: For some homes, the garage is the central access point to the home. The kids come home after school through the garage. You leave to walk the dog through the garage. You don’t want to find yourself unable to access the garage should the opener fail. If your opener is aged and you use the garage door a lot, you’ll want to consider replacing it for peace of mind.
If the repair is more than $300: Spending over $300 to repair an opener that you will eventually have to replace anyway costs you more money in the long run. The most cost-effective option is to replace it, especially if the repair will run you a considerable amount. You will have peace of mind that your opener will not fail the very next day, and you will ultimately save yourself some money. Combining any of the repairs listed above will put your estimate over $300, and at that point, it makes more sense cost-wise to simply replace the garage door opener.
If it wasn’t properly installed: A garage door opener that isn’t properly installed is a hazard to yourself and your belongings. Imbalanced, roughly operating garage door, sloppy wiring, reuse of old parts and accessories, uneven anchor points, and crooked rails are all red flags that another company did not install the opener professionally.
If you’re looking for upgraded features: Garage door openers today come with top of the line technology and features to help make your life easier and safer. If you're looking for an upgrade, there are many reasons to replace your opener:
- Quiet garage door: Garage door openers today are more silent than ever, ideal for homes with adjacent living spaces to the garage.
- Connect to your home: myQ technology allows you to control your garage door right from your smartphone.
- Improved safety features: Garage doors openers today are required to have safety eyes which alert the door to go back to the open position if someone crosses through the opening
- Updated security options: Security+ 2.0 offers millions of codes, so your opener and remote never use the same code twice. A built-in camera allows you to see and hear what’s happening in your garage right from your phone.
- Always be prepared: Battery backup allows you to operate your garage door in the event of an emergency if there is no power.