The Secret about Garage Door Opener Horse Power

Feb. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- I get the question all the time.  Do I need to buy the 3/4 horse power motor for my garage door? Does it make a difference? The answer is unequivocally, no.  The garage door opener does not lift the weight of the garage door it merely operates the function of the garage door.  The springs lift the weight of the garage door and need to be adjusted and maintained periodically.
 Springs lose some strength after time and need to be adjusted so the door is “in balance.”  Balance is determined by the fact that the garage door lifts easily when you open the door manually and stays at belt level or at mid-point when you let go. To test this, pull down on the release cord (typically has a red handle) and lift the door by hand, about half way up, and let go. If the door drops to the floor, it’s due for an adjustment. Don’t try to adjust your garage door springs on your own. Call a professional. The springs are loaded with a lot of tension and are very dangerous.  If you don’t know what you are doing, you can be severely injured.
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So, what opener should you buy? Well, they all do the main function of opening your garage door but some might have some features you might be interested in. Lift-Master has now come out with a very quiet D.C. powered belt drive with a battery back-up that is smart phone compatible. Very cool for you techy people, but some might want something simpler. Stay with durability. Lift-Master’s screw drive has proven to last many years with little or no problems.

Whatever garage door opener you choose, just remember, horse power is a sales gimmick and they still have other parts that wear out. Keep your door maintained and in balance and your garage door opener will last for many years.

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About Jarvis Garage Door Service:
Jarvis Garage Door Service is a full service garage door and opener repair and replacement business, specializing in residential roll-up sectional and one piece tilt up garage doors. Serving The East Bay call 510-791-5094