How Much Horsepower Does A Garage Door Opener Need
The last time I bought a garage door opener, I only looked at the horsepower and ended up buying more than I should.
I meanmore is better, right?
Maybe for cars, but not for your garage door opener.
How much horsepower does a garage door opener need? One-car garages with steel doors only need a 1/2 horsepower garage door opener. Two-car garages or one-car garages with insulated or wooden doors need at least a 3/4 horsepower garage door opener. Garages with carriage doors should opt for 1 HP garage door openers or higher.
Horsepower is really just a starting point for garage door openers. There are features that are more important that you dont get until you more to a higher horsepower model. Well get into some of those later on.
Hopefully by the end of this article, youll know enough so you dont make the same mistake I did and buy a garage door opener based on how much horsepower it has.
How To Choose The Best 1/2 Horsepower Garage Door Openers
The design of most garage door openers is the same. A trolley or carriage is pulled along a track by a motor. The garage door is attached to the trolley, which pulls or pushes the door open or closed as the trolley moves.
The way the motor drives the trolley is the key distinction between different garage door opener models. First, we consider the different types of 1/2 horsepower garage door openers.
What Our Customers Are Saying
“This is a super quiet and sleek looking opener! Easy installation and simple programming made the job a breeze. A real value with all the features found on more expensive units. Its a benefit having the LED display to guide you through the programming. Service and support is friendly and always available. A FIVE STAR all the way!
“When we installed it we were impressed with the looks and compact size, the installation and programming was simple enough and using the LED display was a bonus. The motor was surprisingly quiet and smooth. Overall its a great value and the support from Skylink is excellent!”
Koby C., Warner Garage DoorNew York Mills, MN, USA
Ty G., Acadiana Garage DoorsLafayette, LA, USA
“We have used the Skylink openers for a while and more so now as they are offering a real value for the quality and reliability provided. Nice look and compact, easy to install and program and full of features, but most of all its the very quiet operation of the motor. Service and support is always just a phone call away.”
Harry CrowleyInstallation Services Inc.Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Can A Garage Door Opener Be Too Powerful
Garage door openers work generally is to lift and lower the garage door. They are only as powerful as the power to lift and lower the garage door is needed. In the event a garage door opener is too powerful, then it means its the wrong choice the for garage door given its weight and size.
Consider your garage doors weight and size and match the same with the appropriate horsepower needed to lift and lower the door effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions About Garage Door Opener Installation Services
The cost to install a garage door opener varies according to a number of factors. Youâll need to factor in the cost of the garage door opener itself, along with the cost of the installation process. There is a huge variation in the total cost for installing an automatic garage door opener. Prices vary according to the brand, model, power, and type of garage door and garage door opener in question. Additionally, removal of the old garage door opener is not always included in the installation cost. You might also want to talk to the installation pro about removing the old opener before they start the job.
It makes sense to invest in hiring a contractor to perform your garage door opener installation. In most cases a pro will have the right tools and know how to get the opener installed much more quickly than the average homeowner. After the installation, ask the door opener specialist how to lubricate the opener and how to maintain it going forward.
One important factor to consider when estimating how long it will take to install a garage door opener is whether youâve got the right electrical outlet in the ceiling of your garage. Most garage door openers need to be grounded within a couple feet of the motor unit. You cannot use an extension cord to connect to the outlet. Be sure to get a detailed, written estimate for the time and elements involved in your garage door opener installation.
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Mighty Mule Mm9434k 1 Hpe Smart Garage Door Opener
Our 9434K model 1 HP garage door opener has all the smart capabilities you need to seamlessly integrate with your smartphone, Alexa, or a Google device. Along with easy installation and set up, this smart garage door opener will add an extra layer of security to your home.
Check out all of our 1 HP garage door opener features below:
- MM9434M includes a 1 HPe DC motor with a steel reinforced belt drive for super quiet operation.
- The dual LED has a lifetime warranty and is dimmable to adjust the brightness
- Remote entry can be granted utilizing the transmitters, smartphone app or voice skills for Alexa and Google Home
- Smart technology by Mighty Mule allows for remote entry and monitoring anywhere utilizing Mighty Mule app and voice skills
- Skills for Alexa and Google with applicable hardware
- Easy to install/setup
Should 20 Amp Outlets Go In Garage
20 amp outlets are designed to handle heavier loads than 15 amp outlets, so they are a good choice for appliances like electric heaters, air conditioners, and treadmills that draw a lot of power. However, because they can deliver more power, they can also be a fire hazard if not installed properly. If you are not comfortable working with electricity, it is best to hire a professional electrician to install your 20 amp outlet.
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What Is The Minimum Horsepower Needed For A Single Garage Door Opener
For residential use, an opener of at least 1/2 horsepower is standard. Look for a garage door opener that has the horsepower required for the size and weight of your garage door. Most doors 10 feet wide by 8 feet tall constructed of lightweight material, such as uninsulated steel, can be handled by a 1/3-horsepower opener.
How Much Hp Do You Need For An Insulated Garage Door
Assuming that you are asking how many horsepower is required to operate an insulated garage door:
Most garage doors are operated by either a 1/2 horsepower or a 1 horsepower garage door opener. So, if you have a double garage door, a 1/2 HP garage door opener should be enough. If you have a single garage door, a 1/2 HP opener will probably suffice unless the door is extremely heavy. In that case, you may want to consider a 1 HP opener.
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More Horsepower = More Features
Manufacturers know that men especially buy more horsepower because we think its automatically better,
In order to really make their products stand out, theyll need to add some new features as well: things like extra remotes, smart-home integrations or safety features.
You know, the stuff that we really should be focusing on instead of HP.
So using horsepower as a guide, lets look at what else is included in those models first. Then well talk about how much horsepower you really need to lift your garage door.
What Horsepower Do I Need: Factors To Consider
With such a crucial piece of equipment, its important that you weigh the pros and cons of every component to make sure youre getting exactly the right door to fit your home and lifestyle preferences. Some factors to consider when youre in the process of shopping through openers with different horsepower are:
Not sure which opener is right for your garage door? Ask our staff to help you match the perfect opener for your garage door.Find the Right Opener For Your Garage Door
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Is 1/2 Horsepower Sufficient For A Garage Door Opener
Horsepower, to be precise. A 1/2-horsepower motor should be enough for a sectional double-car garage door, but a higher-power model will run with less effort and wear and tear on the motor. Higher horsepower openers may be required for heavier or one-piece doors. Allows Amazon Prime packages to be delivered safely in the garage.
Can You Run A Garage Door Opener Off An Extension Cord
Based on the wattage of the garage door opener, you may be able to run it off an extension cord. However, we would not recommend relying on an extension cord as your only source of power for the opener. If your garage door opener is adapter-ready, you could connect it to a power source with a generator adapter.
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Does A Garage Door Opener Need To Be On A Dedicated Circuit
No, a garage door opener does not need to be on a dedicated circuit. Most garage door openers will work just fine on a standard household circuit. However, if you have a particularly large or powerful garage door opener, you may want to consider putting it on a dedicated circuit to avoid overloading your household electrical system.
Will A Garage Door Opener Work In A Power Outage
The type of opener, the age of the opener, the battery backup, and whether or not the opener is hardwired are all important factors to consider.
Generally speaking, garage door openers that are hardwired into the house will still work during a power outage. This is because the opener is getting its power from the house, not from the grid. The same is true for newer openers that have battery backup.
Older garage door openers, or those that are not hardwired or do not have battery backup, will usually not work during a power outage. This is because they rely on the grid for power, and when the power is out, so is the opener.
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Cost Estimates For Garage Door Openers Based On Horsepower
1/3 HP : When I was doing my research before buying a new garage door opener, I found a few articles that suggested a 1/3 HP as the entry level. Theres just one problem: Most major manufacturers stopped making a 1/3 Horsepower garage door opener. You may still be able to find old stock lying around, but Id steer clear of these.
1/2 HP : This is the new entry level garage door opener. You wont find too many bells and whistles. The major selling point here will be the number of remotes that they include. On some of the more expensive models youll also get an exterior keypad entry. If youre looking at a garage door opener thats pushing the $200 price mark, Id move to the 3/4 HP models instead.
3/4 HP : Now youll start to see some of the cooler features like smart home integrations or smartphone apps. The more expensive models will include a battery backup or an LCD wall-console.
1.25 HP and up : This is the cream of the crop. Every opener I found with over 1 1/4 HP had an external keypad included, smartphone integration and most of them had a battery backup. Youll also find some really cool innovations here like automatic locking as well.
Is 3/4 Hp Garage Door Opener Enough
The answer may depend on the size of your garage door and how often you plan to use the opener. If you have a light-weight door and you only plan to open and close it a few times a day, then a 3/4 HP opener should be fine. However, if you have a heavier door or you plan to use the opener more frequently, you may want to consider a 1 HP opener.
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Battery Backup Garage Door Openers
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How Much Does A Garage Door Weigh
As weve seen, how much your garage door weighs is the biggest factor in how much horsepower you need in your garage door opener.
Wooden garage doors, insulated garage doors, or doors with windows will weigh more than your basic steel door.
As a general rule, a single-car steel garage door is about 8 x 7 and will weigh roughly 80-90 pounds. Although adding garage door insulation will push that to between 100-110 pounds on average. Changing to a wooden door or adding windows will increase the weight to upwards of 130 lbs.
Double garage doors are usually 16 x 8 and weigh in at between 150-210 pounds. Going with windows or a wooden garage door here and the total weight balloons up to almost 350 pounds.
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How Much Horsepower Do You Need For A 2
2-car garage doors are typically heavier and wider than average garage doors, normally measuring 16 ft long. For such doors, you need 3/4 HP garage doors although some 1/2 HP garage door openers can handle the weight.
The 3/4 HP garage doors will provide better service in lifting or closing the garage door faster with minimal wear and tear in the long run.
How Important Is The Torsion Spring
The more the door weighs, the more horsepower your garage door needs. Easy right?
Not so fast.
Horsepower isnt everything.
Believe it or not, the garage door opener doesnt do most of the work. The torsion spring does the heavy lifting literally.
With a properly balanced garage door, the torsion spring and garage door opener work together to raise and lower the door easily. If the spring isnt calibrated correctly then the entire system is going to suffer.
Youll also want to keep your garage door properly clean and lubricated. For a quick guide, check out this article I wrote about how to spend five minutes, once a year to keep your garage door lubricated.
Think about how the opener actually pulls the garage door up and down.
Chain drive and belt drive garage door openers are the most common and least expensive. Chain drive garage door openers are usually less expensive than belt drive units, but theyre also much louder.
There are a couple of other options that are pretty innovative as well.
Sommer has a Direct Drive garage door opener that actually moves along the track while its working. Because the unit is moving and not the chain, there should be almost no noise. Its a little pricey so Id like to see this one in person to get a better idea of how it sounds.
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Hp Belt Drive Garage Door Opener Kit With Myq
- SMARTPHONE CONTROL: With built-in Wi-Fi, you can monitor and control your garage door from anywhere at anytime using the myQ® app
- BELT DRIVE: Constructed with top-grade flexible materials, the belt mechanism delivers smooth and quiet operation with minimal noise level, its especially suitable for attached garages
- LIFT POWER: Reliable Lifting Force of 1 HP is ideal for frequent daily use on a 7 ft. garage door, and offers an extra boost of power in extreme weather conditions extension kits are required for an 8 ft. door or for a 10 ft. door
Horsepower Isnt The Most Important Factor
Horsepower gets our attention and the garage door opener manufacturers know it.
Most people dont really care about smartphone integration or extra safety features like automatic locking. I meantheyre nice innovations, but theyre not going to get me to run out and buy a new garage door opener.
Imagine youre walking through Lowes or Home Depot and you see a new garage door opened with 1 1/4 HP. Your old one has a measly 1/2 HP.
On some level, you start thinking that the bigger motor is going to work less or your garage door is going to open faster.
Then youre hooked.
YOU MUST HAVE IT!!!
But thats wrong.
That extra 3/4 HP doesnt open my garage door any faster and its not the motor that actually does most of the work.
One other thing that wont matter is whether or not you have a high-lift garage door. No matter if you have a standard track or high-lift track, that wont change how powerful a garage door opener you need.
So if garage door opener horsepower isnt that importantthen what is it good for?
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Mighty Mule Mm9545m 1 1/4 Hpe Smart Garage Door Opener
Our MM9545M model 1-¼ HP garage door opener is our strongest garage door opener equipped with a quiet 1.25 HPe motor for seamless operation.
Along with its smartphone, Alexa, and Google device capabilities, you can feel safe and secure knowing that you can operate your 1.25 HP garage door opener from virtually anywhere using the Mighty Mule app.
Check out more of our 1-¼ HP garage door opener features below:
- MM9545M includes a 1-1/4 HPe DC motor with a steel reinforced belt drive for super quiet operation.
- The triple LED has a lifetime warranty and is dimmable to adjust the brightness
- Remote entry can be granted utilizing the transmitters or wireless keypad included, and smartphone app or voice skills for Alexa and Google Home
- Smart technology by Mighty Mule allows for remote entry and monitoring anywhere utilizing Mighty Mule app and voice skills
- Skills for Alexa and Google with applicable hardware
- Easy to install/setup