Who Needs A Backup Battery
Recently, the state of California has passed a law that states all newly sold and/or installed garage door openers must have a backup battery if they are being used in a residential property. The governor signed rule into law, and now it is necessary for all builders to comply.
The reasoning for this new piece of legislation has to do with the recent catastrophic forest and brush fires that have ravaged the state. There were several deaths that occurred that likely could have been prevented if the people were able to open their garage door and escape. Unfortunately, due to the power outages, the garage doors could not be opened, and people were unable to escape.
If you do not live in California, the risk still applies. A house fire could cause the same issue. Plus, with the onset of climate change, it is predicted that other areas of the world will be similarly affected by widespread fires as temperatures rise and humidity drops.
It is especially important to have the backup battery if there is no other way to exit your garage other than the rolling doors. This will ensure that you are never trapped inside, no matter the circumstances.
What About Those Batteries
Does the idea of managing a backup battery make you nervous? It shouldnt. Just like any rechargeable battery, the battery in your Chamberlain or LiftMaster door opener is integrated with the housing of the motor or installed near it. Every battery holds enough juice to open and close the garage door twenty times or more. Recharging takes only 4 ½ hours.
And even the safety reverse systems connected to the door opener gets power from the backup battery, increasing safety levels!
Consider The Following Points:
- The polarities of the batteries are marked in the battery slots. Based on these signals, double-check and replace the batteries.
- If youre not sure what kind of batteries youll need, take out the old ones, inspect them, and then buy new ones.
- Check the Internet for recycling centers in your area if you dont know where or how to dispose of old batteries.
The keypad comes with batteries, which should last for around a year. Youll need to replace them just after theyve worn out.
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What Are The Best Battery Backup Garage Door Openers On The Market
At Calgary Garage door Fix, we firmly believe that Liftmaster and Chamberlain offer the best battery backup garage door openers on the market.Liftmaster and Chamberlain have proven to be the most reliable, feature-rich, and affordable garage door openers during the last few decades. Innovative technology coupled with high-end security made their garage door openers dominate the residential garage door opener market of North America. Below youll find the list of our favorite battery backup garage door openers we always suggest for our Calgary-based clients.
What Are Your Current Choices
For owners of newer Chamberlain or LiftMaster systems, you can check for a Battery Backup logo. If it is there, you already have a door opener with an emergency battery backup or one that can be easily upgraded. Remember, to install or integrate a backup battery the opener motor must be a DC and not an AC type. The following are some of your best options on the market:
- Jackshaft door opener
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Evercharge Standby Power System
In the event of a power outage, you can open and close your garage door in complete safety and security. This battery may only be used with LiftMaster, Chamberlain or Mastercraft compatible with 8500, 3800, 3500 and 2500 door openers.
Alternative power system Turn the power where you want it thanks to the AC power supply system. Adding flexibility makes the installation easier when an outlet is not available within 6 feet of the installation, so an electrician is not necessary. UL approved.
What Brand Should I Pick For My Garage Door Liftmaster Garage Door Openers
As trusted experts in our field, our customers often ask us what brands we recommend. With so many different garage door opener products on the market, its often difficult to decide which one is the best for your home. So we decided to do a series of blogs where well focus on various garage door openers, sharing what we like about each brand and why we recommend them starting with Genie. Liftmaster is the second in this series of features.
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Your Garage Door Isnt Opening For Other Reasons
Its a good idea to examine the remainder of your garage door if the garage door still wont open after youve gone through the entire keypad checklist. The door may not open for a variety of reasons.
When your garage door keypad stops working, its considerably easier to fix than you would believe. If you follow the advice in this post, youll have the door open in no time.
What The Users Say
For the most part, users of this battery backup have been impressed with its power and style. It fits into many of their existing Liftmaster units, and if they get a new unit without one already installed, they are happy to add it for peace of mind. They like that it is lightweight over other sealed backup battery types, and that the Liftmaster system is ready to accommodate it.
Anyone who has had to use theirs during a power outage has given this big thumbs up and cannot praise the concept enough. Many have actually said thank you for the convenience, the style, and the power of the unit when they needed it most. And for the DIY crowd, having the ease of personally installing it into their unit has been a huge boon.
There have, as always, been some issues. Some users have found it incompatible with their model of Liftmaster and have raised concerns with the company over this oversight. And others have found the battery to last a substantially shorter duration than other batteries they have owned in the past, and that includes the ones they purchased from Chamberland.
Price: 31.99
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Why Do I Need A Battery Backup For My Garage Door Opener
SB-969 was specifically introduced in response to the tragic deaths of five California residents in a wildfire, but theres a bigger picture thats important to consider as youre reading the new law. Anytime your power goes out for any reason extreme heat, storms or wildfires your garage door wont work. Yes, theres the manual pull cord that should allow you to simply detach the garage door opener and raise the door yourself, but, for older adults or people with a physical disability, manually lifting a garage door just isnt possible. Installing a battery backup ensures anyone in your home can raise their garage door when they need to.
If youre in good shape or younger, you may read this and say Im fine. This doesnt apply to me. Think of it this way: you wouldnt wait to buy a smoke detector until you saw flames near your home. You purchase and install a smoke detector so youll be prepared if the flames ever come. The same is true of a battery backup. You may not think you need a battery backup on your garage door opener now, but whos to say that you wont need it if something happens in a year or two?
Why Should You Invest In A Backup Battery
As of July 1, 2019, the state of California made it a requirement for newly sold or installed residential garage door openers to feature a backup battery. This requirement means all home builders, contractors, and other housing industry professionals must install backup battery systems.
Why? It began with horrible wildfires over the past few years and deaths that were the result of homeowners being trapped inside of garages, unable to lift garage doors that were not properly balanced. Had the door openers had electrical service at the time the call to evacuate came, many would have survived.
Such risks exist everywhere, however, and are anticipated to increase with climate changes impact on rain, wind, and weather.
Keep in mind that a backup battery becomes is also vital if the only access to the garage is through the garage door, which is often the case with exterior garages found at apartment or condo high-rises.
Because of Californias mandate, though, many garage door opener manufacturers, like LiftMaster and Chamberlain, are expanding options for products with backup batteries integrated with the motor housing or attached next to the motor.
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Useful Information About The Backup Battery
A fully charged battery is designed to provide the operator with 24 hours of standby time during which the opener can run up to 20 full cycles at room temperature.
- It is a 12-volt rechargeable battery with 4.5 AH .
- The weight of the battery is 4.5 lbs.
- The backup battery is an accessory and has a one year warranty from the date of purchase.
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Can Garage Door Open Without Power
As a trusted garage door repair company in Calgary, AB., we often hear the following question from our clients. Can garage door open without power ? The answer is yes, you can open your garage door if you have no power. The procedure is very simple and has only two steps.
A properly balanced garage door should be light enough for you to lift it with just one hand. If you have a wall mount or a jackshaft opener, you also need to open the magnetic lock manually. Thats how you can open your garage door without power.
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Various Models Of Backup Battery Openers
You may already own an opener with a backup battery if you have purchased yours in the last few years. There is a logo you can check for that indicates a battery backup was included or that there is a capacity for adding a backup battery. All motors with rechargeable backup batteries will run on direct current and not alternating current
Here are a few of the offered models you may wish to consider:
- Jackshaft door opener
Liftmaster 8500 Residential Electric Garage Door Operator
The LiftMaster 8500 model is manufactured by Chamberlain Group. If you want an extra storage space up above, have an oversized garage door, or even a cathedral ceiling, the 8500 LiftMaster model, a residential Jackshaft-type opener, is the perfectly engineered solution to fit your specific requirements. It mounts easily on the wall beside the garage door, and comes with a remote 200-watt light that can be positioned anywhere in the garage. The optional EverCharge® Standby Power System that continues to operate your opener even when the power goes out makes it even more convenient. Meets all UL325 requirements.
- Lighting system : 1 light you install where needed, with a delay adjustment
- Warranty : Lifetime on motor
* Other parts are guaranteed for five years
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About The New California Garage Door Opener Law
California SB-969 mandates that all electronic garage door openers installed after July 1, 2019, contain a battery backup that will continue to provide power to a garage door opener in the event that a home loses power. This provides a viable alternative to the manual override feature for those who cannot open their garage door manually.
A garage door battery backup system is a small battery unit connected to the garage door opener. Most of the time, it sits idle but if you lose power due to wildfires or severe weather, the battery backup is designed to engage the garage door opener, so you can get your car in and out. The batterys power may not be the same as your electric opener, however, its strong enough to raise and lower your door several times during a 24-hour period. This means that during power outages, its possible to open your garage and get out of your house in case of an emergency.
Besides mandating that all garage door openers are installed with a battery backup, the new California garage door requirements also state there will be a $1000 fine for anyone who fails to comply with this law once it takes effect. The best way to make sure your new garage door opener is compliant with the bills guidelines is to work with an experienced garage door company to complete the installation.
Why Can’t I Open The Garage Door Without Power
If you feel that your garage door is too heavy to lift even after releasing an emergency latch, you might have a broken garage door spring. Unfortunately, this is not something you can solve yourself. Instead, a professional garage door repair company should fix it for you.
Another possible reason for your garage door to refuse to open after pulling the emergency release the door is frozen to the ground. Sometimes, your rubber seal can freeze to the ground during the winter, making it impossible for you to lift it by hand. Get yourself a flathead screwdriver and prie it open by cracking the ice.
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Know How To Tell If The Battery Isnt Charging
Your battery backup comes equipped with features designed to let you know if it isnt charging correctly or needs to be replaced. Besides the green, orange and red lights incorporated into the LiftMaster backup systems, their battery backups are also equipped to emit a series of beeps when the battery needs to be recharged or replaced.
Make sure to learn what those beeps mean and then make sure to respond when you hear them. Just like a smoke detector beeps when it needs a new battery, so will your garage door opener battery backup. And just as those beeps are a call to action to maintain your smoke detectors, use them as a call to action to maintain your battery backup, as well.
Contact King Door Company For Liftmaster Battery Backup Openers
By enacting SB-969, the state of California is working to protect its residents, but that protection still requires you to act. If you are in the market for a new garage door opener or you want to make your existing opener compliant with the new law King Doors team of professional installers is ready to help you make the switch. Offering a variety of LiftMaster Garage Door Openers with Battery Backup, King Door is committed to helping you choose the right product at the right price. On July 1, 2019, SB-969 will take effect. Once it takes effect, homeowners who purchase and install a new garage door opener will be held accountable for making sure they have a working battery backup in place.
Primarily serving Kern County, King Door offers a large inventory of garage doors and parts, many of which we keep on our service trucks. This means were often able to complete installation and repair services in one trip, saving you time and money. Our technicians are professionals who have been well-trained and bring years of experience and dedication to the job, ensuring your installation will be completed correctly and efficiently.
If youre considering a battery backup for an existing or new garage door opener, let King Door walk you through the process. Were happy to answer your questions and help you make sure your garage door opener complies with SB-969. For more information, call us at 661-397-2744 or contact us online today.
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Garage Door Opener With A Battery Backup
- Beeping every 2 seconds
- This means the unit is operating under battery power. The battery LED will display solid orange.
- Ensure the power is restored throughout the house. If power is restored but the LED is still orange, then test the electrical outlet by plugging in a different device.
NOTE: To temporarily stop the beeping while waiting on a new battery, unplug the unit and disconnect the battery. After disconnecting the battery, plug the unit back in and the beeping will stop. For more information on replacing the battery, see Chamberlain Battery Replacement Instructions.