There are multiple reasons to upgrade your manual garage door to an automatic model, including safety, security, and convenience. Ifย yourย current automatic door opener is 25 years or older (installed prior to 1993), youโll also benefit from the efficient andย safety-oriented featuresย of newer, automatic models.
Upgrade Your Garage Door
Here areย eightย reasons to upgrade your old, manual garage door.ย
Safety First
First and foremost, your manual garage door isnโtย asย safeย asย itโsย automatic counterparts. Without the security of an automaticย operating system, your manual garage door is more likely to close on a pet,ย a child,ย yourself,ย or your valuable toys if they get in the way. There are no lasers or safety sensors to stop the garage door in its tracks.ย
These features not only reduce garage door accidents, but they can also save lives.ย
Convenienceย
Perhaps you used to pride yourself on the fact that you were able to get out of the car and manually open and close your garageย door.ย Itโsย extra exercise, right?ย Or, perhaps you didnโt want to spend the extra money.ย ย
99.9% of homeowners who make the move from manual to automatic garage door openers never regret it.ย And, weโve yet to meet the .1% who regret itย –ย we just wanted to err on the side of the conservative. The good news is that you always have the opportunity to switch the electric door intoย the manual modeย whenever you need to.ย
Lightingย
The extra light that automatically turns on when you open and close the garage door is a welcome change from the darkย youโre used to once the sunsets. Automatic garage door lightsย are automatically timedย to give you plenty of time to get into your car and back out, or to park, gathering your things from the car, and enter the home or breezeway.ย
Keep in mind that someย LED lights can interfereย with your garage door code. Always use high-quality LED garage door light brands or have your garage door technician replace it when needed to avoid the potential of frequency interference.ย
Securityย
In addition to posing safety hazards, manual garage doors are far less secure than automatic models. They offer several security-oriented features, including:ย
- Entry code pads.ย Entry codesย can be programmedย as needed, and reprogrammed if compromised. They protect your home and keep children or others from having spare keys that are easilyย lost/foundย by the wrong entities.ย
- Rolling codes.ย Your garage door mechanism can continually reprogram itself and the remote, ensuring nobody else in the neighborhood canย syncย their garage door opener to your door.ย
- Lock features. You can lock the garage so itย canโt be reopened until the right code is pushed in or you remove the lock feature yourself.ย
- Vacation mode. This disables the garage door from being able to work with remote control. The doorย can only be openedย from the inside. Onceย youโreย home, taking the door off vacation mode re-programs it to your remotes.ย
Energy efficiencyย
Original automatic doors required far more energy than todayโs models. Innovative garage door models that are lighter and less dense, combined withย more efficient operating systems, means your garage door automatically opens and closes while using minimal amounts of energy.ย
If energy efficiency isย important to you, read ourย Guide to Havingย Anย Eco-Friendly Garage Door.ย
Easier maintenanceย
Well-made and professionally installed automatic garage doors require minimal maintenance to work efficiently and reliably all year long. One annual maintenance appointment from aย licensed garage door technicianย is all your door will need for decades to come.ย ย
If you have an old, manual door, odds areย youโreย performing the maintenance on your own, more often, andย that can be dangerous. Once your automatic door is installed, allย youโllย need to do is keep the mechanical parts lubricated and the lasers and track free of debris or blockage.ย Weโllย take care of the rest.ย
Smart technologyย
Automatic garage door manufacturers have jumped on the smart technology bandwagon. You have the ability to open and close your garage door from your smartphone or gadgets. The system will also sound an alert or alarm if the door is openedย โ or left open โ to keep you informed.ย
Quieter operationย
ย Your older garage door and its springs are likely pretty creaky and squeaky as you open and close it.ย And then, thereโs the decided โbangโ when itโs dropped or let go into the fully open or closed position.ย ย
You and your family (not to mention the neighbors) will appreciate theย quiet and streamlined open/close functionsย associated with your newer, automatic model.ย
Upgrade your garage door for peace of mindย
All it takes is one serious illness, aย major sprain or break, or the simple aging process to interfere with your ability to open and close your garage door on your own. Having an automatic garage door, with innovative safety and security features, means your door will continue to open and close with a simple press of a button, regardless of what the future holds.ย ย
Update your curb appealย
If you have a manual garage door, odds areย itโsย detracting from your homeโs curb appeal. With soย manyย contemporaryย styles and colorsย to choose from, your new garage door will give your home a much-needed facelift.
We’re Here When You’re Ready
Are you interested in learning more about reliable, affordable automaticย garageย door options? Contact us here atย R&S Erection in Vallejo, or give us a call atย (707) 644-5537.ย Weโllย help you select the perfect door design and model for your home and price range.
