There are many garage door openers on the market. Which one should you buy? We turned to the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute for answers.
When was the last time you bought a new garage door opener? Modern technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LED lighting have revolutionized the garage door opener market, adding features that our forefathers could only have dreamed of back in the 1970s when the first Genie door openers showed up at the local store. Sears. In addition, materials have been improved, and their motors and drives are quieter than ever.
We wanted to research the market to find out which garage door openers are the best on the market today, so instead of unhooking and removing our current garage door opener and then repeating the process ad infinitum, we asked our colleagues at Good Housekeeping to ask for help and see what they found in the latest tests.
.css-xtkis1{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline professional engineers, scientists and product testers – offset: 0.25rem;color:#1C5f8B;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s smoothly in and out;transition:all 0.3s smoothly in and out;font-weight:bold;}.css-xtkis1:hover{ color:# 000000 ; text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;} The Good Housekeeping Academy’s Media and Technology Lab is constantly experimenting with new products. This is their job. Over the past several years, the institute has spent over 75 hours installing and evaluating various garage door openers and controls in a variety of homes. Engineers appreciated the ease of installation and use and were looking for additional features or improvements over previous versions.
For the smart garage door opener, they also tested the app’s ease of use and assessed whether it could integrate with other smart home devices. The best garage door openers of 2023 are reviewed based on trusted recommendations, road-tested favorites, and highly rated and reviewed brands.
Chamberlain’s Secure View, one of the leading brands in garage door openers, easily took first place in the GH test. The app allows you to open or close the door from almost anywhere, and the feature works very well; testers were impressed. It also works with Amazon Key.
The main advantage of this feature is that if no one is home, you can deliver the package directly to the garage without leaving valuable packages out in the open or on the doorstep. Testers were also impressed by the Wi-Fi-connected camera, which allows you to see the inside of your garage from your smartphone. It runs (relatively) quietly and the interior is brightly lit. Finally, testers found the MyQ app to be intuitive and easy to use. If you’re looking for the best garage door opener on the market, you’ve found it.
Do you want a lot? Look no further. Perhaps the only brand that does a better job of garage door openers than Chamberlain is Genie. The Genie 500 model retails for about $150 and comes with a pre-programmed remote control, and the chain drive system means it can be used for years without issue. – or fears.
The 500 features Genie Safe-T Beam technology, an infrared beam that passes through the doorway and automatically changes how the door closes if an object is detected passing through it. Plus, it’s compatible with Apple Homelink and Overhead Door’s Car2U universal garage door opener system. Note. Garage doors that weigh more than 350 pounds are not recommended.
If you don’t want to deal with apps and the like, the Genie 550 garage door opener comes with two pre-programmed remotes, a wireless keypad, and a wall console for multiple opening and closing functions. Plus, it’s compatible with Homelink and Car2U, so you don’t need any additional hardware like a smart home hub. And it still costs less than $200.
Reviewers say the device is surprisingly quiet for a chain-driven garage door opener, and GH testers liked that it includes a “vacation lock” that keeps the door securely closed when you’re away from home for a while.
Please note that the 550 is compatible with 7-foot doors, but for 8-foot garage doors you will need the Genie Extension Kit (sold separately).
Chamberlain is one of the most popular garage door opener brands, not only because of the quality of the products, but also because it was one of the first companies to incorporate smart home features into garage door openers. If you already have a Chamberlain garage door opener, this smart garage door opener kit includes everything you need to take it to the next level.
It includes myQ smart garage cameras, smart garage controls and door sensors that add live or recorded video and motion sensor notifications to any garage door opener connected to myQ. Plus, you can have a two-way conversation with anyone in the garage, whether it’s telling kids to stay away from your valuables, giving instructions to a delivery driver when you’re not home, or scaring off intruders.
Testers noted that this smart home hub is compatible with Amazon Key and Google Assistant, but surprisingly not Alexa.
If your home makes rattling and shaking noises every time someone opens and closes your garage door, you need an ultra-quiet garage door opener like the Chamberlain B2405 Belt Drive. The quietest garage door opener GH has tested to date, it also comes with two remote controls, a wireless external keypad, and a dual-purpose wall controller.
It also features built-in MyQ technology like other Chamberlain smart garage door openers. As mentioned above, the Institute’s testers found the MyQ app to be very intuitive and easy to use, but you’ll need a paid subscription to access certain features. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of our top pick, like a built-in camera, but if you want to stop shaking while sticking to the basics, this is a reliable belt-driven garage door opener.
Now you can haul that big truck right into your garage with the Liftmaster 8500 Elite Series Countershaft. This is a serious industrial grade garage door opener that is ideal for truck and van owners as it frees up space in your garage by mounting to the wall and using a front-mounted torsion bar system to raise and lower your rig or van. sectional garage.Vertical space gates.
It is compatible with MyQ, allowing you to monitor and check the status of your garage door, create opening/closing schedules, and receive real-time alerts from your smartphone. With Security+ 2.0, every press on your remote sends a new code to your garage door opener, so your garage door opens only for you.
Please note that the 8500 Elite is not compatible with roller doors or low clearance tracks. To check garage door compatibility, visit the LiftMaster website.
Want to automate your existing garage door as an Alexa smart home user? Check out the NXG-200. It works with a variety of garage door openers and is also compatible with Google Assistant and Samsung’s SmartThings.
Installation is relatively simple and streamlined. GHI technology experts noted a variety of features, including voice control and the ability to easily share garage access with multiple approved guests. Additionally, it allows you to set up geofences that can automatically perform actions such as closing your garage door when you drive away or opening it when you pull into your driveway. smooth.
Aladdin Connect is ideal for large and busy families. It allows you to control three garage doors from your smartphone.
It allows you to share up to 19 virtual keys to your garage so you can give it access to your kids, neighbors, nannies, and more. Additionally, it has a sensor that will alert you electronically or manually if your garage is open. Aladdin is Wi-Fi enabled and compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Note. Before purchasing, check to see if your garage door opener is compatible with Aladdin Connect.
Evaluating garage door openers at the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Media and Technology Lab, GHI testers and engineers examined dozens of garage door openers. The process is so complex that Rachel Rothman, chief technology officer and executive director of technology, jokes that she works on a first-name basis in Chamberlain’s customer service department.
But let’s be honest: GH Institute product testers rate each garage door opener’s ease of installation, or the installation process that takes into account each garage door opener. They assessed whether the device was light enough to be lifted by hand, whether the mounting brackets and brackets were strong and secure, and more. Finally, they rated how well each device performed, its size, vibration and other performance characteristics, and how quickly and efficiently each device raised and closed the garage door. They also indicate whether each product’s instruction manual is detailed and easy to understand.
In addition, the institute tested any additional features of the device, such as remote controls, motion sensors or cameras. For the smart garage door opener, GH customized every app, and testers rated how intuitive it was to load, log in, and navigate. They also tested whether the smart door mechanism had integration capabilities with other smart home devices and systems, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
If you are replacing your entire garage door opener, consider the size and weight of the door. Most garage door openers are compatible with common door sizes and configurations. However, larger doors (typically over 7 feet tall) may require an extension kit for installation. For most doors, 0.50 HP is enough, but for heavier doors (such as solid wood doors), you can increase it to 0.75 HP.
Consider which garage door opener is best for you: a belt or a chain. If you’re looking to replace your garage door opener entirely, these are two popular options. Chain drives typically support more weight and are generally less expensive, but they are noisier. Belt drives are quieter, but more expensive and may require readjustment over time as the belt stretches.
Check your garage door opener’s compatibility with your current setup. Whether you’re upgrading to a smart garage door opener or replacing your entire system, make sure your garage door opener meets the door’s needs.
For a smart garage door opener, you need to check if it is compatible with your smart home system so that the smart features can communicate with each other.
If you are using a smart garage door opener with Wi-Fi, make sure you have a good Wi-Fi signal in your garage. Otherwise, the smart features may not work properly or problems with the garage door opener may occur.
Jamie Ueda is a freelance writer and consumer products expert with nearly two decades of experience, including full-time work at several GH media and technology labs. She also has experience in product development and quality assurance. She has double degrees in mechanical engineering and fashion and textile design. Rachel Rothman is the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees testing methods, implementation and reporting for all growth hormone laboratories.
Hearst Automotive combines the talent, resources and experience of three of the largest and most influential automotive publications in the world. The Gear team tests a variety of automotive products, parts, accessories and equipment such as car GPS trackers, car vacuum cleaners and home EV chargers. We personally test every product we test. Most of the products are purchased, some are provided by manufacturers. When we can’t test a product or category, we turn to renowned experts like the Good Housekeeping Institute.
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John Langston is an avid motorcyclist and gear collector whose work has appeared in Men’s Journal, Cycle World, The Drive, Rider, Iron & Air, Motorcyclist and others.
Jamie Kim is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of product design and manufacturing experience. She has held leadership positions at mid-sized consumer products companies and one of the world’s best-known and largest apparel brands. Jamie is involved in a number of GH Institute labs including kitchen appliances, media and technology, textiles and home appliances. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, traveling and playing sports.
Rachel Rothman (she/her) is the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees all laboratory HGH testing methods, implementation, and reporting. She also leads GH’s growing research department and analysis of the GH Seal and all other certification applicants. During her 15 years at Good Housekeeping, Rachel has had the opportunity to review thousands of products, including toys and cars for the GH annual awards program, as well as countless innovative advances in consumer technology and home improvement.
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Post time: Sep-12-2023