Rachel Rothman is the chief technologist and executive technical director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees testing methodology, implementation, and reporting for all GH Labs. She holds two degrees in mechanical engineering and apparel and textile design. She also has experience in product development and quality assurance. Jamie Ueda is a freelance writer and consumer product expert with almost two decades of experience, including a full-time stint across multiple GH labs including Media and Tech. Otherwise, the smart features may not work as well or may have issues with the garage door opener. If using a smart garage door opener with Wi-Fi, make sure you get a good Wi-Fi signal in your garage. With smart garage door openers, you'll want to check that it's compatible with your smart-home system so that the smart features can communicate with each other. Whether you're upgrading to a smart garage door opener or replacing the entire system, make sure the garage door opener meets the requirements of the door. CompatibilityĬheck the compatibility of the garage door opener with your current setup. Belt drives are quieter but are on the more expensive side-and over time, they may need readjustment due to the belt stretching out. A chain drive can typically handle more weight and tends to be less expensive, but it's noisier. If you're fully replacing your garage door opener, these are two popular options. Belt or ChainĬonsider if a belt or chain garage door opener is better for you. For most doors, 0.50 horsepower will work well, but for heavier doors (like a solid wood door), you may want to upgrade to 0.75 horsepower. However, for larger doors (typically those over 7 feet tall) you may need an extension kit for it to fit. Most garage door openers are compatible with common sizes and configurations of doors. If you're fully replacing your garage door opener, consider the size and weight of the door. They also checked to see if smart door openers had any integration capabilities with other smart-home devices and systems, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. For smart garage door openers, GH set up each app and testers gauged how intuitive the app is to download, sign into, and navigate. They also noted if the instruction manual of each was thorough and easy to understand.Īdditionally, the Institute tested any additional features the devices may have, such as a remote, motion sensor, or camera. In the end, they evaluated how well each device worked, its volume, vibration, and any other operational traits, and how quickly and efficiently each raised and closed the garage door. They evaluated if the unit was light enough to be lifted by hand, if the mounting braces and brackets were solid and secure, and much more. Seriously though, GH Institute product testers assessed the ease of installation of each garage door opener, or factored in the process of setting up each one. The process was so involved, Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman jokes she was on a first-name basis with the Customer Service folks at Chamberlain. When evaluating garage door openers at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Media and Tech Lab, GHI testers and engineers checked out dozens of garage door openers.
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