How Do Garage Door Openers Work?
If you are ever curious about what your garage door opener actually does, you have come to the right place.
If you are ever curious about what your garage door opener actually does, you have come to the right place. In today's post, we'll discuss the purpose of your opener and the part it plays in opening and closing your garage door. Most doors use an electric motor, so that's the opener we'll discuss today.
What Does A Garage Door Opener Do?
A garage door opener uses an electric motor to open and close your garage door. The electric motor provides a small amount of force to control how much the door opens and closes. It is also used to hold the door in place and, in some cases, keep it shut if you don't have a manual lock.
Now, at this point, you may be thinking, "A small amount of force? Garage doors are heavy! How does the opener open my door with a small amount of force?" The answer is that it doesn't. In the same way that hotel elevators don't lift you up and down, garage door openers do not take on anywhere near most of the door's weight.
What Lifts Your Garage Door?
True, your garage door could not automatically open without the help of your opener. You could still open it manually. What really allows you to open the door so easily is the torsion springs and cables. Without the help of the torsion springs to counterbalance and take on 90% of the door's weight, you wouldn't have a prayer in opening it. The springs take on most of the weight. They are connected to the shaft and cables running along each side of your door. All these parts and the chain or belt connected to the motor overhead work together to move your door up and down. Your door also has rollers on a track on either side of the door that allows your door to move smoothly and on a particular path.
So What If The Power Goes Out?
If you lose power, a release cord (usually red and hanging down from the top in front of the opener) can be pulled to disconnect your door from the opener. This essentially puts you in manual mode. Once in manual mode, you can open your garage door by simply lifting it with your hands.
If lifting your door takes using more than one hand, falls when you try to set it or shoots up while you are lifting it, then your springs are likely out of balance. Your springs must have the proper tension, not wound too tightly or too loosely, to make your garage door last longer and be safe for your family. You can avoid any spring balance issues by getting a routine annual check-up from your local garage door company. It doesn't take long and provides peace of mind and a longer-lasting spring.
Woohoo! So now you know how garage doors work. What a piece of engineering. Your garage door opener does play a key role in opening your door, but it wouldn't have a chance if it weren't for the springs taking on all that weight. Plus, there are also the cables, belt, rollers, and track to thank. Interesting to think that there's legitimate machinery at work in your home every day.
Need reliable garage door repair or installation services in Phoenix? Contact Lucky Boy Garage Door, your trusted experts. Let us keep your home secure and functional!
