How to Choose the Right Garage Door Opener for Houston's Climate
Anything you install in your garage should survive some wild weather, and this is what you need in a Houston garage door opener. Life in Houston means hot summers, high humidity, and the ability to truck through a hurricane now and then… which is why you need an incredibly durable, no-maintenance-required garage door opener that can go wherever it needs to be “tomorrow”.
The team at Affordable Garage Door Repair is here to help you select a garage door opener that stands up well to our Houston weather without wearing through your bank account or encroaching on your lifestyle. Our guide will help homeowners in Houston narrow down advice about types of garage door openers and the features to consider.
Take Houston Heat and Humidity, for Example
Houston summers, during which the enormous humidity levels and heat take a major toll on how well your garage door opener works. Garage door openers are a lot like motors in that they can overheat if forced to work too hard or exposed to excessive heat. This may result in corrosion in mechanical and electrical parts due to environmental humidity.
What to Look For
Garage Door Opener with Overheating Protection
This feature is useful for preventing the motor from overheating whenever the temperatures are extreme. Its auto-motor protector feature also stops the motor temporarily if it is ever in danger of overheating saving your opener from premature failure.
Materials Resistant To Corrosion
Choose an opener with rust-proof components that can endure the damp environment of Houston. As far as longevity goes, garage door openers with stainless steel or powder-coated metal parts are two of the best options.
Take Houston Heat and Humidity, for Example
Houston summers, during which the enormous humidity levels and heat take a major toll on how well your garage door opener works. Garage door openers are a lot like motors in that they can overheat if forced to work too hard or exposed to excessive heat. This may result in corrosion in mechanical and electrical parts due to environmental humidity.
What to Look For
Garage Door Opener with Overheating Protection
This feature is useful for preventing the motor from overheating whenever the temperatures are extreme. Its auto-motor protector feature also stops the motor temporarily if it is ever in danger of overheating saving your opener from premature failure.
Materials Resistant To Corrosion
Choose an opener with rust-proof components that can endure the damp environment of Houston. As far as longevity goes, garage door openers with stainless steel or powder-coated metal parts are two of the best options.
Pick Out the Correct Type of Garage Door Opener
However, there are many other types of garage door openers with different characteristics and benefits. There are chain-drive, belt-drive, and screw-drive openers. Performance, the durability of the material, and noise levels should be considered when selecting for Houston weather.
Chain-Drive Openers
As one of the most widespread chain drive openers as well as an inexpensive solution. Garage door openers that utilize a metal chain to raise and lower the garage door are known as cost-efficient models homeowners use.
- Pros: Chain-drive openers are the least expensive of all garage door openers, which may make them appealing for homeowners on a budget.
- Strength: Garage door openers of this kind are strong and can hold a heavy door up.
- Cons: Chain Drive: These types of openers are common but have a reputation for being noisy, which might be something that we want to avoid if your garage is close to the bedroom or living room.
- Upkeep — A chain needs to be kept oiled frequently to avoid wear and tear, which can be more frequent in a humid area like Houston, Texas.
Belt-Drive Openers
Belt-drive openers are another drive replacement type for chain-drive openers, although they use a rubber belt rather than a metal chain. Aside from their smooth performance, they are also quiet-running machines.
- They have Quiet Operation: Unlike chain-driven systems, belt-drive openers are perfect for homes with attached garages or bedrooms above the garage due to their much quieter operation.
- Less maintenance: Also helps to keep it last longer as well because the rubber belt does not require much maintenance like a metal chain would, which is perfect for Houston's moisture on gloomy days.
- Cons: More Expensive: Belt-drive openers usually come at a higher cost than chain-driven, but the smart and low maintenance can outweigh the price.
Screw-Drive Openers
A screw-drive opener uses a threaded steel rod to move the door up and down. Faster speeds with fewer moving pieces to break means less repair costs than the old A2 and prior generations.
- Pros: The Fewer Moving Parts: Screw-drive openers have a limited of moving parts beneficial for the long-term performance of the opener in the Houston climate.
- Speed: Screw-drive openers often open garage doors faster than chain- or belt-drive systems.
- Cons: Temperature Sensitivity – Screw-drive openers can also be temperamental when subjected to temperature changes, which is less than ideal for Houston's incredible heat unless specially designed.
Choose Intelligent Features and Hurricane-Rated Options
Houston is notorious for its hurricane season, so homeowners in Houston should think about buying either a smart garage door opener or other resistance options. The garage door opener by itself does not protect your garage from hurricanes; however, incorporating smart technology along with selecting a hurricane-resistant gateway can significantly increase its ability to resist this type of weather.
Smart Features to Consider
Remote Control
Wi-Fi connectivity is used in smart garage door openers that make it easier to use an app on your smartphone to close and open your garage. This is handy during hurricane season when you might learn that a storm is bearing down while at work and need the ability to monitor or shut your garage doors from afar.
If you get a garage door opener with a battery backup, then you will not have to suffer when there are power outages during storms as it makes the garage door work even when the power goes down.
This is not exactly relevant to the opener, but you might as well buy a hurricane-proof garage door if your entire house has already been compromised. This provides extra storm security, to ensure your home and possessions no longer possess the risk of further damage from a large storm.
Houston Climate, Energy Efficiency
When selecting a garage door opener in Houston, it will likely pay to put energy efficiency very high on your priority list and rightfully so considering how hot our climate is. Insulated garage doors help control the temperature in your garage so less heat flows into the house can then be installed to lower energy costs.
Energy-Efficient Motors:
Some garage door openers will have motors designed to consume very little electricity, which makes them ideal for homes that use their garage multiple times a day.
Insulation in Your Garage Door
If you’re replacing or upgrading your garage door, choose a door with insulation to stop the process of heat transfer from your house into the garage.
Resistant to Frequent Temperatures and Durability in Humid Conditions
Garage door opener failure is another common garage door problem and one that can be exacerbated by Houston’s high humidity. A garage door opener that can be exposed to the elements will require a much more robust housing to prevent any damage being caused by moisture and corrosion.
Rust-resistant parts
Choose openers made of rust-resistant materials, like stainless steel or powder-coated metal components to avoid the formation of corrosion in damp conditions.
Less Maintenance
Belt-drive or direct-drive openers do not require as much maintenance as a chain-drive or screw-drive system — which can be beneficial in humid climates (Houston) like ours.
Installation and Maintenance by Professionals
After you have chosen the right garage door opener Clopay for your local climate in Houston, professional installation will guarantee a smooth operation and longer life. If a professional installs the system, it is more likely to hold up to Houston’s summer heat and humidity. In addition, routine maintenance can aid in extending the life of your garage door opener while preventing any unexpected breakdowns. With many years of experience behind us, we can help you with any installation or maintenance services Whether it’s belt drive, chain-drive, or jackshaft opener in Houston.
Conclusion
No question that selecting the right garage door opener for Houston in this challenging climate has to take a lot of conditions into account based on several environmental factors such as heat, humidity, temperature, and storm protection considerations. Choosing an opener model that can tackle extreme heat and heavy volume of usage will only ensure you year-by-year service. There is such a wide selection of choices to suit what you need, from belt-drive and chain-drive systems to smart features and even energy-efficient options available.
Nonetheless, you can trust Affordable Garage Door Repair to assist you in selecting and installing the right garage opener for your home. For a free consultation, contact us today and we will point you in the right direction as to which garage door opener you can depend on to last through Houston summers.
