Smart garage openers are unfortunately not immune to intruders either, but there are ways to help protect your garage and household. First, you should understand how intruders might hack your smart garage opener. They will typically try to hack your WiFi network because it is connected to your smart opener.
The radio frequency your garage door opener uses may match your neighbor's new door. If two nearby openers are programmed to the same channel, it's possible for someone else to operate your door with their remote.
1/2 horsepower garage door openers work well with standard aluminum doors in a residential garage. If the garage is the main entrance to your home, have a one-piece or oversized door, choose an opener with the lifting power of a 3/4- to 1 1/4-horsepower.
Rolling codes change the garage door opener code every time you use the remote control. While this can make finding a correct guess difficult, these systems can be hacked. Hackers can jam the signal with radios, so the system does not roll over to the next code.
If someone has hacking skills and a device called a code grabber (records the code sent by an opener), they can easily hack into your system and open your garage door. Typically, the intruder will leave a code grabber hidden near your garage door when you are not present.
Electrical Outages. Since the opener needs electricity to do its job, any abrupt power concerns can lead to having a car being stuck inside or outside a garage for the duration of the outage. In addition, running out of battery power can also cause this problem to surface.
If you prioritize durability and affordability, then a chain drive garage door opener is the way to go. If noise is a concern for you or you want a quieter opening experience, then a belt drive garage door opener is the better option.
For an automatic garage door, the lift of the weight is subject to the horsepower of the garage door opener. A half of horsepower can lift roughly around 300 pounds. This is the average load of a two-vehicle steel door, and a one horsepower door opener can, without much of a stretch, lift roughly 400 pounds.
A burglar can open a garage door from the outside in a matter of seconds with nothing more than a wire coat hanger.
After contacting the police to report your crime, the next step is to reprogram your garage opener system and cancel the remote. This will prevent anyone with the stolen remote from being able to gain access to your garage.
Unless you have built-in precautions against this, you can straighten out a wire hanger and insert it through the top of the garage door. Feel around until you reach the emergency latch. If you can hook the cord, slowly pull on it. Once the safety release is disengaged, you can roll the door up manually.
Burglars also know it's easier to enter through garage doors than breaking into a person's home. It's common for garages to be connected to homes, so access to one usually means access to both. In fact, police often report cases where thieves broke into locked cars to steal the garage door opener and other valuables.
If you suspect your opener remote was stolen, contact the police. Check if anything else was stolen from your house or car and report any missing items along with your opener remote. Once you've done this, you'll need to clear the remote from the opener's memory and purchase a replacement remote control.
Lifespan of a Garage Door Opener
It's crucial to know that the average life expectancy of a garage door opener may not be as long as your garage door. The average lifespan of a garage door opener is 10 to 15 years, and like your garage door, many factors contribute to its durability.
Chamberlain garage door openers are built to lift lighter doors—usually those below a height of seven feet—making them suitable for residential purposes. On the other hand, LiftMaster garage door openers are professional grade, specifically designed for lifting heavier garage doors—usually doors taller than seven feet.
If you have a double-car garage door, 1/2 HP will work. Models with more power, like 3/4 HP, are perfect for larger doors. The general rule of thumb for large doors is that the higher the HP, the lower the strain on the door when opening and closing over time.
If your garage is in direct sunlight, consider keeping the door closed as much as possible. On the other hand, if it is in the shade – let the fresh air in and the heat out! If you are opening the garage door, make sure you are home and not leaving it unattended.
Still, you can avoid the panic and the hassle by installing an automatic garage door opener with a backup battery feature. With a backup battery, your garage door will open even when the power is out — and your keypad, opener and safety sensors will operate, as well.
It's very important to not leave your garage door open when you're not in it for your safety and the safety of your home. If you leave your garage door open or forget to close it, you're increasing the risk of a home invasion, and no one wants that.
Air Out the Garage
Some people, particularly those in a hot climate, will crack open the garage door to allow some internal heat to dissipate. Many garages don't have windows, and most don't have any AC. So, to stay cool, people will crack open the garage.
During summer, a lot of homeowners leave their garage door open because of the heat. If you don't have a ventilation system or an AC unit in your garage, it can become extremely uncomfortable to work and spend time in. This is why opening the door while you are in the garage is perfectly fine.
Most break-ins through the garage door are in some way or another, due to homeowner negligence. Many homeowners leave the door connecting their garage to their home unlocked. As a responsible home owner, you should never leave any door that accesses your home unsecured.
A Neighbor's Remote Control was Inadvertently Programmed to the Opener. Erase the memory of your garage door opener by pressing and holding the LEARN button for six (6) seconds. Reprogram your remote controls and keypads.