Home Automation: How to Make Your Garage Doors Smart
Have you ever laid down on your bed and suddenly felt the urge to check if you have closed/locked the garage door? Not cool, right? Getting out of bed and going down the stairs just to sooth your bothered mind is not fun. Well, you are not alone.
A number of homeowners still own traditional garage doors - the one where you need to do everything manually including opening and closing the door. On the other hand, there are a handful who have already invested in automated ones.
If you make your doors smart, you can close it from anytime even while in your bed before you snooze.
What can Smart Garage Doors Do for You?
Smart garage doors powered by automated garage door openers can save you from anxiety. Instead of worrying if you did close your garage door, you can do it through your smartphone app or through a voice assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant.
High end smart garage doors are equipped with a camera. This allows you to monitor who’s coming in and out in your garage. With the heightened number of theft incidents in the US and Canada, this feature comes in handy.
Scheduling is another feature you might want in your smart garage doors so you can have a fixed schedule when your doors should be locked on a daily basis. Now, you don’t have to be concerned if you forgot to do it.
What if the WiFi is down? What if it’s an emergency and the power is out? Most automated garage door units come with a keypad or manual access, or remote control you can keep in your car just in case the WiFi is down so it’s not really required to always pull out your phone to access your door.
Other smart features offered by automated garage include intruder alarm and rotating lock codes, which can greatly add to your home security. Rotating lock codes lets you change security codes whenever they’re used, which prevents unwanted guests from breaking your lock.
And as technology further advances, homeowners can expect more upgrades from these smart garage door manufacturers.
Should You Upgrade or Replace Your Garage Door?
If your door has some age on it, best if you can replace it altogether. A typical garage door has a life expectancy of 20 to 25 years.Garage door openers, on the other hand, can last between 10 to 12 years.
While there are no evident signs of wear and tear on the outside, the inside might be comprised already. Remember that garage doors are one of the highly used mechanisms in your home plus the fact that it’s exposed to weather changes. Routine maintenance and inspection should be performed to ensure your family’s safety using your doors.
Another sign that you need to replace your opener is the smoothness in operation. Are you noticing disturbances in closing your doors? If you hear any sounds or the door reverses when you close it, these are clear signs you need to replace it. Always get a professional to inspect your doors to ensure your doors are still safe to use.
If the inspector gives your door an A+, works perfectly fine, and still feel the need to upgrade, you can make your openers smart instead. There are garage door brands that offer upgrade solutions to your existing opener unit. For example, your door is not WiFi enabled, you can check with your manufacturer if they have an add-on, which you can install to your opener.
You may also check with home security companies if they have any devices you can hook up with your current garage door unit like cameras and intruder alarms. While these may still require you to find an IT guy to link it all together in one system, it’s still a good upgrade for your old door.
Some add-ons are comprehensive so you can still get the same features and capabilities as the newer models at some point.
Signs Your Garage Door Opener is Failing
Generally, garage door openers never fail without a warning. If you sense that something is not working as it should, detach the operator from your door and observe if the door is balanced or operates smoothly. Your door’s springs should be the one that lifts your garage doors. The openers only help in moving them. If you open the door halfway up, it should stay in place. If it free falls, there is a problem. This can damage your door’s operator.
Some of the signs your opener needs replacement are the following:
- Your garage door opener is slow-moving or detaching
- You hear loud or unusual noises while operating your garage door
- Your door does random and intermittent opening and reversing
- You noticed your garage door opener is vibrating
Hence, it’s still better safe than sorry. Make sure you conduct regular checkup on your doors to prevent any minor issues from aggravating.
Author Bio
Mik Vil writes for Canadian Garage Door Repair Calgary- a company that provides installation and replacement services in Calgary and nearby areas.
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