There are many brands of garage door, or overhead door, openers available in the Atlanta area. Some can be purchased at local home improvement stores for do it your self installation. We are always happy to provide installation services for openers purchased locally, as well. Most openers offered by professional companies differ slightly from store version in construction, but are very similar. If you have specific questions about our products or services, please contact us for more information including pricing and scheduling.

• Garage Door Opener Drive Types

Most garage door opener manufacturers offer several different drive types on their openers. Chain, screw, and belt driven openers being the most common types, although there are more varieties available. Typically, chain drive openers are the least expensive, followed by the screw drive and belt drive openers.

• Basic 1/3 HP Model Garage Door Openers

The least expensive openers are in this category. 1/3 HP garage door openers are typically installed for use with smaller, lighter garage doors. Most manufacturers offer different drive types (for example, a chain or belt driven opener), along with a 1/3, 1/2, or 3/4 HP motor. Typically, most companies will offer a chain driven, 1/3 HP garage door opener as the basic model. Other drive types, belt or screw drive, are usually a step up in price from a chain drive model with the same strength motor.

• 1/2 HP and 3/4 HP Garage Door Openers

For home owners with a 2 car wide garage door, or heavier wooden doors, a stronger motor is a must have. The same options are usually available, with these types of openers offering chain, belt, and screw driven units. A typical, premium priced, opener will usually be a 3/4 HP, belt driven variety. 1/2 and 3/4 HP models will usually offer better motor and hardware warranties than the 1/3 HP models. For example, LiftMaster’s 3/4 HP Belt drive opener comes with a lifetime warranty on the belt and motor.

• Opener Accessories

With the wide range of options available in opener accessories, it bears mentioning that all the bells and whistles can have an impact on price. Some options available include battery backups, upgraded remotes and keypads, and even devices that remember to shut your door for you.

The following instructions are for programming a Genie garage door opener intellicode remote. If you have an older model Genie opener you may need to follow a slightly different procedure.  These instructions should also allow you to clear all the programming codes from your opener. Clearing the codes from the opener’s receiver is the only way to disable a lost remote.

Make sure to keep everyone, including pets, out of the path of the garage door when programming a remote or keypad.

1. Locate the “learn” button on the opener. The location of the learn button is dependant upon the model opener. It can typically be found under the light cover. The learn button will have a small indicator light next to it.
2. Press and release the learn button
3. Press and release the button on the remote.
4. Press and release the button on the remote once again.

That’s it. The remote should be able to operate the opener at this point. Repeat these steps for any additional remotes or buttons you may wish to program.

To clear all existing codes from the receiver:

1. Press and hold the learn button on the opener for 10 seconds, or until the indicator light goes out.

Clearing the codes will erase all programming from the receiver. This feature is useful if  a remote has been lost, or if you wish to disable any old remotes or keypads. After clearing the codes,  remotes or keypads will need reprogramming.

Everything is pretty simple. The remote used in the video is one of the most common older models in use. Many different brands used the same technology as this one. Most of these units are over 10 years in age, but there are plenty still in use out there. Code cracking software is easily obtained by anyone with an internet connection.

The people in these homes may not realize their door is going up or down. Even worse, people in the home may hear it opening, but dismiss the event as a family member arriving home. Using a method like this, an intruder could enter and exit your home without your knowledge.

You can still protect your home with a few common sense measures. Always keep the door from the garage to the interior of your home locked. This should be something everyone does at night and when away. Since your remote is usually clipped to the visor, make sure to lock the car when parking in the driveway. It may also be time to consider a new opener if yours is outdated.  Newer models usually have more up to date security and safety features.

In order to determine whether or not your model is using old school technology, take a look at the manual that came with it. (Many manufacturers offer an online version of their owner’s manuals.) Make sure it has some type of “rolling code” technology. For example, LiftMaster brand units use Security+ rolling code technology. Any models with this newer type of remote control will not open using the system used in the video. Most other manufacturers will have a similar technology in their models.

If you do have an older model garage door opener, you may consider replacing it. They can usually be installed professionally starting at around $250, or can be purchased at a local retail store. If you do decide to start shopping, prepare to be impressed by the abundance of motor sizes, drive types, warranties, and various types of accessories that are available. You may want to call a few reputable installers in your area to get an idea about which of the many types would be right for you. Most companies will provide you with an idea about pricing over the phone, as well.

Even if you can’t afford to replace your old opener, there are still steps you can take to make the garage more secure. Some models have a “Lock” function which blocks any remotes or keyless entry from being used. Enabling this option will cause nothing but the wall button to function.  Worst case you can always dis-engage the motor. Usually this is accomplished by pulling the red cord that hangs overhead.  Just remember to lock and unlock your keylock on the garage door, especially before re-engaging and using the opener again. If you don’t have any kind of manual lock available, a simple lock for this purpose can be purchased at most hardware stores. Of course, last but not least, always keep the door from the garage into your home locked.

Why didn’t it close? Garage doors usually fail to close as a result of the safety sensors being blocked. They’re located on each side of the opening, no more than a foot or so off the ground. Typically, each will have a small light that stays lit when everything is going well. If either of the lights are out, simply move whatever is blocking the sensor (sometimes even cobwebs/small debris can cause safety sensors to malfunction) or adjust them so that they are pointing at each other again. You can move these around by hand if they’ve been knocked out of alignment.

If you’re still stuck at home, make sure nothing is blocking the path of the door. This can be a common cause for service calls on garage doors. Always use caution when operating your door, but be extra cautious when it’s not working correctly. It’s the probably the largest, heaviest piece of machinery in the house. The counter balance system of the door is under EXTREME pressure, and when it doesn’t work properly, it can be dangerous. Many people have been injured or even killed by garage doors, some of them professionals. If your garage door is sitting crooked in the opening, has come off the tracks, or is not working properly, call a professional repair company immediately.

If the door works but the opener still won’t close it, there are a couple more things to try before calling a professional. Try using the wall button instead of the remote or keyless entry. It’s possible the remote’s batteries are dead, or the opener’s lock function has been enabled. If the garage door itself is working properly, you can pull the manual release on the opener. This will let you close the door manually, although the opener won’t be locking it shut the way it normally would.

Some openers have an indicator light that can help troubleshoot any problems. Again, you’ll need your owner’s manual for your opener. Many can be found online by doing a quick search for your make and model number. You can find the model and manufacturer on the back of the opener.

If all else fails, it may be time to call a pro. Some companies will be able to give an estimate on probable repairs over the phone, so let them know what steps you may have already taken. Call a few different companies to ensure their numbers are competitive. Since openers have an expected life span of about 10 years, it might also be a good idea to check prices for new openers, instead of repairing an older model. Newer models will have more up to date security features, as well. For more information about security vulnerabilities and older model garage door openers, take a look at “Is Your Garage Door Opener Leaving Your Home Unsecured?“.