Electrically powered automatic garage doors began to emerge in America in the 1930s, but it was not until after the Second World War that electric garage doors became commercially viable. By the 1970s, the automation systems for garage doors looked like the products we are familiar with today.
In this blog, we will walk you through how an electric garage door works, how you can convert your standard garage door and how safe and secure they are.
What is an Electric Garage Door?
So what is an electric garage door? It is essentially a garage door, that has an electric motor and control system attached to it, allowing it to function without any manual interference.
However, when your garage is fitted with an electric garage door, the door still has to have the capability to operate on its own, because like most things, it can either break or malfunction. If your door does break, you will need to be able to access the garage and open the door without the automation system.
Usually, an automation system consists of an electric motor, a control system and a mechanism that links the motor to the door, which can be purchased separately or as a whole.
Can I Convert My Garage Door To Electric?
With a remote control kit available for purchase from several different manufacturers, most standard and up and over garage doors can easily be transformed into an electric remote controlled garage door, complete with an opener. Most electric garage door openers are available for installation with a DIY kit, however, we would not recommend attempting this as it can leave your door prone to damage or potential break-ins if not installed correctly.
If your garage door is far too heavy to be operated manually, many people opt for converting their door and installing an electric garage door motor to quite literally take the weight off their shoulders!
It is also worth noting that adding an automated system to a broken or badly fitted garage door will not solve its problems. If you intend to fit a new system, your door has to be safe and reliable to achieve the best results and eliminate the risk of future injury.
Are Electric Garage Doors Safe?
Electric garage door safety is one of our top priorities at Garage Door Repair Man. Garage doors are generally rather heavy pieces of equipment and adding an electric mechanism to them will only increase their weight and the hazards associated with their operation.
However, in recent years legislation has drastically improved to improve the safety of garage doors and safeguard their owners. Many have safety features fitted as standard to prevent them from crashing down when they are in the open position.
All automation systems in the UK have to be CE marked before they are sold, guaranteeing that the safety features and requirements have been met. This means that most electric garage door systems are extremely safe and reliable. To guarantee that those safety mechanisms will perform as they should, they should be set up by a trained professional, which is why we strongly discourage the DIY approach to installation.
How Secure Are Electric Garage Doors?
The security of your garage door depends on the quality of the remote control mechanism you have installed. The automation systems that the team at Garage Door Repair Man supply have an abundance of security features built-in that keep you, your family and your belongings safe.
Prior to these advancements in security, electric garage doors were prone to burglar attacks because the garage door remote controls could be hacked and overridden. Significant advancements in coding have made this almost impossible with security passcodes that change with every use.
How Can Garage Door Repair Man Help You?
If you’re looking to install an electric mechanism to your pre-existing garage door, then the engineers at Garage Door Repair Man can help to ensure that your garage door can take this weight and that it is installed properly.
We also stock a variety of stylish electric garage doors to replace your existing garage door, which not only protects your garage and ease its operation but also increases its aesthetic appeal. If you have any questions about electric remote-controlled garage doors, please get in contact with us today. Alternatively, you can call us on 0800 542 7978 to speak to one of our friendly experts or contact our emergency engineer if you’re experiencing a fault or damage to your current garage door on 07957 353 228, for an emergency repair.
