What Are Smart Garage Door Openers?

Looking to complete your smart home makeover? It won’t be complete without a smart garage door opener.

At Easy Open Door, we want you to get to know the technology used in the Liftmaster garage door opening systems that we install so that when you have a smart garage door opener installed, you’ll know how to use it. 

These systems tend to make life much easier for homeowners.

What Are Smart Garage Door Openers?

A smart garage door opener is simply a gadget that works in conjunction with the mechanisms of your garage door. It is a control system that allows users to open and close doors through a Wi-Fi enabled device, be it a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Smart openers work by sending a signal, via an application on your device, through your Wi-Fi and then to the door control module. This signal is then sent to your door position sensor, which activates the garage door motor, causing the door to open or close.

These devices can be retrofitted to existing garage doors or come equipped on new garage door motors, as is the case with MyQ Tehnology. Most are also compatible with different Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, like Google Home, which allows you to control the technology in your house via a connected device like a laptop or smartphone. Most smart openers can work with voice-activated systems, too, like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri or Google Assistant.

These devices allow you to open your garage door from a distance and keep records of openings and closings. You can also receive notifications if your door is left open and even set a timer for it to open and close using auto-close features.

Depending on which smart garage door opener you choose, you can also enjoy other features for convenience and security. For example, the Liftmaster 85503 includes an integrated, motion-activated camera that allows you to monitor activity in your garage in real-time and review recorded footage.

How to Make Garage Door Openers Smart

There are two ways in which you can make your garage door opener “smart.”

One way is to install a sensor kit or add-on controller.

The other is to simply replace your drive motor to an opener that incorporates smart technology.

Keep in mind the kind of garage door opener and the type of drive motor. That way, you can get the appropriate system for your garage door without changing any other mechanical parts.

Smart Garage Door Sensor Kits

Sensor kits are an easy way to make a garage door smart without having to add much more to the existing system. They are very common and inexpensive and are used in many smart garage door applications today.

Add-on controllers connect to your garage door motor as well as the door itself. They use a sensor to measure and track the door’s position. These sensors are relatively simple to install and come with many options. Most of these sensor kits have varying compatibility, but most should be able to fit your motor.

Smart Motorized Units for Garage Doors

The other option you have is to swap out the old motor for a new smart motor. Just remember whether your door is belt-driven, chain-driven or uses another system so that you don’t need to replace track components too.

These new motors, although more expensive and requiring professional installation, give you many more options over sensor kits. If you find yourself with a broken garage door motor, we would advise looking into a smart motor upgrade.

Reasons to Upgrade to a Smart Garage Door Opener

Upgrading your garage door opener to a smart model definitely has its benefits.

If your house is already outfitted with smart technology, then applying it to your garage is a great way to complete the process.

But even if you’ve chosen to keep your home free of Internet of Things technology, applying smart tech to your garage door opener will give you greater security, ease of access and more.

1. Connectivity to Devices

Pairing your garage door opener with a device like a smartphone, laptop or tablet gives you the ability to operate your garage door from an app. These apps give you a lot of options to work with.

You can open and close your garage door from anywhere at the tap of a button. That means you can let your neighbor or relative into the garage to borrow a tool even when you’re not around.

This connectivity opens the door to a lot of other benefits.

2. Safety & Peace of Mind

If you’ve ever left your garage and drove off wondering if you remembered to close the door, then smart opener technology will be your saving grace.

The ability to open and close your garage door via an app is just one benefit. These apps can give you notifications if your door has been open a long time. They can also be set up with an automatic open/close feature so that if you did accidentally leave the garage door open, it will close itself.

Apps that connect you to the door can provide a better sense of security, too, as many of them can give you the ability to see what’s going on inside your garage at any given time.

3. Keep an Activity Log

Every time you open or close your garage door, the app you use will record it. These logs are usually available for about a week on the app, but they can also be accessed online for an entire history.

4. Ease of Use

Even if you’re not a tech-savvy person, these apps were made to be user-friendly. They make it very easy for you to understand whether the door is presently closed and what each app function does. It’s all laid out plainly for you so you can be sure you really did remember to close the door before you left for work in the morning.

Easy Open Garage Door Gives You Smart Opener Options

If you’re located in San Diego County and you’re interested in having a smart garage door opener installed at your home or business, we can help you. We carry a line of easy-to-use and reliable openers from LiftMaster, the best manufacturer in the business. Whether your garage door is opened by belt, chain or jackshaft, we can recommend an opener for you.

Give us a call or request an estimate online today!