According to the American Housing Survey, nearly two-thirds of all American homes have a garage.
So why is it that so many homeowners are parking their beloved vehicles out in the elements instead of warm and safe in the garage? Perhaps an out-of-date manual garage door is to blame.
When it comes to an automatic garage door vs manual, the choice seems pretty obvious. However, if you aren’t sold yet, let us walk you through the five undeniable benefits of an automatic garage door.
1. Convenience
First and foremost, let’s talk about the sheer convenience an automatic garage door offers.
Instead of manually lifting your door, starting your car, pulling it out, and then getting out again to close the door, you can do it all with the touch of a button.
Simply hop in your car, activate your automatic door opener, and your set. Not only is this less hassle, but you can actually save valuable time on your morning commute! The cherry on top of the automatic door cake? You’ll never have to freeze your fingers opening and closing your garage door in winter again.
2. Security
Beyond the sheer convenience of never leaving your car, you’ll actually benefit from increased home and garage security.
Automatic garage door openers operate with specific codes, making it difficult for an intruder to get past. While your old lift style door may have been simple for any old thief to pop open and get inside, your new automatic system will keep them at bay.
Since your door is now connected to a sophisticated system, prying it open will be labor-intensive and unrealistic. This means you can rest assured knowing that your garage, home, and all of the belongings and people inside are safer than ever before.
Beyond this, because you won’t be getting in and out, leaving your car vulnerable to theft, there will be fewer opportunities for robbers to hijack your car. And of course, you’ll never have to worry about your own safety on those early mornings or dark evening arrivals.
3. Lighting
Speaking of the dark, a fantastic perk of your automatic door that is often overlooked is the lighting feature.
Every time you open and close your door, the light will automatically come on as well. While this may sound useless during the day, when the sun goes down or nasty weather appears, you’ll love the extra visibility this provides.
With your garage and pathway lit up to leave, you can safely reverse out of your garage without having to worry about unnoticed obstructions.
The same is true on your way home. Never run over your daughter’s favorite doll again with a well-lit path ahead. Because the light stays on for a few moments after the door is closed, you can even use this light to safely navigate your way from the car to your home without tripping hazards or boogymen.
4. Safety
You know the feeling. You’ve raised your door just high enough to back your car out but as you reverse you can’t help but wonder – what if that door fell down?
This is perhaps our favorite feature of an automatic vs manual garage door. With the door fully supported by mechanics, you’ll never have to worry about it ‘slipping’ out of its stationary position. This makes driving and walking under the door far safer for you and your family members.
Wondering about the automatic close? If you, your children, or any part of your car are in the way of the door, a sensor will stop the door from closing and send it back open. This safety feature is designed to ensure your items and loved ones are never squashed by the heavy door.
5. Low Energy
Worried about the environmental impact of your garage door opener? If you’ve been avoiding installing this convenient solution because of energy, we’ve got great news.
Automatic garage doors are incredibly energy efficient. Not only does the mechanism itself use very little energy to operate, even the light runs on a short timer to ensure no unnecessary consumption occurs.
This energy efficiency can save you money on your power bill and is much less harmful to the environment. With this in mind, you can rest assured knowing you’re doing your part for our planet.
As an added bonus, having an automatic garage door opener can actually add value to your existing home. Not only will your new door save you money, it could actually make you money down the road!
How to Install a Garage Door Opener
Wondering about the cost and labor associated with having your new automatic garage door opener installed? Believe it or not, installation is relatively easy and low cost.
In fact, you can DIY your entire project by buying parts online and using a garage door opener buying guide. For the most reliable parts and warranty, you need to achieve the best DIY project.
You can find the parts and information you need to put together a state-of-the-art automatic garage door at a fraction of the cost. What’s even better is that the simple nature of this install typically only takes four to six hours for an absolute amateur!
Your New Automatic Garage Door
Now that you know the benefits of an automatic garage door vs manual, you can set forth with confidence on your newest project. From ultra-convenience to increased home security, you won’t regret this low energy investment.
Want to learn more about improving your home with DIY tricks and projects? Check out our blog for all of the home improvement tips and tricks you need for a beautiful home.
