Garage Door Opener Information

A security problem associated with some older garage-door openers is the ability to steal the code numbers via an electronic device known as a code grabber. A code grabber is an instrument that can record and play back the signal produced from your garage-door remote control from as far away as a few hundred feet. Burglars can then retransmit the signal, open your garage and gain access without attracting attention. There are some products on the market now that act as code encryptors to defeat the code grabbers. One such product is made by LiftMaster -- the Craftsman 53684 keyless entry pad with Security + (*est. $35). It changes your code every time you use the unit. If you don't want to purchase a new rolling-code garage-door opener, this device will allow you to keep your older unit but improve your security.

You can forgo the use of a car remote or the need to remember a security code with the smartTOUCH Master Lock (*est. $130), which opens or closes the garage door with a swipe of your finger. According to the manufacturer, this device will work with any garage-door opener. It can store up to 20 users. This lock is mentioned on several "gear" websites and a television show, but we found no reviews regarding how well it works.

Another useful accessory is a garage-door monitor. This device lets you know when the garage door opens and closes, and whether it has fully closed. This might be helpful if you have teenagers -- nice for confirmation that they are in and the garage door is properly closed. It can also be a security feature. LiftMaster makes one of these for Craftsman, the Craftsman 53696 (*est. $35).

To decrease the noise of your garage-door opener, you can purchase a Garage Door Opener Soundproofing Kit (*est. $50) from AcousticalSurfaces.com. According to the manufacturer, this kit prevents vibrations from reaching the room above the garage. We did not find any reviews of this product.

At Dulley.com, James Dulley provides a general discussion of garage-door openers in "New Garage Openers Are Faster, Quieter and Safer."

At ExtremeHowTo.com, Monte Burch describes how to install a garage door and a garage-door opener with step-by-step instructions and photographs in his article "Open Sesame! Install a Garage Door."

A list of factors to consider before selecting an iDrive garage door opener can be found at Garage-Detailer.com.

Manufacturer Websites

Chamberlain

Craftsman

Genie

LiftMaster

Wayne-Dalton