Motor power is the most important parameter when choosing a door opener. There are mainly two options of 1/2 HP and 3/4HP on the market. The maximum pulling force of the 1/2HP door opener can reach 300 pounds, which is enough to handle most garage doors, especially single garage doors. However, if the garage door is improperly maintained, the torsion spring becomes loose or the friction resistance increases due to lack of lubrication, the load on the door opener will greatly increase, reaching or exceeding the working limit, resulting in damage to the door opener. At this time, if it is a 3/4HP door opener, it will have more work margin and is not easy to be damaged. In addition, the door opening action of 3/4HP is faster than that of 1/2HP.
Just like the displacement of a car, a small displacement is sufficient, but a large displacement allows you to deal with various scenarios more calmly, except when refueling 😉. Of course, this is a one-time investment, unlike a car that needs to be refueled all the time. The conclusion is that 1/2 is enough, 3/4 is more expensive, and it is more assured to use. Either way, there are regular checks to see if your garage door is balanced.
