Being in the garage door and garage door opener business, we hear a lot of stories from customers about old doors and openers that practically wake the neighbors with their noise every time the opener starts. Parents of newborns have told us of their frustrations with loud openers, especially after having just gotten their cranky baby to sleep (though parents of teenagers who break curfew don’t seem to have a problem with loud openers).

In nearly all the stories we’ve heard, the homeowners have an old opener that needs to be replaced. If your opener is more than 15 years old, it’s probably one that can be heard every time the remote button is pushed, causing a loud start at the beginning of the opening cycle; a shuttering, rattling sound as the opener moves the door up and down; and, a jolting stop when the opening cycle is complete. These noises, you’re no doubt aware, can often be heard in rooms surrounding the garage, too.

Older openers are often noisy because an underpowered motor is straining to open a heavy door with an outdated, chain-drive system. Fortunately, today’s openers have come a long way from those built one or two decades ago. Options include a belt-drive, screw-drive or a quieter chain-drive run by motors that are appropriately matched to the type of door on the garage.

The drive system and motor aren’t the only aspects that determine if an opener will operate quietly, though. Internal components make a difference too. Overhead Door’s Odyssey® and Destiny® openers are good examples. Both have internal components that are entirely electronic. This allows them to incorporate DoorDetect™ monitoring and diagnostic technology, a system that helps the openers deliver the right amount of power at every stage of garage door operation for quieter starts and stops. The DoorDetect™ system also continuously monitors operation of the door and, if necessary, stops operation when significant changes occur to prevent damage and improve overall safety.

Overhead Door’s Odyssey® and Destiny® openers run on DC power instead of AC power, found in older openers. This allows the openers to operate quickly and efficiently, and run quietly. Instead of the loud noises, Odyssey® and Destiny® openers emit only a very low hum.

Safety, security and convenience features are more reasons to consider a new garage door opener. While old openers require a homeowner to open the garage door to turn on a light, many Overhead Door openers come with motion-activated lights that turn on when entering the garage. This is not only a great convenience and safety feature (no more tripping in the dark) but a great security feature, too.

Further security comes thanks to the CodeDodger® Access Security System, a digital code changing system used by Overhead Door® garage door openers to prevent someone from “grabbing” a radio signal that opens your door. With Odyssey® and Destiny® openers, homeowners can also choose to purchase additional safety accessories, including a battery backup that will keep an opener working during a power outage, or accessory remotes that will send an alert if the door doesn’t properly close.

Thinking about changing out that old opener? You can find more information about Overhead Door® garage door openers here, and by visiting your local Overhead Door distributor.