Garage door openers can start acting up between 10 to 15 years of their lifespan. Depending on the situation, choosing to fix your garage door opener instead of getting a garage door opener replacement is the cheaper option, but this is not always the case. Knowing whether you should replace instead of repairing your garage door opener can save you money in the long term. But how should you know whether you should repair or replace it? We discuss it here.
When You Should Repair
- When your garage door opener is relatively new, but causing issues. In such a case, your garage door opener should be repairable after a professional conducts a thorough inspection. What could be causing the problem might include loose parts or disconnected wires – either way, the fix should be relatively simple and your garage door opener should be working again with no problem.
- Your garage door opener is still under warranty. A warranty should offer you protection if something happens to your garage door opener within its time frame. However, you should note that warranties will cover malfunctions and not errors or tampering.
- If your repair bill does not exceed $300 and is a one-off thing, it should be worth it. Any more than that, however, and you should probably look into getting a new garage door opener instead.
When to Replace
- Your garage door opener is over 12 years old and often in use. In some homes, the garage is the main entryway to the home. You do not want to find yourself in a situation where you are unable to close or open your garage door. If your current garage door opener is causing frequent problems, a replacement might be more cost-effective and will spare you headaches.
- You will eventually have to replace a garage door opener in the future, and if your bill is over $300 for repairs, you might as well have a replacement done now.
- If your garage door was not installed properly, it will serve as a hazard to you, your family, and your belongings. A professional garage door specialist will be able to help you identify if your door’s issues were the result of improper installation, and help you replace your garage door opener the right way.
- If you have an older garage door or garage door opener, you might want to get a new one with upgraded features such as a silent door or one with the technology to connect to your home.
Should You Replace or Repair It?
Whether it is more cost-effective for you to replace or repair your garage door opener depends on a number of factors. If your garage door opener is older, goes through a lot of use, and is giving you frequent problems, it might be time to replace it. If you have a newer garage door opener, a repair job should do the trick. If the costs of your repair are high, you might also want to replace it instead. Lastly, if you are looking for upgraded features, a replacement would be more suitable than a repair.
