How to Select the Right Garage Door Remote

It’s a good idea to always have an extra garage door remote on hand in case you somehow lose or damage your primary remote. People don’t often think about the possibility of something happening to their garage door remote, but it’s actually more common than you might imagine. As the area’s most trusted garage door installation company we get calls from people all the time who find themselves on the wrong side of a stuck garage door with no remote to open it. Don’t let this happen to you. In this article we’ll go over some of the things to keep in mind when selecting a garage door remote so that you can be sure you’re getting the right one.

Garage Door Installers Explain How to Select a Remote for Your Door

Every garage door manufacturer produces replacement remotes for its doors. In addition there are some electronics companies that produce universal remotes that work with most brands of garage door. Before picking either a proprietary remote or a universal remote you need to first determine whether you need a full size or mini remote and what features you need on that remote. Here are the essential steps to take when choosing a garage door remote.

• Step 1: Get the relevant garage door opener information - If you still have the owner's manual that the garage door installation company left you it should provide you with the brand and model number of the opener. This information is vital in making sure you get the right opener for your system. If you’ve lost the paperwork on your garage door opener someone will need to get on a ladder and look at the motor unit that is attached to the ceiling in the garage. It should be easy to find the model number and manufacturer. When you do take a picture of it with your smartphone. This information will allow you to purchase an exact replica of the original remote from the manufacturer.
• Step 2: Decide if you want a proprietary or universal remote - A proprietary remote is one produced by the manufacturer for your specific garage door opener. The advantage of this type of remote is that you can be 100% sure that it will open your current garage door. By contrast, a universal remote is designed to work with many (but not necessarily all) different types of garage door installation. What’s the advantage of that? Well, if you have two homes your one universal remote can be programmed to open both doors. Also, let’s say that, like most people you have one home. If you decide at some future date to have the garage door installers install a new door, your universal remote can also be programmed to open that one.
• Step 3: Selecting the buttons - If you have more than one garage door that you want to control with a universal remote then you will need at least two buttons on that remote. If you want to control two doors and a garage light with the remote you’ll need three buttons. Most universal garage door remotes come with up to four buttons. So determine ahead of time exactly how many devices you wish to control and then get a remote with the correct number of control buttons. Of course, if you are purchasing a proprietary remote just to open the specific make and model of door on your house then this won’t be an issue.
• Step 4: Purchasing the remote - Once you know what type of overhead door remote you want and what you want it to do, it’s time to purchase that remote. If you are buying a proprietary remote you can contact the garage door installation company that installed your door and ask them if they have the remote you’re looking for. Chances are good they will. If they don’t you can contact the manufacturer of the garage door opener and either purchase the remote from them, or they will direct you to where you can purchase it. If, on the other hand you have decided to go with a universal remote you can purchase it through Amazon or any of a number of other online retailers. Just make sure you’re buying it from the manufacturer and not from a private seller.
• Step 5: Program the remote - If you have decided to purchase a proprietary remote setting it up should be a very simple and straightforward process. The remote should come with an instruction booklet that will tell you exactly which buttons to hold and release and in what specific pattern to sync the remote to your door. With a universal remote the process is a bit more involved, but still not exactly complicated. You’ll have to first set the dip switches that indicate the specific brand of garage door opener you have. Once you do that you then set the radio frequency. Everything should be explained in detail in the instruction manual. If you have any doubts or questions call the local garage door installation pros and ask if they can send someone out to do it for you.

Don’t forget you also have the option of replacing your garage door remote with a wireless keypad. The wireless keypad is typically mounted to the wall inside the garage. Many wireless keypads are also now available that can be remotely controlled via smartphone apps. Talk to the professionals at A Better Garage Door to learn more.