There are three levels of horsepower found in most garage doors.
Garage door opener hp calculator.
1 3 will be able to lift a one car garage door 1 2 is best for dual car or sectional doors around 300 pounds and 3 4 up to 1 5.
Personally i would steer away from 1 3 hp models unless you have a lightweight 1 car garage door.
Drive type garage door openers are available with chain drive systems screw drive and belt drive.
Look for horsepower hp ratings to compare the lifting power between garage door opener models.
Wall mounted is also an option for torsion spring setups and saves space overhead.
An opener with at least 1 2 horsepower is common for residential use.
Two car garages or one car garages with insulated or wooden doors need at least a 3 4 horsepower garage door opener.
Most openers are available in 1 2 hp through 1 25 horsepower ratings.
Some direct drive models are coming to the market as well.
The horsepower needed for your garage door opener is dependent on whether or not you want a long lasting opener verses replacing it every few cycles or the size of the door.
If you have a sectional double car garage door a 1 2 horsepower motor should be sufficient but a higher power model will operate with less effort and less.
Look for an opener that has the horsepower necessary for your garage door size based on size and weight.
Horsepower is really just a starting point for garage door openers.
Garages with carriage doors should opt for 1 hp garage door openers or higher.
How much garage door opener horsepower is enough.
Having the right horsepower for your garage door opener is a crucial part of a properly functioning door.
For example if you would like to lift a double garage door one might suggest using a 1 2 horsepower because the door is heavier and larger.
If you are unsure get a 3 4 horsepower or higher.
You use it every single day and usually several times and that means you need it to run properly for convenient living.
Most modern door openers are now belt driven because it is much quieter than the old chain or screw models.
Garage door openers typically range from 1 3 to over 1 horsepower.
Modern high quality 1 2 hp models are suitable for most 1 and 2 car garage doors.
They are also the most common and the most popular.
One car garages with steel doors only need a 1 2 horsepower garage door opener.
Your garage door is one of the largest and heaviest pieces of moving equipment in your home.
