How Does a Smart Garage Door Opener Work?
Have you ever driven away from your house in a rush in the morning because you’re running late to work only to wonder if you actually closed the garage door when you left? You’re not alone! We’ve all been there.
Thankfully, as technology has continued to develop and be tailored to adding ease and convenience into our lives, smart home garage door openers have been created to make sure you never need to wonder if your garage door is open, closed, or somewhere between again.
You may be wondering,how does a smart home garage door opener work? We’re here to educate you on everything you need to know about how a smart garage door opener works and what to consider to make sure you choose the right smart garage door opener for your home. As the leader in DIY smart automatic swing gate openers and garage door openers, we want to make sure you can make an informed decision that will give you a sense of safety, security, and control. Keep reading to learn about how smart garage door openers work!
Let’s dive in!
Smart Garage Door Openers
So, What is a smart garage door opener, exactly?
At its most basic level, a smart garage door opener utilizes your wireless internet connection and sensors on your garage door rails and controller to transmit information to an associated app that allows you to remotely see if your garage door is open, shut, somewhere between, when it was last opened, and more. With this baseline understanding in mind, we’ll dive into how a smart garage door opener works and the different types to be on the lookout for.
How Does a Smart Garage Door Opener Work?
Smart garage door openers come in two main forms: add-on accessories that are compatible with your current motorized garage door opener and a smart garage door opener system like Mighty Mule that has a new motorized garage door opener that is designed to work together.
To have a fully functioning smart garage door opener, it is necessary to have a great opener system, along with a solid wifi connection. These components work together to give you an optimal smart garage door opener experience.
But do smart garage door opener systems and add on accessories give you the same components?
Let’s dive into each smart garage door opener option below.
Smart Garage Door Opener Systems
The primary difference between smart garage door opener add-on accessories and a smart garage door opener system is that add-on accessories are designed to be compatible with your existing garage door system, while a smart garage door opener system is specifically designed to be a single, cohesive system. A smart garage door opener system will include a garage door motor and a belt rail that will need to be installed in your garage, as well as other accessories, such as a transmitter and wall station to boost the smart capabilities of your system. Just as with an add-on accessory kit, a smart garage door opener system will have an associated app to allow you to remotely control and access the status of your garage door, with other capabilities and benefits differing based on the product package purchased.
While a smart garage door opener may be an additional initial cost, it will be designed to work together with the latest technology, which can help to prevent issues when using the system. In addition, since the entire smart garage door opener system is designed to work as one smart home system, it will more easily fit into the smart home ecosystem in your home, and depending on the product, work with your other smart home accessories to give you the most benefits possible. Now that you know the basics on how smart garage door openers work, it’s time to dive into the top considerations to keep in mind to find a smart garage door opener that works for you and your home.
Smart Garage Door Opener Add-On Accessories
One common type of smart garage door opener that you will run across is in the form of add-on accessories. If the smart garage door opener kit does not include a garage door motor and rails, then it is made to be compatible with your current motorized garage door opener. The type of garage door motor you currently have will be a key determinant in what options of smart garage door opener add-on accessories are available to you, which can be challenging.
The different features and items included in the accessory kit can vary significantly between different brands and often increased capabilities come with a higher price tag. With this in mind, let’s further explore how smart garage door opener add-on accessories work.
Smart garage door opener add-on accessories often include a controller and a sensor for in your garage. The controller will often attach to your existing garage door opener using a double-sided adhesive strip. To connect it to your existing garage door opener, the door controller will need two wires in it to be connected to the open and close command nodes on your existing garage door opener. The sensor add-on will often be attached to your garage door, allowing it to sense the position of the garage door and transmit this data to the associated app so you can easily and quickly determine whether or not your garage door is open or closed.
It’s important to note that smart garage door opener accessories work with your existing garage door remotes so they don’t need to be replaced. The new controller will connect to your Wi-Fi network, which means it is vital that you have a strong wireless internet connection that reaches out into your garage. Smart garage door opener add-on accessories often have an associated app that allows you to remotely access information about your garage door, as well as to help you walk through the general installation of the devices and get them connected into your network.
With this understanding in mind, it’s important to take a look at what a smart garage door opener system is and how it differs from smart garage door opener add-on accessories.
What to Consider When Looking For a Smart Garage Door Opener
We know it can be challenging and intimidating to scour through articles and information about new technology to glean out the information that matters to you and that’s why we’ve done the work for you - from automatic solar gate openers to smart garage door openers. Below are a handful of factors to keep in mind as you begin your search for the perfect smart garage door opener for your home.
- Budget: We know that your budget is one of the primary considerations for any purchase you are planning to make. Before you start searching for a smart garage door opener system, we recommend taking a look at your budget and seeing how much you are willing and able to spend on a smart garage door opener system. This will help narrow down the products that will work for you and will make sure that you are comfortable with what you are spending before you sit down to begin comparing products. It is also helpful to find out what extra components you may need in order to make your system complete. Do you need a specific type of light bulb or is it included in your system like with a Mighty Mule smart garage door opener? It’s important to figure these things out sooner rather than later.
- How You Will Use It: Before you start your search, we recommend sitting down and writing out a list of what features you are looking for in your ideal smart garage door opener system. Are you looking for it to replicate your garage door remote in an app form? Are you looking to be able to set up a scheduling system to automate its use? Are you looking for your smart garage door opener to send you an alert when it is opened or closed? Do you receive packages at home and have concerns that the product won’t be delivered safely? These are just a few examples, but they offer different functionality you could have with your smart garage door opener depending on how you are planning to use it.
- Longevity: If you’re looking for a lasting, high-quality system, it’s better to invest in a smart garage door opener system so that everything in the system is designed with cutting-edge technology.
- Installation: Another consideration when looking for a smart garage door opener is how you plan on installing it. Will you be hiring someone to install it for you? Or are you banking on purchasing a DIY system so you can save a little money on the installation process? Knowing this ahead of time will help you to choose the smart garage door opener system that is right for you.
As you can see, there are at least a few things to consider when looking for a smart garage door opener that fits your needs. Most importantly, you want to assess your budget, how you plan to use your smart garage door opener, and how long you intend on having a smart garage door opener.
At Mighty Mule, we’ve built our business around designing affordable products equipped with leading technology to make sure we can help make your life easier. That’s why we’ve manufactured smart garage door openers that can be accessed from virtually anywhere with our Mighty Mule smartphone app. Our smart garage door openers are also equipped with voice recognition that is compatible with Alexa and Google Home.
If you’re looking for a high-quality smart garage door opener to enhance the convenience and security of your home, take a look at our smart garage door openers. Learn more about garage door openers with The Mighty Mule Advantage, today!
Sources:
https://www.cnet.com/news/your-guide-to-a-smart-garage/
https://www.engadget.com/2018/06/29/the-best-smart-garage-door-controller/
https://www.the-ambient.com/reviews/best-smart-garage-door-openers-800
https://www.danleysgarageworld.com/smart-garage-door-opener/
