Just picture yourself getting ready to leave the home promptly in the morning, only to discover that your garage door is stuck. Many people don’t think about how useful it is that their garage door motor works until it stops. After then, opening and closing it by hand becomes a chore. It would be foolish of a contemporary house to lack a functional garage door motor.
The good news is that you can fix your garage door motor if it breaks down. The garage door motor is something that handy homeowners and do-it-yourselfers can change on their own. Here are four key points to keep in mind before you begin.

How Long Do Garage Door Motors Typically Last?
How many years a garage door motor usually lasts is dependent on several things. Most of the time, a garage door motor will last for 10 to 15 years. The size, weight, and kind of motor, as well as the frequency of usage, will determine the exact duration of this guarantee. The load on the engine is the determining factor.
On average, a garage door motor will only need to be replaced after 10,000 opening and closing cycles. It will take more time to achieve that figure if you don’t use your garage door regularly.
If your garage door is big or you use a motor with less horsepower, you put more stress on it, which could make it break sooner. It is suggested to use a motor with 80 watt for a twin garage door or 100 watt for a hefty or accentuated door.
How long it lasts is dependent on the motor type. There are four different types to choose from:
Chaindrive: This is the most budget-friendly choice, but it also makes the most noise and doesn’t last as long as the other three. The chain accelerates wear and tear due to the high levels of metal-on-metal friction it generates.
Belt drive: Although it’s a little more costly, a belt drive opener for garage doors is far less noisy. This motor’s rubber belt design reduces friction, which in turn increases its durability. In addition to being able to connect to your home Wi-Fi, it also comes with a battery backup. But depending on the weather, the rubber belt can wear out sooner rather than later.
Screwdrive: An upscale alternative, the screw-drive motor raises the garage door with the help of a revolving screw rod. This motor is very silent. On the other hand, it’s susceptible to temperature fluctuations and needs maintenance twice a year.
Directtransport: Because it relies only on a motor to open and shut the door, the most costly and silent alternative, the direct-drive motor, requires almost no maintenance. You can also discover automatic reverse features on a lot of these motors.
4 Things To Keep In Mind Before Replacing Your Garage Door Motor
If you’re handy around the house, you can probably fix or replace the motor on your garage door on your own. But you’ll have to replace electrical components, such as control panels and safety sensors, as well as move large objects and operate from heights. A repairman should be contacted if you feel uneasy about any of these aspects.
Before you start fixing your garage door on your own, there are a few things you should know.
The challenges of DIY garage door motor replacement
Changing out the motor on a garage door is an amiably challenging DIY task. Have someone to assist on hand when you replace components because of the heights and weight of the objects. When setting up the new track and motor for the garage door, this is of the utmost importance.
Improper installation of a replacement motor for a garage door may potentially lead to injury or property damage. The door and other heavy components are held in place by a number of components, including the garage door spring. Feel free to swap out any worn, broken, or otherwise questionable components. If your garage door opener breaks, either consult the owner’s manual or get a specialist.
Acquire All Required Equipment
Make sure you have all of the necessary equipment before you begin installing your garage door opener. Read the installation or manufacturer’s handbook for the kind of garage door opener motor you want to install. Collect any equipment that is specified.
Here are some common equipment needed for a garage door replacement project:
- Flathead screwdriver
- Drill
- Open-ended wrench
- Ladder
- Tape measure
Is It Possible To Reuse Screws And Rails?
It might be tempting to reuse the existing tracks, door controls, and remote devices when swapping out the motor for your garage door. You should utilize replacement components even if your new motor could fit into the old hardware. Reusing existing components won’t be a time saver when difficulties arise during installation.
Over time, new garage door motors have undergone design changes. Due to the high number of metal- on-metal components, older garage door openers were both noisy and short-lived. Many modern versions have updated to employ nylon-to-metal components, which makes them more sturdy and reduces noise. It will also be more difficult to diagnose the issue in the event that a component fails if
you employ both new and old components.
Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions while setting up a garage door opener. This involves using brand-new components.
Garage door keypads and remotes may need to be reprogrammed if you replace the motor. This is a simple and useful procedure to remember in case you ever need to replace the garage door remote or change the password for your home security system’s keypad.
How To Reprogram a Garage Door Keypad:
- Get on a ladder and find the “learn” button on the device that controls your garage door.
- Get to the keypad after pressing the “learn” button and turning on the light. There is only 30 seconds left until the light turns off, so you may wish to enlist the help of an assistant if you can.
- Plug in your updated four-digit PIN.
- Hit the enter key. If the keypad beeps or flashes, it means it has accepted the new code.
- Verify the updated code. If the garage door still won’t open after entering the new code on the keypad, try again or consult the handbook for more troubleshooting steps.
How To Reprogram a Garage Door Opener Remote Control:
- Verify that the garage door motor and remote are compatible. For compatibility information, consult the user manual or do an internet search for your remote control.
- Find the “learn” button on your garage door motor by climbing up a ladder.
- Turn the light on and press the “learn” button.
- Keep the light turned on and then use the remote’s “open” button.
- Please wait about 30 seconds after the “learn” light has gone off before attempting to use the remote. Retry these procedures or consult the handbook for more troubleshooting if the door still won’t open.
What is the going rate for a new garage motor?
Get a specialist to help you out if you’re not comfortable changing the motor on your garage door. Garage door opener replacement costs may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the model, horsepower, and brand you choose.
Average cost by type:
PRODUCTS | PRICE |
Chain-drive motor | R2999 – R5,999 |
Average cost by brand:
Centurion – R2,999 – R5,999
DC Blue – R1,999 – R3,999
Gemini – R1,999 – R3,999
The garage door opener isn’t the most expensive part of the process. One major component of costs is labor. The typical cost of labor for this job is between R800 to R1500, and it typically takes about two hours to do.
The total cost of the job would be around R3,500 if you were to buy a DC Blue garage door opener and pay the lowest possible labor rate.