How much do automatic garage door openers cost?

[CTyankee]

We have one that is at least as old as we've had the house (22 years) but I don't know when it was bought. It's in pretty good condition but often "stutters." That could be a fault with the "starter" button or whatever you call it. Sometimes I can't get the remote to work either. Would it pay just to replace those two items and paint the front and back? We won't be in this house much longer than another year or so...

[liberal N proud]

1. Depends on the application

Door type and weight, springs etc all need to be considered.

Average $175

http://www.lowes.com/pd_248739-38782-G248739_4294858065_4294937087_?productId=3041396&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Garage%2BDoors%2Band%2BOpeners_4294858065_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=


I managed to get one on clearance at Lowes a couple of years ago for $110, nice high end belt drive model.

[CTyankee]

2. Oops, I meant to ask first about how much a whole new door and application would cost.

But maybe all I really need is a new application...

thanks for the info

[jeff47]

3. You can replace the button and the remotes for pretty cheap.

The way the button works is it electrically shorts two screws on the opener. That short signals the opener that it's time to do it's thing.

There are replacement kits you can buy with a new "button" and new remotes. Since all they have to do is short those terminals, they'll still work on the old opener.

One example: http://www.lowes.com/pd_243495-38782-955D_4294763920_4294937087_?productId=3659328

I've seen kits in the $20-40 range.

[CTyankee]

4. so what is happening when the door "stutters" (stops on the way up or down and hesitates)?

[jeff47]

5. First guess would be lack of lubrication

(I'm assuming a roll-up door here. If the door is a single, solid panel the mechanism is slightly different)

First, confirm it's the opener and not the door sticking. Close the door, then pull the release handle on the opener to disconnect the opener from the door. Then open the door manually. Does it stick when you open it by hand? It should move smoothly.

If it sticks, then it's not the opener. Try to figure out what, exactly, the door is sticking on. A common problem is the pieces of the track are no longer aligned, so the rollers have to go over a large bump in the track. Another common problem is the rollers themselves have worn out or otherwise failed.

If the door opens fine by hand, make sure the opener's chain and the door's track are well-lubricated. In addition, the chain may have collected a whole lot of gunk over the years. If it seems really, really dirty, you may want to clean it. If you do clean it, do not operate the opener while cleaning it. You don't want your rag to get stuck in the chain and get pulled into something important, or pull something important off you.

Beyond that, my usual response has been to replace the opener, because a repair guy costs about the same as a new opener.

[CTyankee]

6. thanks. excellent advice!