We live in a time where technology is embedded in different aspects of life, making things more convenient. Many households now leverage smart technologies through various devices to automate and simplify daily activities. One of the areas enjoying rapid advancements is the garage, and that’s due to the rise of smart home garage doors.
Smart garage doors feature modern upgrades and technologies that improve operation, monitoring and security. At the heart of these features are smart openers, which transform garage doors into intuitive devices.
What Are Smart Garage Door Openers?
A smart garage door opener uses Wi-Fi and sometimes Bluetooth to close, open, lock and monitor the garage door. It’s different from traditional openers that rely on a hand-held remote control device, which you must keep close to the door to operate. With a smart system, all you need to do is connect the opener to your home internet or to a central hub that facilitates the connection for you.
The latest openers are equipped with applications that let homeowners operate their garage door even when they’re away from home through the use of a smartphone or similar device. You can also integrate some smart control apps with virtual assistants or vehicles with smart features for hands-free operation.
Benefits of Smart Garage Door Openers
Investing in a smart garage door opener is a sound move for homeowners looking for convenience and better functionality. Consider the following smart garage door opener benefits if you’re in the market for an upgrade:
Wi-Fi Operation
Top opener brands have apps that allow you to add the opener to your home network’s list for wireless operation.
Modern LiftMaster® openers come with a built-in smart technology called myQ® Connectivity that offers remote access, so you can open and close the garage door from anywhere you have a stable connection. MyQ® lets you control the garage door via the myQ® smart home app, which you can install on your smartphone, tablet, vehicle console or smart hub. You can also choose to share control with other authorized users.
The app sends real-time activity alerts that you can act upon immediately. It also lets you schedule when the door opens and closes each day. These conveniences, which you can enjoy with the touch of a button, make it easy to control who comes and goes through your garage at all times — from loved ones and pet sitters to delivery workers.
Smart Home System Integration
With a smart garage door opener, convenience doesn’t stop with pressing buttons. Connecting your opener’s smart app to your smart home system lets you operate the door hands-free using voice commands.
If you own a LiftMaster® garage door opener, the hands-free operation using voice control only requires quick integration. Once you connect your opener to your home Wi-Fi and enable smart operation, you can enjoy the added perks of artificial intelligence and virtual assistants. Here are the steps to follow for your myQ® setup:
- Download and install myQ®: Download the app to your smartphone or tablet and set up your myQ® account. Open the app and add a new device as the garage door opener with Wi-Fi.
- Follow the prompts: Select your wall control switch type and press the learn button once on your garage door opener to put it on Wi-Fi mode. Once you hear a beeping sound, click next on the app. You will see your garage door opener appear on your home Wi-Fi list. Select your opener and choose your Wi-Fi connection on the next screen.
Security
One of the key benefits of a smart garage door opener is the extra layer of security. The use of an app to fully operate the door grants you more control while limiting access when necessary. These features help make smart garage openers a good investment in home security:
- Remote monitoring: The ability to check and control your garage door remotely is one of the most effective ways to discourage garage break-ins. To ensure real-time monitoring, smart openers send you instant alerts notifying you of your garage door’s status.
Automation: You can program your Wi-Fi-enabled opener to open and close at specific times, ensuring the door is secure and removing the vulnerability that comes with forgetting.
Temporary access: Smart openers also let you create temporary access codes for guests and service providers.
Programmable lights: Some smart garage door openers have programmable lights that you can schedule to turn on and off at different times of the day. This feature contributes to your garage door security by improving lighting and maintaining a home routine that discourages intruders.
Energy Efficiency
If you forget to close your garage door after leaving for the day, you risk wasting a lot of energy if your garage is climate-controlled. This is an easy fix with a smart opener — simply close the door with the touch of a button on your connected device.
Garage Door Diagnostics
If you’ve struggled with getting your garage door to close or open, you know how frustrating it can be trying to figure out what’s wrong. Select LiftMaster® and Chamberlain models connected to the myQ® app have a myQ Diagnostics® feature to help you troubleshoot and monitor the door’s status.
With error code notifications, you won’t have to guess what the issue is. You’ll know if it’s an easy fix or an issue that requires professional assistance. MyQ Diagnostics® also lets you add a connected dealer to your account and send them health reports for easier diagnosis. If you’re wondering which openers are compatible with myQ Diagnostics®, look for a label on your LiftMaster® opener that says Wi-Fi® or Powered by myQ®.
Garage Door Opener Installation
Like the door itself, opener installation requires professional installation to ensure safety and correct functionality. Garage door opener installation requirements vary based on factors like:
- Opener type: Openers can have one of several types of drive systems, such as belt drive and chain drive, that change the installation process. They also differ based on mounting options, such as overhead mounting and side mounting.
- Garage door type: Garages that have obstacles in the opener mounting area, such as piping and vents, require expert attention for proper installation that won’t disrupt the sensor and connectivity paths. Size is also a factor — heavier doors must have enough power for proper function.
- Electrical connection: Opener installation requires a proper connection to the power source. To ensure safety, an expert should handle electrical connections.
Maintenance Tips for Garage Door Openers
While openers are separate devices, they are still a part of your garage door system and have overlapping maintenance needs. Your door’s performance affects your opener’s functionality and service life. For example, keeping the door well-balanced ensures that the opener doesn’t strain when lifting and lowering the door. Some of your door’s moving parts also require regular cleaning and light lubrication.
Remember, your opener is a complex device that lifts the extreme weight of your garage door. To prevent the possibility of serious injuries, it’s best to bring in a trained technician to handle maintenance needs. That said, here are standard maintenance tips you can do in between scheduled maintenance to improve the life span of your smart garage door opener:
1. Inspect Opener Hardware
Perform a visual inspection periodically for signs of wear and tear on your opener. If components look worn and rusty, it’s time to replace the device. You also want to pay attention to nonvisual signs like the opener struggling to lift the door or producing unusual sounds.
2. Test Door Balance and Alignment
You should test your garage door’s balance and alignment once a month to help identify and correct misalignment, which causes stress on the opener. Disengage the door from the opener using the emergency release cord and try to raise and lower the door by hand. Close it halfway to see if it remains in place. If the door is hard to handle or moves from the halfway position, call a technician to correct the misalignment.
3. Test the Safety Reversal System
Garage opener technology comes with a safety reversal system designed to prevent the door from closing onto obstacles like vehicles, people and pets. Running a monthly test to ensure the auto-reverse feature works properly is good maintenance practice. Keep in mind that sectional doors have limit adjustments for how far the opener drops and lifts the door. Check with a professional to verify that the limits are correct before running the auto-reverse test.
Open the door fully and place a piece of two-by-four on the floor in the direct path of the door. Press the close button with the obstruction in place to see if the door reverses once it touches the piece of wood. If it doesn’t, call in a professional to inspect the door’s condition and the opener’s limit adjustment.
4. Lubricate Parts
Lubricate moving parts of your garage once a year using a silicone or white lithium lubricant. Apply the lubricant to rollers, hinges and bearings to help the door slide with ease and reduce stress on the opener. Once a year or two years, wipe away existing lubricant from your garage door opener rail and lightly reapply. Avoid oil-based lubricants because they attract dirt.
Future Trends in Smart Garage Technology
Garage door technology is constantly evolving due to rapid advancements in the industry. We’ve witnessed the rise of automation, Wi-Fi-enabled smart openers, energy efficiency and improved security in 2025 garage door trends. The future looks promising as manufacturers adapt to consumer needs, expanding on many of the current features. Here are some of the key future trends to look forward to:
Enhanced Opener Security
Current opener technology can improve your garage security through real-time alerts and increased control. You can tell if the garage door is open or closed and deter unauthorized access from afar. Some of today’s openers are even equipped with motion-detection lights for added protection and visibility. Future openers will likely be equipped with smarter, more intuitive security options.
Smart Home Integration
Some garage door openers already integrate with smart home systems. You can expect even deeper integration in the future, ensuring more diverse support with smart devices. Vehicle-to-garage communication is a good example. With applications like Homelink, you can pair your car with your opener the same way you do with a remote and operate the door using your car.
The expansion of smart home integration will lead to better interconnection. Many vehicle manufacturers are directly incorporating virtual assistants in their newer vehicles. This will mean you can use virtual assistants across all your devices, including your vehicle and opener, for a more seamless experience.
Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
Some of the best features of smart garage door systems are sustainability and energy efficiency. Modern garage doors use advanced insulation materials to improve insulation and lower heating and cooling costs.
With the future leaning toward sustainability, the latest technologies, like DC-powered openers, are set to become more widespread. Unlike traditional openers that use AC currents, DC openers have variable speed control that may help reduce overall energy consumption.
Smart Garage Door Openers From Cornwell Door Service
Upgrading your existing garage door opener to a smart opener exposes you to a range of advanced features that are not possible with older models. But how do you settle on a top-quality smart garage door opener, considering there are plenty of options on the market? That’s where Cornwell Door Service comes in. We are a premier garage door company serving homeowners and businesses across South Central Pennsylvania.
Our residential garage door opener product line features top-of-the-line models from LiftMaster®, an industry-leading brand. Here are some of the smart garage door openers we offer:
- LiftMaster 83650-267: A top-level chain drive smart opener with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and myQ® solutions
- LiftMaster 84504R: An ultra-quiet belt drive opener with diverse smart features like Wi-Fi, myQ®, camera and bright LED lights
- LiftMaster 8500W: A heavy-duty wall-mounted opener with smart features like Wi-Fi, myQ® and HomeLink®
- LiftMaster 85870: A heavy-duty ¾ HP AC Motor Chain Drive opener with Wi-Fi and myQ® solutions
- LiftMaster 87504-267: An ultra-quiet belt drive opener with a 360° LED motion detection light ring, Wi-Fi connectivity and myQ®
Request an Estimate From Cornwell Door
Cornwell Door Service is your go-to expert for all things garage doors, whether you need to install a new garage door, repair an existing one or upgrade to the latest smart opener technology. We have been in business for over four decades, establishing ourselves through quality and excellence. Request an estimate on your smart garage door opener today!