Is It Time to Replace Your Garage Door Opener?

We had a call from a customer recently — let’s call him Joe.

Joe lives in Bethlehem and had a garage door opener that was, by his estimate, about 20 years old. When we checked our records, we found it was actually installed sometime around late 2002… so let’s call it 22 years old.

Joe called us because he was experiencing some strange behavior with his opener. He told us:

“I went out to open the garage this morning. The opener made noise like it was running, but the door didn’t move. Then I tried it again — same thing. But on the third try, the door finally went up. It did that a few more times, and now I’m nervous it’s just going to leave me stuck in the house one day.”

Sound familiar?

When Is It Time to Replace?

In Joe’s case, the signs were pretty clear:

• The opener was running but not lifting the door

• It worked sporadically, which is worse than not working at all — it’s unpredictable

• The opener was over two decades old

After talking through the situation, we explained to Joe that it sounded like the gear and sprocket assembly inside the opener was likely worn out. That’s common for openers in this age range. The motor still runs, but the gear can’t grip and lift the door consistently.

Repair or Replace?

Yes, you can replace the gear and sprocket, but by the time you factor in parts and labor, you're getting close to the cost of a brand-new opener — one that’s quieter, safer, and packed with better features.

That’s why most customers in Joe’s situation opt for a full replacement. It’s more cost-effective in the long run and gives peace of mind.

What We Recommended

We walked Joe through his options:

• A contractor-grade opener for basic functionality

• A mid-range model with quiet operation, LED lighting, and optional camera

• A top-tier opener with battery backup, integrated camera, and smart home features

Joe liked his old belt-drive model and wanted something quiet and reliable, so he chose the mid-range LiftMaster unit — a solid choice for most homeowners.

We were able to schedule an inspection the very next day and had him lined up for a new opener install later that week.

Lessons from Joe’s Call

If your garage door opener:

• Is more than 15 years old

• Runs but doesn’t open the door

• Works sometimes, but not reliably

• Sounds louder than it used to

• Lacks modern safety or connectivity features

…it might be time to think about a replacement.

Give us a call — we’re happy to take a look, talk through your options, and help you decide what makes sense for your home.