Manual vs. Electric Garage Doors: The Pros and Cons

There are two types of garage doors commonly found in homes across the country: manual and electric. Each type of door has its unique benefits and drawbacks. Do you know which is better for your home? Here we've identified the major pros and cons to each type.

Manual Garage Doors

Manual garage doors are most commonly found in older homes. These doors are usually affixed on large hinges, and are operated by physically lifting the door open and closed.

Manual Garage Door Pros

These days, manual doors are much less common than their electric counterparts. There are, however, still a few reasons one might consider installing this type of door. For instance, they are usually a cheaper, more budget friendly option. Installation is usually much simpler as well as there are no electronic components. And since manual doors operate without batteries or electricity, your door will still work in a power outage. Plus, you won't have to worry about replacing remote batteries.

Manual Garage Door Cons

The downsides to a manual garage door outweigh the positives for many homeowners. The biggest drawback is often the manual operation of the door. There is nothing convenient about having to get out of your car and physically lift your garage door open in order to park each day. For some homeowners, this process may be too physically demanding.

Electric Garage Doors

Electric garage doors have been around since the 1920's, but weren't popularized until after WWII.The most popular type of electric garage door is the sectional door. These doors are usually comprised of three to eight sections, hinged together and attached to rollers on a metal track. The door is connected to an opener, and when activated it pulls the door up along the track into the garage. There are five types of garage door openers: chain drive, belt drive, screw drive, direct drive, and jackshaft. The most popular is a chain drive opener, which works much like a bicycle chain to raise and lower the door.

Electric Garage Door Pros

Electric garage doors are the most popular choice among homeowners nationwide. This is largely due to their convenience. The ability to raise and lower your garage door with a push of a button is far easier than opening a manually operated door. But with electric doors, there are many additional features you can add to further improve your garage door. Electric doors openers often have lights that automatically turn on when the door is opened, illuminating your garage for you when you arrive home. Garage door remotes allow instant access to your garage while still in your car, and electronic keypads allow for easy keyless entry.

Electric garage doors have an array of safety features as well. This includes sensors that detect objects in the door's path. When triggered, they will either stop or reverse the direction of the door to prevent damage or injuries. And while your electric door will not work fully in a power outage, they come equipped with a release cord. This allows you to to raise or lower the door manually in an emergency.

Electric Garage Door Cons

The downsides to electric garage doors are minimal. Because of their many components, installation of electric doors is often more time consuming. These doors often tend to be the more expensive option as well. There is also added maintenance that comes with owning an electric garage door.

Ready to Upgrade?

If your home has a manual door and you'd like to upgrade, get in touch with us. We provide free estimates on all new door installations. And if your existing electric garage door could use some maintenance, we can often provide same-day service! Give Hamburg Overhead Door a call today.