Installing your garage door opener is not an easy feat. However, it isn’t impossible. If you are already handy with tools and with little do-it-yourself projects at home, then you might find installing your own garage door opener a fun experiment. If you haven’t tried putting up your own opener, you might want to ask for a little help from anyone at home.

Here are the four steps that you have to follow in order to install your new garage door opener:

1. Check the garage door. Before you start assembling and installing the garage door opener, inspect the garage door and its parts. Ensure that all the parts are working and that there is proper door balance. Check if there are any rusting or broken parts and if there are any wobbly pieces that may need to be fixed before installing a new opener. Test if the door also closes and opens as it should. You may need to have your garage door repaired before you install an opener. This makes sure that you won’t encounter any problem after the opener is already installed. After, you need to prepare it for installation. Lubricate the parts and remove cords that are in the way.

2. Lay out all the parts and start putting everything together. Once you have checked the garage door, it is time to lay out all the parts that came in your opener kit. Check if all the parts on the list are included in the package. Set up motor on a ladder for a quicker installation while you put together the main assembly. Ensure that the ladder aligns the motor to the center of the garage door. Put together the rail and attach them as directed. Slide in the carriage over the rail and attach it to the motor. Then, install the pulley at the end of the rail opposite to the motor. Feed either the belt or chain through the end of the rail, around the pulley, and around the other end of the motor. Finally, attach the belt or chain to the carriage with the screw.

3. Install blocking on the ceiling and locate point of connection on garage door. If you don’t have blocking on your ceiling, you may need to install one. This allows you to attach the motor to the ceiling. The kit already comes with specific instructions on the blocking that the opener needs. Ensure that you are attaching the blocking to the joists in your ceiling. The specific distance from the top of the garage door to the opener motor will be specified by the instructions in the kit. This is why putting up your motor in the first place will make the process easier. Then, attach the bracket and insert the end of the main assembly to the top of the garage door as per the instructions. Lift the motor and mount it on the ceiling with durable straps or angle iron. Lastly, attach the bracket to the garage door.

4. Install the additional features. Before you finish up your installation, install the rest of the features that your garage door opener has. This includes the emergency release rope, light bulbs on the main compartment, the electric safety eyes, and the keypad wall control. Make sure that the emergency release cord is adjusted accordingly so kids cannot reach it. Light bulbs should be suitable for rough use since the opener vibrates with every use. Check with your manual for the most suitable bulb. With the safety eyes, you may need to run down wires to the bottom sides of the garage door and to the eyes. Ensure that you’re following the instructions for the wiring.

About the Author:
Kristy Jones is a DIY fan and enthusiast. She loves implementing life hacking topics especially about home improvements. She loves to declutter the home and would love to volunteer to help others live a clutter-free life. As the lead content curator for A Click Away Remotes, Kristy also contributes on writing other informative articles about basic architecture and house renovation.