Battery Backup: Why is it a good idea?

As we head into the winter season, windstorms, snow, hail, and other weather emergencies can strike at any time. Winter weather can cause power outages that can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Installing a garage door battery backup or upgrading your opener to one that has battery backup capabilities is a very wise idea come wintertime. Having this handy feature will save you the headache of being forced to lift the garage door manually to get your car in and out, but it could also save your life if you need to exit your house quickly in an emergency.

Battery backups are small 12-volt batteries designed to kick in when a power outage occurs. Brands like LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Mastercraft, Genie, and Linear all manufacture battery backups. A fully charged battery backup can operate for up to 20 full cycles (one cycle = open and close one time) within a 24 hour standby period. Battery backups give homeowners plenty of time to get their cars out of the garage and park outside in the event of a power outage.

Battery backups are included in a number of newer garage door openers like the LiftMaster 8550WLB, 8500W, WLED, 8160WB, and 8360WLB. After the destructive fire season of 2017, California passed a law dictating that all new garage doors and openers must have a battery backup installed. If homeowners do not comply with the law, they can face a hefty fine of $1,000. Battery backups generally cost less than $50 and a new opener with a battery backup included will cost around $500. Needless to say, either option is far cheaper than a $1,000 fine.

Contact one of our reputable dealers near you and they will be happy to install one of these handy safety features for you.