[Red Squirrel]

This is something often not thought of, but a garage door is VERY easy to get in. I forgot to lock my car last night, someone stole the garage door opener and also opened the door and left it open all night. Nothing was stolen, but they'll most likely be back.

If they had not stole the opener, they could simply get another and try all the frequencies until it works... so having the wireless opener active may not be so much a good idea.

Another security issue, even with the opener unplugged, a garage door is VERY easy to open. You simply have to lift the door.

What I will do is get some heavy duty bolts, chain and hooks, so I can chain the door so it can't open.

Home owners, double check your garage door security, you'd be surprised how easy it is to break into!

 

[Red Squirrel]

Red, I just remembered the other thing that I was going to mention. Modern openers have rolling frequencies, and they will not work until synch'd with the opener itself. Check your manual, but I believe that you will find that you can "cleanse" the opener, so that none of your remotes work, and can then reprogram the remotes that you do have to work, which should render the stolen one useless.

This one has dip switches in the remote if I remember, there is probably dip switches in the opener itself (don't see any on the outside). But even if I change it, they'll just try all the combinations until they get in. I just unplugged it.

What I'll do is install a timer switch for that outlet, when I want to use the opener I hit the switch then hit the inside button to open it after I undid the latches. The reason for the timer is so I don't have to remember to turn it off.


For now, I have a bunch of 2x6 leaning against the door, if they try to pull it up they'll get bombarded and it will make lot of noise and hopefully catch someone's attention, also added a falling shovel as a finishing touch. :thumbup:

 

[Red Squirrel]

I just bought two of U bolts, 1 foot chain, and spring hooks. All heavy duty. I'll install this setup on both sides. Basically U bolt with chain in it, then the spring hook into the chain and into one of the hinges. It aint moving.

I don't have time tonight but when I get around to it I'll also rig something so when it gets forced up, it makes a loud alarm, so they'll pull it up, it will hit the chain and stop, and the alarm will sound until they let go. I have a 180db siren somewhere in my junk box, I'll throw it in the soffit so that it's technically outside but out of view. Should be a decent surprise!

 

[Red Squirrel]

This is not true.

The door is locked solidly to the opener, the opener motor is connected inside the unit by a worm drive assembly. Pulling the door up cannot spin the opener motor through the worm drive. If the opener is properly attached to the door the only way the door can be lifted manually is if the emergency rope is pulled.

Not mine, it can be either opened by the opener, or manually. There's a pull cord above to slide the door up. I usually just use one of the middle latches and pull up with my finger.

This is what I did on both sides to solve this unauthorized entry issue.

I'll have to open up the opener to play around with the dip switches or see if the wireless can be disabled, but for now it's unplugged. If they try now it will burn out the motor.

 

[Red Squirrel]

No, I mean if it was plugged. Have to fix it (change dip switches or disable wireless) before I plug it back in. :laughing:

 

[Red Squirrel]

I can lift it from outside, but it's just there's not much grip so it's hard to do. The cord does not really release anything, it just pulls on the chain which pulls the door up/down. I can also just grab one of the center hinges of the door and pull up. The torsion bar makes this quite effortless. A crook could probably stick a crow bar under, lift a bit, then do the rest by hand.

Well, not anymore. I went overkill with those chains and U bolts, but you can never be too overkill when it comes to combating crooks. :thumbup:

 

[Red Squirrel]

I seen those, and I have also seen fully manual doors have a handle and key in the center (outside). Mine did not have that setup though. Suppose that could have been another way of doing it as well. Either way, nobody is going to come into my garage very easily now. If they manage it, their effort wont really have been worth it. It's not like I have bars of gold in there lol.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Sounds like you need a new opener.

I have installed and repaired hundreds of openers and have never seen one that would allow the door to be lifted manually without first tripping the emergency release. Either something is broken, worn out or not installed correctly. Most would not even close the door without the door solidly connected to the opener trolley. A properly adjusted door wants to stay open, the opener has to push it at least partway down before gravity will take over.

The timer mechanism and all the extra locking chains kinda negate the purpose of even having the door opener. If you have to get out to unlock, then close and re-lock you may as well just remove it and install a slide latch. Not saying that is a bad thing but I kinda like just pushing the button when it is sub zero or pouring rain.

A modern basic opener will have rolling code technology, auto reversing, and safety photo eyes. It will actually lock the door in the closed position, can be had for around $130 and is an easy diy project.

Not sure how old this opener is, but it was probably not a very expensive one. At one point I thought the motor was burnt as it suddenly stopped working when the door was open. So I closed it manually. Next day it worked. It "closed" the door (chain was moving to bring the "hook" to the close position), then I hit the button again and it opened, then I closed it again. But after this whole incident, it occurred to me that if I was able to close it manually when it stopped working, then I probably can open it manually, and sure enough, I can.

But yeah at this point the auto opener is kinda pointless, though I don't plan on putting my car in there anymore. I want to eventually turn it into a shop and having the car in there makes it really messy with the sand and salt, not to mention with the heat, the salt eats at the car faster. It was a nice luxery, but think I'll do without like I did for the years before.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It came with the house, no manual. Just figured it was the way it is. Though before I tried to open it manually I did figure it locked, but when I found out it does not, did not figure it was suppose to. Guess one day I could fix that, though I don't see anything obvious that would stop it from opening.

It was summer when it happened, so that's why the car was outside. I since got a security system, so I'm not as worried now. I actually hope they try, because the cops will show up. Though I have a security sign on the lawn and stickers on the doors/windows, so they'd be pretty dumb if they tried.

I plan to eventually turn the garage into a shop so I wont be using it for my car, so it's not a big deal to just undo the latches manually.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Dogs wont do anything in a situation like that, they'll just get shot. Would not want to place a pet at the front lines of danger. When someone wants to break into a home they're there to cause the maximum trouble possible. There has been cases of people breaking in to homes and putting any small pets in the microwave, setting it to 99:59 and leaving after trashing the rest of the house. Some people are psychopaths.

I've since got an alarm system and have stickers everywhere so I'm not as worried anymore. Only thing I need to do eventually is add cameras as well. I plan to turn the garage into a shop so I will need it very secure once all my tools are in there.