Ceiling-mounted garage door opener with its rail and power cord

Garage door opener replacement checklist: what to reuse, what to replace, and California's battery backup law (SB 969)

An opener swap is mostly the old install in reverse plus the new install, but three things decide the job: the door must be balanced (springs are BLOCKED for us), the new safety sensors and wall control that come with the opener are normally installed with it (old ones are rarely compatible), and in California every residential opener sold or installed since July 1, 2019 must have a battery backup. A replacement door also may not be connected to an existing opener in California that lacks battery backup. Penalty: $1,000 per violation.

Cross-checked ~180 min moderateBrands: All

Before you start

BLOCKED: springs, cables and drums; refer to a trained garage door technician if the door is not balanced
Close the door and unplug the old opener before removal; clamp the track so the door cannot move
Do not reuse old safety sensors or wall controls unless the new opener's manual says they are compatible

Diagnostic steps

Unlock all 6 steps with expected values

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