Garage Workshop Transformation – Replace the Garage Door Opener

Normally I’m a fix it instead of replace it kind of gal. Except when it comes to my garage door opener. I’ve had issues with it refusing to close and the door popping open after tinkering with it for years. 

The break in last summer was the last straw. I’m giving in to my geek side instead of my green side. I replaced my old garage door opener with an uber sweet Craftsman Assurelink Garage Door Opener that allows me to open and close the garage door with my smart phone.

I was so excited about having a garage door opener that works 24/7  I hugged the box after the UPS man delivered it. Blitzkrieg will recreate that scene for you now.

The things I do for this woman. And treats. Lots of treats.

Even though I was excited at the prospect of having a garage door opener that worked, I had a few reservations.

1. Liftmaster makes the Craftsman Assurelink Garage Door Opener. My old garage door opener is a Liftmaster. Since I am the only house in the neighborhood with a wonky Liftmaster, I hoped it was anomaly and I got a bad unit or something. After installing the new garage door opener, it seams this is the case. 
2. Parts of this installation are going to be a two person project. Husband hates to be my holder upper guy. I asked someone else to be my holder upper guy. I told him I would pay him with Internet fame for his help. Give it up for Father in Law!

 If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you might already know this.

3. I had to buy a socket set because of course; I didn’t have a size in my current set for the project. I decided to buy instead of borrow because I will most likely need a larger socket set for future projects. This meant a trip to the store with Father in Law in tow where he tried to spend all of my money on tools - and I almost let him.

Fortunately, I got out of there with this socket and bit set. Although we admired the planers on the way to cash register...

Installing the Craftsman Assurelink Garage Door Opener

Assembling the Assurelink Garage Door Opener together wasn’t hard with the exception of the washer pictured below. I had to fight a bit to get the locking washer onto pins that held everything together. In hindsight, you want this part of the assembly to be snug and tough to take apart because it keeps the door from slamming shut. But at the time, it felt like a small victory to get the belt together in the correct order and lock. I took a picture to celebrate I finally got that turkey together.

Seriously, folks if this little washer is the most difficult part of the process, it proves the assembly and installation isn’t that difficult.

I turned off the electricity to the garage door opener at the breaker box because being electrocuted by live wires can ruin your day – permanently.

The next step is where you need a holder upper helper. Father in law and I unbolted the old garage door opener from the door and ceiling brackets. We took care in removing the old garage door opener without destroying it because I am donating it to the Habitat Restore. I’m sure whoever buys it from the Restore can install it so it won’t have the same sensor issues we had with it.

Smell ya later!

I reused the old opener’s door bracket, unit bracket, and wiring which made for an easy install because we bolted the door track and unit into the existing brackets and called it a night because Husband had dinner ready. Part of the deal was we feed Mother and Father in law in exchange for the help.

 

Getting close!

The next day with the electricity still off at the breaker, I finished the wiring installation. I removed the old door control and installed the Craftsman door control. Once you see my video below you’ll understand why I made the switch.

 Notice that the wires are clearly marked. Thanks Craftsman!

Attaching the door sensors to the existing garage wiring was a snap too. However, setting the door sensor brackets at a level and even height  is easier if you have a helper.

Hey Lisa, you should set the door sensors a maximum of five inches from the garage floor.

Who has opposable thumbs.

Like this guy.

Thanks for the help Husband! 
I appreciate the help because I know it's not Husband's  thing. 

This way you each of you can fiddle with a sensor to make them perfectly level on each side of the door. After we aligned the sensors, husband went inside the house, I popped the backup battery into the garage door opener (spend the extra money for this feature. It's already saved me during a blackout) and finished the installation on my own.

I turned the breaker back on to and programmed the remotes and door control. This is basically standing on a ladder and pushing a button on the main unit. I also tested the door safety controls to make sure the sensors were properly aligned.

Everything works as it should.

It is time to get to the brains of the outfit and install the Craftsman Assurelink Gateway.

Installing the Craftsman Assurelink Gateway is as simple as plugging it into your router and putting your information into the Craftsman Assurelink Gateway web form. You can install it into either a wired or a wireless router.

Next, you need to download the Craftsman app onto your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone and you are ready to go!

Craftsman Assurelink Garage Door Opener Review

I made a video that shows you the Craftsman Assurelink Garage Door opener in action as well as my review Pros and Cons review list. Please be kind. This is my first video review and I stumble over my words a little bit.

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Disclosure: Craftsman supplied product to facilitate this review. However, this did not influence my opinion. All opinions are my own and longtime readers know I am very opinionated.