From LED to standard bulbs, you may wonder which ones are best for your garage door opener. This may be on your mind because you may have recently switched out all your traditional bulbs throughout the rest of your home to be more energy efficient and save money. With lamps and overhead lights, LED bulbs can certainly make a difference, lasting longer yet using far less energy.

In fact, when compared to traditional incandescents, light emitting diodes (LEDs) use between 25 and 80 percent less energy and can last up to 25 times longer, according to Energy.gov.

That all being said, LEDs aren’t always the best choice when it comes to your garage door opener. Why? LED bulbs can block the frequency of your remote, which can then interfere with the opening and closing of your door. Regular bulbs like incandescent, on the other hand, offer a better antennae range. Plus, they’re cheaper than LED lights, which can save you a bit of money, at least up front.

There are some brands out there that sell special LED bulbs that could work with garage door openers, but it’s always best to ask your garage door professional before investing in anything.

Feel free to stick with LED bulbs for other areas of your home: they last between 20,000 and 50,000 hours and up to five times longer than other bulbs.

LED Light Interference

LED bulbs are very popular these days thanks to their high energy efficiency. This is due in part to something called pulse-width modulation, whereby LED lights flash at a rate of 15 times per second. You can’t see this with the naked eye. However, they operate on frequencies between 30 and 300 MHZ, which is where the problem lies.

Conversely, garage door openers operate on frequencies between 288 and 360 MHZ. The result? The two can negatively interact and spur operational problems.

In regards to products that rely on signals, from garage door openers to remote control cars, there is surprisingly little industry regulation in place that standardizes their frequency emissions. This is why many of these signals tend to cross each other and cause problems.

What Should You Do?

If you are having trouble with your opener signal, try these troubleshooting tips:

  • Determine where the LED light interference may be coming from, such as a holiday light display.
  • Change the bulb brands you’re using. Keep in mind that cheap foreign-made lightbulbs are often the source of signal issues. Spend a little more and notice a difference.
  • Switch out your light fixtures altogether.
  • Contact M&M Garage Doors if you’re having no luck with any of the above tips. We will troubleshoot, repair and replace bulbs as necessary.

Call M&M Garage Doors now at 586-610-5434.