Punxsutawney Phil, the mythical groundhog, makes an annual appearance today to predict whether winter will continue for another six weeks or end sooner. Phil has rarely disappointed the huge following of people who gather in Western Pennsylvania awaiting his prediction. However, for the warm weather lovers in the crowd, his predictions for an early spring have been disappointing. To date, he has seen his shadow 80 percent of the time — a harbinger that more cold and snow remain in the forecast.

Since winter is here to stay for a while, a little convenience in our lives is in order. Garage door openers are just the thing. Say goodbye to getting in and out of the car in the dark, cold, snow, sleet, wind or rain to lift the heavy garage door, often dripping with slush. The handy device opens and closes the garage door with the flip of switch or touch of button. In addition, garage door openers provide security. Once the door is lowered, it is locked, safe from intruders.

Several manufacturers make automatic garage door openers. They may be chain-driven, screw-driven or belt-driven. Chain-driven openers are the most common and least expensive. The screw-driven ones use a long threaded bar to open the door. The cost for this type of unit is slightly more than the chain-driven models. The most expensive and quietest opener is the belt-driven one. The design of this unit employs rubber belts to raise and lower the garage door.

Typically, automatic openers have a power unit that houses the motor and gears that operate the opener. A safety lamp with a programmable delay allows time for you to exit your car while the light remains on; a remote control that operates the opener from the car and a wall mounted push button or keypad to operate the unit from the garage are also part of the package. All units should have automatic sensors to detect when an obstruction is present, initiating the automatic reversing action to prevent the door from closing on a person or pet. The technology in some openers change the signal each time it is used, thus foiling would be code thieves.

Inspect the garage door and its hardware before installing an automatic opener. The opener will work better and last longer if the door it operates is in good repair and easily moved manually.

• Check for wear on the pulleys and cables that open the door. If excessively worn, replace them prior to installing the opener.
• Wipe the tracks to remove the buildup of grease and dirt. The tracks should be clean so the doors glide smoothly and evenly on them.
• Make sure the tracks which the door slides are parallel to each other.
• Replace rusty hinge pins at the joints of the garage door panels.
• Make sure the rollers are in alignment and roll freely.
• Lubricate the tracks, hinge pins and rollers.

Automatic garage door openers come with detailed installation instructions. Follow them carefully. In general, the installation of a garage door opener requires that:

• The motor and drive unit are placed in the center of the garage.
• Drive track is attached to the wall above the garage door.
• Mounting brackets on the garage door are located just below where the drive track mounts to the wall.

Only a few basic tools are required for installation:

• Socket set.
• 3/8 inch drill.
• Wrench.
• Tall stepladder.

Installing an automatic garage door opener requires a few hours of your time, some basic tools and enough strength to lift the unit over your head during installation. Be sure to follow all safety rules during the installation process. So, although winter might still be in the forecast, the convenience and security of an automatic garage door opener makes it more bearable.

— Carol Boncella is education coordinator at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and home and garden writer for the Journal-World.