Garage Door Alarm Components

Multiple Area Monitors and Inter-Compatability

• At the very least, buy an alarm that covers a minimum of two potential access points, such as the front, rear or side entrances to your garage. This is a fairly standard feature, and should be part of your shopping list, even if you are on an extremely tight budget. You should also look for alarms that are potentially compatible with other security devices, because you may wish to add extra security features to your garage after your initial alarm installation. Look for garage door alarms that can be matched up with motion detectors, for example--you never know how your future security needs will change over time.

Visible Features and Audio Options

• Alerts should be loud enough to be heard from a distance and distinctive enough to indicate security breaches in different areas. Volume is important, so look for alarms with multiple wide-range receivers that can be installed in multiple locations throughout your home. Look for adjustable volume controls and muting options; the alarm doesn't need to be functional at all times, particularly when you are working in your garage. Alarms should also include some sort of visual feature, such as flashing lights, in order to alert people who have hearing problems.

Delay Timers

• The best garage door alarms include options such as delay timers. These are convenient because they prevent you from having to adjust your alarm or turn it off and on whenever you open or close your garage door. Look for some flexibility in the length of the delay controls, which can range from seconds to minutes, or even hours.