Garage keypads are something that I have used for nearly 15 years. It is surprising how convenient they can be, especially if you have roommates and friends who like to stop by. Having a truck makes you the friend of anyone moving; having a lot of tools makes you the friend of anyone trying to DIY a project at home. If you don’t want to have 15 copies of your garage key made, or you don’t want to hide a key out in the yard, a garage access keypad is a perfect solution.
Garage door keypads are a convenient security measure that can be installed simply and quickly. With a variety of models to choose from, and easy syncing to your current system, the benefits of having a keypad on your garage are many. To install, first sync the keypad to the garage door opener. Next, determine where to attach the keypad to the side of your home near the garage door. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to program your entry code and other features.
Why Install a Garage Keypad?
Many people I know travel with a garage door opener clipped to the visor of their car or attached to their keychain. Remote garage door openers are a convenience in themselves. But the added benefits of a garage keypad can give you another level of security to the everyday access to your garage and home. They allow you to keep your garage secure, even without having keys or a garage door opener with you. Also, rather than giving a whole mass of spare keys to your aunts, in-laws, and neighbors, the code can simply be passed on as needed.
Access to the garage without access to the rest of the house is also a plus. Say, the neighbor called and wanted to borrow your ladder or leaf blower, you could give him the green light without having to turn around from wherever you were headed, to let him in. You also have the option to change the code periodically if your access was one time for a house sitter feeding your dog while you were out of town.
What Types of Garage Keypads are there?
There are several makes of keypads out in the market, but in general, they are all the same. Some are a wireless remote that you plug batteries into and mount to the sidewall of the garage. Others are a more permanent options where you hardwire in a keypad that controls the garage door. Both types get the job done, but unless you are finishing your garage (drywall and such), you will probably end up with a wireless keypad.
If you are trying to determine a garage keypad to purchase, check out our article on Best Universal Garage Keypads around $30.
How do I know the Garage Keypad will work With My Current Opener?
Wondering if your garage will be able to work with a wireless keypad? Probably the easiest way to tell is by determining if you have a wireless remote to open and close the door. For the vast majority, a wireless keypad will work with your garage. You might need to do some research and determine the make and model that will work, but if your garage has wireless remotes, the wireless keypad will work in the same fashion.
I Bought a Garage Keypad, What’s Next?
So, you bought a garage keypad? Great! Now it is time to install it. If you are stressing over the task, do not worry, it is very easy. Before you begin, take a look one more time to make sure that the brand you purchased is compatible with the garage door opener you own. This will save a lot of stress and troubleshooting, and trying to make something work, that simply can’t be paired with what you have.
Installing a Garage Keypad
Placement
Placement of your keypad is something you may want to give some thought to. As many of these devices have a plastic casing, direct sunlight may wear them down over time. You also want to consider if the keypad is water-resistant. Placing the device on the front of your house may cause it to come in contact with lots of rain and snow. These casings are normally sealed but avoiding direct rainwater drainage would be a prudent choice.
Keypads are commonly placed directly near the garage door. (But know that you are not limited to just this option!) These keypads have a decent range and can be mounted nearly anywhere that makes sense. If your house is attached, or at least close to the garage, you could mount the keypad under the overhang of the house patio. You could also position it on the side of your house, rather than the front to keep it out of view from the street. The only caveat here is ensuring that the keypad signal is able to make it to the garage door opener before you start putting holes into anything. Check and double-check before you install it.
Syncing Your Garage Keypad
Normally this is something very simple to do. You will need to read the manufacturer’s Installation Guide to determine the exact process, but you normally will have to click a “learn button” on the garage door opener and might have to put a code in on the garage keypad. Others might require you to match a configuration, but that is normally for much older models. Lastly, if you find that someone is telling you that you need to stand on your head, whistle a tune, kick your feet three times, and press a specific button at the proper point in your little diddly, you cannot trust everything on the internet, they are probably lying to you. But I would check the manufacturer’s guide to make sure…
Garage Keypad Installation
For mounting the keypad, this is yet another pretty easy feat. Normally you will need to remove the back casing of the keypad. Or, you might find that the keypad has something like a plastic sleeve that it is inserted into once the mounting sleeve has been installed. Either way, you will need to drill a few holes and mount the bracket, usually using small wood screws.
Troubleshooting Tips
As straight forward as a project this can be, there can be some hang-ups throughout the process. If you run into the issue where the keypad is not working, here is a process to take to help pinpoint the issue.
Before you start throwing tools and cursing at the garage door opener, grab the keypad from where you mounted it and take it into the garage. First, make sure the garage door is able to open and close with the wired controller in the garage. This is just to make sure that the garage door opener itself is working.
Second, take the additional step and grab one of the car remotes to make sure the wireless remotes are still working. This will simply confirm that the remotes stayed paired to the garage door. Lastly, punch in the code for the garage keypad.
If the keypad worked, great! If not, you might need to pair the garage keypad back to the garage door opener. Once the garage keypad works while in the garage, then take it back to the mounting bracket and make sure it can control the garage from the distance you designated for it.
Another thing to bear in mind – if the keypad and the garage remote controllers work while in the garage, but do not seem to have much range when trying to communicate with the garage door opener, you might have jostled the antenna of the garage door opener when you paired the devices.
If you think this might have happened, it is a simple fix. Grab your ladder and get back up to the door opener. Normally the antenna is a thin wire that hangs down to catch the wireless signal. Make sure the antenna is connected properly and try the troubleshooting steps again.
One Less Thing to Worry About
Once you have gone through how to install a garage keypad, I’m sure you will find that it is a convenient addition to your home. The benefits of things like friends or family having easy, but controlled access to your garage when you’re away, or older kids having a simple means to get into the house after school, can change your routine and give you renewed peace of mind with the security of your home. With a simple assessment, an affordable new device, and installation that can be completed on a Saturday morning, the benefits of having a garage keypad are well worth the expense and time. Makes it simple for if yourself if you ever leave your keys inside while you are doing yard work, or if you need your neighbor to throw your Amazon packages in the garage for safekeeping while you are away. Punch in the code and save the spare key.
Thanks for reading, and as always, be sure to keep it tuned to The Garage Junkie for all of your garage’s FYI and DIY needs!