What kind of garage door opener is best for me?
In order to purchase the best garage door opener, you have to consider your family needs and current situation. There are a large variety of different types of garage door openers on the market today, each holding their own advantages. In simple terms, there are really three main types of garage door openers to choose from – Screw Drive, Chain Drive and Belt Drive.
Each type of opener has made their own advances in technology that has really created a competitive balance for homeowners. We are going to share several benefits and disadvantages of the different garage door openers in the article below!
Screw Drive Garage Door Openers
Screw drive garage door openers work a little bit differently than belt drive or chain drive garage door openers. A trolley is used along with a threaded-steel rod to rotate the motor to move the door. The pushing and pulling forces are much different compared to chain drive and belt drive openers.
PROS: Screw drive garage door openers tend to be easier to maintain because there are less moving pieces. There is no need for adjustment as there is with chain drive garage door openers.
These openers are often quieter than chain drive garage door openers, especially after prolonged usage. Due to much fewer moving parts the door tends to rise and fall very smoothly. It’s recommended that screw drive openers not be used in regions that experience major fluctuations in temperature as the units are sensitive to temperature.
In a grand scale view crew drive garage door openers tend to cost slightly more than belt or chain drive openers.
Belt Drive Garage Door Openers
Belt drive openers are pretty much identical to chain drive garage door openers with one main difference. They utilize a belt instead of a chain. The actual mechanisms of the openers are the same with the exception of a belt drive garage door opener using a steel-reinforced rubber, fiberglass, or polyurethane belt. If you’re going to be moving a heavier garage door, chain drive garage door openers are the better choice.
PROS: Belt drive garage door openers are by far the quietest openers out of chain drive and screw drive openers.
These garage door openers tend to be only slightly more expensive than chain drive openers. Most garage door openers tend to lift a garage door at a rate of 7 to 8 inches per second. The belt drive because of its smooth operation does it slightly faster. This may or may not matter to you, but if you are like many who are running late to work it can come in handy to have a quick opener.
Chain Drive Garage Door Openers
By far the most common type of garage door opener, chain drive openers are at the lower end of the price spectrum and will last a very long time under normal circumstances. Chain drive openers utilize a chain similar to the one that you would find on your bicycle and push the trolley that is connected to the garage door which pulls or pushes the door in the track. They do have the disadvantage of requiring adjustment, but this only needs to be done once or twice during the lifetime of a chain drive opener. For most chain drive garage door openers, adjustment is relatively easy and only takes 10 minutes.
PROS: These garage door systems are often cheap and very reliable making them the most economical option. With that being said, f your garage door is connected to your house, these units can be very loud.
When selecting a new garage door opener most types will get the job done. We understand that you have specific preferences which is why Garage Door Grunts offers a variety of options to choose from. Our expert staff will make sure that you get the opener that fits your needs and desires at a price point that works for you.