Types Of Garage Door Openers
Generally speaking, there are four types of garage door openers: chain-drive, belt-drive, screw drive, and direct drive.
Obviously, they are differentiated by the mechanical drive they use to function.
The most common type is the chain-drive.
This inexpensive type of garage door openers works by using a chain, similar to a bicycle chain, looped around the rail.
It is the oldest, but still the most popular type.
It may not work quietly, but it still provides good value.
The chain may grow loose over time, though.
There are units that hide the chain, thus making the chain-drive garage door opener a little quieter.
Belt-drive garage door openers are using a metal-reinforced rubber belt, similar to a car's fan belt, instead of a chain, in order to raise and lower the garage doors.
This type is more expensive than the chain-drive type, but it works almost silently because there is no metal-on-metal contact.
Since the rubber belt is sturdily constructed, belt-drive openers can lift even the heaviest garage doors, offer years of service, and often come with a lifetime belt warranty.
Screw-drive garage door openers are probably the easiest to install if you plan to go the do-it-yourself route, and they require very little maintenance afterwards.
This type uses a long metal rod threaded like a screw to function.
To keep the noise levels low, remember to keep them properly lubricated.
Direct drives have been in use in Europe for the last thirty years, but they are only recently getting popular in the US.
These are using a motor that drives itself along the stationary chain.
Easy to maintain, they seem to be very reliable, as the warranty covers not only the motor, but the circuit board, chain and rail as well.
They are as quiet as the belt-drive openers.
Beside the lifting power and the level of noise that they produce, their speed may be one of the most important features.
Having them come with lights is also important in many cases.
No matter which type you decide to buy, make sure that it has a rolling code security feature.
This security feature, which makes it harder for burglars to access the code that opens the doors, has become a standard feature in all types of openers.
Electronic beam that controls the safety is also a must.
Other features worth considering include manual emergency release, force guard control, vacation setting, and battery backup.
Obviously, they are differentiated by the mechanical drive they use to function.
The most common type is the chain-drive.
This inexpensive type of garage door openers works by using a chain, similar to a bicycle chain, looped around the rail.
It is the oldest, but still the most popular type.
It may not work quietly, but it still provides good value.
The chain may grow loose over time, though.
There are units that hide the chain, thus making the chain-drive garage door opener a little quieter.
Belt-drive garage door openers are using a metal-reinforced rubber belt, similar to a car's fan belt, instead of a chain, in order to raise and lower the garage doors.
This type is more expensive than the chain-drive type, but it works almost silently because there is no metal-on-metal contact.
Since the rubber belt is sturdily constructed, belt-drive openers can lift even the heaviest garage doors, offer years of service, and often come with a lifetime belt warranty.
Screw-drive garage door openers are probably the easiest to install if you plan to go the do-it-yourself route, and they require very little maintenance afterwards.
This type uses a long metal rod threaded like a screw to function.
To keep the noise levels low, remember to keep them properly lubricated.
Direct drives have been in use in Europe for the last thirty years, but they are only recently getting popular in the US.
These are using a motor that drives itself along the stationary chain.
Easy to maintain, they seem to be very reliable, as the warranty covers not only the motor, but the circuit board, chain and rail as well.
They are as quiet as the belt-drive openers.
Beside the lifting power and the level of noise that they produce, their speed may be one of the most important features.
Having them come with lights is also important in many cases.
No matter which type you decide to buy, make sure that it has a rolling code security feature.
This security feature, which makes it harder for burglars to access the code that opens the doors, has become a standard feature in all types of openers.
Electronic beam that controls the safety is also a must.
Other features worth considering include manual emergency release, force guard control, vacation setting, and battery backup.