You probably have never given it much thought, but as garage door service professionals we know that there are different types of garage door openers to choose from and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the right garage door opener for your home depends on what your priorities. Fortunately, most garage door openers are very reliable and there are really no wrong decisions, only better decisions for your personal needs.
There are basically three types of garage door openers to choose from based on the type of drive mechanism. These include:
- Chain driven
- Belt driven
- Screw driven
Chain driven openers were common in the very first garage door openers and continue to be utilized today. Because the chains tend to be made of metal and flex under the pressure of the door they tend to be noisy and less popular.
The second type is a belt-driven opener where the chain is replaced by a rubber belt. These are more expensive and require extra care when installing, but provide the quietest operation of all types of mechanisms.
The third type is a screw-driven opener. These types of openers have no chains or belts and feature very few moving parts. They are smaller than both chain and belt-driven openers and tend to be quieter than their chain driven counterparts. Because they contain fewer moving parts, they also require less maintenance and are the easiest to install for the do-it-yourselfer.
At Custom Door & Gate, we’ve been installing and repairing garage doors since 1989. This includes helping you choose the right garage door opener for your home. We know the ins-and-outs of both residential garage doors and commercial garage doors and can help you find the door that’s right for your home or diagnose your garage door issues.