There are a variety of different types of garage door openers available today. While one garage door opener may be right for a residential garage door, it may not be fit to provide the support or function needed for a commercial garage door.
Garage door openers are designed with function and features in mind, so it’s important to consider what type of garage door you have before making a purchase.
In this article, we’re taking a look at some of the different types of garage door openers so you know which is right for you.
Different Types Of Garage Door Openers
These days it’s hard to imagine that you’d ever be without a good garage door opener. Why would you, when they make parking your car in the garage so easy? If you need to install one in your garage, you’ll soon see that there are multiple types out there. What different types of garage door openers are there, and which one should you install?
Here are some of the different types of garage door openers available.
Chain drive openers
These are possibly the most common garage door opener. The opener has a chain drive that connects via a trolley to the garage door. They’re popular mostly because they’re inexpensive and work well. If you do buy one of these, you need to be aware that they can be rather loud when they’re in operation. If the noise won’t bother you or your neighbors, then you can look at having a chain drive installed.
Belt drive opener
This is the other main type of garage door opener out there. They operate in a very similar fashion to the chain drive. The main difference is that they use a rubber belt rather than a chain. Many choose these because they operate a lot more quietly than the chains too, good if your garage is attached to your home.
Screw drive opener
These openers are popular in some circles as they need the least maintenance. The trolley for the opener rides on a threaded steel rod, that rotates via the motor to open your door. As they have so few parts, they’re very easy to maintain. It’s not the one to choose if you need quiet operation though. You’ll see that it’s the noisiest option out there.
Jackshaft drive opener
These garage door openers are a little different as they sit on the side of the door, rather than overhead. When the opener is operated, it powers a series of pulleys and motors that open your door for you. This is one of the most expensive options on the market, but there’s a lot of benefits to using them. As it sits on the side of the door, it leaves the ceiling free for storage should you need that. It’s also a better option if you have a particularly high or low ceiling in your garage. Finally, they offer you a lot of power, so they’re perfect for larger garage doors.
Direct drive openers
If you need something that opens your garage door quietly then this is the drive that you should consider. These use a stationary chain in a steel rail, and their only moving part is in the motor carriage. They’re worth considering as they’re priced similarly to belt drive openers, so you can compare the two and see which one works best for you.
DC powered openers
Most garage door openers will be AC powered, and so aren’t as quiet or as smooth as a DC-powered garage door opener. They even come with variable speeds, so you can have a soft start and stop technology with your opener.
There’s much more choice than you thought when it comes to your garage door opener. One of these options will be perfect for you and your home.
Selecting the Right Garage Door Opener
Now you know what options are available to you, you’ll need to find the one that’s right for you. Which garage door opener is going to work for you?
Price: This is one of the biggest factors you’ll need to consider. What is your budget for a garage door opener? You may have to look around to get an idea of prices. What can you afford to have installed?
Maintenance: This will tie in with the price when you’re choosing an opener. One model may be cheaper to install, but what should you expect regarding garage door opener maintenance? Are you more likely to need to repair it soon? Checking out reviews online can always be a good idea when thinking about the model of opener you want.
Sound: All garage door openers are going to make some noise when you open or close the doors. You need to work out how much noise is acceptable to you. If your garage isn’t attached to the house, or it’s not in earshot of neighbors, then you can go with an opener like the chain drive. It’s noisy, but it shouldn’t bother you too much. If the noise would disturb you, you’ll need a quieter option like the belt drive or the direct drive.
Installation: You’ll need to take a look at your garage and see where your opener can go. If you already have one installed, then you can go for the same positioning and get a similar result. However, think about what you need from your garage. Do you have enough clearance on the ceiling to install a ceiling-mounted drive? Is it at the right height for one? What if you want storage on the ceiling? If so, then you may want to go for a wall-mounted opener instead.
It’s your home and you’ll have your own unique needs, so keep this all in mind when you’re choosing a garage door opener.
Conclusion
Now that you’re more familiar with the different types of garage door openers available, you can make a more informed decision regarding which garage door opener you need for your garage.
In addition to the various classes of garage doors (residential vs commercial), there are also different features.
Not sure which is right for you?
Contact Your Garage Door Guys today to learn more about your options.