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OPTIONS FOR A NEW GARAGE DOOR OPENER

Garage door openers provide a safe and convenient way of getting in and out of your garage. Once you have a garage door opener installed, you’ll be hard-pressed to open or close your garage door manually. These units come in a wide variety of forms, which can make choosing one a difficult task for the average homeowner.

Fortunately, the following guide highlights the different types of garage door openers available. Read on to discover the benefits that each design offers.

Chain-Driven Openers

Just as the name implies, a chain-driven garage door opener uses a roller chain to open and close the garage door. The trolley attaches to the end of the roller chain, opening and closing the garage door as it moves along the steel rail.

Chain-driven garage door openers are a solid option for a variety of reasons. These door openers are affordable in comparison to other types of garage door openers, making them a great choice if you’re on a tight budget. These garage door openers are also durable thanks to their robust construction and use of long-lasting components.

Many people like chain-driven openers for their affordability, but these openers aren’t the quietest. You may want to consider other options if noise is a major consideration.

Chain-driven openers also need maintenance if you expect them to last for years. Lubrication is especially important because the many moving components of the chain and other moving parts can freeze up due to rust and neglect. The chain itself also needs to be adjusted on a regular basis to eliminate slack and promote smoother movement.

Belt-Driven Openers

Belt-driven garage door openers and their chain-driven counterparts are identical in many respects. The only difference is that instead of using a roller chain, these openers use heavy-duty rubber belts with embedded stainless steel strands to facilitate garage door movement.

Reduced noise is one advantage of using a belt over a chain. Belt-driven openers usually produce less noise during operation than similar chain-drive openers. You’ll also notice smoother operation with a belt-driven opener. The rubber belt’s elasticity helps minimize and isolate vibrations, creating smoother, more fluid garage door movement.

Unlike chains, however, most belt drive units come with a Lifetime warranty on the belt. Many models have only a minimal price increase above chain drive models and are the fastest growing segment of the market!

Screw Drive Openers

Screw drive garage door openers offer another approach to a classic formula. This type of opener features a threaded rod that’s directly connected to the motor instead of using belts or chains. Turning the threaded rod also moves a specially-designed trolley, which in turn allows the garage door to work.

Screw drive garage door openers operate the fastest of any of the options, although, they do take a little more headroom to install, they’re also better at converting their energy into usable movement. As a result, these openers can easily handle larger, heavier garage doors. The threaded rod also allows for surprisingly smooth operation. Although screw drive garage door openers aren’t as quiet as comparable belt-driven units, they’re still quieter than chain-driven openers.

Jackshaft Openers

Jackshaft garage door openers, also referred to as wall-mounted units, are great for garages with unconventional ceiling heights. Vaulted ceilings, for instance, make it difficult to use a conventional garage door opener without extensions and other complicated modifications. Conventional hardware can also cause clearance issues for garages with low ceiling heights.

A jackshaft garage door opener does away with the typical overhead trolley in favor of a wall-mounted setup. The motor unit is mounted next to the garage door. Some models connect directly to the door’s torsion bar while others drive chains and cable drums connected to the bar. Aside from those unit aspects, the jackshaft opener operates like any other opener.

Jackshaft openers come with a higher price tag in comparison to their conventional counterparts. You may want to weigh the cost of having a conventional garage door opener installed for your high-ceiling garage versus buying and installing a jackshaft door opener.

If you need a new garage door opener, the professionals at Shank Door can help you weigh your options and install the opener that works best for your garage door. Contact us today to get started.

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