If you’ve been shopping for a new garage door opener, you’ve no doubt been bombarded with a wide number of options. What you’ll find, however, is that the majority of openers fall into one of three main categories: chain drive, belt drive and screw drive. Each has its pros and cons for the homeowner.
Chain Drive: The chain drive garage door opener is probably the most common type of opener. It uses a chain, similar to a bicycle chain, to move a trolley, or carriage, that is connected to a metal arm, called a J-arm, that is connected to the garage door. This is the least expensive type of opener and the most reliable, but also the noisiest. As such, it is not the model to use if your garage is located under a bedroom. If the garage is detached, however, it is ideal.
Belt Drive: This type of opener works basically in the same way as a chain drive opener except instead of using a chain, it uses a belt made of fiberglass, polyurethane or rubber. Belt-driven openers are just as reliable as chain driven openers, but they are a lot quieter, making them ideal for built-in garages. The major drawback for belt drives is that they are usually more expensive, up to $100 more than a chain driven unit.
Screw-Drive: The shaft drive opener uses a threaded metal shaft to connect the motor to the door. Since the shaft does not bend like a belt or chain, the garage door cannot be budged open, resulting in better security for the homeowner. This type of opener is also quicker, opening a door at up to a foot a second, compared to the average 7 inches per second of other types of openers. Cons with screw-dive openers are that they do not respond well to temperature extremes, hot and cold, and are noisier than belt drives. They are also the most expensive of the three types of openers.
