What Is the Best Garage Door Opener

Best garage door opener motor on the ceiling.

What Is the Best Garage Door Opener?

Best garage door opener motor on the ceiling.

Are you going to be buying a new garage door opener soon? Perhaps you have an older opener that you are considering replacing because it doesn’t have the features that you need or because it is no longer reliable or safe. Regardless of the reason, you will need to determine which type of garage door opener you will want to have for your next system.

What is the best garage door opener for your needs? It is largely a matter of choice, so you will want to learn more about the various types of openers that are available to get a better understanding of what might be a good choice for your garage.

What Are the Basic Types of Garage Door Openers?

There are several different types of garage door openers, and it is a good idea to know at least the basics.

Chain-drive openers – These openers will have chains, which are similar to bike chains, connected from the motor to the trolley. When the motor runs, the chain moves, and it is this action that will open and close the door. While these were once common, they are starting to fall out of favor because they tend to be loud and cause a lot of vibrations. However, they are also the most affordable option, and many people are still using them.
Belt-drive openers – A belt-drive opener will make use of a rubber belt instead of a chain. These rubber belts are similar to radial tires, so you can be sure they are high-quality and that they have the capacity to last for a long time. These will have a smoother motion than a chain-drive opener, and they will be much quieter. These tend to be a popular option for those who have homes with bedrooms over or near the garage and who want to minimize the sound.
Screw-drive openers – With this type of opener, the trolley will ride along a threaded steel rod, while the motor spins the rod. While this does tend to be easy to maintain, it is even louder than the chain-drive openers, which means it is not likely to be a good choice for most residential properties, especially those that have an attached garage. For those who have garages that are separate from their homes, it might be a good choice.
Jackshaft openers – These are one of the newer options, and they have become very popular in recent years. They are installed along the side of the door and they make use of a 24v DC motor. This will cause the pulleys and cable to turn the torsion bar so that the garage door will raise and lower. These tend to be a good option for larger garages. Because they are mounted on the side, it also means that there will be additional overhead space available for those who might want to use that space for storage. One of the only real drawbacks to this type of opener is the fact that they are costly compared with other options.

Do Brands Matter?

One of the other questions that you are likely to have when you are looking for a new garage door opener is what brand you should choose. There are some things in life where the brand doesn’t really matter, but your garage door opener is not one of them. It is true that there are some cheap garage door openers out there that might seem like a good deal at the time. However, they will not have the quality or the features that you really need. You will instead want to choose a high-quality brand that is well-known in the field in most cases. You can also speak with professionals to get their opinion on the best brands, such as LiftMaster.

What Is the Best Garage Door Opener for You?

Out of the options that were mentioned above, you might be wondering which of these will be the best solution for your needs. Ultimately, it will depend on a number of factors, such as the size of your garage door, the amount of overhead space you have, your budget, and how much the noise and vibrations would affect you. If you have a smaller budget and you do not really mind the sound, a chain-drive opener could work for you. However, those who want a quiet option will likely want to opt for belt-driven opener.

Other Factors to Consider

You will need to think about the power of the opener, as well. There are typically openers that are ½ HP and ¾ HP. The size of your garage door will play a part when it comes to the size of the motor needed. Those who have standard aluminum doors, which tend to be lightweight will work well with a ½ HP motor. Those who have larger, double doors will need a more powerful motor, of course. You should also consider whether you want to have an opener that will let you have a battery backup. This will ensure that you can still get into and out of the garage in the event of a power outage.

Talk with the Garage Door Professionals

What is the best garage door opener? If you are still unsure which you will want to get, or even if you are sure, but you still have some questions, you will want to get in touch with the professionals. Experts in the field will be able to learn more about your situation and your door, along with your needs and your budget, and then help you to determine which of the doors will be best for you. They can help to take the guesswork out of getting what you need.

As you can see, there are quite a few things that you will have to think about when it comes to getting your next garage door opener. Look at the features and technology of the opener, as well, to make sure that you have one that can work with a remote control. You might even want to find those that can work with your phone via an app.