Which Garage Door Opener is Best?
There are 3 main types of garage door opener, each with pros and cons. None are the clear best opener, so the garage door opener you choose will largely come down to personal preference.
Chain Drive
The most common type of garage door opener, chain drives use a bicycle-like chain to pull (or push) a trolley connected to the j-arm, which is attached to the garage door itself.
Pros
- The cheapest and most economical option.
- Extremely reliable.
- The chain readjustment process is easy and takes about 10 minutes. This will only have to be done once or twice in the lifetime of the opener.
- The loud noise it makes when opening could alert you to someone breaking and entering!
Cons
- Noisy, so better suited for detached garages.
- The chain can loosen somewhat over time.
Belt Drive
Instead of a chain, a belt moves the door.
Pros
- The most luxurious option due to their sleek operation and low noise levels.
- Much quieter than chain drives, making them ideal for attached garages.
Cons
- More expensive than chain drives.
Screw Drive
The screw drive garage door opener rotates a threaded steel rod to move the trolley that opens or closes the door.
Pros
- Requires less maintenance over its lifetime than the above, due to less components.
- Almost impossible to break.
- Extremely smooth operation, because the screw mechanism has little free movement.
- Quieter than chain drive garage door openers.
Cons
- Noisier than belt drive garage door openers.
- More expensive than chain and belt drive garage door openers.
