Whis is better? Chain Drive or Belt Drive Garage Door Opener?

If you are in the market for a new garage door opener, you will need to consider what type of garage door you have and your personal needs. There are tons of garage door openers out there on the market today. The two main types of garage door openers and they include chain drive and belt drive. There have been great advances in technology when it comes to garage door openers. To choose which one is right for you, you will want to know the advantages of each of them.

Belt Drive Garage Door Openers

Belt drive garage door openers will use a belt instead of a chain like chain garage door openers. They are identical in every kind of way but that. The assembly and mechanisms are similar, except for the garage door opener uses a belt that is created out of polyurethane, fiberglass, or steel-enforced rubber. This door is perfect for people who have heavier garage doors.

There are several advantages to using belt drive garage door openers. If you want a quiet garage door opener, this one has the most quieter operation out of all of them. If you want a garage door that opens quicker, this is also the best option for you. Most garage door openers will lift about seven to eight inches per second. The belt drive garage door openers can do it a bit quicker than that. This is because the belt drive has a very smooth operation. The downside to the belt drive garage door opener is the fact that they are slightly more expensive than chain garage door openers.

Chain Drive Garage Door Openers

Most garage doors have the chain drive garage door openers as it is the most commonly used on garage doors. They are the lower end of pricing, and they will last a long time as long as proper garage door maintenance is followed. The chain drive system acts similarly to the chain on your bicycle. The chain works to push the trolley on your garage door, which then pushes the door upon its track.

The advantages of chain drive garage door openers are that they are relatively inexpensive and are the most economical option out there. There are, however, several downsides to chain drive garage doors. If you have your garage connected to your home, the chain drive openers can be very loud, and you may hear it throughout your house. Another downside is that the chain drive garage door openers will need periodic adjustment. The adjustment only needs to be done once or twice during the life of the chain drive garage door opener. This is best left to a professional who knows what they are doing.

How To Choose What Is Right For You

You will need to choose the right garage door opener for you and your home. To do so, consider the following:

• Budget. Determine how much you want to spend on your garage door opener. If you do not want to spend a lot of money, a chain drive garage door opener will be the perfect choice for your needs.
• Noise. If your garage door is connected to your home, you may want to find a quieter option as chain drive garage door openers can be very loud. Getting a belt drive option will be better for you.
• Maintenance. You will want to make sure that you can keep up with the maintenance on your garage door opener no matter what you choose. A belt drive will require less maintenance, but you should still be prepared to ensure that it is functioning well and have it attended to if there is something wrong.
• Weight. You should also determine the weight of your garage door to determine what style of garage door opener you need. If you do not know what the weight is, it is better to talk to a garage door expert that can help you to determine the right kind of garage door opener you need. If you have an extremely heavy garage door, a chain drive may not be able to lift it, or it may cause wear and tear on the chain quicker.

Garage Door Opener Installation

Once you have chosen the type of garage door opener that you want, it is time to get it installed. You may be tempted to try to install your garage door opener yourself, but the truth is that if you are not very experienced in installing your garage door opener, you could find yourself in trouble. Installing a garage door opener takes skill, and it can be very dangerous. If you were to install the garage door opener wrong, your garage door might fall, or you may find that you cannot get it to open again. This poses a safety risk, and you may find that you have to get someone out anyways to do the installation for you. You are much better off hiring someone that has years of experience in installing garage door openers.

If you need help with your garage door opener, please call us at Commonwealth Garage today. We can come out and help you to determine which garage door opener you should use and install it for you. We will make sure that the job is done correctly and that your garage door works as it should.