Residential Garage Door Openers
Garage door openers are the motors that lift the garage door while it opens. When it comes to choosing a garage door opener, it is important to remember that since 1993, it has been a federal law that all automatic garage door openers must have sensors to keep the door from falling on anyone or anything that may be within the tracks of the door. It is recommended that doors that are too old to have sensors should be replaced. There are several types of garage door openers that differ in noise, price, power, maintenance, and installation. Here are some types to consider:
Chain Drive:
The most common and least expensive garage door opener, its motor lifts the garage door via a chain. Motors come in ½ or ¾ horsepower. This opener is also loudest with the noise level depending on the size of the motor.
Screw Drive:
This opener moves the door with a threaded steel rod. It has less moving parts than other openers which requires little maintenance. This is a mid-range opener for both price and noise.
Torsion Spring Lift:
This opener uses a counterbalance system with one or two springs mounted to a steel shaft and cable drums that run a cable from the bottom corners of the door back to the cable drum. The springs are mounted to the wall and steel shaft on the inside above the door with the cable drums on either side. While the door is opening, the springs unwind, causing the stored tension to rotate the steel shaft. The steel shaft rotates the cable drums that lift the door with the steel cables. While the door is closing, the cables unwrap from the drums, causing the shaft to rotate and rewind the springs. This opener is quieter and opens the door closer to the ceiling. No tracks or motors required.
Belt Drive:
Belt drives are the quietest and most expensive garage door opener. This is basically a chain drive opener with a rubber belt reinforced with metal in place of a chain.
Products
LiftMaster 3265 ½ HP Chain Drive Garage Door Opener: This model combines reliability and all-around performance to make this motor our best-selling system. The ½ horsepower motor features our patented Motor Vibration Isolation System (MVIS) that eliminates vibration to reduce noise with an industrial strength chain for lifting power.
LiftMaster 3585 ¾ HP Belt drive Garage Door Opener: This opener is quieter than the chain drive openers without sacrificing power. The LiftMaster 3585 has 50% more power to lift heavy garage doors with steel-reinforced belts. This model is also fitted with a MVIS to reduce noise.
Craftsmen Garage Door Openers: Craftsmen offers chain drive openers with either a ½ or ¾ HP motor and keyless entry. Craftsmen’s belt drive openers are available with ½ HP motors.
At Rush Garage Doors, our professionals can help you choose and install an opener that best suits your needs.