When installing a general garage door opener, you have three different types of drives to choose from. Each type is unique, with its own set of pros and cons. So, basically, when choosing the right garage door for your home, the decision comes down to personal preference. Below we will tell you a little bit about the top features of the three types of automated garage door opener drives: screw, belt and chain drive.

Chain Drive Openers

Chain drive garage door openers are your standard, classic garage door openers, being the oldest and most common. The door runs along a track in these units and they rely on a bicycle-like chain. The chain pushes the trolley, which is connected to the J-arm that is attached the garage door itself.

The design of chain drives makes a metal-to-metal type noise instead of the vibrating noise other types cause. Because of the noise, many people opt for chain drive garage doors in their detached garages, or garages not connected to the home. Chain drives are usually the cheapest option.

Belt Drive Openers

Belt drives have been thought of as the most high-quality type because of quiet operation and sleek design. Belt drive openers operate the same way chain drive openers do, only using a belt instead of a chain. The belts used are usually made from steel-reinforced rubber, fiberglass or polyurethane.

Belt drive garage openers are the quietest types of openers, which some can be virtually silent. They do, however, cost a bit more than chain drives.

Screw Drive Openers

Screw drive garage door openers are different mechanically than the belt and chain drives. These types operate by a trolley that rides on a threaded-steel rod, which rotates with a motor to move the door. Because of how it is constructed, it does not require the pushing and pulling force used in traditional belt and chain garage door openers.

Screw drive openers are the simplest type of opener, and a lot of people want that because it is fewer part that can break down over the course of time. However, screw drive units can be very sensitive to drastic temperature changes and are not recommended in areas where the temperature changes drastically from one extreme to another. These types of openers are also a bit noisier than belt drive units, but quieter than chain openers. Screw drive units typically cost more than chain drive and belt drive openers.

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