Choosing the right garage door opener can be very simple if you focus on what’s important to you, so here is an overview of what are the factors you need to take into account:
Type of Drive System
Chain drive
A chain drive opener is the popular choice among most homeowners not only because it is durable bust mostly it is affordable. It uses a metal chain to operate the garage door and works very well with heavy garage doors like one-piece wooden doors or large insulated doors.
The only downside is that they tend to be noisy but if your garage is located away from any bedroom it wont matter at all.
Screw drive
These type of openers operate the door with a long metal rod that moves against a plastic track. They are quite affordable and have fewer moving parts which makes them quieter than other types.
Screw drives openers are a great choice for residential and commercial garages and they need less maintenance although regular lubrication is important because without the proper lubrication the plastic teeth that help the screw to move can wear out sooner than it has to.
Belt drive
These garage door openers are the best option if you’re looking to reduce noise as much as possible just from the main reason that they use a rubber belt which is super quite compared to the previous 2 models, there are 2 main types of belt drives:
Direct current (DC) drives
This type offer the quietest and smoothest operation with high durability and a longer lifespan.
Alternating current (AC) drives
This type operate at full power but may cause some noises.
Horse power
1/2 HP Model
A 1/2 horsepower motor is the most common type and it works absolutely great for standard garage doors. It is strong enough power to lift most doors, but it can struggle with 3 layers insulated doors or wooden doors that are heavier. Also large double car garage doors can pose quite a challenge and can cause it to wear out faster.
3/4 HP Model
A 3/4 horsepower motor is more powerful and designed to lift heavy duty garage doors. It can also handle single piece wooden doors and heavy insulated doors as well. I costs more than the average 1/2 HP motor but can lift twice the load.
1 HP Model
This is the best option for industrial, commercial and oversized garage doors, but it is very expensive and our recommend is to consult a professional garage door installer to understand better if it’s the right opener for you.
