Garage door openers ?? (springs, Lowes, ceiling, installing)
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I’m at the point where in the next several weeks I will be replacing the old garage door opener and I’m wondering which manufacture and type I should get. I know there are some good points for the belt drive however they cost a little more than a screw or chain drive. The old one I’m replacing is a screw drive with 35 years of service on it.
So I’ve been checking with big box stores and what they have for sale but I never seem to find anyone who “knows” much about them at the store. And yes I’d like the DIY project instead of hiring someone else, I installed the first one and never had any trouble with the unit or the installation so I’m thinking I can do this again by myself.
What manufacture and type of opener seems to be best for the money?
Costco has a new Sommer unit that different than a belt, chain, or scew drive.
I heard good things about those units. My new-to-me house has a 3-car garage. The double-door has a brand-new opener but the single-door has the remnants of an opener still attached to the ceiling. Installing a new opener is on the back burner, but I've been eyeing that Sommer opener at Costco.
^^^ Genie opener! It fails to pull the door open, but being 35 years old it's time for a replacement. The original Genie is a screw drive. I also have expansion springs that I want to replace at the same time.
I had my old Genie replaced with a Chambelain chain drive 8 years ago. Works better and have never had a problem.
At the same time I had a newer lighter weight door installed with new door springs etal.
AK, if you want to spend about $350.00 and get a new Chamberlain installed, pm me and I give you a local dealer I've had had good results with.
LiftMaster is considered to be the gold standard in terms of garage door openers, however, they are not sold directly to homeowners; they must be purchased from and installed by a professional installer.
As for type, here are some of the pros and cons:
Chain drive:
Pros: Least expensive, pretty good lifting speed for the HP rating.
Cons: The noisiest of the three.
Screw drive:
Pros: Reasonably priced, quieter than chain drive.
Cons: Slowest for the same HP rating compared to the other types, may have trouble in some colder climates.
Belt drive:
Pros: Great speed for the HP rating, quietest of the three types.
Cons: Significantly more expensive than chain or screw drive.
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