The Difference in Garage Door Openers: Pros, Cons and Everything You Need to Know
It’s important to have a garage door opener that works for your home. For example, this Arlington Heights Garage Door Company offers three great options, making this decision surprisingly hard for the average homeowner. However, our experts will walk you through the pros and cons of each option so you can make an informed decision.
Choosing a garage door opener can be overwhelming. What type of opener should you get? Is one better than another? What about security? You have to make up your mind on what you'd like to see in the new opener, and then look into various models to find an option that suits your needs.
Chain Drive Openers
Chain drive openers are a great choice because they're durable compared to other types of openers. They operate by turning trolley wheels that run along an overhead track above the garage doorway. These openers usually include automatic safety features, including reversing sensors or photo beam safety sensors to help make sure that the door never crashes into anything.
A chain drive garage door opener is one of the most cost-effective options. There are no additional costs as with other openers, and it’s also relatively easy to install. These devices can handle a variety of garage door sizes, and they are best suited for homes with an angled entry. That’s because they take up less space than any other type of opener.
One of the downsides of chain drive openers is they are not as quiet as other types. They require lubrication such as oil or grease on the sprocket gears to function properly and slow down the wear. Another downside is that they require a good amount of overhead clearance, which may be an issue for some people with low garage ceilings.
Belt Drive Openers
Belt drives offer many advantages over their chain-driven counterparts, including being quieter, smoother, and less likely to damage your ceiling. But they are also not very powerful, so a belt drive opener will not be your best option for a steel carriage door in a two-car garage.
Belt drive openers need frequent maintenance, including oil changes, tension adjustments, and replacing belts which can add up. Another downside is that you cannot install this opener inside the garage, meaning that it will be exposed to the weather year-round. That makes them perfect for those situations where you don’t have enough space to install the garage door inside. However, you might have to replace your belt drive opener sooner than a person who opted for a chain drive.
When it comes to belt openers, the motor is usually the weakest link. This is because the rubber belt shreds over time. The belt can also twist and bend the cable enclosure as it drives around. This can lead to kinks in the cables, compromising their ability to power and work properly with the garage door. When you notice these issues or if your door fails to open repeatedly, consider replacing the belt to restore smooth operation.
Wall-mount Openers
Wall-mount garage door openers are a popular choice among homeowners because they're often seen as safer and more secure options. This is especially true for people in remote locations where burglars may gain access to the opener itself. Most of these openers have an external keyless entry, which means you can press a code on a remote control or some other type of radio system and operate it while standing outside or in your vehicle. This serves as a great alternative to the traditional setup that requires operation from inside the building through dedicated wiring. On top of that, they are battery-ready for those times when the power goes out during storms.
Some people believe that this offers a greater sense of safety since intruders need a code to open the door without drawing attention.
Unfortunately, this type of opener still requires a dedicated power circuit to make them secure. And that makes them expensive to set up. You also need access around your garage with enough room for cables, mounting brackets, and other hardware. Wall-mounts should only be used when there's enough area to hide the components and wires.
Generally, most wall-mounted garage door openers are more aesthetically appealing than the other options. So it won’t stick out in your garage pictures or take away from the look of your house's exterior.
However, wall-mounted openers are only good for single-car garages because they can't be mounted on metal frames. But people worry that if they're caught in a storm and power goes out, most wall-mount openers will stop working. So it's important to have backup battery systems installed as well.
Which Garage Door Opener is Best Suited for Homeowners in Chicago?
Most homeowners base their garage opener choice on price and aesthetic appeal. But that is a recipe for failure. There are many models of garage door openers to choose from, with each having a distinct set of features and benefits.
If you want to save money, then the chain drive garage door opener is a good option. It costs less and has fewer moving parts than other openers, which can lead to better reliability overall.
The belt-drive garage door opener is another option for homeowners that want to save money on electricity bills because it uses less power than other models. However, the downside of this type is the cost, which may be more than $300 or even higher sometimes. Another downside with the belt-drive opener is that it will take more time to open and close the door, which can be an issue if you are in a hurry or there’s a security threat nearby.
If you want personalized help with choosing a suitable garage door or installation, visit https://www.chicagogaragedoor.com/arlington-heights-il-garage-door-services to talk to one of our experienced representatives. They will share pictures and tailored information to help you make the best decision.
For more information, check out or garage door opener page or give us a call.
Chicago Garage Door
501 West Golf Rd
Arlington Heights IL 60005
888-501-0533
Find us on Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoGarageDoorArlingtonHeights,
