Garage door opener types

With so many types and brands of garage door openers, it can be daunting to determine which one to purchase for your needs. To further confuse things, there are different types of openers, each with its own advantages. How noisy an opener is when operating can be a concern, especially if you have living space above or adjacent to the garage. In this blog post, we describe the common types of garage door openers and some of the reasons to consider each type.

Belt drive openers

Belt drive openers use a stationary motor to operate a reinforced rubber belt to open and close the garage door. They are generally the quietest type of opener, but also tend to be among the most expensive.

Screw drive openers

Screw drive openers have a stationary motor that rotates a threaded steel rod that moves the mechanism that opens and closes the door. In general, screw drive openers are not as quiet as belt drive, but may be less noisy than chain drive. Less moving parts and a relatively simple mechanism may make the screw drive a lower maintenance type of operator.

Chain drive openers

Chain drive openers use a stationary motor to operate a chain to move the mechanism that opens and closes the garage door. They are generally the most affordable type of opener and are often noisier than some of the other types.  

Direct drive openers

Direct drive openers are the newest type out there. With a direct drive opener, the motor moves along a stationary chain. They tend to be quiet, perhaps even quieter than belt drive ones. Few moving parts may make the direct drive opener more reliable than some of the other types.