How to pick out a garage door opening? What is the difference between a belt drive and chain drive? ...
What is the difference between a belt drive and chain drive? What class of horsepower is needed?
a chain drive is more modernized than a belt drive,
no slippage,
if you have an elder door wood type, get the best hp thats availble, at least 1 hp.
I've never tried a belt drive, but I hear they're more quiet. If your garage is directly below your bedroom, for example, you may want a belt drive.
I own a 1/2 HP gear driven opener on my big door. The merely real good thing is it's faster.
I have a 1/3 HP HP on my single saloon garage door. It's slower and a bit noisier.
Both openers are Sears brand, and I would recommend both of them to anyone.
Answers: We've been within the industry for over 30 years and have installed/serviced only about every brand & type ever made and here's what we've discovered:
LiftMaster/Chamberlain make the best, most reliable products overall. It's possible to get a "lemon" next to anything but the chances are slim to none near these guys. We put our name bringing up the rear the products we sell and we cannot dissipate our time having to turn back and fix flawed units so after trying other brands we joyfully settled on LiftMaster. Genie makes a clad unit (if you buy the sophisticated end) but they tend to cut corners on the materials.
Hope this helps!
As for the drive type - cuff, belt or screw. We recommend steering clear of the screw drive - even if it's a LiftMaster. Over time the threads in the traveler will become worn out and switch on to slip. Most of the time screw-driven units head to trouble before their manacle or belt-driven counterparts. Between chain and belt it is primarily an issue of warranty and quietness. Belts are quieter and usually have a bit better warranty but they cost more. Contrary to what be said above, they don't slip - the belts have teeth on them which run around a sprocket lately as a chain.
As for horsepower - 1/2hp is more than plenty for 90 percent of residential applications. If your door is balanced/sprung properly (you should be able to comfortably lift up the door by hand) this horsepower should be sufficient.
Much resembling brand name choices, surrounded by any tool/ appliance/ etc., as others will mention in preferences, adjectives are basically like peas in a pod in their multiple mechanisms, nouns capabilities, guarantees, etc.
Certainly decide horepower should depend on the type/size of the door you have to get underway. Quiet is probably a relative issue, given that the opener is not the solely thing within motion, during operation.
Genie makes a fully clad product, and is as close to the top of the list as any others surrounded by Standards.
I prefer the Auger type, which is like a direct drive, and as low as any other. It also has a lesser amount of working parts to be concerned with, and is as straightforward as any to install. I don't care for any you've suggested, but again, that's a personal choice. The door I have to unstop is 2 car, molded steel panel, beside supports, and is pretty light shipment, much like a fiberglass paneled door would be.
I give attention to any @ 1/2 hp or above would offer sufficient service. One motivation I like the auger type is that the torque is directly applied.
Steven Wolf
of late my two "sense"
Double door
Genie belt drive 1/2 hp most quiet.
More similar to a shaft drive than belt, I believe.
Chain drives are good but much noisier.
Single door
1/3 hp
Whichever starter you chose Make sure you disable the locks on the door. If someone locks the door and then tries to use the introduction something is going to break