Help me choose a garage door opener.

Owen Lucas

Owen Lucas

$100 Site Donor 2023
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- Belt drive vs chain drive
- Most reliable brand (Chamberlain vs Craftsman vs Genie)
- This will be a DIY installation
- Both doors are 8' wide and insulated aluminum panels

It is time to change the 2 garage door openers for a family member. They are about 20 years old, one of them sounds horrible and they are both much slower than they should be.

I am thinking of switching to belt drive as it is supposedly quicker and quieter. Battery backup is important. I don't care much for Wi-Fi compatibility but at these price points it comes standard.

What is you experience with belt drive vs chain drive and what brand do you recommend? What HP should I get? I don't remember the HP of their opener but the doors are pretty narrow, 8' maybe less but they are insulated ALU.


Here are the contenders:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Genie-1...-Battery-Backup-and-LED-7155LD-TKSV/325325094

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Chamber...r-Opener-with-Battery-Backup-B2211T/322246530

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Chamberlain-CRFT-1-2-HP-CHAIN-DRIVE-GDO-WIFI-BBU/5014869425
 
I just buy the cheapest Chamberlain they have, replaced mine 3 years ago and it's doing fine. I like the My-Q app.

Craftsman used to be Chamberlain/Liftmaster, not sure if they still are.

Your springs should be adjusted properly so the bigger motor won't make a difference.
 
dishdude said:
I just buy the cheapest Chamberlain they have, replaced mine 3 years ago and it's doing fine. I like the My-Q app.
Click to expand...
There's an idea. If it lasts 10 years I'm fine with that. I kind of want the battery backup as they live in a rural area that occasionally has power outages.

dishdude said:
Your springs should be adjusted properly so the bigger motor won't make a difference.
Click to expand...
I see, so a bigger motor could be fighting / resisting the springs if they were calibrated to a lower HP motor?
 
Owen Lucas said:
I see, so a bigger motor could be fighting / resisting the springs if they were calibrated to a lower HP motor?
Click to expand...
The springs are calibrated based on the weight of the door to minimize the amount of force needed to lift it while still letting gravity hold it down tightly against the seal. Unless it’s badly calibrated any opener should be able to handle it easily.
 
The answer to your question is very easy...buy the Chamberlain 1/2 HP belt drive model with the battery back-up. The belt drive reduces the GDO noise levels by 75% over the chain drive and screw drive models. Chamberlain is the largest manufacturer and makes the Craftsman, Liftmaster and Raynor brands. The advantage is that their parts are readily available at Lowes, Home Depot & Amazon along with many compatible aftermarket parts like transmitter remotes. They also partnered with HomeLink to create the GDO transmitters built into newer vehicles rear view mirrors. Do not buy a Chamberlain model without the battery back-up or a unit with a proximity sensor on the master wall switch panel. The newest Chamberlain GDO models without the battery back-up can occasionally hick-up if there is a momentary power outage while the door is open or in motion. This problem requires manually resetting the up/down travel limit stop positions but is totally avoided with the battery backup. The circuit board on the fancy wall switch control panels with the proximity motion sensors will eventually fail, causing the door to open and close on its own!

Owen Lucas said:
I see, so a bigger motor could be fighting / resisting the springs if they were calibrated to a lower HP motor?
Click to expand...
No, all GDOs are designed to pull/push the balanced door, not fight or resist the springs. If you disconnect the GDO and lift the door halfway open, it should remain still and not drop or lift. Otherwise, it is not balanced correctly and should be adjusted. I prefer the 1/2 HP motor over a 1/3 HP motor since they should have more torque to overcome drag that may occur as the door and springs sag over numerous years of operation. Most professional door companys will only install a 1/2 HP or 3/4 HP GDO on double wide garage doors.
 
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Costco has a great one for 199 now. Chamberlain belt drive battery back up with myq and a video keypad. i installed 3 into a house a couple of months ago. they are quiet . for 8 ft doors you will need the extension rails , another $60
 
CarLuver said:
Costco has a great one for 199 now. Chamberlain belt drive battery back up with myq and a video keypad. i installed 3 into a house a couple of months ago. they are quiet . for 8 ft doors you will need the extension rails , another $60
Click to expand...
That would be a great deal! Costco's cheapest Chamberlain model is currently $279, I guess I missed the sale.
 
Here it is

IMG_1536.webp
 
the app does not require a subscription unless you want all the special stuff. you will still get open and close notifications and can see in real time through the video keypad.
 
I have a Liftmaster Pro 1/2 HP that was installed in 1998..It is a chain type....Still works great....NO issues at all..just do simple lubing once in a while....As someone mentioned already if you pull on the trolley rope and lift the door yourself it should remain in place half way up...If not your springs need to be adjusted ...
 
My next opener will be a wall mount (jackshaft). Eliminate belts or chains, the bar and motor on the ceiling. They're coming down in price.

I bet what kills openers is springs out of adjustment. If you haven't checked/adjusted you springs every few years or ever they need it guaranteed. It's possible to adjust torsion springs without bodily injury or property damage, there are plenty of good videos. Most important is to make or buy 2 proper adjusting rods and be careful and deliberate.
 
RhondaHonda said:
Bedrooms above? My Liftmaster 8500 jackshaft openers are very quiet
Click to expand...

I have one of those / installed 10 years ago.
A little pricy, but well worth it.
NO belt .... NO chain .... NO screw drive

And a quality set of 'nylon' rollers' will quiet it down even more, along with oiling the hinges yearly.

Also, a little more secure because you do not have 'the rope' hanging down that a burglar can hook on to.
 
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