The Screw Drive Opener
The screw drive is the most complex of the garage door opener drive mechanisms. The screw drive garage door opener uses a threaded rod that is fixed into a track that runs from the opener to the door. A trolley is attached to the threaded rod and extends an arm to the door, where it is firmly attached. When the door is engaged the motor turns the threaded rod and the trolley moves along the rod either toward the motor or away from it. The arm then raises or lowers the door.
As we stated earlier, belt drive openers and chain drive openers make up more than 95% of all garage door opener sales. The remaining 5% of customers opt for the underdog, the unsung hero of the garage door opener market – screw-drive openers. No, not screwdrivers. Screw-drive openers. Screw-drive openers are an outstanding choice if your door is wider or heavier than average. And, contrary to popular belief, installing them is typically a straightforward affair. So its time to give the screw-drive opener some love – and thats what were going to do below with our six reasons why a screw-drive opener could be the best garage door opener for you.
What Package Should You Get
We offer several different packages for installing a new chain or belt drive opener. Each package includes taking down and disposing of your old opener replacing the opener, sensors, and wall button programming your remotes and a five year warranty on parts and labor. Its up to you to decide what else you would like included:
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Basic Chain or Belt Drive Opener: includes one remote
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Midrange Chain or Belt Drive Opener: includes two remotes or one remote, one keypad
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Deluxe Chain or Belt Drive Opener: includes two remotes and one keypad
Contact Liberty Door And Awning For Belt And Chain Drive Openers
Liberty Door and Awning has been the largest Clopay® Garage Door Dealer in the state of New Jersey for over 20 years. Serving Atlantic, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties, we take pride in our talent for garage door and awning installation and repair. For more information about our garage door selection or to have us install one of our openers, be sure to contact Liberty Door and Awning today.
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What Is A Belt And Chain Garage Door Opener
Chain and belt garage door openers are two popular options for automatic openers.
These types of openers are both installed overhead.
They also use a similar mechanism â move the trolley to operate the garage door automatically.
However, these two differ in the material that moves the trolley.
Belt operators utilize a rubber belt, while chain openers use a metal chain.
This difference creates the unique features of belt and chain operators.
They differ in price, capacity, noise production, and maintenance.
Garage Door Belt Vs Chain: Which System Is Better

A new garage door opener may sound like an easy purchase to make, but there are many decisions to make before you can install a new product in your home. One of the primary choices youll be faced with is whether you should buy a chain drive garage door opener or a belt drive.
Lots of homeowners dont even know the difference between these two types of garage door openers, so if youre not sure which is right for you, dont feel bad! The professionals at Overhead Door of Oklahoma City can help you understand the difference.
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Belt Vs Chain Drive Garage Door Openers
The chain-drive garage door opener is the least expensive and most popular type of garage door opener. Belt-drive garage door openers are more expensive, but they are quieter and faster than chain-drive garage door openers. To more closely compare the differences between these two types of garage door openers, read on. And for professional garage door installation in Austin , contact Advanced Garage Door.
Speed
For safety reasons, garage doors are not very fast. Modern garage doors typically raise and lower at a rate of 7 or 8 inches per second. One factor that affects the rate at which the garage door raises and lowers is the smoothness. Garage doors on chain-drive systems typically bounce slightly as they move up the rail. But belt-drive systems are smoother, so they tend to operate a bit faster.
Strength
The strength of the garage door factors into the decision-making process for many homeowners. If you customize your garage with a heavily insulated door, a wide door, or a wooden door, a chain-drive garage door opener is the better choice. The links of the chain-drive provide the strength required to life a heavy door. Belt-drive garage door openers, on the other hand, come with steel stands that are not as reliable for operating heavier or larger doors.
Noise
Price
Advantages Of Screw Chain And Belt Drive Garage Openers
Automaticgarage door openersmake it a cinch to open and closeheavy garage doorseffortlessly. Three types of drives are available, each with its own set of advantages. No one type is the best — that’s why Overhead Door Co. of Central Jersey offers all three types. Learn about the advantages of the screw, chain, and belt drive garage openers.
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Durability: Which Type Of Garage Door Opener Lasts Longer
Belt drives do not last as long as chain drives, but they are still durable. Because chain drives are constructed of metal, they have an advantage. Chain lasts about 15 years, whereas belt drives last around 10.
A chain drive opener will usually have two gears and work in virtually any situation. On the other hand, belt drives can be finicky, especially if you live where there are massive amounts of rain. A belt does not function very well when its wet.
Belt drive openers, unlike chain drives, do not rust, but the chain drive still wins in terms of durability because it lasts longer and can withstand more stress. You might have to lubricate it more if you live in an area where moisture can pose a problem.
What Is A Garage Door Opener
Garage doors are large & heavy. Even a single car garage door is typically 8 wide and 7 tall. A two car garage door is 16 wide and 7 tall. They are made from wood, steel, aluminum, etc.
Opening and closing a garage door manually is hard work. Even more importantly it is extremely inconvenient. A Garage Door Opener takes the hard work away by using an electric motor and a drive arrangement. The power from the rotation of the motor shaft is transferred using a drive mechanism to lift or lower the garage door.
There are 4 basic types of drives.
All Garage Door Openers use an electric motor, housed in the Garage Door Opener Unit, which pulls a trolley, attached to the garage door, on a rail using some sort of drive mechanism.
They differ from each other by the drive mechanism.
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Additional Features And Customization
Other factors may also impact the type of garage door opener that is best for you, such as safety and security features or accessibility. Depending on the specific model you choose, you can further customize the door opener to fit your specific preferences. From systems that can be opened and closed using your smartphone, to sensors that automatically reverse the door if something or someone gets in the way, you can add or remove features that meet your specific needs. LiftMaster even has an opener with a built-in camera option. Real-time video monitoring lets you see whats happening in your garage no matter where you are. Check it out here.
Chain Vs Belt Drive Garage Door Openers Which Is Right For You
Among all the factors to consider when shopping for garage door openers, the type of drive mechanism is probably not something you hear about very often. Yet, when using the opener, you may hear a difference in the sound of belt drive units because they are generally quieter than chain drive openers, though that isnt the only operating feature to consider.
We should point out that there are many offsetting advantages of chain drive openers, so please dont count them out. Still, if you have an attached garage and especially if you have bedrooms located above the garage, the sound rating of the garage door opener may indeed be at or near the top of your selection criteria.
Belt Drive Openers
Todays high-strength drive belts will handle the weight loads of most single or double residential garage doors. This type of drive system runs along the rail and wraps around a sprocket located on the top of the opener. The belt ends are joined at the drive trolley with a threaded clip that can be adjusted to keep the belt tight. Your Raynor Dealer may recommend this type of opener for all except the heaviest doors such as composite overlay or all-wood doors.
Chain Drive Openers
Other Considerations
QUICK COMPARIS0N Raynor Garage Door Openers
Ready For A New Opener?
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Professional Garage Door Replacement In Cleveland
Cleveland Garage Door Pros is the most trusted garage door specialist throughout Cleveland.
Weâve been in the garage door repair industry for many years.
Thus, the quality and reliability of our service are time-tested.
We offer professional garage door replacement and repair.
Our licensed technicians can also perform garage door opener replacement.
Can you change a garage door opener from chain to belt?
The answer is yes, and weâre only a call away from replacing your garage door opener.
A Comprehensive Comparison Of Chain And Belt Openers

Each kind of garage door opener has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The option isnt black and white, as it is with most things in life. There are multiple factors to consider before making a final decision.
We will examine four of the most significant characteristics of garage door openers in this section:
However, keep in mind that you should consider other factors such as your homes location and garage size before making a final selection.
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Which One Is Easier To Replace: Belt Or Chain
The belt on a belt drive is easier to replace than a chain. This is because the belt is easy to stretch in order to fit onto the gears, and you can usually do this on your own.
If you were to replace a chain, you need to be able to cycle the gears while fitting the chain onto them. This requires at least two people and a lot of patience. And of course, if its not installed right, this will cause the chain to slip again. If this happens, you will be back at square one with a garage door opener thats not working correctly.
Side Mount Garage Door Opener
The third would be the side-mounted jackshaft units. These get mounted on the sides of the door. The way they work is theres a torsion tube spring above the front of the door. The springs actually lift the door. And what this does is rather than pulling and pushing with a trolley. It uses the torsion tube and turns that tube to lift the door. To use that you do need to have a torsion spring set setup. If you have an extension spring door it is not going to work or you could convert it to a torsion spring system.
We typically only do those on high lift applications or applications where you just dont have the room to do a standard drawer bar. The only reason is with the side-mounted openers, you need to always have weight on the bottom section if the bottom section gets hung up or gets a little too light, it can throw the cables. They do have cable tension sensors when they do feel some slack in the cables it will stop the door completely, but in my experience, even with those sensors they still can throw cables. If you throw a cable the door can get stuck and even damaged and you will need a garage door professional to reset everything.
So its one reason why were a little hesitant in some applications to use the side-mounted, but they are a great option because they clean up the ceiling. You dont have it hanging from the center of the ceiling. Its sitting on the side of the door, tucked in and out of the way.
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Is It Time To Replace Your Garage Door Opener
If your current opener doesnt quite match the needs of your automatic garage door, make haste, and switch it out.
Mismatched garage doors and openers are a recipe for disaster as they could lead you to incur huge losses or suffer personal injuries.
With the help of a skilled professional, you can switch from a chain drive to a belt drive motor if you need to keep the noise down. Alternatively, you can install a chain drive if your garage door is wider and heavier than the standard sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Garage Door Opener Installation Services
The cost to install a garage door opener varies according to a number of factors. Youâll need to factor in the cost of the garage door opener itself, along with the cost of the installation process. There is a huge variation in the total cost for installing an automatic garage door opener. Prices vary according to the brand, model, power, and type of garage door and garage door opener in question. Additionally, removal of the old garage door opener is not always included in the installation cost. You might also want to talk to the installation pro about removing the old opener before they start the job.
It makes sense to invest in hiring a contractor to perform your garage door opener installation. In most cases a pro will have the right tools and know how to get the opener installed much more quickly than the average homeowner. After the installation, ask the door opener specialist how to lubricate the opener and how to maintain it going forward.
One important factor to consider when estimating how long it will take to install a garage door opener is whether youâve got the right electrical outlet in the ceiling of your garage. Most garage door openers need to be grounded within a couple feet of the motor unit. You cannot use an extension cord to connect to the outlet. Be sure to get a detailed, written estimate for the time and elements involved in your garage door opener installation.
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Garage Door Openers From Exl Garage Doors
Which type of garage door opener is best? That depends on your individual budget, needs and preference. With belt drive vs. chain drive vs. screw drive garage door opener options, each has advantages and disadvantages knowing which remote control garage door solution is right for you starts with understanding what makes them different and how those differences will impact their use.
If youre unsure of which types of garage door openers you should consider for your home, give us a call. Our helpful staff will tell you about our garage door opener options and identify the models that align with your budget and needs. Give us a call today to learn more about our selection or schedule an appointment for garage door opener repair service.
Belt Vs Chain Garage: Which Is Right For You And Your Home
At Precision Door Delaware, we hope that this guide on belt vs. chain garage door openers helped you get a sense of what these respective drives offer to your garage door experience. While youre aware of the pros and cons of both, you may need more details to decide which is right for your garage door. When its time to get closer to making your decision, you can always contact us to learn more or get a free estimate on the installation!
Our team at Precision Door Delaware is proud to help and serve homeowners inn Delaware and North Maryland with their garage door needs!
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Advantages Of Belt Drive Garage Door Openers
The main advantage of the belt drive garage door opener is that it uses a belt instead of a chain. This significantly cuts down on the noise level during operation since theres no metal-on-metal contact. They are just as reliable as a chain but do not need to be lubricated. Belt drive garage doors will also push and pull the door at a faster rate than a chain drive.
How Convenient Are Chain Vs Belt Drive

When it comes to the convenience of these two-garage door openers, belt drives edges out. The reason is that it operates smoothly compared with the chain drive.
If you own a chain drive, you may need to make some adjustments to keep it functioning properly. However, you only do this twice a year and not regularly.
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Potential Drawbacks Of Chain Garage Door Openers
Chain-driven garage door openers also have a couple of disadvantages, which weve listed below:
- Noise: Many people believe they create excessive noise. A noisy garage door is an annoyance that some people would rather avoid. Because this system uses a chain drive, the constant metal-on-metal movement can produce unpleasant noises. This is especially aggravating if your garage is connected to a bedroom, kitchen, or living area.
- Higher Maintenance: Garage door openers with chain drives need to be serviced on a regular basis. Keep the drive chain on these pieces of equipment greased, so they continue functioning smoothly.