Automatic overhead door openers got popular in the 1970s and have grown into a massive market with a plethora of different kinds of electric overhead door openers for residential and commercial garages. Automatic garage door openers took the trouble out of needing to get out of the car to manually open up the garage door. Various garage door openers can be installed by seasoned do-it-yourselfers, however, for most, installation should be entrusted to the experts. When basic safety is such an essential issue, as it is with garage doors and garage door openers, it's simply better to leave it to the specialists.

There are four kinds of garage door openers: chain drive, belt driven, screw drive, and jack-shaft. Each kind operates differently and your particular requirements will guide you to the most suitable opener for your garage door.

Factors to take into consideration when shopping for an opener:

Do you need added safety features for your opener? If you have young children, this is extremely important.
Are you searching for a very quiet opener?
Do you live in a climate with harsh temperatures (in which a screw drive opener would be the most ideal option)?
Do you need remote control access?
Does your garage facilitate ceiling mounting of the opener, or do you have high ceilings (which would make a jack-shaft the best option)?
What is your budget? Chain-drive garage door openers are the least expensive of the four options.
Chain Drive
Chain-drive garage door are the most preferred of the four types of garage door openers. They are the least expensive. They are the noisiest of the four styles, they are incredibly durable and are a good overhead door opener choice.

Belt Drive
Due to the fact that they use rubber belts, belt-drive openers are more quiet than chain drives. They cost a bit more than chain-drive openers and are best for people with living areas above or next to the garage. There are also minimal vibrations associated with this opener type.

Screw Drives
This overhead door opener type is oftentimes used in climates with extreme temperatures since they are developed to withstand temperature changes. Screw-drive openers will not suffer from iced over chains or other weather-related problems. The tracks are plastic-lined and there is very little read more servicing involved.

Jack-shaft
Jack-shaft drives are good for eliminating that massive garage door opener box on the ceiling of your garage. Jack-shaft openers are installed on the side wall of your check here garage and are excellent for garages with tall ceilings. Another here advantage is that they are very silent.

Find a local garage door service provider who can help you make a decision if you are unsure about whichever garage door opener is best for your garage.


Automatic garage door openers became popular in the 1970s and have evolved into a huge market with a plethora of different kinds of automatic garage door openers for commercial and residential garages. Automatic garage door openers took the inconvenience out of having to get out of the car to manually open the garage door. When safety is such an important issue, as it is with garage doors and garage door openers, it's simply better to leave it to the experts.