Garage door openers are now an essential part of a family home. Just as upgrades to our home gadgets are most welcome as they promise increased efficiency and durability, which translates to significant savings for us in terms of time, energy and money, we also eagerly anticipate cutting edge innovations where home security equipment's are concerned.
Thanks to the addition of new garage door opener models such as the jack shaft and direct-drive. We are no longer limited to the much improved conventional types – chains, belt- or screw-driven – and are now in a much better position to make a quality purchase that would not only ensure better security for our homes but also efficiently address our ever-increasing needs and changing lifestyles.
Chain-driven garage door openers are the major players due to their affordability. This type uses a metal chain like that of a bicycle to pull and push the garage door. The old model tends to emit much noise and may not be a good choice if the garage is a part of the main house and situated near areas where peace and quiet are much appreciated. The upgraded version of this uses a DC motor which makes soft starts and soft stops possible, considerably reducing the noise. Maintenance is more likely with this type of opener because of the chain’s wear and tear.
Belt-driven Garage Door Opener
Belt-driven openers function in the same way as the chain-driven openers, using the push and pull mechanism, but utilizes a belt made of steel-reinforced rubber, fiberglass or polyurethane., making its operation quieter than the improved chain-driven openers. The downside is that they are the most expensive among the conventional types.
Screw-driven Garage Door Opener
The low-maintenance screw-driven garage door opener comes in second regarding popularity due to its affordability and durability. Compared with chain-driven openers, this type is quieter and provides a much faster and solid ride. With its smooth travel on the threaded rod, it opens at the rate of 10-12 inches per second. The usual opening pace for garage door openers is at 6-8 inches per second. All door openers safely close at a slower rate of 7 inches per second. Screw-driven openers also have fewer moving parts which entail maintenance. However, this may not be a popular choice in regions where massive changes in temperature are experienced, but manufacturers claim that they have adequately addressed this issue.
Jackshaft and Direct-Drive Garage Door Openers
The Jackshaft opener is one of the latest door opener innovation in the market. Being compact and wall-mounted, it is ideal for low-ceiling garages, as it stays clear of that additional ceiling space for valuable for both vehicle and storage. It also proves to be one of the quietest door openers. Powered by a 24-v DC motor, door is controlled by a torsion bar with pulleys and cables orchestrating its motion. The door closes once the motor is reversed and cable tension becomes slack. This type of opener though does not come cheap.
Another important addition to our line-up is the German-made direct-drive opener which works through a single motor moving along a stationary chain enclosed in an overhead rail and a J-arm linking it to the door. With a lone motor being the only moving part, it is ultra-quiet and requires less maintenance. A direct-drive opener is in the same price range as that of a belt-driven unit and has a lifetime warranty. Chamberlain makes one of the best rated garage door openers on the market.
DC-Powered Garage Door Openers
For improved efficiency – reduced noise, swifter speed, smoother motion, many door openers are now DC powered. This type of motor are lighter and operates at variable speed making soft starts and smooth stops. The latest model comes with battery backup systems located in the motor housing which provides power for up to two days, enabling uninterrupted operation and continued use of other important features like lighting, security and safety alerts. A minor note, though, the life expectancy of DC motors with brushes are shorter because of brush wear as compared with AC motors’. Brushless DC motors, however, ably competes regarding life expectancy with AC motors.