Automatic openers make it easy to open and close your garage doors. Considering the average garage door is opened around 1,500 times every year, you’ll be getting plenty of use out of your device. If you’re on the market for a new one, you may want to know your options. To help you pick the right one, here are a few of the most popular types available.

A Guide to Garage Openers

1. Belt-Driven

With this opener, a belt slides the trolley that raises and lowers the door. The belts are typically made of rubber, but can also be composed of fiberglass or polyurethane. With few moving parts and flexible materials, this option is quiet and doesn’t face many maintenance issues.

2. Chain-Driven

A chain-driven model operates via a chain that controls a trolley or carriage, which opens or closes the door when you activate it. This is the most affordable option on the market and installation is easy, which will help you reduce costs. Because of the various metal parts that act together, this system may be slightly louder than other options during operation.

3. Screw-Driven

A motor rotates a threaded steel rod, which in turn powers the trolley of a screw-driven system. On the sound scale, this device falls somewhere between chain- and belt-driven openers. Due to its smooth operation, it can lift and lower a garage door at high speeds, minimizing noise and vibration.

4. Direct Drive

A direct drive opener controls the door without the aid of chains, belts, or rods. A motor takes the place of the trolley, and when you activate it, the device moves up and down the rail to open and close the door. This is the quietest of all garage door openers and is often comparable in cost to belt-driven units.

Find the perfect garage opener for your home and budget by contacting Walter E. Williams. Since 1950, they have been serving property owners throughout Fairfield County, CT. They provide commercial and residential garage door installation, repair, and routine maintenance. Visit their website to learn more about their products or call (203) 488-8620 to request a free estimate.