Openers

Chain Drive Openers

Even though its rivals claim to be better in many respects, this is still the most widely used electric operator for overhead doors. The rail extending from the motor unit to the wall above the door holds the chain. When the motor starts, it spins the sprocket which the chain goes around. This is how the chain is run inside the rail. Along with it, runs a trolley which works to open and close the door via a moving arm. The major advantage of this type of garage door opener is that it is very durable as well as highly reliable. Its biggest drawback is that it is very noisy. Lubrication does help to reduce the noise, but this may not be sufficient. The most common issues affecting this system apart from improperly adjusted settings are malfunctioning motor and broken trolley.

Screw Drive Openers

This type of door operator has a steel rod sitting inside the rail. The motor spins it in one direction to enable opening, and in the other to enable closing with the help of the trolley. There are fewer moving parts connecting the motor and the rod when compared to the chain drive system. As a result, the risk of malfunctioning is lower. The primary advantage of this type of opener is that it boasts with high opening speed which saves the owner a considerable amount of time. Its major drawback is that it may not run smoothly when the temperature fluctuates considerably during the year. The rod requires lubrication to work smoothly and quietly. This type of operator is at risk of the same problems as its traditional counterpart.