new garage door opener

[kfran63]

I am replacing my old noisy garage opener. Any comments about what type/brand name to buy (or NOT to buy)? Thanks.

[Bob]

I'm in the same situation with my garage opener. I called the company that installed my current opener (a Genie screw drive), and they recommended a LiftMaster belt drive. However, at the LifeMaster website

it was stated that their chain drive was the most popular. I know I don't want another screw drive, as I think that's the source of most of the noise I am experiencing. I, too, am looking for advice.

[vwtopdown]

I just put in a chamberlin, Item #: 248754 Model: 248754 $228.00

Got it from lowes. it's the 3/4 motor belt drive. couldn't have been easier to install and has been working great for over two months now.

3 remotes, wireless pushpad. and a battery back up for the garage door itself. my garage is detached so if i lose power i couldn't get in the garage to manually detach it. this solves that problem.

mike

[J.A. Michel]

Their chain drive is the most popular because it's the cheapest. Belt drives models are suppose to be the quietest ones. They are also the most spendy units. I have two Genie screw drives. While they are not the quietest, I have has no problems with them. I really like the lighted buttons of the wall consoles.

[Ashton Crusher]

I've been using Genie Screw drives for thirty years and the oldest one is still going. The only things that have ever gone wrong is the teeth in the gizmo that moves back and forth and pulls the door wore out and I had to spend $12 for a new insert. And the transformer that powers the receiver burned out in one and I replaced that for about $12.

The newest one I have is called an "Excellerator" and the opening speed is twice the normal speed of most openers. It's great. It also doesn't need "hard stops" set for the open and close limits - the first time it opens and closes after you install it, or any power outage, it does a slow travel to the ends of the doors travel and figures out the limits automatically and then it holds them in memory.

[Smarty]

I have exactly the same experience and situation here. Extremely pleased with very old Genie screw drive units (have had two for nearly 30 years) and just installed new Genie Excellerator last summer and I absolutely love it. Extremely quiet, very fast, and easy to install.

Smarty

[trader4]

quoted text -

I would point out that a new chain drive unit is going to be a lot quieter than an old one. I have a new Sears and it's much quieter than the old Liftmaster in the other bay. Not sure how much of that is due to better design now, vs possibly getting noisier over time. Belt drives are supposed to be even quieter, but I don't find the Sears level of chain noise objectionable.