Garage Door Openers

Types of garage-door openers

There are three main types of garage-door openers, differentiated by the mechanical drive that lifts the door. The most common and least expensive garage-door openers use a chain looped around a rail. The quietest and most expensive models use a metal-reinforced rubber belt instead of the chain. Intermediate in cost and noise level are the screw-driven models, with a mechanism that moves up and down along a threaded steel rod. Experts say screw-driven units are powerful and, with the smallest number of moving parts, they can require the least maintenance. They are also a bit harder to find since there aren't as many of these models on the market. A newer technology using torsion springs is also available from Wayne-Dalton.

Chain-drive garage-door openers

If noise level isn't an issue, the least expensive and most popular garage-door openers are chain-drive models. Most of these come in 1/2- and 3/4-horsepower versions. The 1/2-horsepower motor is the most common type for residential use. It will work on one- or two-door garages. The 3/4-horsepower motor will provide more speed and power, but at a higher cost.

The least expensive garage-door openers start at about $130. We found good consumer reviews for the Chamberlain PD210D (*est. $135) . Most owners find it easy to install and durable. Extra features are limited but include a single-button remote control with rolling code security, which changes the code each time you use the opener so that the garage can't be opened by a neighbor's remote. A wall mount console lets you control the door and the light. Although this model uses a chain-drive motor, reviewers do not complain about the noise.

On up the price scale is the Craftsman 53990 (*est. $230), which, at this price, competes with screw-drive and belt-drive models. The main difference between this model and typical garage-door openers is its more powerful 3/4-hp motor. Owners say this unit is a good choice for larger and heavier doors, but that it works very well for regular doors as well. Overall, this model gets some of the best reviews of any garage-door openers. Owners say it is powerful, quiet and reliable.

The Craftsman 53990 garage-door opener comes with a remote keypad, two remote controls, an infrared safety beam feature and two overhead lights. The remote panel includes a motion detector so the light comes on when you enter the garage. Owners also say it is easy to install. Keep in mind that this model is virtually identical to the Chamberlain 3/4-horsepower Chain Drive (*est. $170) . The Chamberlain-branded model has the same features. Both Chamberlain and Craftsman units include two three-button remote controls that can control up to three separate garage doors. The only real difference between the two is that the Craftsman is a Sears exclusive, whereas the Chamberlain version can be found at Amazon.com, Lowes and other retailers.

Screw-drive and belt-drive garage-door openers

Experts say that screw-driven garage-door openers are a good choice if you want something less noisy than a chain-drive unit.

We found good reviews at HomeDepot.com for the screw-drive Genie H6000A-2K (*est. $190), which comes with a wireless keypad plus two three-button remotes. Reviews for this 1/2-horsepower garage-door opener also comment on the easy installation. A couple of owners report that Genie customer service was excellent when they ran into installation questions. A drawback is the noise; several reviewers complain that this garage-door opener is too loud.

Chamberlain/Craftsman also has a couple of screw-drive garage-door openers. The Craftsman 53993 (*est. $190) has dual three-function remotes, a wireless outside keypad, infrared safety beam and rolling-code security. Its 1/2-hp motor is good for smaller doors. This garage-door opener receives mixed reviews from owners; some report defective parts. Another troubling find, reported by two reviewers, is that this unit sometimes opens the garage door spontaneously. This opener is designed for 7-foot garage doors. Those with taller doors will need an extension kit (*est. $45).

Engineer and syndicated columnist James Dulley says that Overhead Door makes the most innovative model for the Genie line, and praises the screw-driven Genie Excelerator (*est. $240) . For safety's sake, this model closes the door at the industry standard speed, about 7 inches per second; however, it lifts the door about twice as fast, reducing the time you spend waiting in the driveway. Reviewers note that since it allows you to get into the house faster, the Genie offers a bit of extra security.

The Genie Excelerator model uses polymer-coated rails to avoid metal-on-metal contact and reduce noise. In reviews, experts say this feature is effective, but that the Excelerator is noisier than belt-drive openers. The Excelerator also has safety reverse and other standard features.

If you want the very quietest type of garage-door opener, consider a belt-drive opener. We found the best reviews for the Chamberlain Whisper Drive line. The Chamberlain Whisper Drive WD822KD (*est. $250) has all the standard features, including two three-button programmable remotes, an outside keyless entry pad, a 1/2-hp motor, two light bulb sockets and an interior wall panel. Owners posting comments to Amazon.com say installation is fairly straightforward. Even though this model has a lifetime warranty on the motor and belt, we did read one complaint about some breaking plastic parts. Also, accessory kits are needed for doors that are eight feet and ten feet. The Craftsman 53914 (*est. $220) is similar, but Sears appears to be discontinuing this garage-door opener.

A battery backup is a nice feature if your area has frequent power outages. The Craftsman 53918 (*est. $280) and Chamberlain Whisper Drive WD962KD (*est. $240) both have a battery backup with enough standby power for about 24 hours. Keep in mind that while Chamberlain warrants the belt for ten years and the motor for a lifetime, other parts have a one-year warranty. The Craftsman-branded product has a ten-year warranty for the motor, but only a 90-day warranty for parts and labor.

Torsion garage-door opener

While chain, belt and screw-drive garage-door openers remain the most popular, the iDrive for Torsion garage-door opener from Wayne-Dalton is generating some interest. The iDrive for Torsion's (*est. $300) main box is a relatively small device that is mounted just above the garage door and directly to the torsion spring shaft, also known as the counterbalance. It lifts the door using its existing torsion springs, which eliminates the need for an overhead track and motor. The result is an extra six or eight inches in ceiling clearance -- helpful for owners of boats or RVs. Since the track is also the source of a lot of the noise associated with garage-door openers, the iDrive for Torsion is also quieter than other openers. The ability to program in a pet access height of six to 30 inches and a particularly secure rolling security code scheme are some other appreciated features.

Unfortunately, while some are pleased, we've seen enough unhappy owners to give us pause. Though the manufacturer claims that installation is doable by a do-it-yourselfer, reports from owners say otherwise. The picture unhappy users paint is that installation needs to be near perfect for the system to work reliably, and we've also seen reports of some long-term reliability problems. Others have voiced frustration with service and support. On the plus side, the iDrive for Torsion does carry a life-of-the-home warranty.

If you need the extra height for your SUV or boat, or if you're particularly security-conscious and/or have pets that access your house through the garage, the iDrive for Torsion might be a good option. However, given the problems reported, it's probably a good idea to spring for professional installation, and the iDrive for Torsion already costs more than other garage-door openers. Competing models from Genie and Chamberlain might not be as exciting and unobtrusive, but installation is simpler, and these current garage-door openers are still quieter than older models.

Important Features: Garage-door openers

Like all of today's garage-door openers, the models in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers include sensors to prevent the door from striking someone or something underneath, a federally mandated safety feature since 1993. Another standard safety feature is automatic reverse in case a collision does occur. If you have an older system without these features, experts say it's worth replacing, especially if you have children around. Manufacturers also recommend testing the safety mechanisms periodically by placing an object such as an inverted trashcan under the door and attempting to close it. Remotes and wall controls should be kept out of the reach of children.

Here's what else experts say about buying a garage-door opener:

• Chain-drive units are common and relatively inexpensive, but tend to be noisy. Experts recommend the quieter (and slightly more expensive) screw-drive models, since they have the fewest number of moving parts and require little to no maintenance. Belt-drive units are the quietest, but also the most expensive.

• A 1/2-horsepower motor will lift heavy garage doors and is less likely to burn out. A 3/4-horsepower engine for heavy-duty needs is also available on some models. Garage-door openers with 1/4- and 1/3-horsepower engines aren't widely available.

• Rolling-code technology selects a new, non-repeating access code from among billions of possibilities every time the remote control is operated. Almost all garage-door openers have this feature.

• A keypad or touchpad outside the garage allows entry via a programmable code. If this feature doesn't come standard with the unit you choose, it can generally be added as an option.

• Many units have a simple doorbell-style button for opening and closing the door. Others have a more complex control panel with keypad programming and vacation lock to prevent the door from being opened while you're away.

• Most openers include a light, which should stay on for a few minutes after the unit is activated to allow time to get into the house. All the models in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers have lights.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with Retailer Links)	Details from Amazon.com
2	Chamberlain PD752D (*est. $170)	details
2	Chamberlain Whisper Drive WD822KD (*est. $250)	details
2	Chamberlain PD210D 1/2-HP Chain Drive (*est. $135)	details
1 each	Wayne-Dalton iDrive for Torsion , Genie Excelerator , Genie H6000A-2K , Craftsman 53990

Of the three basic types of garage-door openers, chain drives are the least expensive and offer all of the standard features, but are significantly louder than other available technologies. The Chamberlain 1/2 HP Chain Drive model is among the least expensive garage-door openers, and it receives positive reviews. If you have a larger, heavier garage door, consider one of the few models with a 3/4-hp motor like the Chamberlain PD752D or similar Craftsman 53990. Screw-driven garage-door openers are significantly quieter than chain-driven models. In this category, we found good reviews for the Genie H6000A-2K. Belt-driven garage-door openers are the quietest technology, but are also more expensive. Reviews say that Chamberlain's Whisper Drive is quiet, reliable and easy to install.

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