Modern homeowners are faced with choices around every corner. From aesthetics to function, building, decorating, and maintaining your home means choosing between a nearly endless variety of options.
Nowhere is this more apparent than your choice of garage door. Not only do homeowners need to consider the aesthetics of the door, they must also decide the type of garage door lift system they’ll use—chain drive or belt drive—each of which has its distinct pros and cons.
While manually lifting your garage door is possible without an automated lift, it’s inefficient at best and dangerous at worst. Whether you choose a chain drive or belt drive garage door opener, deciding to install an automated door lift is the best choice for your home.
Chain Drive Garage Door Openers
Chain drive opener are the more common type of garage door opener and the type you’ve probably seen most often in garages. As their name suggests, chain drive garage door openers utilize a chain to power the door’s movement. Chain drive openers come with a few advantages and disadvantages.
Chain drive garage door openers are the sturdiest type of openers. Because of this, they are typically used on heavier garage doors. Another key benefit of the chain and sprocket method is their ability to function in any weather. However, chain drive openers also create quite the noise. The wear and tear placed on the chain-running assembly can cause it to degrade over time. Luckily, a visit from a professional garage door service technician can help with your door maintenance or repair needs.
Belt Drive Garage Door Openers
Another common type of garage door lift is the belt drive opener. Functioning in much the same the way as the chain drive, the belt drive opener is a quieter, more durable method of opening and closing your garage door. It uses a belt to power the door’s movement, rather than the mechanical chain and sprocket method. This makes them more durable and quieter than their chain drive counterparts.
Choosing the Best Garage Door Opener For Your Home
There’s a lot to consider when choosing between chain drives or belt drives. Belt drives are typically more expensive than chain drives. Both chain and drive garage door openers feature robust safety protocols to prevent accidents. Chain drives tend to require more maintenance along with their higher level of noise.
Belt drives were also the first models to include Wi-Fi connectivity features, bur modern chain drive openers now include this technology, too. Wi-Fi connectivity does come at a higher price point, which is why it’s important to consider your family’s needs. Using Wi-Fi, you can remotely check, open, and close your garage door from much further away than before.
To ensure you make the right choice for your home, American Door Works is ready to answer all your garage door-related questions. Contact us today, or visit our blog for more articles on customizing your home’s garage doors.