February 13, 2020

Find Out the Benefits of a Belt-Drive Garage Door Opener

You are in the market for a new electric garage door opener, and you aren’t quite sure which option you could choose. You know that there are different types, but which one is truly the best? The systems that are available today will be based on a chain, a screw, or a rubber belt. Jackshaft models are available, as well, which are installed next to the door. With all of these options, you are worried about finding the one that’s the best. Ultimately, the “best” will be the one that will work well for your requirements. However, you will find that the opener with a belt‑drive is the one recommended the most. There are plenty of good reasons for this.

Myths or Facts

First: The Motors

Before learning more about the belt‑drives, we need to learn more about the motors that power them. They will have either an AC or a DC motor. The DC motor will begin slowly, speed up to the normal speed, and then slow down before it ends the route. The AC motor will keep its speed the same throughout the process of raising and lowering the door. There is no difference when it comes to the speed of the motors. They will both raise the doors at 6” to 8” per second. Of course, different models might be somewhat faster than others, but they are generally about the same.

When you are choosing your system, you should always try to find one that offers a DC motor. These motors are quieter than the other option, and when you select a DC motor, you will be able to use a backup battery; which is not possible with an AC motor.

How Does the Belt‑Drive Work?

A belt‑drive opener features a central trolley that is located at the middle and above the door on the ceiling. The belts used for these systems are rubber but reinforced with metal wires. That helps to give them more strength, and they are not too different from steel‑belted radial tires. Also, some belts also have polyurethane or fiberglass in them for added strength.

The belt turns on a T‑shaped track. It is possible to adjust the tension of the loop to make sure that it is working correctly. The opener will need to have a motor that is either ½ or ¾ horsepower. If you have a double‑sized door that is 16’ wide, you will want to choose a ¾ hp motor. If it’s single, then you only need a ½ hp motor.

The opener that you choose will only be a replacement for the manual labor that would be used to open the door. This means that the perceived weight of the door should not be more than about 10 lb. (4 kg). If you test the door and you find it seems to be far more cumbersome than it should be, then you will want to make sure that you get in touch with the professionals. It means the door is not balanced correctly, and it can be hazardous.

Benefits of the Belt‑Drive

When you choose a belt‑driven opener, the most significant advantage will be the fact that it is going to be much quieter than a chain‑drive model. It could be up to 25% to 30% quieter, which is helpful for any home that has a bedroom located above the garage. When you choose an option that has a DC motor, such as LiftMaster’s 8550W, you will also find that the system is even quieter.

It’s normal that a garage door makes noise

The rubber belt helps to reduce the amount of vibration that could cause noise. The construction of the housing for these types of motors also help to reduce the sound that they emit.

The belt‑drive has some significant advantages, but it is important to note that there is also one drawback: the price. The cost compared to a chain‑drive opener is one of the reasons that some people still choose them. Nevertheless, if you like some peace and quiet and you do not want to deal with the shake and rattle of the chain drives, opting for the more expensive belt‑drive is a good option.

Reducing the Noise Further

You can do some other things that will help you to reduce the amount of noise caused by the garage door opener. If you have the opener mounted on wood joists, add a strip of semi‑rigid rubber between the wood joist and the steel angle. This can help to reduce the noise. You can also choose to use nylon rollers. When you compared the metal roller, nylon ones can reduce the noise transmission substantially. Lubricate your opener, too, unless you have rubber belt drives. They have already been lubricated at installation and will not need to be worried about for five to seven years.

Consider adding carper to the floors of rooms above the garage and think about the benefits of having a jackshaft door opener instead. If you need some help making a decision, contact All‑Mont Garage Doors.

Time for a New Opener

If you know what you want, you can contact us at 1‑800‑957‑5865. We know and understand the ins and outs of openers better than anyone, and we know all of the brands on the market. We can help you find just what you need. We can even email you a quotation. Get in touch with us today, so we can help you find your next garage door opener. We also have doors available if needed.

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