All the advantages of choosing a garage door opener with a belt drive

WLED LiftMaster Garage Door Opener

If you are in the process of buying a new electric garage door opener, you should know that there are several different types. With the drive mechanism, which can be compared to a transmission, it’s based on a rubber belt like a tire, a chain like a bicycle, or a screw. There is also a new model called the Jackshaft, which installs next to the garage door.

Wondering what the best option for you is? It all comes down to what your specific requirements are. When all is said and done, though, an opener that operates with a belt drive is one of the most commonly suggested. We want to explain why that is the case.

Background information to get you started

One of the things you should know is the difference between motors controlling the opener that operate on AC or DC. With a DC, or direct current, motor, it starts out slow but gains speed until reaching the normal speed. At the end of the cycle, it starts to slow down again. AC motors, or alternating current, stay at the same speed throughout the entire cycle. Wondering which of these is the faster option? Either motor type can raise and lower the door about 6 or 8 inches per second, depending on the model you choose.

That doesn’t mean that AC or DC are exactly the same. If you want a motor that is less noisy, DC motors are going to fit your needs better. In addition, a DC motor lets you use a backup battery, which an AC motor cannot do.

How a belt drive door opener operates

The door opener we are referring to is one that is a central trolley. What does that mean? The door opener is installed on the ceiling at about the middle of the garage door. The belt is what opens and closes the door. It is made of rubber which has metal wires to reinforce it, which is similar to a radial tire that is steel belted. Depending on the manufacturer, polyurethane and fiberglass may also be used to make the belt.

There is a loop that is based of rubber that goes around a track shaped like a T on the ceiling. The tension of the belt can be adjusted with a wrench to ensure the belt continues to operate correctly. This type of door opener can be used with a ½ or ¾ horsepower (HP) motor. Those who have a double garage door that is around 16 feet wide should go with the ¾ motor. An eight or nine-foot wide door will work with a ½ HP motor.

One thing you need to realize is that a door opener is there to replace your own strength. That means the door needs to be properly balanced, so it feels as if it’s between about eight and 10 lb. That means that there should be no problem for you to lift the garage door with a single hand when it’s disengaged from the opener. If that isn’t the case, you may have an issue on your hands.

The top advantages of using a belt drive opener

Standard+ Vog, 14' x 8', Chocolate Walnut, Right-side Harmony

The top advantage of choosing an opener with a belt drive is that it is much quieter than a chain drive opener--as much as 25 to 30% quieter than the alternative. If you own an attached garage and a room is above it, especially a bedroom, choosing a rubber belt outfitted opener is the best choice you can make. A model with a DC motor, such as the LiftMaster’s 8550W, has everything that you need.

You might think that the rubber belt itself is all that makes the opener quieter, but that isn’t entirely true. The belt makes fluid movement possible without oscillation or vibration. The housing for the opener motor can also be constructed to prevent noise transmission as much as possible.

Of course, with anything that has advantages, there are also drawbacks. In this case, the largest disadvantage of the belt drive is that it tends to cost more. It is more likely to be expensive than a chain drive opener, especially if the chain drive option is a three-section option, which is common from a big box store. However, many people find that the extra cost is worth it for the noise to drop 25 to 30%. If you hate being woken up in the middle of the night by the garage door, this is the option for you.

What other things can be done to reduce a garage door opener’s noise level?

  • Do you have an opener mounted on wood joists? Make sure to secure it.

Simply adding a strip of semi-rigid rubber in between the wood joist and the steel angle can cut down on noise transmission. You can also get a vibration isolation kit that is located between the opener housing and the steel angle. You can think of this as similar to rubber isolators found between a car engine and chassis.
 

  • Switch to using nylon rollers.

If you compare them to metal rollers, nylon ones, which come in both white and black, can be a huge help with noise.
 

  • Keep all steel parts lubricated.

You should lubricate all of the metal parts on the garage door with motor oil to prevent noise. However, if you have a door opener with a rubber belt drive, do not lubricate that. The technician will lubricate the drive sprockets when the opener is installed. There is nothing to worry about on that front for five to seven years.

  • Consider rugs on wooden floors in the room above the garage.

If there is a bedroom above the garage and it has wood floors, this can result in more noise. To handle that situation, add rugs or carpeting so you can dampen some of the sound.

For those who have plenty of of space, you might want to nix a door opener on the ceiling and choose one that is installed on the sidewall. This helps eliminate sound that goes through the wood joists.

Each of these things can help with noise, but you can’t expect to choose one and see the noise die down completely. A combination of remedies might be required to get things the way you want them. A technician at Cadillac Garage Door & Traverse Grand Door can help you.

What are the next steps to take?

All you need to do is contact us at 1-800-997-7766. We are experts when it comes to garage door openers and know all the brands that you can choose from on the market. We’ll help you choose the best option for your needs and budget. If you like, we can also email you a quotation.

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