How to Choose a New Garage Door Opener
Most garage door openers run ten to fifteen years. When yours finally quits, or starts working only when it feels like it, you end up shopping for something most people buy two or three times in their whole life.
Choosing a new garage door opener comes down to a handful of questions. Here is how to answer each one for your garage.
Chain Drive or Belt Drive
This is the first decision and the one you'll notice every day. A chain drive pulls the door with a metal chain, much like a bicycle. It is strong, it lasts, and it usually costs less. It is also the louder of the two.
A belt drive does the same job with a reinforced rubber belt, and it runs much quieter. If there's a bedroom over the garage, or someone in the house leaves for work at 5:00 AM, the belt is worth it. If the garage is detached or sits on the far side of the house, a chain will do the job and save you some money.
Some openers come both ways. The Genie 2128 we install is available as a belt drive for quiet operation or a chain drive for value.
Match the Motor to the Door
A standard single or double steel door doesn't need the biggest motor on the shelf, as long as the springs are doing their job. The springs carry the weight of the door. The opener only guides it up and down.
Heavier doors are a different story. A tall door, a wood carriage house door or a door with a lot of glass needs more pulling power. The Marantec Synergy 300 opens doors up to 14 feet tall, in as little as nine seconds.
One warning here. If your door feels heavy when you lift it by hand, a stronger opener won't fix that. The springs need adjusting or replacing, and putting a new opener on an unbalanced door just wears the new one out faster.
Battery Backup
When the power goes out, an opener without battery backup can't move the door. You can still pull the release cord and lift it by hand, but that's no fun in the rain with a car full of groceries.
With battery backup, the opener keeps running through an outage. Several of the openers we install have it built in, and the Marantec Synergy 200 can take a battery backup. If your garage is the main way in and out of the house, we'd put this near the top of the list.
Smart Features and Your Phone
Most new openers can connect to your home Wi-Fi. Once it's set up, you can open and close the door from your phone, get an alert when it moves, and check whether you left it open after you've already pulled out of the neighborhood.
Each brand uses its own app. Genie openers use Aladdin Connect, and the Genie 2128 has the Wi-Fi built in. Marantec's Synergy openers are ready for the maveo Wi-Fi stick. If you already use one of these apps for something else, it makes sense to stay with that brand.
Ceiling Mount or Wall Mount
Most openers hang from the ceiling in the middle of the garage, with a rail running back from the door. That's fine for most homes.
A wall-mount opener sits on the wall beside the door instead. It frees up the ceiling, which helps if you have a high ceiling, overhead storage racks or a car lift.
Read the Warranty
Opener warranties vary more than people expect, so compare them before you compare prices. The Genie 2128 carries a 10-year motor warranty and a 15-year belt rail warranty. The Marantec Synergy 200 has a limited lifetime warranty on the motor, gears and rail.
A longer warranty usually means the manufacturer expects the opener to last, and it's one of the better clues you have when two openers look about the same on paper.
Final Thoughts
For most homes, the right garage door opener is a quiet belt drive with battery backup and Wi-Fi, sized for the door you actually have. A detached garage or a tight budget can do just as well with a chain drive. Either way, have the springs checked when the new opener goes in, so it isn't fighting the door from day one.
We install Genie and Marantec openers and service every brand. Estimates are free, and you'll get a written quote before any work begins. If you're ready to replace your opener, contact us today or call (501) 834-5188, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can also see the full lineup on our garage door openers page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a garage door opener last?
Most openers run ten to fifteen years, and many last longer with routine maintenance. Once an opener passes that age, parts get harder to find and it's usually missing features like battery backup and phone control.
Is a belt drive opener worth the extra cost?
It is if noise matters to you. A belt drive runs much quieter than a chain drive, which makes a difference when there's a bedroom above or next to the garage. For a detached garage, a chain drive is a sensible way to save money.
Can I keep my old remotes and keypad?
Usually not. Remotes and keypads are made to work with a particular brand and its radio system, so most new openers come with new remotes. Keypad and remote programming is part of what we do, so you won't be left setting them up yourself.
Will a new opener fix a door that's hard to lift?
No. If the door is heavy when you lift it by hand, the springs are worn or out of adjustment. A new opener on an unbalanced door will wear out early. Have the springs adjusted or replaced first. Spring repair is a routine call for us.
Do you service openers you didn't install?
Yes. We repair and service all makes and models, and we can tell you whether your current opener is worth repairing or ready to replace.
Do you charge for estimates?
No. Estimates are free, and you'll get a written quote before we start any work. The price you're quoted is the price you pay.