The chain does need more maintenance, you're "supposed" to clean and lube it every year or two. Granted it will keep working if you don't, but will wear out faster, particularly in dusty environments.
A garage door opener will last 30 years if you keep it lubed, including the door hinges, rollers, track, and motor bearings. Granted, on belt drive the belt itself may need replaced in that interval.
I'd get a chain drive if the price were low enough but otherwise, belt drive FTW.
That's a really good price for it. Bought mine 3 years ago and it's been performing like a champ. It's very quiet and I haven't performed any sort of maintenance on it. I've recently added the "internet gateway" and it's the best $50 I ever spent on a gadget. Being able to open the garage door from my phone means I no longer need to take the house keys with me when I go running.
^ being able to open the door with my house key means I no longer need to take the phone with me when I go running. ;)
However, both the chamberlains and the chamberlain made Sears models have a remote keypad available for access without a phone or key, and that is included with this model.
OK, I'll forego the maintenance issue but the noise reduction factor of the belt drive is worth it's weight in gold to me.
Yes mine can wake up the dead, wouldn't want to open it during a Zombie apocalyptic disaster or if the the kids in the bedroom above the garage are still asleep ( about the same effect). :)
Still no store including Sears in my area can even come close to this price with the larger drive, and all the goodies that come with it.
Belt is better. Zero maintenance and quiet! You are supposed to maintain chains and screws, although some choose to not. I replaced a screw drive that did get noisy when overdue for service but it never failed. After having had chain, screw, and belt drive I would never do other than belt drive. Add some sealed nylon track rollers and you will have a quiet maintenance free setup that is way quieter.
^ The track rollers are a good idea. Mine wouldn't go up when it got especially cold due to the grease on the rail getting so hard that it increased rather than decreasing friction.
In the old days this wouldn't have been a problem but modern garage door openers are set up so the slightest extra resistance causes them to stop, in case that resistance is it hitting a child or other obstacle.
The solution wasn't difficult though, a squirt of oil fixed that.
Comments & Reviews (11)
A garage door opener will last 30 years if you keep it lubed, including the door hinges, rollers, track, and motor bearings. Granted, on belt drive the belt itself may need replaced in that interval.
I'd get a chain drive if the price were low enough but otherwise, belt drive FTW.
If spending 30 minutes every year is maintenance, than yes it take more, mine is about 8 years old and has no problems.
However, both the chamberlains and the chamberlain made Sears models have a remote keypad available for access without a phone or key, and that is included with this model.
Yes mine can wake up the dead, wouldn't want to open it during a Zombie apocalyptic disaster or if the the kids in the bedroom above the garage are still asleep ( about the same effect). :)
Still no store including Sears in my area can even come close to this price with the larger drive, and all the goodies that come with it.
Spend 3 minutes a year squishing low temperature grease on it when it screeches and your good for another year.
In the old days this wouldn't have been a problem but modern garage door openers are set up so the slightest extra resistance causes them to stop, in case that resistance is it hitting a child or other obstacle.
The solution wasn't difficult though, a squirt of oil fixed that.
Thank you!