Choosing the right garage door opener can seem like a very complicated process as there are so many different options out there. You might have wondered which is better, a chain or belt garage door opener?
Both chain and belt garage door openers have their own merits. Chain openers are cheaper, and they can hold a heavier door. Belt openers may be more expensive, but they are much quieter to operate. Chain drive openers usually last longer overall, but they require more maintenance as well.
Read ahead in this article to find out what the real differences are between these two types of garage door drive mechanisms so that you can decide which is actually going to be better for your needs.
How Do Chain and Belt Drive Garage Door Openers Work?
Obviously, the most important thing to consider when you are choosing any part of your garage door is how it operates. Fortunately, both of these types of drive work in much the same way. To understand what the actual differences are between them, we should take a look at what they actually do.
The belt or the chain in your garage door opener is attached to the trolley. It moves this trolley backward and forwards in order to lift your door up and down.
When you open the door, the motor in the opener unit rotates the chain or the belt, pulling the trolley inwards and drawing the door up from the ground. To close the door, it slides the trolley towards the door, allowing it to close.
The chain or belt doesn’t actually do all of the heavy lifting by itself. The torsion springs balance out the weight of the door so that it is easier for the drive to lift it and release it.
Does A Chain or Belt Drive Door Opener Work Better?
Ultimately, both of these types of drive openers work pretty much as well as each other. As long as the chain or belt that you use is strong enough to lift your door, then it doesn’t really matter which option you go for.
For most people, the choice between these two comes down to personal preference.
Chain Drive vs Belt Drive Garage Door Opener
Let’s take a look at how each of these types of door opener holds up when it comes to the most important considerations that homeowners have.
Cost
Of the two, the chain drive opener is almost always going to be the cheaper option. They are more common and less expensive to buy, and they have been around for a lot longer. You will probably see more chain drive openers on the market, and you will have more flexibility when it comes to the price.
Strength
A chain drive will almost always be stronger than a belt drive. Most of the time this won’t need to be a consideration, but it can be essential for some doors. If you have two-car or three-car doors, or particularly heavy single doors (like those made from solid wood), you might need to opt for a chain drive.
Noise
One of the major differences between these two options is how pleasant they are to operate in terms of the sound they make. A belt drive opener will be significantly quieter than a chain drive operator, which is often more than enough reason to go for one of these. They do still make some sound, but it is much less intrusive.
Operation
While they do both work about as well as each other, a belt drive operator is noticeably smoother than a chain drive operator. They are less clunky and much gentler overall, which is certainly a plus. A chain drive can be a bit shakier, which is one of the reasons it makes more noise.
Longevity
This is another area where the chain drive has a bit of an edge as a chain opener will usually last for longer. They are made of strong metal and designed to last for a long time, so you shouldn’t need to replace them as often.
Maintenance
Although a chain drive is likely to live longer than a belt drive, it will need more maintenance on a regular basis. The metal needs to be lubricated and monitored for wear and damage, and it will be susceptible to rust as well. A belt drive, on the other hand, can practically be left alone, although it will ultimately need replacing sooner.
Why Would You Choose Chain Drive or Belt Drive Garage Door Openers?
Now that we know some of the ins and outs of these two types of openers, we can make more of a side-by-side comparison to see which wins out in what areas.
Chain Drive Opener
- Cheaper: The best option if the price is what you are most concerned with.
- Stronger: Can be necessary for particularly heavy doors, or larger two/three-car doors.
- Lasts Longer: Won’t need to be replaced as soon.
Belt Drive Opener
- Quieter: Much less noise when you are opening and closing your doors.
- Smoother: The operation is generally smoother and less clunky.
- Requires Less Maintenance: You almost don’t need to worry about maintaining the belt at all.
Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. There are reasons to opt for either of these two that may be important to you, and they do the same job at the end of the day.
To see an example of both types of drive in action, check out this video!
Summary: Which Is Better Chain or Belt Garage Door Opener?
So which is better: chain or belt garage door openers? It really depends on what you are looking for.
The traditional chain drive garage door opener is the cheaper of the two options, and it is probably still the most common. It is stronger than a belt, so you may need to go for one of these if you have heavy wooden doors, or large doors for a two-car or three-car garage. They also tend to last longer without needing to be replaced.
Many people, however, now prefer a belt drive door opener. These are a little more expensive, but they are much quieter and smoother than the chain options. They also need very little in the way of maintenance. They are not, however, quite as strong as a chain and may not be able to handle heavier doors – and they don’t always last as long either.