The two types of overhead garage door openers are a belt drive garage door opener and a chain drive garage door opener. A belt drive garage door opener, unlike a chain drive, uses a rubber belt to control the movements of the garage door opening and closing. Whether you’re shopping for a new garage door opener or want to identify when maintenance or repairs are required, this blog will provide a thorough introduction to belt drive garage door openers.
1. Belt Drive Garage Door Openers Are Quiet
The rubber of the belt drive allows it to produce little to no noise as the garage door opens and closes. If there is a bedroom located in close proximity to the garage door, a belt drive will reduce the possibility of the booming sound of a garage door opening and closing from invading your restful space.
2. Belt Drive Garage Door Openers Don’t Need Lubrication
Unlike chain drive and screw drive garage door openers, belt drive garage door openers don’t require lubrication. Specifically, the belt drive itself does not require lubricating due to the way the substance adversely reacts to the material. Your maintenance routine for your belt drive garage door opener only requires lubricating the springs, rollers, hinges, and tracks. The opener itself still requires regular inspection to see if any additional functions need adjusting or replacing, but there’s one less thing to worry about when you can skip lubrication.
3. They Are Easy To Install
Belt drive garage door openers are also the easiest type of garage door opener to install. The installation process consists of following the steps laid out in your manual to assemble the rail, attach it to the ceiling, and connect the pulley that helps to open and close the garage door. Once that pulley is installed, you’ll put the belt into the pulley and connect it to the trolley. Due to not being as loud and heavy-duty as a chain, a belt is considered easy to install and attach during this part of installing a garage door opener. That said, it is strongly recommended that you hire a garage door technician to install your opener for your own safety and to get the best results possible.
4. They Are Easy To Repair
If you want a garage door opener that’s easy to repair, then a belt drive garage door opener is the best choice. When you think your belt drive might be loose or misaligned, it is easy to tighten and realign it. This involves tightening a part called the square end nut, which will make the belt rise. Your belt drive will be properly adjusted when the width of the spring is anywhere from one to one-quarter inch in width. Unfortunately, snapped and worn-out belt drives cannot be repaired and require replacement. The bright side to that is…
5. They Are Easy to Replace
Of the two commonly found garage door opener types, those with belt drives are the easiest to replace when necessary. The replacement process is no different from the installation process, except you are only focusing on changing out the belt drive. However, as long as you take good and consistent care of your belt drive garage door opener, you should not have to worry about replacing it for a little more than a decade. The ten to fifteen-year lifespan of a belt drive is attributed to its being made of steel-enforced rubber, fiberglass, or polyurethane, which makes it strong and durable.
Our Garage Door Technicians Go Above And Beyond!
Now that you know the benefits of a belt drive garage door opener, we hope you consider investing in one or keeping up with the care of your current one. If you need help with installing a belt drive or would like the most thorough maintenance possible, our garage door technicians will go above and beyond for you and your garage door needs. Contact us today and get help from the best garage door technicians in the Greater Houston area.
