It really is the little things in life that can make or break your day. Take, for example, your garage door opener. If your bedroom is above the garage, a noisy garage door opener may wake you, leaving you feeling sluggish the next day. Purchasing the quietest garage door opener for your home can help ensure restful slumber.

Garage Door Opener Types

Chain-drive, belt-drive, and screw-drive are three of the most commonly purchased garage door openers. The main differentiator between these openers is noise. Out of the three, belt-drives offer the quietest operation, with screw-drives following in a close second.

Chain Drive: Chain-driven garage door openers, while the most affordable, tend to create a lot of noise. This makes them less than ideal for garages near bedrooms. Noise dampeners can, however, be installed to limit vibration.

Belt Drive: Incorporating a steel reinforced rubber belt, these openers provide powerful, reliable performance that is hardly noticeable to the ear. This is the opener to get if you’re sensitive to noise or there are sleeping quarters over the garage.

Screw Drive: Considered the Goldilocks of openers in terms of noise and reliability, screw-drive openers rotate a threaded steel rod to raise and lower the door. They are a great option for heavier garage doors such as wood.

Choosing between chain-drive, belt-drive, and screw-drive garage door openers isn’t the only thing you need to consider. You must also look at horsepower (HP) ratings. While 1/2 HP should be sufficient for standard-size garage doors, ¾ or higher HP openers can lift the door with less strain. Higher HP can also help minimize noise.

What the Best Opener Has?

Internet Connectivity

This technology allows you to remotely monitor and control the opener using a smartphone app. Some models provide auto-close functionality. Smart garage door openers are easily connectable to your home Wi-Fi network.

Battery Backup

A battery backup system ensures access to your garage even when the power goes out. This feature can be especially helpful during thunderstorms. In an outage, a fully charged battery is designed to operate an opener for 24 hours, or 20 full cycles.

Keypad

A keyless entry system allows you to leave your keys behind when you walk the dog or go out for a jog. Installed outside the garage door, these keypads are designed to hold up to four private 4-digit codes – including temporary pins.

Professional Installation

Your garage door opener, along with the spring system, control your home’s largest and heaviest door. This makes proper installation crucial. A professional garage door installer has the experience and equipment required to ensure quality installation and functionality of your new garage door opener.

Maintaining Your New Garage Door Opener

Following a regular maintenance schedule can help prolong the longevity of your new garage door opener and its components. The International Door Association (IDA) recommends testing the door’s balance, reversing mechanisms, force settings, and photo eyes monthly. This will ensure the safe operation of a door that can weigh more than 150 pounds. Contact Apex Garage Door & Repair today at (480) 460-1199.