Garage Door Opener Belt Versus Chain

Large heavy or wood doors often require the installation of a chain drive garage door opener.

Garage door opener belt versus chain.

Belt drive garage openers use a rubber belt to open the garage door. When comparing the chain drive garage door opener and the belt drive system you will notice that the belt drive is much quieter. They also may last longer in certain applications. The noise from the chain drive which is made from the gearing motor and metal to metal contact leaves this type of opener at a disadvantage.

Garage door openers with a belt drive system are newer in technology and use a rubber belt along the moving track to open and close the door. Other installation features are similar to that of belts the chain is joined with an adjustable clip and driven by a sprocket on top of the motor. Being smoother belt drives tend to run faster than chain type openers. Like a chain drive the belt drive operates by moving the rubber belt.

This garage door opener works by moving gears and metal parts together. Chain drives run a little slower because the chain bounces as it moves along the rail. The chains used on residential garage door openers typically have higher tensile strength and greater lifting capacity than belts. Since it replaces the metallic chain for raising and lowering the garage door it is relatively silent smooth and vibration free.

Belt drives are strong enough for average home needs but chain drives can do the truly heavy lifting.