The choice between a belt drive garage door opener and a screw drive garage door opener is one of those decisions that can be confusing for those who aren’t familiar with garage door openers.

The good news is that you really can’t make the wrong decision. They are both good choices, but there are some differences between them.

Belt Drive Garage Door Openers

Both Chamberlain and Liftmaster have a full line of belt drive garage door openers. These openers use a rubber belt to raise and lower the garage door. The belt makes very little noise when compared to a chain drive or screw drive garage door opener.

Since the belt is rubber, it does not need lubrication. This makes it easier to maintain and operate as well as being quieter than other types of openers.  If your garage is attached to the house and you have living space above it (or adjacent to it), a belt drive garage door opener is worth considering because of its whisper-quiet operation. Belt drive openers are also the preferred choice for homeowners who want a screw drive opener but live in a cold climate where screw drives tend to freeze up.

Screw Drive Garage Door Openers

Liftmaster offers several models of screw drive garage door openers that raise and lower your garage door using a metal rod with spiral threads cut into it. It has fewer parts making it less likely to break down or need maintenance. Screw drives are typically less expensive and quieter than chain drives. However, their main disadvantage is that they only work well in moderate climates. Because they use oil-based lubricants to keep everything running smoothly, extremely cold temperatures will cause them to freeze up and stop working properly.

Consult a garage door opener repair Hampton VA specialist if you’re having trouble deciding between these two options.