Garage door opener suggestions

[davidmash]

Need to replace one at one of my rental properties. It's a single 2 car garage door. Currently has a screw type and it has lasted quite some time (do not remember the manufacture). Just looking for a simple unit with a remote.

Thanks

[BAVBMW]

Have you thought about one of these:

Opener

I hear the install is a bit difficult, but once properly set up, they're supposed to be the bee's knees.

MV

[davidmash]

Love it but I do not think the rental contract allows for that type of opener.

Perhaps when I renew the contract I can add that in as an addendum.

[spdrun]

Is it an area where you can easily rent? Tenant should consider themselves lucky to have a garage. Just remove the thing and keep a manual door.

[MTI]

I've had Genie, Liftmaster and ProMax openers. Nothing really makes one stand out over the other. For a basic unit, belt or chain, the prices seem to be sub $200 for a 1/2 HP opener with remote and wall switch. Around here, with installation, it's just under $300 for the opener.

[pj67coll]

We have Craftsman I think. both were screws till my stepson drove thru the double door. We had it replaced with a belt drive. I'll be replacing the other screw with a belt soon as possible. A lot quieter, smoother and slightly quicker.

- Peter.

[davidmash]

I have a belt drive in my house. Only thing I do not like about it is when the power was out and the door was closed I could open the door but I could not lock it in the open position like I could with the screw drive. My unit is fairly old so not sure if that has changed with the newer ones.

[Mölyapina]

Originally Posted by davidmash

Love it but I do not think the rental contract allows for that type of opener.

Perhaps when I renew the contract I can add that in as an addendum.

I was like, "Why does a rental contract forbid the use of a certain kind of garage door opener?"

Then I clicked on the link.

...oohhh... yeaah... contract might be an issue.

[MTI]

Originally Posted by davidmash

I have a belt drive in my house. Only thing I do not like about it is when the power was out and the door was closed I could open the door but I could not lock it in the open position like I could with the screw drive. My unit is fairly old so not sure if that has changed with the newer ones.

Curious about why you would need the "feature" to lock it in an open door position. Isn't just a matter of disengaging the trolly?

[davidmash]

We had a power failure this past winter. The garage door was closed Had to get the car out. Disengaged the trolley and opened the door. Since the 'truck' that the dolly engages to was in the closed position the trolley had nothing to attach to when the door was open. Used a 2x4 to prop the door open while I got the car out.

Not sure if the spring needs to be tighter to hold it open but my garage door guy said no.

[MTI]

Once the trolly is disengaged, I don't think it matters if it's a belt, chain or screw driven opener, the door is going to be moveable.

[cmac2012]

Well yeah, but I think the issue is can you put it fully open and lock it back in place?

I've installed two of the Home Despot Chamberlain belt drive units - both were shipped, not on store shelves - in the past year or so. Clients like them, very quiet and reliable. One is the 1 hp DC unit. Really smooth. The main bar is an assembled thing, comes in approx. 3' lengths that snap together. The pro installers pooh–pooh them, and not without justification, they use a solid piece about 8 or 9 feet long that is better, but harder for the average guy to get his hands on.

I think Chamberlain is labeled Liftmaster in some parts of the country. I prefer Chamberlain to the other common brands FWIW.

I'll have to check to see if the two I installed have an easy to use stay open setting with no power. I can see how the screw type lend themselves to that more easily.

[davidmash]

Originally Posted by MTI

Once the trolly is disengaged, I don't think it matters if it's a belt, chain or screw driven opener, the door is going to be moveable.

I guess I'm not being clear. Not a matter of being able.to open the door. The door will not stay open. The set up is so that the weight draws the door down. It's not neutral.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Originally Posted by davidmash

I guess I'm not being clear. Not a matter of being able.to open the door. The door will not stay open. The set up is so that the weight draws the door down. It's not neutral.

Either your garage door guy misunderstood, or he's an idiot.
You need to get the springs, counterweight, whatever, adjusted. The door should be able to stay open on it's own, regardless of whether or not there is even a power-opener attached.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[cmac2012]

Adjusting the springs is not rocket science but it can be dangerous. All of them that I've seen have a 4 sided odd looking thing at the end of the springs, the end towards the middle, with a 1/2" hole on each of the four sides. I buy a 36" bar of 1/2 steel rod, Home Despot has them, cut in half and that's my wrench. You hold it tight and loosen the lock nuts. You can feel it big time when the nuts let go. They say 'Caution: danger of injury or death!' And you could get hurt if you let go or something went wrong. I've never had trouble but it is serious business.

I've read that you should tighten it until holds still when the door is halfway up. Usually when it's that tight, it will also stay up when it's fully up, as in that position there's no portion of the door that's bearing directly down, just the little bit on the end that has a slightly downhill slope on the guide.

Of course you just move it a little bit on each side until you get what you want. You don't want to tighten it too much or else the opener will sometimes have trouble pushing it down, or getting started when the door is up, that is, as there is no weighty portion of the door working to help it down and wind the springs up in the process.