Screw drive garage door openers are generally much cheaper than belt drive openers, but they are also worse in every way. They tend to be louder and less reliable. The main reason why they cost less is that they require fewer parts, which means that they are simpler to repair.
Belt drive garage door openers use a rubber belt to move the trolley along the rail. This belt is much quieter than the chain used in chain drive models. The downside is that a belt is more likely to stretch over time, which can reduce its lifespan.
You may find it helpful to consult a professional garage door opener repair Chesapeake VA contractor if you are not sure which to choose.
History
A garage door opener is a motorized device that opens and closes garage doors. Most are controlled by switches on the garage wall, as well as by remote controls carried by the owner. The electric overhead garage door opener was invented by C.G. Johnson in 1926 in Hartford City, Indiana.
The very first garage door opener consisted of a radio transmitter, an actuator, and a receiver to open or close the door. The receiver would receive a signal and activate the door mechanism. The transmitter can be hard-wired to the wall switch and/or the receiver. This technique prevents thieves from stealing your code through your remote control.
The most common form of garage door opener consists of a power unit that contains an electric motor. The power unit attaches to a track. A trolley connected to an arm that attaches to the top of the garage door slides back and forth on the track, thus opening and closing the garage door. The trolley is pulled along the track by a chain, belt, or screw that turns when the motor is operated. A quick-release mechanism is attached to the trolley to allow the garage door to be disconnected from the opener for manual operation during a power failure or in case of an emergency.
