Garage door opener advice

[MackMan]

Hi all! Been a while since I’ve been active here. Life gets in the way!

Anyway, I’m looking at getting new garage door openers. I have 2 single width solid wood doors, currently operated by Genie “pro88” 1/3hp screw drive, pre-rolling code units. They function fine as far as opening and closing the doors, but they’re pretty noisy and I’ve had twice that one of the openers opened when I wasn’t home, due to stray signal or whatever.

I also have this terrible condition where once I get out of our neighborhood I always panic that I forgot to close the door (never actually have, but...). So I’d like to have wi-fil connected/smart phone access.

I’d also like to be <$500 all-in (planning to DIY)

So far it looks like for the DIY option, it’s either Craftsman or Chamberlain.
Since the current 1/3hp seem fine, I’m thinking a .5 or .75 are more than adequate. One of the doors is used several times per day... the other is rarely used (project/classic/fun car)

Originally I had planned to go with the Ryobi units, but apparently they aren’t so good.

I’m not very noise sensitive, but is there any reason to prefer chain drive? It looks like belt/chain drive are the same cost for a similar unit.

Basically I’m looking at these. From what I understand the Sears units are made by Chamberlain.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-57918-1-horsepower-diehard-174-battery/p-00957918000P

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Chamber...Opener-with-PLUS-Lifting-Power-B750/301887758

I’m thinking a battery backup would be nice on the primary door but not neccessary for the 2nd door. I’ve never had it before so it’s not completely neccessary.

So I could run a less expensive model on the secondary.

Thoughts?

 

[Youngfd]

LIFTMASTER 8500 with battery back up pack. Even has a deadbolt that locks thru the track. Out of the way, quiet and secure. jim

 

[MackMan]

LIFTMASTER 8500 with battery back up pack. Even has a deadbolt that locks thru the track. Out of the way, quiet and secure. jim

Thanks,
I've heard good things about these, but from what I can tell they are way out of my price range. A 2 pack are $630 from Amazon.

 

[gnpenning]

You didn't mention the height of your door. Anything over 7' will require the extension kit. Anything over 8' you may not be to do with one of these openers. Anything over a 1/2 hp for the majority of residential door openers is a waste of money. I am not a fan of the track assembly used in box store openers.

Either one will work for the majority of residential doors. Both are made by Chamberlain and the power headds should provide good service.

The 8500 has had a few issues. There is a long thread on here about one. Liftmaster has released another revised model the 8500w. Time will tell.

 

[calif phil]

I had a pair of the Craftsman belt drive openers in our last house, they worked perfect and were very quiet. I would not hesitate to buy them again.

 

[MackMan]

Thanks for the responses! Sounds like I’m on the right path. Just need to decide on a direction


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[Commendatore]

I wanted to go the 8500 route but the guy I had out to change a broken spring convinced me they can be problematic when not installed on high lift doors.

I have no real complaints about the belt drive craftsman I put in. It is really quiet, but a little slower than the chain drive unit it replaced.

I could be wrong, but I think the higher hp units go faster, so don’t cut costs there. A slower door doesn’t sound annoying until you’re standing in front of it waiting for it to open.

 

[marinusdees]

I don't know what you mean by solid wood doors. I had two wood doors which were paneled sectionals. I can tell you that an opener which does not have a soft start, e.g., starts slowly and ends slowly, is hard on wood paneled doors. Mine pulled the upper panels apart. I wound up bolting pieces of angle iron from the top to the bottom of the upper panels to keep them together. Then, I got an "excelerator", don't recall the brand, which had a soft start and was a he-- of a lot easier on the doors. Then I drove my car into one of the doors and was told it was obsolete and not repairable. I bought two new metal doors with styrofoam insulation. The installer told me my old system with the two doors fastened together by a bridle and a single opener was no longer code. Now I have two openers which jerk on the doors (no problem with metal doors), and they are a lot noisier than the old single opener.

 

[autoclassicnut]

Martin DC3700e so quiet it is amazing! see my post here

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17205

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

A pro installed Liftmaster belt or chain drive is available to open up to a 10' high door. If the door is balanced a 1/2 horse motor is good enough. A dc motor has a soft start/stop and is available with battery back up. Every door, wood or metal, has to be properly prepared to accept an opener and survive. Imagine hitching a 15,000 lb trailer to a bumper hitch and complaining to the world that your trailer messed up your truck when your bumper rips off. It's a system that works together. You need struts and proper opener brackets. You also did not mention if you have torsion or extension springs. A shaft drive may not be an option.

 

[Matt M PA]

I put a pair of Sommer openers in my detached. They have been great. Very quiet. One of the things that got my interest was that since I had torsion springs, I could mount the opener to one side of the door and keep the space above clear for a mid-rise lift.

Lowes ordered them for me and they weren't much more (if any more) than the others they stocked.

One thing I found interesting is that the chain remains stationary and the trolley has the motor and a star wheel that pull along the chain in the track.

https://www.sommer-usa.com

 

[Doorguy]

Find a Linear dealer in your area. They have a new opener out that has all the bells and whistles and can be controlled from an app on your smart phone. A much better opener than any others.

 

[MackMan]

Thanks for all the responses.
I have pretty much decided to go with the 1/2 HP Chamberlains. Now I just need a Lowes coupon!

 

[Hollywood D]

I just installed Liftmaster 8500 yesterday. I like it, super quiet, you can barely hear it inside the garage. There were some issues with the control panels crapping out and the doors randomly opening. There's talk it's been fixed, but time will tell.

 

[metschers]

I vote....Liftmaster 8500....

 

[justinthurn]

I have chaimberlains in my garage. you wont be disappointed. myq and the motion activated lights are really nice. dc motor is super quiet if you go that route. that said, I just ordered liftmaster 8500's for my shop doors. I have been installing the doors this week, its -9 real temperature today so pics will have to wait!

 

[rburke65]

I vote....Liftmaster 8500....

But the OP said he needs 2 for under $500 and I don't think that's possible.

 

[MackMan]

But the OP said he needs 2 for under $500 and I don't think that's possible.

Correct, I have a fairly hard budget of $500 all-in.

The .5hp should come out to ~$400 including tax and the little piggyback thing for homelink. Noise really isn't a concern and neither is overhead space. I have a separate garage with, and high ceilings. Openers just for house garage, not near bedrooms etc.

 

[kbs2244]

If the low use one is OK when used a real cheap security fix is to just unplug it.

 

[MackMan]

Well since I was in no hurry I've been waiting for some sort of deal/discount on garage door openers. Lowes often has sent out $50 off $250 discounts so I was kind of waiting for one of those.

Got a email today regarding some Sears president day sales and ordered 2 of these

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-57915-3-4-horsepower-ultra/p-00957915000P?redirectType=SKIP_LEVEL​

3/4hp instead of 1/2 I was going to get from Lowes. They had a coupon for an extra $35 off $300, and 30% "cash back" sears credit, so I have another $97 to spend at Sears now, and spent less up front than I would have at Lowes (without the $50 off coupon that I haven't received). ($347 including tax, and free shipping)

Seems like a good deal. They are supposedly still made by Chamberlain, same as I would have bought at Lowes, but may have some minor feature differences.

Now I just need to figure out if I still need a homelink bridge like I did with chamberlain, and measure my garage door height to see if I need an extension.

 

[77Birdman]

I know this is a moot point, but I have a 3 car garage. One door has an old craftsman that needs replaced, but has done its job well over the last 15 years. Door 2 has a chamberlain that replaced the original craftsman when it wore out. It works ok, but is noisy and about the same as the craftsman. Door 3 has a Ryobi that is over a year old. Havent had a minute problem with it, and you can not hear it when its running. Any new openers i buy will be Ryobi. Only thing i don't like about it is that the light flashes a bit too long when it is first activated, if i were epileptic it would put me in a fit.

 

[MackMan]

I know this is a moot point, but I have a 3 car garage. One door has an old craftsman that needs replaced, but has done its job well over the last 15 years. Door 2 has a chamberlain that replaced the original craftsman when it wore out. It works ok, but is noisy and about the same as the craftsman. Door 3 has a Ryobi that is over a year old. Havent had a minute problem with it, and you can not hear it when its running. Any new openers i buy will be Ryobi. Only thing i don't like about it is that the light flashes a bit too long when it is first activated, if i were epileptic it would put me in a fit.

Interesting, everyone else said to avoid the Ryobi. It also appears Ryobi is off the market now, only place I found them was some sort of discount clearance place.


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[77Birdman]

I had no idea they were gone! I got mine from Home Depot, I haven't checked for awhile but will have to look next time I'm there (probably this afternoon, I go there almost daily)I was a bit hesitant when I got it because of 1. the cost, 2. I am not crazy about their power tools. I think they are fine for homeowner quality, but I am a contractor and we put our tools to the test on a daily basis.
Again, up to this point I am very happy with it.

 

[MackMan]

I had no idea they were gone! I got mine from Home Depot, I haven't checked for awhile but will have to look next time I'm there (probably this afternoon, I go there almost daily)I was a bit hesitant when I got it because of 1. the cost, 2. I am not crazy about their power tools. I think they are fine for homeowner quality, but I am a contractor and we put our tools to the test on a daily basis.
Again, up to this point I am very happy with it.

I had really wanted the Ryobi as they seemed like such a cool idea.
Oh well, the Craftsmans should be here tomorrow, and I think I got a great deal. Not worth worrying about at this point.


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[Cairo94507]

The Liftmaster 8500 jackshaft opener is the end-all beat-all of openers. Quiet, smooth, out of the way. Just installed two of them in my new garage after having them in my old garage. Terrific product.

 

[PurdueSD]

The Liftmaster 8500 jackshaft opener is the end-all beat-all of openers. Quiet, smooth, out of the way. Just installed two of them in my new garage after having them in my old garage. Terrific product.

...until your doors start opening and closing on there own in year 3 or 4.

Im batting 3 for 5 with these pieces of **** malfunctioning.

 

[Marilami]

I bought mine on Amazon and I guess it was okay... I mean no problem so far

 

[Cairo94507]

Yes, they are a bit more than your budget, but the Chamberlain jackshaft openers are a world apart from the typical overhead chain drive units. Also, keeps the ceiling looking clean. I have installed them in my last 2 garages and will do them in all of my future garage door installs.
PS- Never had them "start opening and closing on their own" and that is with 10 years of experience.

 

[racecougar]

Yes, they are a bit more than your budget, but the Chamberlain jackshaft openers are a world apart from the typical overhead chain drive units. Also, keeps the ceiling looking clean. I have installed them in my last 2 garages and will do them in all of my future garage door installs.
PS- Never had them "start opening and closing on their own" and that is with 10 years of experience.

It's a 4 year old thread that was revitalized by a likely spammer.

 

[Jsf721]

I purchased 2 each WIFI Genie Units at Costco, the belt drive. They are silent, work well and price was right. Easy to hook up to internet.

They do not come with wall buttons since there is an App but I purchased them separately and they are wireless and battery operated.

I am very happy.

 

[kbs2244]

your 1/2 HP Chamberlains will work fine
you can get all the bells and whistles you can imagine for them
get the belt drive
the sound reduction will grow on you

 

[tdkkart]

Uh,? 4 year old thread folks...............

 

[racecougar]

Uh,? 4 year old thread folks...............

Yup. Stirred up by a spambot. I reported it this morning.

 

[nadogail]

I am a fan of Geni Openers,; their customer service has been excellent.

 

[olytdi]

Yeah, nothing wrong with updated info in an old thread!

I have had screw drive Genies in my last home and this one. In my last home, the Genie screw drive was 20 years old with zero issues except I had to resolder a board (info on internet for old units). Dead reliable.

I put a residential Genie in this house and am on year 5 with zero issues. Has cell phone app for remote activation/monitoring. Again, has been dead reliable. I'd buy them again in a heartbeat.

My new shop is almost complete and has two 10x10 overheads with roof contour tracks. For these, I'll probably go with Liftmaster wall mount units.

 

[AC-WC]

I have 1 chain drive Craftsman and 2 belt drive Chamberlains. Not a fair comparison noise wise for the chain but I can say I had to replace a gear on the Craftsman when it was 2 or 3 yrs old but now it's pushing 15 yrs old. The Chamberlains have trouble free for at least 10 yrs. None of mine have anything fancy other than the remote.

 

[nadogail]

I am a Geni fan. I once bought a Lift Master because of the back up battery, I found that the Lift Master was prone to be interfered with by local military electronic emissions and the salesman was aware of that.
My Geni openers have been very reliable if they were properly installed.
I buy the least expensive model with the lifetime warranty, and have the retail store send their contacted installer to put them in.

 

[drmarkr]

Thanks,
I've heard good things about these, but from what I can tell they are way out of my price range. A 2 pack are $630 from Amazon.

I hope you bought them in 2018.....they're $1125 for a 2 pack now....

 

[winnievan]

Bit cheaper now — but not much…
$1K from HomeDepot for the chamberlain units.

Just installed them in my garage — they’re great!!

 

[Mikes61]

I just installed three Genie side mount units. They were $350 each from a guy on EBay, and took about an hour to install each one.

The garage door installers wanted $1000 each installed. I don’t mind paying for work but I’m not gonna let someone screw me!