Garage door opener recommendations

[Ross/Kzoo]

I'll need a GDO for the new house/garage. I've had a Chamberlain chain drive opener for 24 years and it has worked flawlessly except it is noisy most of the time. Any recommendations as to brand and type?

 

[NUISANCE]

Liftmaster 8500 of course

 

[lat905]

Whatever you do, don't buy anything Genie. I made that mistake.

 

[85Ram]

I have had good luck with chamberlain. I installed 3 of the least expensive chain drive openers 4 years ago and no issues. They are kind of loud, I imagine the belt drive would be quiet.

 

[bmw57isetta]

Had a Chamberlain/LiftMaster belt drive in a previous house that was flawless and quiet for eight years. Just did a complete re-do of garage in our new place and put in a LiftMaster 8500 direct drive unit and insulated garage door. (Thank you GJ'ers for the 8500 tip!). Eliminates the center trolley and motor mounted in the middle of the ceiling. Super quiet, clean install and gives you the ability to automate features via your smartphone if you're so inclined. It's also been a good sight gag when people come out to see the new garage and can't figure out how the door opens with all the usual paraphenalia up on the ceiling missing in action.

Highly recommended!

 

[jon72vega]

Liftmaster 8500 of course

That!

 

[upndown]

Liftmaster 8500 of course

Good choice if you have the side room, if not belt drives are nice and quiet.

 

[Iann128]

Just got my first of 3 8500's installed today. All I can say is nice! Easy to install and works great!

 

[koditten]

I've been a Genie screw drive opener fan since I was a kid. I think I have installed 15 of the things in 30 years. My last 3 were bought used. They are so easy to fix. If they are tuned, they are very quiet. I will admit that the belt drive units interest me, but just don't see myself switching.

 

[lat905]

I've been a Genie screw drive opener fan since I was a kid. I think I have installed 15 of the things in 30 years. My last 3 were bought used. They are so easy to fix. If they are tuned, they are very quiet. I will admit that the belt drive units interest me, but just don't see myself switching.

I have a belt drive genie and its silent. Bought it about a year and a half ago. After 6 months the circuit board fried. Replacement is still working, but I don't trust it after the initial failure.

 

[tyjoja]

I built 3 car garage over 20 years ago and only put one opener in at the time. It's a craftsman chain, then couple years later put in a genie pro that's a screw drive. Few years later my father in law had a mix up when his new condo was built and had a Wayne Dalton Quantum extra that he gave me and I installed on the third. All have been no problems for over 15-20 years, But the Wayne Dalton is by far the fastest, smoothest and quietest of the bunch for what it's worth

 

[justin1795]

have a wayne dalton in the regular garage. never had a problem with it. had a lift master at the old house and it seemed kind of touchy. just put a medium duty lift master in my shop for 11 foot height door and wow it is way quieter than the little ones.

 

[GS-Louie]

I don't like my Liftmaster 8500s. They are slow and the remote reception is very limited. To use the openers with my GM cars I had to buy an additional repeater to translate from one system to the Liftmaster.

I wanted to get their remote door monitors. No problem for the 8500 and they told me the MY-Q Garage would adapt the monitor to my Genie. Wrong and that was about $90 wasted.

I had a problem with one of the lights. A call was handled quickly and professionally and a new light kit was in the mail, no proof of purchase or returning of the old light needed.

I love my Genie Xlerator - fast and quiet. Lifetime warranty on the whole thing.

Lou

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

I have a bunch of Sears/Craftsman of various ages and versions. All are fairly slow and maybe a little noisy, BUT they are in garages, not a fire house or library.

My compliant is the remote controls. In order to make them all run, I need FOUR different remotes in my vehicles. I look like an aircraft cockpit, with all the controls on the visor.



JBP


.

 

[upndown]

Worked on Genies for many years, my least favorite was the Xlerator! Now that OHD owns Genie good luck with that Lifetime Warranty thing.

 

[Basstracker34]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_421039-2722...tt=garage+door+opener&page=1&facetInfo=SOMMER

Sommer garage door opener at our house. Very happy so far. Been in our house 3 years now.

 

[493 scamp]

I bought a cheap Extreem Garage opener at Menards. The rail was flimsy and the adapter for an 8 foot high door was bent. first time I tried to use it the rail bowed about 3 feet before I got it stopped. I straightened the rail and welded each joint in an attempt to add stiffness. It worked for about a year but squeeled and jerked especially in cold weather. It eventually locked up. In the end a chamberlain cheepo replaced it and works quiet and smooth.

 

[banditbigdog]

Liftmaster 3800 / 8500
Synced to both my vehicles Homelink button very easily.
Like the deadbolt lock as well.

 

[Jay Sco]

I just recently installed a Chamberlain 3/4hp belt drive and I'm happy with it. $280, battery backup, temp readout on the panel, some smart link thing I'll never use, keyed pad for outside which I'll also probably never use.
This replaced a POS Genie.

 

[snaggs]

liftmaster 8500. Have 2 and like the clean ceiling look and quiet operation. The my Q connected to smart phone is nice. Only issue once in a while is the 380 light that comes in kit.

 

[HoosierMark]

Three Liftmaster 8500's Happy with them for the last 6 months since we installed them. Would buy them again as they are quiet and I love that there is no center rail and motor hanging in the middle of the garage.

 

[SkidooRider15]

I've had problems with Genie and Wayne Dalton in my previous house. Dalton was the worst, I ended up getting a Chamberlain. 0 Problems.

 

[toyz4roy]

Installed 2 chamberlain 3/4 belt drives recently to replace 2 25 year old craftsman chain drive, very happy with them. I was able to get the chamberlains for $199 each on sale with battery back-up, 2 remotes, wall switch, keypad and the gateway. I mounted them 6" inside the track instead of center of the door. So far no issues I can see, very quiet. I wanted to go with the 8500 but couldn't justify spending the extra $400 or so for them.

 

[garandman]

We just replaced two 30yo Chamberlin/Craftsman openers with Liftmaster 8550 belt drives. Much quieter and take a little less time to open: about 15 seconds. We bought the internet link to be able to control them remotely.

In 2006 or 2007 they changed the HomeLink code to 2.0. It is substantially more secure. Cars prior to 2006 need an interface to work with this new spec, which cost me about $35 directly from Chamberlin.

The rub is that different auto manufacturers upgraded at different times. While our 2006 Subaru definately needed it, and our 2011 Honda did not, there are cars 2007-2010 that need the interface as well. If you call Chamberlin/Liftmaster they can tell if you need one by make/model/year.

 

[Idle Serge]

As stated throughout--8500.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171166650119?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Very Quite, dead bolt, WiFi opener from smart phone (if applicable) and a space saver. The only bad thing thus far, is that we had a power outage and one of the controls stopped working...maybe it just reset so I have to recalibrate it?

Anywho, legit setup IMO:



And since my ceilings were already low, it was actually my only option as the belt driven one would have interfered with the door once it opened:

 

[garandman]

Not related but what is the covering you have over the door - insulation? Sealer?

 

[Idle Serge]

Not related but what is the covering you have over the door - insulation? Sealer?

It is in fact an insulated door.

 

[NathanDetroit]

I bought a cheap Extreem Garage opener at Menards. The rail was flimsy and the adapter for an 8 foot high door was bent. first time I tried to use it the rail bowed about 3 feet before I got it stopped. I straightened the rail and welded each joint in an attempt to add stiffness. It worked for about a year but squeeled and jerked especially in cold weather. It eventually locked up. In the end a chamberlain cheepo replaced it and works quiet and smooth.

Similar situation for me...

When I moved into my house, there was a broken Extreme chain drive opener installed. I took that down and installed a chain drive Chamberlain. It's been relatively quiet and completely trouble-free in the few months that I've had it.

I used to sell garage door openers and I remember a lot of people having problems with Genies and Dalton openers. Chamberlain seems to be the least problematic, from my experience.

 

[Rockcam]

I don't like my Liftmaster 8500s. They are slow and the remote reception is very limited. To use the openers with my GM cars I had to buy an additional repeater to translate from one system to the Liftmaster.

I wanted to get their remote door monitors. No problem for the 8500 and they told me the MY-Q Garage would adapt the monitor to my Genie. Wrong and that was about $90 wasted.

I had a problem with one of the lights. A call was handled quickly and professionally and a new light kit was in the mail, no proof of purchase or returning of the old light needed.

I love my Genie Xlerator - fast and quiet. Lifetime warranty on the whole thing.

Lou

Wow - this is exactly opposite of my experience. I had a Genie accelerator at the old house, and when operating it sounded like the garage door was being ripped off the tracks from the bedroom above.

I replaced it with a Liftmaster 3800 (now the 8500) and it was virtually silent, and speed a non issue. Works great with the Homelink in our Chevy Suburban, and range is at least 150'.

I bought two more for our current house, which are working just as nicely.

Jack shaft openers have fewer moving parts, and no track to take up space above the garage door, which is primo storage space in some cases.

 

[frank001]

Agree on the Liftmaster. Just had 3 installed and they are the way to go.

 

[Phycon]

I have 2 Craftsman 3/4 hp belt drive units. LOVE THEM. Super quiet. Remote works very far away. Get them on sale for 170 and they are a good deal.

 

[steve in nj]

Belt drive. So much quieter.

 

[scratchedup]

I'm about to purchase the 8500...
Its only $314 on Amazon. Is this the real deal?

 

[kbs2244]

If you have a 20 pluse year good history on a product, why change it?