As a homeowner, you have thousands of unexpected choices to make when it comes to the details of your home. As a result, the garage door may not even cross your mind until something goes wrong such as a door spring or belt breaking, and you will likely need it fixed fast. Thankfully, there are options to choose from that can help reduce the chances of something breaking and make maintenance much easier. One of the best ways to improve your garage door is by converting your existing chain drive garage door to a belt drive garage door.
There are a number of key benefits and disadvantages between both chain drive and belt drive garage doors, read on to learn more – depending on your needs, both are great choices!
How a Chain Drive Works on a Garage Door
A chain drive uses a metal chain to keep the door on its track and is common in large part because they are most affordable. They are also louder than other options. Those who have a detached garage, or don’t expect their garage door to open and close often enough to become bothersome, may prefer a chain drive door. Chain drives need maintenance twice a year, and have less longevity than belt drives.
How a Belt Drive Works on a Garage Door
A belt drive garage door opener keeps the door on track by using a rubber belt rather than a chain. Although belt drives assemble to chain drives, they are much quieter and have better longevity than comparable chain drives.
Chain Drives vs Belt Drives: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to price, the tried-and-true solution is the chain drive. They’ve been in use since the first garage door was invented by Overhead Door founder C.G. Johnson in 1921 and are more affordable and are easily available on the market. Belt drives are a bit more expensive but are an improvement for long-term use. Since they are made of rubber, they do not create as much wear and tear due to friction over long periods of time. Chain drives quickly wear down due to the metal chain rubbing on the metal parts of the overhead door.
If you are using a 2-car garage door, you may want to stick with a chain drive as the metal chain has more lifting power than the rubber belt drives. If you are using a one car garage door, 2022 is the perfect time to switch it to a belt drive to greatly cut down on noise and upkeep demanded by your overhead door.
Convert Chain Drive to Belt Drive Garage Door Opener
If you are looking for less frequent maintenance with your garage door, and less noise overall, you might want to consider converting the chain drive on your garage door to a belt drive. A garage door opener with a belt drive will give your home a quieter alternative for your garage door.
At Overhead Door, we provide a variety of garage door repairs and replacement services that can help you get the most out of your garage door, regardless of which type or opener you prefer to use. From minor repairs, such as adjusting springs and rollers, to putting a new door on your existing or new garage, we will work fast to provide you with what you need.
At Overhead Door in Oklahoma City, we carry a variety of garage door openers, both belt and chain drive, and we work hard to provide the best to meet your specific needs.
- Destiny® 1200 Chain Drive Garage Door Opener
- Odyssey® 1000 Chain Drive Garage Door Opener
- Legacy® 920 Chain Drive Garage Door Opener
- Legacy® 650 Chain Garage Door Opener
In addition to chain and belt drivers, we also give you the option of a screw drive garage door opener with the Destiny® 1500 Screw Drive Garage Door Opener as well as several options of garage door remotes and even an integrated OHD Anywhere® app that will help you monitor and control whether your garage door is open or closed from wherever you are.
At Overhead Door, we are committed to providing our customers with attractive and functional garage door and door openers that fit their home and lifestyle. To learn more about the products and services we provide in the Oklahoma City area, or to schedule repair on installation, contact us here, or at 405-685-2200 or 405-685-2234 for emergency service.
