Automatic Garage Door Openers

[DonRickles]

Our 35 year old opener is on it's last leg.....It's a Sears 1/2 hp pulling a 16' x 8' insulated garage door, and has been serving us well for some 35 years! So, I'm looking of any advice, I love to get the same duration on the next one.....

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by DonRickles

Our 35 year old opener is on it's last leg.....It's a Sears 1/2 hp pulling a 16' x 8' insulated garage door, and has been serving us well for some 35 years! So, I'm looking of any advice, I love to get the same duration on the next one.....

Never gonna happen. I’ve had Craftsman GDOs in my place as well as a rental for almost 20 years now. I dread the day when they give out.

[Blansky]

Now they have the thing called the internet, and you can open the garage with your phone instead of using your wife.

The other thing to look at is chain driven or belt driven (which is quieter), but since at your age you may be going deaf, it may not matter.

And I appreciate your optimism at 35 years so I guess buy the extended warranty.

Mine is this one I think....https://www.amazon.com/Genie-SilentM...%2C236&sr=8-10

And your 35 year old wife will thank you as well, as I'm sure she will appreciate your move into the 21 century.

[Tools]

It seems that most of the pro-shops install Lift-Master openers around here.

They come in different price points. Belt drive and wireless-app for your phone seem to be popular.

[DonRickles]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Now they have the thing called the internet, and you can open the garage with your phone instead of using your wife.

The other thing to look at is chain driven or belt driven (which is quieter), but since at your age you may be going deaf, it may not matter.

And I appreciate your optimism at 35 years so I guess buy the extended warranty.

Mine is this one I think....https://www.amazon.com/Genie-SilentM...%2C236&sr=8-10

And your 35 year old wife will thank you as well.

True, I never hear her yelling at me anymore....

It can be, installed on my casket, if it outlasts me?

Another truth, you'd mistake her for 20 years younger! (whispers, who's that old man with the hot young wife?)......

I was reading Chamberlain is a top brand???

[DonRickles]

Originally Posted by Tools

It seems that most of the pro-shops install Lift-Master openers around here.

They come in different price points. Belt drive and wireless-app for your phone seem to be popular.

Thx! I'll look into them! The door is tall at 8', normal is 7'. This leads me needing a longer belt/chain and track.....

[JodyHighroller]

Liftmaster and Chamberlain are owned by the same parent company. Liftmaster is only available through professional installation while Chamberlain is sold via your standard hardware store.

Main difference between the two is the rail is a one piece construction on the Liftmaster while the Chamberlain is usually three piece to fit inside the box at Home Depot, etc.


https://indoor2outdoor.com/liftmaster-vs-chamberlain/

[brandrea]

Holy smokes Don, you must barely use it to 35 years

My wife and kids use the door opener multiple times a day ... I go through one (or at the minimum, repair one) at least every 5 years or so.

Needless to say, I’m the only one in the family using the man door

[mikea]

Chamberlain is made by Liftmaster and is their builder grade version. You want to go with Liftmaster 8355, 8365 or 8550. 55 demotes chain, 65 denotes belt.

[colpol]

We’ve been in our house for 17 years & previous owner had a hormann door installed in the garage

I’ve done some oiling myself & picked up a couple of spare controllers over the years. Apart from changing batteries in the controllers no serious problems

[rmagoo57]

Whatever brand, get a new one before the old one fails. Better to be a year early than one day too late!! I would increase the hp rating also. They don't build them like they did in 1985!

[JasoninDenver]

We just installed a Liftmaster belt driven unit for a similar door. I was concerned about the weight of the door with the belt drive but the installer said the Liftmaster should be more than durable enough. Especially given the strength of our assist springs. If you have older springs, go ahead and replace these as well. One of ours was actually broken and this was what caused our old chain unit to move so slow.

Chain drives are noisier but take the worry of belt failure out of the equation.

I love the MyQ app but it was buggy. Turns out the LED light bulb circuitry was interfering with the wifi connection and I had to get a specific garage door bulb. Yes, they exist - for $20 a pop. I also had to put a mesh satellite closer to the garage to ensure a stronger signal.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Tools

It seems that most of the pro-shops install Lift-Master openers around here.

They come in different price points. Belt drive and wireless-app for your phone seem to be popular.

That's what we use. The belt drive is quiet and the wireless is easy to program in our cars.
dp

[encarter13]

Another vote for Lift-Master. Nice and quiet which is a big deal to me!

[Boothroyd]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

That's what we use. The belt drive is quiet and the wireless is easy to program in our cars.
dp

x2. Really like how easy it is to program with Homelink on our cars. There may be better brands, but ours have stood up very well for a decade with a lot of temperature variation in our garage over the year.

[BNA/LION]

Lift-Master is the one I reccomend!

[Andy0331]

I replaced my old ones with Liftmaster 8500's; they are a side mount version (no overhead chain, etc), super quiet and have automatic locks as well. I think I paid ~$1,100 for both installed, so probably $600 or so for a single one installed.

[Runnin' Rebel]

I had a lift master and work flawlessly through my iPhone. Let’s you know if door opens and for how long. Plus, you can open or close it while across country.

[brandrea]

Ok ... I’m clearly into the wrong brand.

Next time I need to replace one (which should be in a couple of years) it’ll be a Liftmaster

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Runnin' Rebel

I had a lift master and work flawlessly through my iPhone. Let’s you know if door opens and for how long. Plus, you can open or close it while across country.

Okay, but how often does that come up? Typically I'm not going to want my garage door up when I'm not at home.

[gummy]

Originally Posted by Andy0331

I replaced my old ones with Liftmaster 8500's; they are a side mount version (no overhead chain, etc), super quiet and have automatic locks as well. I think I paid ~$1,100 for both installed, so probably $600 or so for a single one installed.

+1

Did the exact same thing with the Liftmaster 8500. Did two of them and they have been fantastic...

Very quiet
Love the automatic "deadbolt" type locking system
Nothing overhead - Side install

[gnuyork]

I have been in my house for 15 years and I have no idea how long my GDO has been in use before we moved in. It's Genie and it's noisy but works fine.

That being said, it will be replaced soon. Since we painted the house last month, we plan to replace the garage door to better match the look we want. The old door is getting tired and made of ply wood panels.

[handsfull]

This style is the way to go. You regain your overhead space above door for storage
Also quieter, and has a battery back up for power outages

No brainer.

Liftmaster 8500 Wall Mount Garage Door Opener Package https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CUQ616O..._-5HyFbN5GVBSH

[swils8610]

I’ve got a LiftMaster on my main door. On the second door is a Craftsman from 1993. Belt drive is the way to go.


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[GB-man]

Lift master seems to have the monopoly. Go with them!

[Mandalorian]

Liftmaster is great. Pick one of the simple chain or belt drive models and it'll last forever.

[1st amg]

Originally Posted by handsfull

This style is the way to go. You regain your overhead space above door for storage
Also quieter, and has a battery back up for power outages

No brainer.

Liftmaster 8500 Wall Mount Garage Door Opener Package https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CUQ616O..._-5HyFbN5GVBSH

I have a couple of these, best ever for me. Super quiet, and out of the way, if you want to add a car lift in the future, this will allow you as it wall mounted

[DonRickles]

A ton of great advice here! Cept that one guy....

I will be looking into the Liftmaster line!

Thankx!

[mailman]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Okay, but how often does that come up? Typically I'm not going to want my garage door up when I'm not at home.

Let's say you left the house and can't remember if you shut the overhead door. You can check the app and see if any if the doors are open and for how long. If it's open, you can close it from your phone. It also shows how long the doors are closed for.

[1FINE99]

Originally Posted by handsfull

This style is the way to go. You regain your overhead space above door for storage
Also quieter, and has a battery back up for power outages

No brainer.

Liftmaster 8500 Wall Mount Garage Door Opener Package https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CUQ616O..._-5HyFbN5GVBSH

That will be my next one for sure !