The oldest types of garage door openers are operated by a chain-drive. Although these have been around for a while, they are still in use and are actually quite popular. One of the reasons for this has to do with the fact that not only do they work well, but they also represent a good value. However, they can be a bit noisy. This means that you’ll want to take their location into consideration. For example, you may not wish to have this type of garage door opener if it’s located under a bedroom. Even so, some folks appreciate the option of being alerted, when someone is entering their home through the garage door, by the sound that the opener makes.

A belt-drive garage door opener is very much the same as a chain-drive garage door opener, with the difference being that they use a rubber belt instead of a chain. Unlike a chain-drive opener, however, these tend to run a bit higher in the expense category. But, your advantage, here, is that they are the most quiet types of openers.

When it comes to cost, in between the chain and belt-driven openers is the screw-drive garage door opener. The advantage, here, is the limited amount of actual moving parts. This helps with their overall need for maintenance. If you had to choose one, as a do-it-yourself project, this type is somewhat easier to install.