Garage door openers

Ultradog MN · Nov 30, 2019

There must be some garage door experts here. Maybe?
I need an opener for my wife's side of our garage. Door is wood frame, insulated, masonite faces.
It is 8'W and 8'H
I see you can buy extensions to convert a 7'H door opener to 8'.
I want two remotes.
I do NOT need, or want Alexa and Google ready.
We just want a simple, reliable unit without a lot of extra gizmos, battery backup, etc.
Probably under $250 if possible.
Questions:
Is 3/4 hp enough?
Is it better to buy one made for 8'H or are the extensions ok?
Is there any particular brand that's better? Any to stay away from?
I'd be grateful to hear you fellows' opinions.

rustyfarmall · Nov 30, 2019

My garage door is 8'x16', insulated. 3/4 horsepower opener does a fine job.

Dave BN · Nov 30, 2019

I bought Sears craftsman openers, 4 of them, knowing I could always buy parts then my Sears store closed... They work ok but are very noisy. I remember looking at Menards and liked what they had but don't remember the brand. 1/2 horse should be ok for 8X8 door.

Dave

TJV · Nov 30, 2019

3/4 hp should be plenty my are all 1/2 hp if the springs are set correctly the door should lift with 1 or 2 fingers and stay or slightly settle from any position you stop it at. The door opener just moves and locks it in place the springs do the bulk of the lifting.

jeffcat · Nov 30, 2019

Yes, known as a fractional horse power motor. I run across them now and then at
the flea market. Usualy in the 15 to 2o dollar range. Just tons of Sears
motors. Replaced the motor on mine two years ago. Four wires to the motor do it
for up and down.

TJV · Nov 30, 2019

I like Lift Master or Chamberlain (both are identical) openers and it seems a lot of other companies Sears for example buy these and put their name on them so lots of parts are interchangeable

Russ from MN · Nov 30, 2019

The first one we bought was 45 years ago, 1/2 hp Sears on a 16 wide X 8 high wood door, I extended it myself with steel and bicycle chain, worked fine for the 8 years we lived there! We Have a Chamberlain whisper drive now and it seems very good.

Steve@Advance · Nov 30, 2019

The HP is not a real concern. If the door is properly balanced, (and it must be for any opener to properly work) it will basically be a one finger effort to operate it.

I have had a belt drive Chamberlan for 14 years, just replaced the belt this year.

The advantage of the belt drive, long lasting, economical to buy, quiet, no lubrication needed.

Chain drive work well too, a little more expensive.

Stay away from the screw drive. Short lived, need lubrication, which will drip on the car.

I would look for mark down deals at the stores. Or go online, avoid the retail mark up. I bought one for the rent house from HD a few years back, damaged box, it was near half price.

Most will have the internet function, some built in battery back up. Even if it has these features, and the price is right, go for it. Mine has the battery back up, it has come in handy a few times when the power was out. Think I have replaced the battery twice in 14 years.

The extension kits work well. Some need a center support, which will be provided, just follow the directions.

1948CaseVAI · Nov 30, 2019

3/4 hp is plenty. Belt drive is quieter than chain but chain last a little longer, although the belt should last over 10 years at least.

I cannot stand those safety reverser sensors that the safety nazis mandated years ago. To defeat them I tape the emitter and receiver together, facing each other, and put them on the wall on one side of the door or the other.

Denny K · Nov 30, 2019

Menards will have what you need. They have extensions also. Our city shop door was 12' and I bought a 8' opener with 2 2' extensions. Worked great.

JMOR · Nov 30, 2019

(quoted from post at 12:37:28 11/30/19) The HP is not a real concern. If the door is properly balanced, (and it must be for any opener to properly work) it will basically be a one finger effort to operate it.

I have had a belt drive Chamberlan for 14 years, just replaced the belt this year.

The advantage of the belt drive, long lasting, economical to buy, quiet, no lubrication needed.

Chain drive work well too, a little more expensive.

Stay away from the screw drive. Short lived, need lubrication, which will drip on the car.

I would look for mark down deals at the stores. Or go online, avoid the retail mark up. I bought one for the rent house from HD a few years back, damaged box, it was near half price.

Most will have the internet function, some built in battery back up. Even if it has these features, and the price is right, go for it. Mine has the battery back up, it has come in handy a few times when the power was out. Think I have replaced the battery twice in 14 years.

The extension kits work well. Some need a center support, which will be provided, just follow the directions.

Stay away from the screw drive. Short lived, need lubrication, which will drip on the car." in the heat of summer & will not function in dead of winter because grease so thick screw can't turn.. I like Hollywood Overhead Door Corp chain drive.

Geo-TH,In · Nov 30, 2019

I've used extension from Menards. I think they are for genies screw drive openers.
George

Stroby · Nov 30, 2019

Well said. Remember, the garage door is "supposed" to be able to open with little effort by hand.... All this hype about a "big" door needs a "bigger" motor is nonsense. The springs do the work, the opener or the human only triggers the effort. My 2 cents.

DJB · Nov 30, 2019

"Stay away from the screw drive. Short lived, need lubrication, which will drip on the car." in the heat of summer & will not function in dead of winter because grease so thick screw can't turn.

I live in Minnesota and my Genie screw drive has never had an issue in 16 years of daily use and it's the cheap box store version. I've never had the grease drip on any vehicles and I lube it once a year, but I do use just one tube of Genie's grease sparingly per their instructions. I love the fast open feature it has.

Perhaps I'm lucky.

jeffcat · Nov 30, 2019

Thought of another thing to suggest. On mine I put a "Fractional" drive belt. They are more flexable and run quieter and easier. Many HVAC Suppliers have them. Also check furnace supply places. Make a big difference.

JMOR · Dec 1, 2019

(quoted from post at 20:36:21 11/30/19)

"Stay away from the screw drive. Short lived, need lubrication, which will drip on the car." in the heat of summer & will not function in dead of winter because grease so thick screw can't turn.

Click to expand...

I live in Minnesota and my Genie screw drive has never had an issue in 16 years of daily use and it's the cheap box store version. I've never had the grease drip on any vehicles and I lube it once a year, but I do use just one tube of Genie's grease sparingly per their instructions. I love the fast open feature it has.

Perhaps I'm lucky.

es, you are!

Blackhole49 · Dec 1, 2019

I've had a 1/2 hp chain drive Chamberlain on my 7'x18' insulated door for at least 25 years with no problems. 3/4 is overkill. The only time it wouldn't lift is when a spring broke. My son has a 1/2 hp on his 8'x14' door also.

Royse · Dec 1, 2019

(quoted from post at 20:36:21 11/30/19)

"Stay away from the screw drive. Short lived, need lubrication, which will drip on the car." in the heat of summer & will not function in dead of winter because grease so thick screw can't turn.

Click to expand...

I live in Minnesota and my Genie screw drive has never had an issue in 16 years of daily use and it's the cheap box store version. I've never had the grease drip on any vehicles and I lube it once a year, but I do use just one tube of Genie's grease sparingly per their instructions. I love the fast open feature it has.

Perhaps I'm lucky.

I put two Genie screw drives up 17 years ago. I've never had any problems either.
Perhaps people are using the wrong type of lubricant on them.
But they do need to be lubricated.
I also have a Chamberlain chain drive that works well.
One thing I noticed about it is that the remote has a much greater range.
That may be just because it is so much newer.

Garage door openers

Ultradog MN

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rustyfarmall

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Dave BN

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TJV

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jeffcat

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TJV

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Russ from MN

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Steve@Advance

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1948CaseVAI

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Denny K

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JMOR

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Geo-TH,In

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Stroby

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DJB

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jeffcat

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JMOR

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Blackhole49

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Royse

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