Screw Drive Garage Door Openers Explained By an A1 Garage Door Service Professional

Dating all the way back to their inception in 1926, remote-controlled garage door openers were considered to be the first major home automation device. Even though controlled garage door openers were introduced during the Great Depression in the United States, it wasn’t until the 1970’s that they truly became commonly used for residential purposes. However, they almost immediately were deemed a safety hazard and gained a reputation for being unsafe as there were multiple cases where young children were struck and injured. Finally, in 1993, the United States decided to start mandating the use of controlled garage door openers, including screw drive garage door openers, until 1993 by requiring advanced sensors to avoid and deter accidents.

Initially, there was only one type of garage door opener available for automatic garage doors. There are three types of garage door openers available today: chain driver, belt drive, and screw drive. With modern-day advances in technology, each of these three types of automatic garage door openers has an equal amount of pros and cons. Therefore, finding the best garage door opener is dependent upon each homeowner’s needs, wants, and preferences. However, screw drive garage door openers are different from belt and chain garage door openers.

In the event a homeowner wishes to replace their old garage door opener, they may wish to consider a screw drive garage door opener. As far as home garage door openers are concerned, it is not the most commonly used type. Despite this, they have a good deal of power and are well-suited for larger, heavier garage doors. The following information is intended to assist homeowners in making an informed decision when it comes to choosing their next garage door opener.

What Are Screw Drive Garage Door Openers?

A garage door opener with screw drives has a steel threaded rod on which the trolley is mounted. A motor turns the rod in order to move the trolley and the door attached to it. Having a simple design is what makes this type of opener appealing. Homeowner’s who love to do projects themselves love screw-drive garage door openers since they are easy to maintain and have fewer moving parts.

In applications where seasonal temperature changes are dramatic, screw drive openers are somewhat temperature sensitive and may require more frequent maintenance. This type of automatic garage door opener is noisier than other garage opener alternatives and is also the most expensive type of garage door opener.

Liftmaster Screw Drive Garage Door Opener Problems

While Liftmaster screw drive garage door openers are a popular choice amongst home and business owners, there are issues that prospective buyers should be aware of before making a definitive decision. When a Liftmaster screw drive garage door opener has issues and needs to be repaired, our expert garage door technicians always recommend changing the type of garage door opener rather than repairing the screw drive operated one already in place. This is because there are better garage door opener options that require less maintenance and have fewer issues in the long run.

Screw drive garage door openers, including the Liftmaster options, require grease to lubricate the metal screw that is contained in the middle rail. This grease can drip on the floor of the garage, causing household members to track the grease throughout the house. It can also drip on the vehicles in the garage and cause cosmetic issues.

In addition to causing a mess that cannot be easily cleaned up, screw drive garage door openers are the noisiest of all automated garage door opener options. If household members have opposite schedules, the loud garage door opener can create issues within the home. It also is a generally unpleasant sound that homeowners do not wish to listen to every single time the garage door opens. Additionally, screw drive garage door openers such as the Liftmaster are considered to be entry-level or contractor-grade when considering the quality of the automatic garage door system. Due to this, there are two common failures that occur with Liftmaster screw drive garage door openers:

1. Plastic Coupling Failure – The drive shaft in screw drive garage door openers is connected by a plastic coupler. This plastic coupler is not durable and will need to be replaced multiple times during the lifespan of the automatic garage door opener, leaving homeowners without the ability to store their vehicles out of the natural elements.
2. Plastic Rack Failure – The plastic rack that drives on the rails is known to strip down and break in some fashion multiple times within the lifespan of the garage door opener. The plastic isn’t durable and will break, which means the garage door cannot open or close. This results in household members being unable to utilize the garage correctly or store things away from the weather outside.

Are Screw Drive Garage Door Openers Good For Use?

While screw drive garage door openers are a viable option for automated garage door openers, they are not preferred or recommended means of operating a garage door. This is mainly due to the fact that they have inferior problems that can be avoided when choosing another type of garage door opener. The parts wear rapidly, and the operating systems are rough on garage doors, causing them to need to be serviced more often than other types of automated garage door openers.

Are Screw Drive Garage Door Openers Obsolete?

Screw drive garage door openers used to be the traditional choice and were very commonly used in homes and businesses across the United States. However, as modern-day technology has advanced, as well as safety measures and requirements, and architectural preferences, they are no longer the forerunner in the automated garage door opener industry. Generally, screw drive garage door openers, such as Liftmaster, can only be found in the big box stores, where homeowners typically go when they want to DIY home projects. Therefore, they are not obsolete, just not the preferred type anymore.

Which Is The Better Option – Chain Or Screw Drive Garage Door Openers?

Our garage door experts at A1 Garage Door Service recommend choosing a chain drive garage door opener rather than a screw drive garage door opener. Chain drive garage door openers are considered to be in the middle in terms of technological advancement. However, the cost is lower and the quality is significantly higher than screw drive garage door openers. Chain drive garage door openers also do not require grease to operate, therefore homeowners do not have to worry about a mess in their garage or on their vehicle.

In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, chain drive garage door openers operate on a DC current. Screw drive garage door openers operate on an alternating current which causes the machine to be harsh and rough when opening the garage door. Over time this can cause damage and degrade the quality of the garage door. Chain drive garage door openers, however, have soft start and stop options that preserve the quality of the garage door.

How Long Does A Screw Drive Garage Door Opener Last?

Typically, a screw drive garage door opener’s life span is 8 to 10 years. This type of garage door opener typically has a lower warranty due to low quality.

Does Chamberlain Make A Screw Drive Garage Door Opener?

As a result of the diminishing demand for screw drive garage door openers, Chamberlain has omitted from manufacturing screw drive garage door openers.

Contact The Best Screw Drive Garage Door Opener Service Near You Today!

A1 Garage is a family-owned company with a mission to provide the best possible customer experience. For all your garage door projects contact A1 Garage Door Service at 844-214-2724.

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