Garage door opener

[HNL2LHC]

It has been about 30 years since I have installed a unit. Back in the day we went the screw drive route. Our son’s home unit belt snapped. Not sure of the age of the unit so thinking about just putting in a new system. When we had our doors replaced a year ago we had the My Q phone app. It is a great feature alone that makes the change worth it as I look at prices about $300. So the question I have is what is the go to? I typically go with higher HP unit. What is everyone’s thoughts on brands, belt vs screw and finally HP.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Ziggy]

Chamberlain/Liftmaster have the MyQ.
Chamberlain is retail oriented, Liftmaster professional version.
Basically the same but the retail type has a two piece rail vs a single piece rail.
Neither of mine have had issues.

 

[Racer56]

Lift master jackshaft

 

[Mr. C]

Chamberlain/Liftmaster have the MyQ.

X2

 

[Javajoe]

Get the side mount with the auto lock

 

[HNL2LHC]

Get the side mount with the auto lock

It is an older door can a side mount be mounted on older doors?

 

[Riverbottom]

Buy a new belt. I had one let go about six years ago. Replaced the belt and it is still going strong. No one opens and closes the garage door more than my wife!

 

[Mikes56]

It is an older door can a side mount be mounted on older doors?

Does it have the jack shaft across the top of the door with the springs around the jack shaft? If so, you probably can, if there’s side clearance and a receptacle nearby.

I just installed two on my new garage and changed the old rail one on my old door. Very easy and lots of YouTube videos to help.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Does it have the jack shaft across the top of the door with the springs around the jack shaft? If so, you probably can, if there’s side clearance and a receptacle nearby.

I just installed two on my new garage and changed the old rail one on my old door. Very easy and lots of YouTube videos to help.

Will have to go take a look at the electrical. I think that might be the issue.

 

[Angler]

Lift Master side mount with lock for the win.

It's quiet, plus it gives the garage a cleaner look.

 

[Javajoe]

It is an older door can a side mount be mounted on older doors?

Yea if it is a standard overhead spring door. They just get rid of the overhead rail that pulls the door up and install a side mount. Mine was converted and has a phone app. So much better

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Yea if it is a standard overhead spring door. They just get rid of the overhead rail that pulls the door up and install a side mount. Mine was converted and has a phone app. So much better

Do you need one on each side or just one on one side?

 

[Javajoe]

Lift Master side mount with lock for the win.

It's quiet, plus it gives the garage a cleaner look.

That’s what I got. Sooo nice and also not too expensive

 

[Javajoe]

Do you need one on each side or just one on one side?

One side

 

[HNL2LHC]

Keep in mind this is our son‘s house. Don’t need to go crazy. LOL. Side mount might work on one side there is a switch so perhaps we have the power. I will post up images later.

 

[ArizonaKevin]

I will make a biased vote for Genie openers, company my dad works for and we've had their jack shaft at both houses. They have an app as well

 

[wzuber]

Iiftmaster, genie, marantec......they're all good units, have solid features and accessories and will provide quality service for a long time and have good warranty programs. The jacksaft units are more quiet and a bit smoother.
Or you can just replace the belt and move on.

 

[prorider]

Keep in mind this is our son‘s house. Don’t need to go crazy. LOL. Side mount might work on one side there is a switch so perhaps we have the power. I will post up images later.

I have a liftmaster side mount and a ceiling mount. Hate the side mount. It only lifts by the cables. It gives way more trouble than ceiling mount that lifts on the door. The app is great

 

[BabyRay]

Another vote for openers with MyQ. I bought the camera-included units, and have found them to be handy. You always know if a door is left open, and can verify that nothing is in the way before remotely closing them. Nice feature for us lazy old bastards. Oh, and get the battery backup, so you don’t have to get out of the car to open or close the doors when the power is out….. I think that’s mandatory in California, isn’t it?

 

[wzuber]

Another vote for openers with MyQ. I bought the camera-included units, and have found them to be handy. You always know if a door is left open, and can verify that nothing is in the way before remotely closing them. Nice feature for us lazy old bastards. Oh, and get the battery backup, so you don’t have to get out of the car to open or close the doors when the power is out….. I think that’s mandatory in California, isn’t it?

Yes, in Cali.

 

[CoolCruzin]

Go with the new style side mount .
Had mine for about 10 years - so good
No more hanging motor

 

[bocco]

Seems like the side mount might put more stress on the cables. But I do like it.

 

[Mikes56]

I bought 3 Genie side mounts off a guy on EBay. They were $380ish each, without the battery. I had them shipped to a friends house in Havasu and installed them at my house in Cali.

Another idiot Cali idea that you have to have a battery on your garage door opener so you don’t get trapped inside. Kinda like 3 straps, a grounding wire, it has to sit in a pan and there has to be a drain that comes off the pan to the floor, on a hot water heater.

 

[bocco]

Additional question. Whit the side mount what holds the closed position besides gravity?

 

[Bobby V]

I bought 3 Genie side mounts off a guy on EBay. They were $380ish each, without the battery. I had them shipped to a friends house in Havasu and installed them at my house in Cali.

Another idiot Cali idea that you have to have a battery on your garage door opener so you don’t get trapped inside. Kinda like 3 straps, a grounding wire, it has to sit in a pan and there has to be a drain that comes off the pan to the floor, on a hot water heater.

I had 2 new doors installed with side mounts with batteries a couple years ago. No straps or drain pan.

 

[wzuber]

Additional question. Whit the side mount what holds the closed position besides gravity?

The elec motor, the closed limit switch and the control board inside the operator. If/when somebody attempts to open the door as the door moves up it actives the closed limit switch on the control board and the motor shuts the door.

 

[Bobby V]

Additional question. Whit the side mount what holds the closed position besides gravity?

Side mount pic with auto locking pin.

 

[Taboma]

Side mount pic with auto locking pin.

View attachment 1437421 View attachment 1437422

Now that's obviously a door operator condensate drain pipe You can't fool us RDPers, no sireeeeee

 

[Bobby V]

Now that's obviously a door operator condensate drain pipe You can't fool us RDPers, no sireeeeee

Ha Ha. That’s the water supply for my lawn sprinklers on the other side of my house.

 

[wzuber]

Is that an add on lock (extra) or part of the operator package?

 

[Mikes56]

Is that an add on lock (extra) or part of the operator package?

Most of the new side mount openers come with that automatic deadbolt. My three Genies did. I like hearing the deadbolt click into place when the door shuts. It clicks out of the way when the door opens.

 

[wzuber]

Most of the new side mount openers come with that automatic deadbolt. My three Genies did. I like hearing the deadbolt click into place when the door shuts. It clicks out of the way when the door opens.

That is a nice feature, nice positive lock.

 

[SoCalDave]

Additional question. Whit the side mount what holds the closed position besides gravity?

Motor has a brake that holds in the position chosen. There is also a latch that locks into the rail system.

 

[prorider]

The elec motor, the closed limit switch and the control board inside the operator. If/when somebody attempts to open the door as the door moves up it actives the closed limit switch on the control board and the motor shuts the door.

This is not accurate at all. It’s only hooked to the cables. Liftmaster has a separate locking pin that will secure the door. Side mounts are not connected to door except thru cables. Gravity is the only thing that lowers it

 

[wzuber]

This is not accurate at all. It’s only hooked to the cables. Liftmaster has a separate locking pin that will secure the door. Side mounts are not connected to door except thru cables. Gravity is the only thing that lowers it

Did they change out the door springs when they installed that operator?

 

[Bobby V]

Did they change out the door springs when they installed that operator?

Here’s mine.

 

[wzuber]

Here’s mine.

View attachment 1437476

We're your doors and operator installed as a pkg deal? So they used 1 longer/larger spring to accomplish what they used to do w/2?

 

[Bobby V]

We're your doors and operator installed as a pkg deal? So they used 1 longer/larger spring to accomplish what they used to do w/2?

New doors and operator. 2 door spring below.

 

[prorider]

Did they change out the door springs when they installed that operator?

No , same springs. Door weight didn’t change. Seems like maybe backed off springs 1/2 turn so door will fall on it’s own because any slack in cables is a nightmare

 

[DRYHEAT]

Ha Ha. That’s the water supply for my lawn sprinklers on the other side of my house.

I can’t believe a highfalutin union sprinkler pipe installation, professional like you would be using plastic pipes.

 

[Bobby V]

I can’t believe a highfalutin union sprinkler pipe installation, professional like you would be using plastic pipes.

Ha Ha. Although I never used plastic pipes when I was in the trade working on commercial buildings (steel / copper only) they are allowed for residential fire sprinklers. Not sure if the builder or 1st owner installed the one in my garage. It’s been there since 1986.

 

[Dunerking]

Buy a new belt. I had one let go about six years ago. Replaced the belt and it is still going strong. No one opens and closes the garage door more than my wife!

I can relate as my wife and kids use the garage as a front door.. drives me nuts.

 

[j21black]

Get the side mount with the auto lock

Have 5 of them - One in garage and 4 in the shop - All lift master. Only way to go IMO.