Match the opener to your door, not to the biggest number. Genie says door size, construction and weight decide the motor size. AC motors are rated in horsepower. DC motors are not measured that way, so a DC horsepower figure is a comparison only. A heavy or out-of-balance door needs spring work, not a bigger motor.
How much power does my opener need?
It depends on the door, not on a number on the box. Genie's guidance for choosing an opener says the door's size, construction and weight determine the motor size and drive type you need, and that the clearance above the door determines where the opener can be mounted.
So a lightweight single door and a heavy insulated double door do not need the same opener. Tell your installer the door size, the material and whether it is insulated, and let the maker's published limits for the model decide.
Myth: horsepower means the same thing on every opener
Fact: only AC motors are measured in horsepower. Genie says DC motors are not measured in horsepower like AC motors, so it uses a Horsepower Comparable (HPc) rating that is a basis for comparison and does not denote equivalency. Chamberlain's footnote on its DC belt-drive model says the horsepower is for comparison only, and that lift capacity of DC motors is typically not measured in horsepower.
That means a 1/2 horsepower label on one DC opener and a 1/2 label on another brand's are not proof of the same lift. Read the door limits the maker publishes for the model.
What do AC and DC mean?
| AC motor | DC motor | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is rated | Horsepower | A comparison figure, such as HPc |
| How it runs | Full speed from the start | Soft start and stop, per Genie |
| Weight | Heavier | Lighter, so easier to install, per Genie |
| Noise | Can be louder | Genie and LiftMaster describe quiet operation |
Manufacturer descriptions. Real noise depends on the model, the drive and the door.
What are the three residential opener types?
The three are chain, belt and screw drive. They differ in how they move the door along the rail, and so in noise and cost.
| Drive | How it works | What the maker says | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain drive | A metal chain moves the trolley along a rail | Genie lists it among the most affordable choices | Check the model's noise claims |
| Belt drive | A rubber belt moves the trolley along a rail | Genie calls belt units ultra-quiet, with no metal-on-metal contact in the rail | Often chosen when a bedroom is near the garage |
| Screw drive | A steel screw moves the trolley, with no belt or chain | Genie describes it as solid steel with no belts or chains to wear out | Genie markets it as premium and durable |
From Genie's FAQ. A chain-drive or belt-drive label alone does not tell you the model's noise or lift.
Which is better, chain or belt? Neither is better for every home. Belt is the choice when a bedroom is near the garage, and chain or screw suits a garage that is away from the living space. See quiet opener options.
Myth: a bigger motor fixes a heavy door
Fact: the springs, not the opener, carry the weight of the door. A properly balanced door stays where you stop it when you lift it halfway by hand; CPSC describes a properly operating door that way. If your door is heavy, drops or rises on its own, the springs or cables need a technician, and a stronger motor only hides the problem and wears the opener. Never adjust a spring yourself. See garage door spring repair.
How to choose
- Tell the installer your door height, width and material
- Say whether the door is insulated or has heavy glass or hardware
- Say whether there is a bedroom or living room above or next to the garage
- Ask for the maker's published door limits for the model, not the horsepower figure alone
- Ask that the quote lists battery backup, which California requires
Get a fitted opener
Our typical price for a belt-drive opener installed with battery backup is $550 to $900, and the final price is confirmed after we see the door. We install openers for homes in Chico, Rancho Santa Margarita and Chula Vista. Call (213) 340-4232 or use the estimate form. See opener installation.
Questions people ask
What differentiates the three residential garage door opener types?
They are chain, belt and screw drive. Chain is among the most affordable, belt is ultra-quiet, and screw drive is a solid steel drive with no belts or chains, according to Genie.
Which is better, a chain or a belt drive garage door opener?
Neither wins for every home. Belt drive is quieter, which matters if a room sits above or next to the garage. Chain is a common lower-cost choice.
How much power does my garage door opener need?
Enough for your door's size, construction and weight, per Genie. Use the maker's published door limits for each model, because horsepower figures on DC openers are for comparison only.
What does an AC motor or DC motor mean on a garage door opener?
AC motors are rated in horsepower. DC motors are newer, run with a soft start and stop, and are described as quiet and lighter, but they are not measured in horsepower.
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Read next
Sources
- Genie Company FAQ: motor types, drive types, HPc rating and how to choose an opener
- Chamberlain: B2215T DC belt-drive opener (rating for comparison only, DC lift capacity is not measured in horsepower)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Non-Reversing Automatic Garage Door Openers Are a Hazard (Pub. 523)
- California Health and Safety Code section 19892 (battery backup for residential garage door openers)