Garage Door Openers

[BornandRaisedGopher]

So my garage door opener crapped out as I was leaving for the basketball game Saturday. I could get it fixed but I think its almost 20 years old and it needs to be replaced. It was a chain drive, but I am looking at possible getting a screw drive? Does anyone have any opinions. I have no mechanical ability so I will need to have some install it for me. Home Depot and Sears both off the service. Any help is appreciated.

[Caravan Shaker]

I remember changing my parents' garage door opener as a teenager, and I didn't (and still don't) have much mechanical ability so I wouldn't automatically dismiss installing it yourself. It's a relatively easy process, but it did take me a couple hours longer than I had expected. I suppose that's when I learned of my mechanical deficiencies.

They had a raised ranch style house, so the garage was located directly beneath the living room. Their old chain drive opener was quite loud when it was being used, and the new screw drive was much quieter. It was also much smoother, but that could just be that it was 20 years newer. I want to say that we had to replace it because the chain broke so there might be some safety considerations as well, but honestly I can't remember if that was definitely the case.

Hope that helps.

[Gopher4Life]

Choose screw. This is a do-it-yourself project if you know a screwdriver from a wrench, but add an hour and possibly a headache to the process if you've never done it before. The directions will be very clear. If the store is charging $100 to install it for you, I'd try to find a neighborhood handyman who will do it for $50.

[gopher7]

My opener actually just died last week, it was 20+ years old as well. We had someone come in and put it in for us, he charged us $199 for the new opener, and $100 for labor. He put in: A new belt drive and shaft, the sensors at the bottom of the door, and an external entry keypad. He got everything done in about 90 minutes, which means it probably would've taken me about 4 hours. Worth the price, IMO.

[shikenjanski]

A friend in North Minneapolis had a whole new unit installed into a new two-car garage that previously had no opener. He hired Aker Doors and he said the guy finished in 41 minutes and only moved his ladder three times. (The guy knew his stuff.) The cost was $340. He told me that he purchased the "best" opener that Aker offered.

Maybe the cost would be lower for you if you already have part of the set up? Anyhoo, here's their website.

http://www.akerdoors.com/