Is a Jackshaft opener better than a trolley-type one?

Changes to the way residential garages are being built have brought about the need for a different type of garage door opener. Ceilings have gotten higher to create more storage space. Walls have gotten further apart for added storage space also. Some garage ceilings are as high as 14 feet! Average garage doors only run about 7-8 feet in height though. This means that if you have a trolley-type door opener, you could be losing out on some of your storage space. A Jackshaft opener gives you that space back.

The Jackshaft opener, by LiftMaster / Chamberlain, was created to fill the need for an opener that frees up the extra space that homeowners want in their garages. It works similarly to existing commercial models the company had already created.

Introducing the Jackshaft opener

Jackshaft openers aren’t installed on the ceiling, as is true of the trolley‑type openers that are in most residential garages. These openers are mounted on the wall next to the garage door. The door is usually of standard height—7 to 8 feet—and has 2 feet, or more, of overhead space above the door.

Builders have been trying to increase the amount of storage space that people have in their garages. It’s sometimes a better alternative to basements or sheds in the yard. But without changing the way the garage door opener works, some of the additional space was being negated because the door was getting in the way when it’s in the open position. With a Jackshaft opener, the door can lift closer to the ceiling so the added storage space can be used.

Here are some other situations where a Jackshaft opener will come in handy:

• Sometimes a garage door won’t have a lot of space over the door. If you have a garage with low headroom, you can benefit from a Jackshaft opener. We see this more with homes that are older and have concrete ceilings in the garage.
• Some garages have large windows located above the garage door. There might even be a false panel sitting over the door. This is a case where you should install a Jackshaft opener also. Sometimes builders don’t want to put the windows in the garage doors, so they put them in above to let more light in. A Jackshaft opener has a high‑lift type track system that keeps people from being able to see the tracks when looking in the window.

• This opener is only able to be used when a door is no taller than 14 feet and no wider than 18 feet. And, if your household cycles the garage door more than two or three times a day, you may want to look for an alternative.

Needs for installation

First of all, you need the space to install the opener beside the garage door. Let’s look at this and other specifics:

• 8 inches on right or left of door.
• 3 inches above the door.
• A torsion‑type spring lift system where the spring is housed inside a shaft that’s anchored to the wall.
• An electrical outlet located at least 6 feet away from the unit.
• 16.25 inches of top‑to‑bottom space for the opener housing.

What does a Jackshaft opener do better than a trolley‑type opener?

• Maximizes storage space
  This kind of opener lifts the garage door up and over top of the areas that you’ll want to use along your walls for storage shelves, bins, and other items. A trolley‑type opener only raises the door to where the top of the door sits when it’s closed.
• Operates quietly
  The Jackshaft opener works on a direct current. That means it is quieter than a trolley‑type opener. This is especially attractive in cases where there is a bedroom sitting on top of the garage. Also, the opener is mounted on the wall, not the ceiling, so there will be less shaking of the wood joists and less transference of sound through to a room over the garage.

• Makes cathedral ceiling situations safer
  Cathedral ceilings slope up to a point in the center making a triangle shape. If you use a trolley‑type opener for this, you will likely need to use a triangle bracket for the installation to work. This isn’t ideal because it causes a dangerous risk of instability that a Jackshaft opener does not.

• Increases security
  It is pretty easy for someone to break into your garage when you have a trolley‑type opener installed. It takes no time for a thief to use something to pull the safety release and gain access to everything in your garage and maybe even your house. Jackshaft openers are mounted to the side, so it becomes much harder for someone to break into your garage.
• Operation in a power outage
  Model 8500W has a backup power source. If your power goes out, the emergency battery will kick in so you can still operate your garage door opener. The same is not true of all trolley‑type openers.

These are worth mentioning also

Many trolley‑type openers will have the features below too, but we want to point out that you won’t lose these important features with a Jackshaft opener because they have them also. You can expect to have the following:

• MyQ technology (e.g. the ability to open and close your door from your smartphone).
• Photo‑eye based reversal systems.
• Emergency cord for disengagement.
• Your remote code cannot be copied thanks to LiftMaster Security+ 2.0 system.
• An LED light (with the 8500W model) that you can install practically anywhere you want in the garage.
• Compatibility with most accessories for garage door systems.

We are here if you need us

If you’re anywhere in or close to Kingston or Belleville, contact us at 613-547-4566 or 613-966-5655 with any questions you may have. We know everything there is to know about electric garage door openers. We can help you figure out what the best options are for your home and get things installed for you as soon as you’d like.