Keep 2007-era garage door opener?

[nthach]

The parents need a new garage door - CA state law mandates battery backup openers installed after 7/2021. One garage door installer said we must install a new opener, the other one we went with said they’ll install a new door but won’t connect it(it’s a less than 5 minute job).

The current opener is a LiftMaster 3265 manufactured and installed in 2007. The salesman who came out told me these were solid openers and doesn’t see much of a reason to upgrade. It’s a chain drive model. Parts - mainly the worm gear and sprocket, control board and limit switch assembly are still available. Common Chamberlain fare. A new opener, likely a LiftMaster belt drive is around $1000 installed. The new door was $3300, about that I expected($3K for an insulated steel door) for a HCOL area. Should I go ahead and keep this opener until it croaks or replace it? The current LiftMaster chain drives still use the same chain/rail assembly, and it does look like a Chamberlain head will be a direct bolt-on, unless I can sell my parents a jackshaft mounted one. But if we don’t need to spend $250-550(DIY Chamberlain chain or jackshaft, if we’re going belt, it’s another LiftMaster for the one-piece rail), that’s always a plus.

 

[JohnnyG]

And, according to the techs that installed my new Chamberlain jackshaft opener, the battery will be dead long before you need it anyway.
Keep the opener until it croaks (literally, since you'll hear a strange sound like a gear stripping)

I must say though that the jackshaft opener is extremely quiet, and much less of shock to the door itself. It also has an automatic deadbolt right after it closes.

 

[BHopkins]

It is real hard for me to replace something that is working just fine. So I would keep the old opener until it starts to wear out.

My garage door opener also has battery backup. The first battery went out after only 2-3 years. I replaced it. The second battery didn't even last that long. I haven't bothered replacing the battery since. It would be interesting to know what % of 5+ year old garage door openers with battery backup, would actually open on battery power. Even 3 years old.

In the years that the opener had a good battery, I had one occasion to use the opener on battery power, and I was super unimpressed.

Do your parents know how to pull the release rope, and open a door manually if the power goes out? It is so much easier.

 

[kschachn]

My similar Chamberlain chain drive openers are both 26 years old, I replaced the drive gear assembly once, perhaps twice. We have a standby generator so I never needed a battery, nor is it a detached garage where I can't get in other than the door.

Like everyone else I say keep it.

 

[2010Civic]

I'd keep the current one. Hook it up yourself. Very easy, just have to set the new endpoints.

 

[kschachn]

It is real hard for me to replace something that is working just fine. So I would keep the old opener until it starts to wear out.

My garage door opener also has battery backup. The first battery went out after only 2-3 years. I replaced it. The second battery didn't even last that long. I haven't bothered replacing the battery since. It would be interesting to know what % of 5+ year old garage door openers with battery backup, would actually open on battery power. Even 3 years old.

Here is what Chamberlain says on their website. That seems crazy short to me:

What is the life expectancy of a LiftMaster and Chamberlain battery back-up system?​

With normal usage, a battery will last approximately 1-2 years. To obtain maximum battery life and prevent damage, disconnect the battery when the garage door opener is unplugged for an extended period of time, such as at a summer or winter home.

 

[Brons2]

I bought a lithium replacement for my battery backup when the original one failed. Huge weight difference, the old one was like a 10 lb barbell, the new one is like a feather. Seems fine so far. Time will tell.

 

[nthach]

Also, Chamberlain(LiftMaster and Craftsman) and Genie who’s been making a comeback especially at Depot and the jungle store still use VRLA(AGM) lead-acid batteries. The new Kwikset-branded openers Amarr wants to push now uses a Li-ion(looks like a pack of 18650/21700 cells) cell and Ryobi had a opener that used their One+ 18V Li-ion packs. The neighbors have a LiftMaster belt drive with the battery backup still on the original battery from 2021 and IME, 5-6 years for these in a server room(UPS) or backing up a alarm system is the expected lifespan for a AGM battery.

We rarely have blackouts despite PG&E’s love of rolling “public safety” blackouts. We’re on the same power grid block as the police/fire department.

 

[JohnnyG]

Here is what Chamberlain says on their website. That seems crazy short to me:

Exactly! Especially in light of the fact that some new LFP batteries "claim" a life of 10 years or so.

 

[CarLuver]

one of the reason to upgrade to a belt is noise. the belts are a lot quieter . if this is no concern, just keep the old one. have them put the bracket on the new door.

one other reason is if they wish to have remote control and notifications via myQ app.

the other thing that goes bad on them is the mother board. when suddenly remotes can no longer activate it or the range decreases a lot, the culprit is usually the board

 

[Nukeman7]

Coming from someone who has owned, installed and repaired ~8 Chamberlain/Liftmaster/Sears/Craftsman garage door openers during the past 40 years, I would advise you to keep the existing unit if it is functioning properly. Some of the new Chamberlain units have two inherent electronic circuit board faults: (1) the ones with wall control panel proximity sensors will eventually fail and randomly open and close the door, and (2) the units without battery backup are susceptible to losing it's (electronic) travel limit settings during power outages/resultant surges.

If you opt to upgrade to a new unit, move to a much quieter belt-drive or jackshaft unit with battery backup and no proximity sensor. The AGM backup battery will last around 3-4 years on average and will allow 3-4 open/close cycles during an outage before the charge is depleted. Replacement AGM batteries are readily available on Amazon for $35. The myQ app functionality is terrible and unreliable.

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

Bought my old house in 1987. I had Overhead Door install two, 1/4 HP openers as there were none. I sold that house in 2018 with those same openers functioning perfectly. Only repair was a capacitor. I'd have a hard time giving up a functional older unit.