Why should I select a Jackshaft opener versus a central trolley-type?

When we look at residential building plans over the last 5 to 7 years, one thing we notice is that garages are having higher and higher interiors – the distance between the floor and ceiling. We can see garages that are well above 9 feet high, and often have ceilings of 12 and even 14 feet. When you install a garage door 7 or 8 feet high here, what do you do with all the space above the garage door?

This is a need that LiftMaster / Chamberlain, a leader in the electric garage door opener industry, was ready to answer. They adapted their commercial and industrial door opener for residential use. Thus, a residential door opener with a secondary shaft was born, and called a Jackshaft opener.

What exactly is a Jackshaft door opener?

Compared to a trolley-type opener which is installed on the ceiling and in the middle of the door, a Jackshaft opener, with a second rod (or shaft) is installed beside the door. In most cases, a Jackshaft door opener is used on a standard size garage door 7 to 8 feet high and the headroom over the door is more than 24 inches.

You often run into this situation in recently constructed homes where the builders wanted to give more storage space in the garage. Another place they are used is in the case of cathedral ceilings. So instead of having a shed in the backyard or using the basement as a storage location, garage space is optimized for keeping those seasonal items not used all year long.

By being able to move the garage door as high as possible near the ceiling, you gain wall space on side walls to put shelves, storage cabinets, or hook systems.

As well, there are other situations where a Jackshaft opener can be used.

• When there is low headroom over the door along with sufficient space next to the door, we can install this type of door opener. You encounter this situation in older homes where the walls and ceiling are made of concrete.

• When there is a wide window over the garage door (transom style) or when a false panel has been installed over the door. Some home architects and designers will prefer to install a fixed window above the garage door instead of installing it on the garage door itself. If the track system is a high-lift type, you won’t see the tracks through the window. The same is true if a false door panel, the same design as the door, is installed.

• Note that this type of door opener works for doors with a maximum height of 14 feet and maximum width of 18 feet and with a residential frequency of use, say 2 to 4 times a day. This is typically the situation for garages where recreational vehicles are kept.

Requirements

As was already said, if the door opener is installed next to the door, sufficient space is necessary. So to install it, you need :

• At least 8 inches of space on one side of the door, either right or left.
• At least 3 inches of headroom over the top of the door.
• A torsion-type spring lift system. The shaft holding the spring(s) slips into the opener housing and is turned by the opener, either opening or closing your door.
• An electrical outlet at least 6 feet from the installation area.
• Note that the height of the housing for the opener is 16 ¼ inches.

What are the advantages over a trolley-type opener?

• More storage space

  As noted above, by using this type of door opener, we can move the garage door as close as possible to the ceiling and increase storage space on the side walls.

• Quiet operation

  This is a DC (direct current) door opener and as such, starts slowly, increases to normal speed, then finishes slowly. Thus, if your bedroom or another room often used is located above your garage, the fact that the opener isn’t affixed to the wood joists but instead onto the wall next to the door greatly limits the transmission of noise coming from the vibration of the opener.

• For cathedral ceilings

  To attach a door opener with a trolley centrally over the door onto this type of ceiling, in addition to needing an additional space of at least 4 feet (1. 2 m.) behind the door, the distance between the opener housing and the ceiling to secure everything may be too great and require a triangle bracket that could be dangerous when used.

• Safer

  By being installed beside the door, you reduce the risk of parts of the opener falling on your car. As well, you might have heard that it only takes 6 seconds for a criminal to open a garage door with a clothes hanger by tripping the safety release mechanism used for power outages. Having a Jackshaft opener will protect you from such a danger.

• Comes with a backup battery

  Model 8500W is equipped with an emergency battery which isn’t provided with all trolley-type door openers. This battery allows you do open and close your garage door around twenty times during a power outage.

Other important features

On top of the benefits we just listed, Jackshaft door openers have other important features shared with trolley-type openers :

• Use MyQ technology (e.g. the ability to open and close your door from your smartphone).
• Have photo-eye based reversal systems.
• Disengage when emergency cord is pulled.
• Your remote code cannot be copied thanks to LiftMaster’s Security+ 2.0 system.
• Have an LED light (with the 8500W model) that you can install practically anywhere you want in the garage.
• In addition, there are other accessories you can add to your door opener to simplify your life.

Want to know more?

If you live near Sault Ste. Marie, contact us at 1-877-794-4223. We know everything about electric garage door openers.