The best Linear garage door openers are not only reliable but definitely feature-packed. Linear is a reputable garage door manufacturer that has been in business for a while, with some of its products a darling to many across the US.
The company is owned by Nortek Control, based in California, and have an impressive portfolio of different gadgets, including gates, telephone entries, and garage door accessories.
One unique thing about Linear is that most of its products require the help of a professional to install or set up. That may not sink well with DIY enthusiasts but you are assured of the right installation at all times.
So, if you wish to upgrade or acquire a new garage door opener and are wondering which is the best Linear garage door opener, we have something all ready for you.
This article looks at the best Linear garage door openers you should consider getting.
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- 10 Best Belt Drive Garage Door Openers
- 5 Best Chamberlain Garage Door Openers- 2021 Update
- 6 Best Garage Door Opener Under $200
Heads Up: 5 Best Linear Garage Door Openers Summary List
- Linear LDCO800– BEST OVERALL
- Linear LDO50 Single Light- Versatile
- Linear LSO50– Best for dark garages
- Linear LCO75– Powerful with obstacle sensing beam
- Linear Model LDO33– low lifting power
Please Note: These products are available on eBay for purchase as either brand new or slightly used.
Factors to consider when choosing the best Linear garage door openers
Choosing the best garage door opener is never as easy as it sounds. Customers are often confronted by several choices. You need to know the questions to ask a garage door professional when you are discussing your Linear opener options.
Below are crucial factors you should consider on your next purchase.
Horsepower
Horsepower or HP is an indication of the power of the motor. It is advisable to know the weight of your garage door before you go out shopping for an opener. Linear garage door openers are powered by DC motors with the equivalent power of between ⅓ HP and ¾ HP.
The higher the horsepower, the heavier the weight it can lift. For instance, ⅓ HP is recommended for lifting light doors common in residential properties. Correct horsepower will guarantee a longer life span and low maintenance cost.
Drive Systems
The drive system type determines your garage door opener’s noise levels. The main drive systems are chain and belt drives. Typically, belt drive garage door openers are quieter than chain-driven models. Linear garage door openers operate on both belt and chain drives.
Ultimately, your choice will come down to your preference and budget. Chain drives are more common and less expensive. A less common choice is the screw drive garage door openers. They are best for very heavy commercial garage doors.
Security
Security is one of the primary functions of a garage door opener. It is comforting to know that your property is safe from theft or bad weather.
Linear garage door openers feature the latest security features, including firewalls, passcodes, and code encryption. Some models also come with obstacle-sensing beams that prevent accidents. It ensures that you are not trapped in or crushed by the garage door.
Power Backup
Garage door openers with battery backup are no longer just a necessity; power backup is now a legal requirement in places like California. All garage door openers must come with an alternative source of power. This could be the difference between life and death in case of power outages.
Most Linear garage door openers come with a backup battery that kicks in when the power is out. The garage door does stop or cause accidents during abrupt power outages.
Smartphone Compatibility
Can I open my garage door with my phone? It’s a question that shouldn’t be a big issue in this century.
Garage door openers have come a long way. Like most home appliances, modern garage door openers are smart. That means they can be connected to your smartphone or smart devices for convenience.
Always go for a unit that is MyQ-compatible. Additionally, it should link with other apps such as Alexa, Google Assistant, Home Link, and Wink. Integration with these apps makes it possible to control your unit through voice commands.
We have a whole list of Alexa-enabled garage door openers that you can review so be sure to check it.
Best Linear Garage Door Openers Review
Here are some Linear garage door openers you may want to look at together with a garage door professional.
These products have been selected based on durability, ease of use, ease of installation, security features, safety features, horsepower, and most of the items reviewed above.
The Linear LDO50 Single Light Garage Door Opener
The Linear LDO50 is a versatile product that is worth getting. It works on both belt and chain drive rails without a problem. It is also compatible with different door sizes ranging from 7 feet to 10 feet. The LDO50 also comes with a self-diagnostic system that monitors the device to make sure it is working perfectly. In case of a problem, it detects and notifies the owner through flashing lights.
Features
The Linear LDO50 is driven by a ½ HP DC motor installed with either a chain drive or belt drive rails. It is equipped with a safety beam that detects any object that crosses when opening or closing the door hence preventing accidents.
The unit comes with a remote controller that enables homeowners to control their doors from afar. The remotes consist of a MegaCode receiver and an MCT-3 transmitter. An additional feature is the 100W MAX light that brightens the garage for five minutes anytime the operator is used.
Pros
- Less noise for the belt drive
- Secure and safe
- The lighting feature provides adequate illumination.
- The unit is easy to install
Cons
- Lacks power backup
- The lights are not included in the package.
Verdict
The most significant advantage of the LDO50 is its versatility. It can work with both belt and chain drives making it ideal for upgrading an old garage. The extra lighting is a nice touch and will come in handy. The LDO50 is worth adding to your shortlist for your next purchase.
The Linear LDCO800 Garage Door Opener
The Linear LDCO 800 is the perfect choice for anyone looking for an energy-efficient and silent garage door opener. This model is also known for being immensely powerful. It has high speed and a lifting force of 800-900 Newton’s for heavy doors. Below are some of the features you can expect to enjoy.
Features
The Linear LDCO800 comes with a ¾ HP AC motor that is ideal for heavy doors. It is also compatible with both the belt drive and chain drives. The belt drive makes more sense for garages attached to the main house because it is quiet. It has an optional battery backup which enables homeowners to access the garage during power outages.
Another great feature is the self-diagnostic system that monitors the device to make sure it operates smoothly. Lastly, it comes with a built-in Mega Code format receiver that protects the garage from hackers.
Pros
- It has a battery backup, so you are not likely to get stranded in your garage in case of a power outage.
- Compatible with belt drive and chain drive. You get to choose which one best suits you.
- It is ultra-quiet, so you can use it in the attached garages.
- It comes with a 100 watt light for illumination.
Cons
- Complex to install
- Not compatible with smartphones
- Lights are not included.
Verdict
The Linear LDCO800 is the complete package you have been looking for, from security, speed, power, ultra-quiet to extra light to brighten your garage. The only feature missing is that it is not compatible with smartphones limiting the user to control the door from one location. This, however, does not mean that we do not recommend it.
The Linear LSO50 Garage Door Opener
The Linear LSO50 is considered one of the best garage door openers for living spaces. This unit was also built with noise reduction technology that stops vibration and noise from getting into the main house. It is highly recommended for dark garages due to its bright illumination. To top it all up, It has a lifetime warranty on both the motor and belt.
Features
The Linear LSO50 comes with 1⁄2HP, which is adequate for residential garage doors. Like other Linear products, it is compatible with both chain drive and belt drive rails. It also comes with a built-in vibration isolation system that enhances quiet operation. The LSO50 is also equipped with a sensing beam that detects any object crossing the door when closing.
If an obstacle is detected, the door reverts to ‘fully open,’ stopping accidents before they happen. The remote control has a long-range, allowing users to operate the gate from a wide radius. The device also has dual 100W MAX lights that brighten the garage for five minutes after opening the door. It comes with a self-diagnostic system that monitors the device to see if everything is working correctly.
Pros
- Has a lifetime warranty on the motor and belt. This means reduced maintenance costs.
- It comes with dual 100W MAX lights to help illuminate the garage.
- Ultra-quiet operation hence is suitable for attached garages.
- It comes with a sensing beam that stops accidents from happening.
Cons
- Lacks battery backup.
- Not compatible with smartphones.
Verdict
The Linear LSO50 should be high on your list of garage openers by the same brand. It has enough power for both single and double garage doors. In addition to great features, the LSO50 comes with a lifetime warranty on the belt and motor. An additional 5-year warranty for the rail system.
The Linear LCO75 Garage Door Opener
The Linear LCO75 is the most powerful among linear garage door openers with ¾ HP. With that power, it has the capability of lifting doors ranging from 7 feet to 14 feet. That means it can be used for commercial and domestic doors. The Linear LCO75 also features a robust remote control that allows users to operate the gate from a long range.
Features
The LCO75 is a powerhouse with a lifting power of ¾ HP. That is enough power to lift heavy doors. The built-in vibration technique makes its operation ultra-quiet. The unit also comes with an obstacle sensing beam that detects any objects. The unit can be controlled remotely by a long-range remote control. This model also has a self-diagnostic system that monitors the device and reports any error by flashing the courtesy lights.
Pros
- Maximum safety through self-diagnostics.
- High lifting power, ensuring that it can lift heavy doors and quiet operation.
- Obstacle-sensing beam that prevents accidents from happening.
- Compatible with both belt and chain drive.
- Responsive remote control.
- The motor has thermal overload protection, which turns the motor off in case the opener overheats. This way, it prevents the opener from damage.
Cons
- Lack battery backup option.
- Not compatible with smartphones.
- The rails are sold separately.
Verdict
The Linear LCO75 is very powerful and guarantees smooth and quiet operation. It is ideal for both light commercial use and residential use. You won’t find a safer Linear garage opener in the market. It’s definitely worth considering.
Linear Model LDO33 Garage Door Opener
The Linear LDO33 model is compatible with both belt and chain drives. It is a smaller version of the LCO75. It has most of the same features except for the motor size. Unlike the larger LCO75, this model only has ⅓ HP. Although this is not that high, it is more than enough for domestic use.
Below are some of the features you should know about the LD033.
Features
The linear LDO33 comes with 1/3 HP that is ideal for light doors. Like the four discussed above linear door openers, LDO33 is also compatible with both the belt drive and chain drive. It’s ultra-quiet making it practical for garage doors attached to the main house. It also comes with a 100-watt courtesy light that brightens the garage when you walk in.
Pros
- Obstacle-sensing beam that prevents accidents from happening.
- Compatible with both belt and chain drive.
- Robust remote control allowing you to control your garage door from a distance.
Cons
- Weak lifting power
- Lack battery backup option.
- Not compatible with smartphones.
Verdict
The linear LDO33 has a low lifting power that cannot sustain modern heavy garage doors. However, it works just great for domestic garages. It is more affordable than most of the other models covered in this article. It is worth considering, especially if you are shopping on a budget.
Which Is The Best Linear Garage Door Opener?
From our analysis, the best Linear garage door opener is the Linear LDCO800.
The LDCO 800 comes with a power backup that helps homeowners operate their garage doors during power outages. In the past, there were reported cases of homeowners who got stuck during power interruptions. Thus an additional source of power is an important aspect to consider when purchasing garage door openers.
Linear garage door opener parts and accessories
Linear garage door opener parts and accessories include:
- Linear garage door opener remotes
- Linear garage door opener control boards
- Linear garage door opener safety beam sensors
- Linear garage door opener worm gears
- Linear garage door opener drive sockets
- Linear garage door opener safety sensor kit
- Linear garage door opener keypads and keypad transmitters
Maintenance tips for Linear garage door openers
Like every other gadget or device in your home or garage, Linear garage door openers also require maintenance and troubleshooting when they don’t function properly.
- Periodically observe and listen to your garage door opener for unusual noise, creaking sounds etc. These always signifies something is not working right or a part is worn out.
- Always tighten up any loose hardware parts. Check out the Linear garage door opener manuals to instructions.
- Test the garage door and opener balance system to ensure everything is working fine and in balance. The balance settings or recommendations should be available in the product manual.
- Inspect and replace all worn out parts as soon as detected. Do not wait for it to completely fail as it may strain the other parts and ultimately bring down the entire set up.
- Always lubricate all moving parts of the garage door and the opener.
- Check all cable to ensure they are firm, properly attached or connected as required.
- Periodically test the Auto-reverse safety system of the garage door opener.
Frequently Asked Questions about Linear Garage Door Opener
As we have seen, choosing between Linears can be perplexing. Here are more questions that you may still have.
Is Linear a Good Garage Door Opener?
Linear garage door openers are definitely good. They possess unique features, among them ultra-quiet operation, which makes them recommended for garages attached to main doors. However, they are not compatible with smartphones which is a challenge. We recommend the LDCO800 for anyone looking for Linear products.
How Do You Program a Linear Garage Door Opener Remote?
First, insert the code that you want to use to open or close your garage door. After about 20 seconds, press the programming button 1 or 2. The LED light on the receiver will light up for 5 seconds if there is room in the receiver’s memory. The next step is to press the start/stop button on the keypad.
This should be done within 5 seconds of the solid light. If the transmission is received, the LED light will light up. To test the keypad, enter the code you started with and then press the start/stop button. The garage door should automatically open or close.
In Conclusion
We hope this best Linear garage door openers guide makes your life easier when shopping or having a conversation with a garage door professional. Each product listed here has its strengths and weaknesses. Look for key features such as power backup, data encryption, and ease of installation.
Of utmost importance is the size of the garage door, as this will determine the kind of opener that you choose. Knowing what you are getting into prevents unpleasant surprises down the road.
Hello!
We recently lost one of our original keychain remote openers to our Linear LD050 model garage opener. We would feel much safer by reprogramming a NEW keychain remote to our Linear LD050 model.
1) Is a Genie Universal series garage opener; Universal 4-button keychain remote compatible with this model?
2) In the Genie Universal Remote instructions, it indicates that the universal remote is compatible with the “Linear 318 MHz, Mega code model”. I am not able to find in the Linear LD050 info/specs whether this Linear LD050 model is this 318 MHz. Can you please respond if this key chain remote will work with this Linear LD050 model?
3) If the Genie Universal Remote; four button remote is NOT compatible, what keychain remote(s) WOULD be compatible with our Linear LD050 opener?
4) The red light that is on the right side (when one looks at the Linear LD050 from the outside of our garage opening) of our Linear LD050 is “flickering”. Is this normal, or is there any issue with this model?
Thank you SO VERY MUCH for responding & advising us on these questions!
We have been extremely happy with the VERY dependable service of our LD050 & we have had it in our garage almost 20 years!
Sue Spell – – – my email is enclosed below for your response!
Hi Sue,
1. Yes, according to Genie (the manufacturers), the Genie Universal Remote (4-button) is compatible with Linear LD050.
2. Yes, the LD033, LD050 and LS050 can all be operated by the Genie Universal Remote. The LD050’s frequency range is well within 318MHz.
3. If you need an alternative, you can consider any from this list on Amazon. Just make sure you pick an option clearly showing compatibility with the LD050.
4. Flickering lights normally suggest a wiring issue or some slight adjustment on the sensor is needed.
For LDO50 specifications, review this datasheet
RED FLAGS! Own three of these and wish they had never been installed on my new house.
Linear is a reputable garage door manufacturer that has been in business for a while, with some of its products a darling to many across the US. What in the world does “a while” indicate? 😒
One unique thing about Linear is that most of its products require the help of a professional to install or set up. That may not sink well with DIY enthusiasts, but you are assured of the right installation at all times. This means MONEY AND TIME! 😆
Can you tell me what is the electronic part of my Linear 800, is it the mother board. I am trying to determine warranty. It says one year on electronics and lifetime or 5yrs on other parts. Thanks.