The Genie Chain Drive 550 is much more than meets the eye with its powerful chain drive system granting strength and reliability. If you are looking for a low maintenance option with a bit more than expected this might be it. You’ll find features for security as well as ones for convenience. A great value with easy installation and incredibly quiet operation for a chain drive garage door opener. It isn’t all roses though as you will be missing some of the things higher-end garage door openers provide. Not perfect by any means but certainly sufficient the Genie Chain Drive 550 is a workhorse.
- Solid chain drive system is strong and durable
- Cheaper price than most competition
- Decent value through features and warranty
- Limited to 7 ft garage doors
- No smartphone connectivity
- Louder than other options
Design
Don’t expect to be amazed by this garage openers look as it doesn’t get much more basic. A black core with white light ends lets it fit unassumingly into your garage. Use of the specific Genie lights is recommended so you won’t be limited to 60 watts. The chain drive system if of most note here as that’s what will give you operation. The chain allows for a durable and efficient method that is relatively easy to troubleshoot. While it also gives you a louder garage door this one isn’t that loud for a chain drive design. Most of the real design features lie on the inside here for better or worse.
Price
As a bargain brand, Genie has excelled for years as an easy solution for dependable and affordable garage door openers. The 550 is no different as it is capable of lifting most garages without lifting your wallet as well. A price point of under $200 puts it on the lower end for garage door openers. Of course, you pay for this in looks and features. With some really nice garage door openers available for less than $100 more it isn’t that great to be on a budget. While it is a solid garage door opener it certainly pays to spend a bit more for more value.
Power Source/Battery
In order to achieve motion, this garage door opener will require power from your household power grid. With all the attention focused on affordability, you can’t be too surprised with the battery situation. There is no battery backup for this model and there aren’t currently any optional accessories for it either. It isn’t all bad however with a DC motor that gives you pretty good power efficiency over an AC power source. This model has the basics but nothing to rise above a passing grade.
Horsepower
Keeping up with the rest of the show you shouldn’t expect anything too crazy here. The Genie Chain Drive 550 is loaded with a ½ horsepower motor for its lifting purposes. This puts it on the lower end for garage door motors while still being perfectly serviceable for a chain drive design. The 550 number matches quite well here though as this garage door opener can lift doors up to 550 pounds. The motor is tuned to not require any maintenance over its lifespan.
Smart Phone Control
With all of the focus on the budget, you might not be surprised to find these models smartphone capabilities to be lacking. You might not have thought those capabilities to be nonexistent, however. Sadly that is the case here as you won’t be able to use WiFi for connectivity. On the other hand, it does have built-in functionality with built-in car remote systems. Coupling with a system like HomeLink or Car2U is the best way to get some added remote range from this garage door opener. If you are looking for a smart house compatible garage though you will have to spend a bit more.
Other Features of Genie Chain Drive 550
Even though you can find the Genie 550 available for less than the competition it also comes with its own features. The ultimate safety consideration is included with start-stop technology. This uses two sensors and an invisible infrared laser to react quickly when obstacles get in the way. A 5-piece rail system makes this opener very easy to install. It also comes with two pre-programmed 3-button remotes. A wireless keypad allows for exterior access with a PIN. Meanwhile, Genie’s Intellicode technology helps keep you safe from code snatchers. A vacation lock is also included for lockdown while you’re away.
Warranty
The warranty isn’t anything special here as you might expect. Still, with a low-end price tag, you get considerable coverage in the four-part warranty. The major part comes in the 10-year limited warranty on the motor. Then you have a 5-year warranty on the chain. Finally, a 1-year warranty on all the other parts and accessories rounds out the group. Overall this is a pretty respectable package for a model that’s so affordable.
Genie Chain Drive 550 Review Conclusion
The every man’s garage door opener you don’t have to worry too much about Genie 550’s ability to work. You will have to worry about its abilities compared to the competition, however. Despite having the ability to lift up to 550 pounds at an affordable price. The price to value doesn’t quite match up when stacked against the competition. If you can’t afford to spend any more money it can get the job done. Though with a bit more investment you could end up with much more bang for your back.
Genie ChainDrive 550 Garage Door Opener
