The convenience of a garage door opener is something that many take for granted until a power outage or problem with the opener leaves your car stuck in the garage. The inability to use the garage door opener is frustrating, especially if you discover the issue when you need to get to work. Fortunately, it is possible to open and close most garage doors manually, so you can access your vehicle without causing damage to the door.
In this guide, we will cover the steps you can take to safely open and close your garage door manually in case of a power outage or malfunction of the garage door opener. If you do encounter a problem with your garage door opener, you should call a professional like Aladdin Doors for garage door opener repair.
What Happens to a Garage Door When the Power Goes Out?
Garage door openers require electricity and will cease to operate when the power goes out. Some garage door openers come with a backup battery that can take over when there is a power outage. However, if your opener does not have a backup battery or power source, you will need to open the garage door manually.
Will My Garage Door Work Without Power?
Without power, your garage door opener will not function. However, it is possible to manually open and close your garage door when the power is out. Simply pull the red emergency release cord to release the trolley from the garage door track. You can then lift the garage door until it is fully open and shut it manually. When the power is restored to the garage door opener, simply pull the red emergency cord again to reengage with the opener.
How to Manually Open the Garage Door
The good news is that when there is a power outage, you can open the garage door manually and avoid major disruptions to your life. Make sure you follow these steps to successfully open your garage door without causing additional issues:
Make Sure the Garage Door is in the Down Position
The first thing you need to do is make sure the garage door is fully closed in the down position. If the door is not fully closed, disengaging the opener may cause it to slam shut, which could result in damage to the door or a serious injury if the door falls on someone. If the door is stuck partially open, it may be best to call a professional to safely return it to the down position.
Pull Manual Release Cord
The manual release cord, also referred to as the emergency release cord, is the red cord that hangs down from the garage door trolley with a red T-shaped handle. Pulling the cord releases the trolley from the garage door opener carriage so the garage door can be opened manually. When pulling this cord, it may take some force to disengage the trolley, but be careful not to use too much force or you could damage the track. To disengage the trolley, pull the cord straight down until you hear a click, which indicates that the door can be safely operated manually.
Check the Lock
If there is a manual lock on your garage door, make sure it is unlocked before attempting to open the door. If you forget to unlock this lock, you could cause damage when lifting the door.
Lift the Garage Door by the Handle
Your garage door should have a handle on the inside of the door. Grab this handle and gently lift the door. You should be able to lift the door to its fully open position quite easily. You can also close the door manually by slowly pulling it to the down position.
If you have trouble lifting the door or it opens unevenly, there may be a problem with the cable or springs. You should immediately stop trying to open the door, as this could be dangerous. Instead, call our professional technicians to inspect the cable and garage door springs to repair any issues.
Reengage the Trolley with the Garage Door Opener
Once the power is restored to your garage door opener, you can reconnect the trolley to the garage door opener. First, make sure that the garage door is completely shut and pull the emergency release cord towards the door to reset the trolley system. Then push the button to open the door and allow it to run a full cycle that includes opening and closing the door. You should hear a click when the trolley reconnects to the carriage. Open and close the door with the opener a couple more times to ensure that the door is reconnected to the carriage and functioning properly.
Manually Operating Garage Doors with Torsion Springs and Extension Springs
The steps outlined above should help you manually open your garage door, regardless of whether it operates with torsion springs or extension springs. However, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind for each type of garage door:
- Torsion spring doors: Lifting the door manually is a little easier with torsion springs because these springs carry much of the weight. You can follow the same tips outlined above to manually open and close these doors.
- Extension spring doors: Extension spring doors can also be opened following the steps outlined above, but these doors may not open as easily as torsion spring doors. When opening the door, lift with both hands as these doors require more force. If the door is too heavy for you to lift, call a professional to handle the door. You should close these doors slowly as they may fall faster than torsion spring doors and slam shut.
Expert Garage Door Services
Knowing how to manually operate your garage door can save you time and stress during a power outage or mechanical failure. By following the proper steps and reaching out to a professional when needed, you can ensure continued access to your garage without risking injury or damage to the door.
While manually opening and closing your garage door can help avoid disruptions if the power is out or there is an issue with the opener, this should only be a temporary solution. It is important to have any issues with your garage door opener repaired so you can avoid further problems and use your garage door opener as intended.
At Aladdin Doors, we provide expert garage door services that include repairing or replacing garage doors, openers, springs, cables, tracks, and more. If there is a problem with the opener, we offer professional garage door opener repair, in which we will diagnose and address the issue with the opener to ensure that it functions smoothly. We can also determine if your opener needs to be replaced and manage the garage door opener installation.
You can call the professionals of Aladdin Doors at for garage door repair services throughout Minneapolis, MN, and the surrounding areas. We offer free estimates, same-day service, and 24/7 emergency service. Click here to find an Aladdin Doors location near you.
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