Even in the best locations, the power can sometimes go out. Most of us have gone through that ordeal at least once or twice. Maybe it wasn't a big deal because you were just leaving to take the kids to school and the power was back on when you came home. On the other hand, it could have been more stressful with a full family home that needed to be entertained. No matter how you slice it, it's something you will notice. It can be a stressful situation in some cases.
Getting the garage door opened (or closed) might seem like the least of your worries. However, life works in mysterious ways. Maybe you're already late to an appointment or need to rush to the veterinarian with one of your pets. Unfortunately, the car is stuck inside the garage since there's no power and you have no idea what you should do.
Anything that could happen in ordinary everyday life can also happen when you have no power. And the lack of power can make stress levels go through the roof. This is why everyone who has an electric garage door opener needs to be aware of how to open the door manually when needed. Of course, this skill changes based on whether you're inside or outside, but it can prevent complete disaster.
Losing power doesn't have to be the end of the world!
Garage doors cannot be opened when you have no power because they connect to the automatic garage door opener. Unfortunately, that's powered by electricity, so it isn't doing you any favors when a storm comes and knocks out power for a few hours (or days).
First things first, get prepared!
You want to get the garage door open. But first, make sure everyone else is out of the space. That means your pets, your kids, your well-meaning neighbors who stopped in – everyone.
Caution is essential!
When working with garage doors, be aware of how much pressure the springs are under. The springs are heavy-duty components, but that doesn't mean bad things can't happen. Use all the caution you can muster when working near them to avoid problems.
Disconnect the opener from power.
Sure, there's no power right now. It seems easier to just skip this and get on with the rest of the steps. You're frustrated and in a hurry, and want the garage door to move now. But have you considered what happens if the power comes back on while you're fiddling with the electronics? Let me give you a hint – this does not lead to joy and excitement. You could be smacked in the head with a component as the garage door starts to move or even be electrocuted.
Power's out, but you still need light!
Even if power outages are rare where you are, it's good to be prepared. Consider placing a flashlight or even an LED headlamp somewhere you can easily find it in these situations. Then, you can quickly get some light going, which is the number one priority during a time with no electricity.
We believe that a headlamp should always be in a convenient area of the garage. This means you can find it in seconds and start getting down to opening the garage door or dealing with other emergencies that come up.
If you're stressed and need out quickly, searching for something is just going to ramp up those feelings. You may not know where to look for a light, spend time going up and down stairs, and find yourself going through every drawer in the house. This can be frustrating, and it also eats up time.
Want to know other ways to be prepared if the power is out for an extended time? Consumer Reports has excellent tips.
Learn How to Get the Door Open Manually While Inside
#1 – Make sure the door is already closed.
This might seem like a silly thing to ask. You need the garage door open, so clearly, it's closed right now, yeah?
Be aware that disconnecting the garage door opener can be hazardous if the door is open, even a little bit!
Think about this. You have power and the garage door is refusing to open. This can happen if the garage door isn't correctly balanced or a spring is broken.
If you release the opener while the door is open, the entire weight of the door could come crashing down on your body.
This is why we state something that might be obvious. We don't want to see you injured because you didn't double-check the situation. If you have a garage door that won't budge and it is OPEN, make sure to contact garage door specialists as quickly as possible.
Another tip that might seem like a silly thing to share is this:
Don't move the door manually unless there isn't another choice. Consider your options and decide whether it's needed.
A lot of the time, power outages are corrected quickly. It's not always worth the effort of disconnecting and reconnecting the garage door opener.
Need to get out at all costs? Fine. But if there is another car you can use or you can wait, leave the door opener connected. Trust us, you'll wish you had if the situation isn't serious. Once the power shoots back on, you have a second series of steps to go through. And that can be time-consuming, especially when you aren't sure you did everything right in the first stage.
#2 – Time to use the bypass handle
As long as your garage door opener is reasonably modern, this should be a cinch. A pull rope will be near the rail between the opener and the door. It is likely going to red and easy to see.
Sure, you might already know it's there. But when you're put in a situation where you're stressed and need out, you might forget some apparent things.
This handle is often red because, you know, emergency, and it is your garage door opener emergency release handle.
#3 – Give yourself permission to pull that cord
The door trolley connects to the door, but it also connects to the motor on the door opener. So it is going to move when electrically opening and closing the door. The point of tugging on the cord is to turn off the trolley operator so you can use the door manually.
When the trolley is disconnected, take the time to slide it back an inch or so away from the door.
#4 – Find and lift the handle on your garage door
Look at the bottom panel of your door or the panel above it. This should be where you find the lifting mechanism.
Is your spring system maintained and well-balanced? It should be a breeze to lift the door, even using a single hand. This applies with 9' x 7' single doors as well as 16' x 7' double garage doors.
Struggling with pulling up the door? Stop what you're doing.
This indicates a much more serious issue!
Get the garage door closed, move away from it, and ensure nobody else enters the garage. Nobody should be near the door until you have had the door repaired, checked, or it has undergone maintenance.
Call your neighbourhood garage door technicians fast!
This indicates that you have broken springs, or some other issue is afoot. On the other hand, maybe the springs are simply at the end of life, occurring after five to seven years of use.
Are you under the impression that the garage door opener is what raises the door? It's not true. Instead, the springs handle all the heavy lifting. Therefore, it's essential to be cautious of these parts and the damage they can do.
Know the Physics
Let's say you have a garage door that weighs about 300 pounds. That means your torsion springs need to create 300 pounds of force to close or open it. This is a lot of force, and it results in springs that are under an impressive level of pressure.
Reasonable Function
When the springs are malfunctioning, you or the garage door opener will need to deal with the weight. But if they work well, they handle the weight for you. This is the favored result since neither you nor the opener are made to hold 300 pounds.
#5 – Reinstall the opener once you're done
Everything working so well? You're almost done with the process.
You can reconnect your garage door opener as soon as the power is back on. It's a straightforward process that takes very little time. Follow the steps below:
- Once again, check to ensure the garage door is in a closed position.
- Use a trusty broom handle to pull the release handle on your garage door opener.
- Use manual power to lift the door until you feel or hear it reconnect.
Reconnecting the opener and trolley is as simple as running the opener until the door is all the way up and then rerunning it, so it touches the floor. As the carriage and trolley come near each other, a clicking noise should be noticed. This indicates a connection and means you can go back to using your garage door as usual.
The Process of Manually Opening the Garage Door from Outside
Don't have an access door that lets you into the garage easily? The next best thing is investing in an outside quick release.
Without this device, there's only one way to get in and out, which can be a serious hazard in the case of a fire. It also isn't the most practical situation to be in.
- Find the quick release outside and place the correct key into the socket of the lock.
- Twist the key while pulling the tumbler out of the lock to engage the release mechanism found on the door opener carriage.
- Manually open the door until it halts in its movements.
- Move your vehicle into the garage and manually close the garage door.
- Push on the lever with a broom handle to reengage the release. This can be done by pulling on the release cord upward until the clicking noise occurs.
- Don't leave the garage until you ensure there are other access areas into the central part of your home.
Prefer something that prevents the hassle?
Avoid having to follow these steps to get out or in the garage – even if you have no power!
The steps above might seem a little daunting. But do you have a garage door opener getting a little long in the tooth? If you are considering getting a new one, you have great options.
Step into the future by selecting a door opener that includes battery backup. Then, no matter what situation you find yourself in, the garage door will be ready to go.
Depending on how you use your garage space, there are many models of garage door openers to choose from.
Are you a fan of saving time, using your phone, and having apps that make life a little easier? Then, the garage door openers from LiftMaster are sure to appeal.
LiftMaster, by Chamberlain, put in a lot of work to create new improvements and updates to all their garage door openers. That also means that these devices can connect to wireless Internet. In addition, their myQ technology can be found in all LiftMaster items, so you can use your phone to control your garage door from any location.
What you can see on your smartphone when you have an integrated camera on your garage door opener.
How about the LiftMaster 87504-267? It includes two-way audio and an integrated camera. So, you can check out who is in the garage in the moment and even have conversations with them from across the globe. Plus, this is a whisper-quiet option that won't disturb your peace.
Not into the idea of a camera sitting in the garage? You might be better served by the LiftMaster 87802 garage door opener.
Here is an example of the alert you would receive on your smartphone.
You still get all the benefits of the myQ app, so you can open or close the door from anywhere. You also get alerts and notifications to monitor its status. On top of that, battery backup is included.
Need to keep access to the ceiling for storage? Have a low or cathedral ceiling? You still have options.
The LiftMaster 8500W is created to mount on your wall and not take up extra room. You can use the space near the ceiling in whatever way you like. Set it up to the side of the door (whichever side you prefer) and enjoy all the best modern features.
It comes with the myQ app, built-in wireless Internet, and can be used through smartphones or tablets. Plus, you get battery backup capabilities on top of an automatic lock for the garage door.
Want some assistance selecting the garage door opener that meets your needs?
Contact garage door and door opener technicians from The Garage Door Store for assistance at 705-327-7408.
We've been passionate about garage doors and all their accessories for years. Already own a Chamberlain or LiftMaster garage door opener? If you want to make it compatible with a battery backup, we can handle it in no time.
Prefer to upgrade to a technologically advanced door opener that is modern and quiet? We'll help you find the right option within your budget. In addition, we can provide you with a free quotation through email. Ready for a checkup service on either the garage door or opener? We'll help with that too.
Want to go big and swap out the entire garage door?
Love this look? These garage doors are Princeton P‑12, 9' x 7' size, doors and overlays in Ice White, eight lite Panoramic windows. Perfect for farmhouse and modern farmhouse styles!
Use our three styles to get an idea of which garage doors will look best on your home. You can also check out our photo album for several more ideas. The Design Centre works on mobile devices so you can build the ultimate garage door. Add a photo of your house and see which colors, hardware, windows, and more look the best.
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