Whether it’s a brutal snowstorm, windstorm or a glitch in the electrical grid, it’s important to be prepared for power outages in your community. While you may not want to go outside, you certainly don’t want to be locked in because your garage won’t open. Here’s how to open your garage door manually.
- Ensure your garage door is fully closed, then disconnect the garage door opener.
- There is typically a cord with a red handle that hangs down from the center rail of the garage door mechanism. Pull the red emergency cord down and back to disconnect trolley from the rail.
- Lift the garage door straight up until the door is fully open. Make sure the door will remain fully open before leaving it unattended.
- If the springs are properly balanced, the door will open easily with the lift handles and stay in place. If it is difficult to open, have a professional garage door service technician check the door as soon as possible to avoid further damage or safety risks.
- Close the door manually until it reaches the floor.
- Lock the door. When the automatic opener is disconnected, the door is not securely shut until you manually slide the lock bar into position.
- Reconnect the opener by pulling the red handle down and toward the door until you hear the trolley lock back in place. CAUTION: Make sure the door is unlocked when the opener is reconnected. (Opening the garage door electrically with the lock bar in place can cause serious damage.)
For more in-depth instructions, watch the video below.