How to Open a Garage Door Manually

There are a lot of reasons automatic garage doors are a great addition to your home. They are convenient to use, opening at the press of a button. Often, they open faster than manual systems as well. But what happens when your power goes out?

Whether there’s a storm raging overhead or an unexpected power outage, these are the steps you can take. Opening your automatic garage door manually is easy with the right preparation.

For personalised advice, contact our team at PDS Garage Doors today.

How to Open a Garage Door Without Power

There are a few different garage door designs that can impact how they should be manually opened. Here we’ll provide a comprehensive list of steps to take when opening any garage door.

Opening Your Door From the Inside

If you are inside your garage and need to open it, the first step is to check for any interior locks. Depending on the design these may be found near the bottom or along the edges of your door. However, they can also be located higher or centrally. Ensure these are all unlocked so your door can open smoothly.

Next, you’ll need to unplug the opener. This should be a plug located near the door track. Follow the wire to the source and remove the plug. This is to ensure power does not return to the door while you are opening it.

Once you are sure there is nothing that can prevent your door from opening, look for the emergency cord. This is a red cord and handle attached to the track. Once pulled it will detach the door from the trolley so that you can move it.

You should then be able to easily lift or lower your door. It’s important to check that the door remains open on its own before using it.

Opening Your Door From the Outside

Opening your door from the outside is a slightly more streamlined process. First, you must find the emergency release kit. You can find this kit by looking for a central lock, usually at the top of the door. As long as you have the key you can pull out the lock tumbler which will reveal a cable.

This provides access to your emergency release cable. Pulling it will detach your door from the trolley so that you can open and close it by hand. 

Before opening, make sure any locks are open as well. There should be a central lock near the handle. Once you are sure there is nothing in the way, you should be open to manually lift and lower your door.

Putting Your Garage Door Back in Place

Putting your garage door back in place is a fairly simple process. First, make sure anything you have unplugged is plugged back in and powered on.

Next, you should push the emergency cord lever back into place or pull the cord horizontally. This should reattach your door to the system so that it is ready for use.

What to Avoid

Following these steps should let you safely open your garage door manually. However, taking your door off its automatic system does come with risks. It’s important to remember these tips to avoid any accidents.

Monitor Your Door

Once your garage door has been unplugged and taken off the trolley it is no longer under automatic control. This means that if you are not careful, your door could fall closed on its own. This could happen quickly and if people are nearby they could be hurt. 

Even if there are no people near the falling door, it could also be damaged. If you are opening your door manually, make sure to monitor it. This is the best way to avoid damage or injury.

The Emergency Release Cord

If your garage door is partially or fully open, you should avoid pulling the release cord. Pulling on the cord while the door is up can pull it off the tracks, causing it to fall. This could injure you or other people nearby, as well as being costly to reset. In this instance, it is better to wait until the power comes back on.

Don’t Forget About Security

If your door is closed during a power outage and you do not need to open it, you should still check the locks. Your door will not automatically lock during an outage so check that any manual locks are closed.

Contact A Professional

If you have experienced any issues opening your door it is best to call a professional. If your door is difficult to move on its own, it may have a problem with the tracks or springs. If this is the case a professional will need to repair it.

Likewise, if your door has been reconnected to the automatic system but is still struggling to move, something may not be in the right place. A professional can quickly asses how your garage door sits and whether or not it needs a small adjustment or bigger repairs. 

Knowing the Right Steps

Knowing how to open your garage door manually is a great way to be prepared for sudden power outages. But there are also a lot of factors that can make it difficult. You may struggle to lift the door, or it might not stay in the open position against high winds. 

If you experience any difficulties with opening your garage door it is recommended you contact a professional. At PDS Garage Doors we are experts at garage door installation, repair and servicing. If you need your door to open or are struggling to get it back in place, contact our team today. We are always happy to help with any garage door problems.

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