How to Program a Garage Door Keypad
July 4, 2022
How to Manually Open Your Garage Door Without Power
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There is a possibility that you might have to manually open your garage door in the future. Many homeowners think that if their electronic garage doors stop functioning, they won’t be able to open the door at all. This is not true. When there is no power and your garage door doesn’t have a battery backup, you would have to open your garage door by hand. There would already have been several things that happened beforehand before you needed to do this. Here are some of the reasons why you need to manually open it:
1. There would have been a major storm or natural disaster in your area, causing all power lines to be cut off.
2. There may be an emergency that requires a temporary shutdown of power.
3. You can’t find your remote control.
4. The garage door motor is not working at all.
When these things happen, the fact remains that you still need to open your garage door. This may not be an easy task, but we have come up with several guidelines to make the job easier.
If you live in the Severna Park, MD area and you need our services, fill out this form and we will get back with you shortly!
How do you manually open a garage door?
Although it may cause a lot of stress, there are several steps to do when you need to manually open a garage door. This is possible because all electronic garage doors are equipped with a bypass that will allow you to manually open them. First of all, remember that safety comes first. If you attempt to open a door, you run the risk of it slamming down abruptly. This may cause extensive damage to the door. It is also not safe for anyone – pet or human – standing nearby. Before you begin, here are some tips to ensure that you’re safe:
- It is best to start with a fully closed garage door. A fully-closed garage door simply means that it is in the down position.
- Clear the area just in case it suddenly closes.
- If you are not sure what to do, check the manual. Check out your Craftsman garage door opener manual or whatever garage door opener brand you have.
- Ask for help. If you are unable to lift the weight of a closed door, ask others to assist you.
Here are two sets of guidelines – one for opening it from the outside and one from the inside.
Opening a Garage Door from the Inside:
- Step 1: Look for the emergency release cord on the motor. This is usually a red rope that is hanging from the garage door trolley.
- Step 2: Disconnect the door from the opener.
- Step 3: If you are successful in Step 2, you can now freely move the garage door. Carefully lift the door straight up. Make sure that the garage door is lifted up and very still.
- Step 4: Connect the opener and the trolley. You should be able to hear a click if you do this step correctly. This means that you can electronically open and close our garage door once more.
Opening a Garage Door from the Outside:
- Step 1: Before you even have access to your garage from the outside, your garage door should be equipped with an emergency key release.
- Step 2: Find the emergency key release that’s been installed on your garage door. Turn the key.
- Step 3: Pull out the lock tumbler. Look for a cord in the lock tumbler hole.
- Step 4: Disengage the motor of the garage door by pulling the cord.
- Step 5: You can now lift the garage door straight up until it is open fully.
The most essential things to keep in mind while opening a garage door manually are to not leave the door open unattended and to make a smart decision to call a technician when you can’t figure it out anymore.
Why Do Electric Garage Doors Stop Working?
If there’s no power outage but your electric garage door still isn’t working, there may be several other reasons behind it.
- It may be a sensor issue.
When a sensor is out of alignment, your garage door may stop working. There are several indicators to help you figure out if you’re having sensor issues. One of the best indicators is if you see that the blinking lights, while the doors are closing, are red and not green, that means that they’re misaligned.
- Broken torsion springs.
When torsion springs snap, they create a loud snap that sounds like a firecracker going off. Broken torsion springs are a common occurrence because of wear and tear. It is the number one reason why homeowners call garage door specialists. A broken torsion spring can seriously hurt or damage property. The remedy for a broken garage door spring is to replace it with a new one. Garage door spring repairs should be left in the hands of professionals.
- Snapped or loose door cables
A broken garage door cable is a major issue. When your cables disengage or snap off, they may cause damage to your vehicle or your garage walls. It is important to address this problem immediately because the cables are responsible for bringing the door up and down.
Garage Door Maintenance 101
Before things get worse, you need to have some sort of maintenance schedule for your garage door. This tremendously helps in avoiding major repairs. Truth be told, it is easy to take your garage door for granted. Garage door maintenance is the best way to prevent serious damages or repairs in the future. If you see any major issues, it is best to call for professional help. Here are several ways to do preventive maintenance on your garage door:
- Inspect the hardware. Check for breakage or rust on all the parts from springs, roller wheels, cables, fasteners, tracks, and hinges.
- Check if any nuts and bolts are loose or disengaged.
- If you have nylon rollers, they deteriorate over time so check if they are worn out. If you are steel rollers, check the bearings to see if they are uneven or damaged.
- Use a cleaner or lubricant on your opener screw or chain. Your torsion springs and extension springs also need a good cleaning about twice a year.
- Test the automatic reversal system. It is recommended that you do this monthly. Perform a simple test by placing a solid object such as a cinderblock or a 2×4 on the center of your doorway and see if the reversal system detects the obstruction.
- Call a Professional
Whether it’s a garage door cable problem, a snapped cable, or a broken torsion spring, you need reliable and efficient service. A professional garage door company will always insist on conducting a thorough assessment first before suggesting any type of repair. Our advice is to choose a garage door company that works with expert technicians who are licensed and qualified to fix garage door openers.
The Bottom Line
Keep calm and avoid the panic that sets in when your automatic garage door isn’t working. You can avoid the huge hassle and panic by installing a backup battery feature. A backup battery enables your garage door to open when the power is out. Call your local garage door repair to make sure that you’re not aggravating the situation. Let the experts handle it.
