You have just arrived home after a long day at work, and you press the button to open your electric garage doors, but nothing happens. Panic sets in and you realize there is a power outage. Don’t worry, you are not alone. Many homeowners face this exact situation. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you manually open your electric garage doors, when the power goes out.
What Happens to Garage Door Openers During Power Outage?
Electric garage doors are incredibly convenient, providing effortless entry and exit from your home. However, they rely on electricity to function. During power outages, the motor that operates your garage door opener becomes inactive, leaving you unable to use the automatic system. Fortunately, most garage doors have a manual release mechanism for situations like this.
How to Manually Open and Close Your Garage Door Without Power?
Knowing how to manually operate your electric garage doors is crucial when you find yourself without power. Here is how you can do it from the inside and outside.
From The Inside
- Locate The Emergency Release Cord
When you are inside your garage, the first step is to find the emergency release cord. The emergency release cord is specifically designed to disengage the door from the automatic opener system, allowing you to operate it manually. it’s there for situations like power outages, so it’s essential to know where it is.
- Pull the Cord
Once you’ve located the emergency release cord, firmly pull it downward. you might need to give it a good tug to disengage the door from the electric opener. This action disconnects the automatic system, making it possible to lift the door manually.
- Lift the Door
Now that the door is disengaged, it’s time to lift it. Stand facing the door straight up. Be aware that they can be quite heavy, but don’t worry – most have springs that help ease the lifting process. These springs are designed to counterbalance the weight of the door, making it easier for you to lift.
- Secure the Door
If you need to keep the garage door open, make sure it stays securely in place. Some garage doors might stay up on their own, but others may slowly slide down if not properly secured. To be safe, you can use a prop, such as a sturdy piece of wood or a metal rod, to hold the door open. This ensures that the door won’t suddenly close while you are moving in and out of the garage.
- Close the Door
To close the garage door manually, simply grasp the bottom edge again and pull it down slowly until it touches the ground. Make sure the door is fully closed and secured to prevent it from being opened by anyone from the outside.
From The Outside
- Find the Emergency Release Kit
If you are outside and need to open the garage door during a power outage, you will need to locate the emergency release kit. This kit is usually found at the top centre of the garage door. It typically has a small lock and requires a key to access. The emergency release kit is designed for situations where you need to manually open the door from the outside.
- Insert the Key
Once you have found the emergency release kit, insert the key into the lock and turn it to unlock the kit. After unlocking, you will be able to open the kit and access the emergency release cord inside. This cord functions similarly to the one inside the garage, allowing you to disengage the door from the automatic opener.
- Pull the Cord
With the kit unlocked, pull the emergency release cord inside the kit. This action disengages the door from the electric opener, just like pulling the cord inside the garage. Once the door is disengaged, you are ready to lift it manually.
- Lift the Door
After disengaging the door, position yourself in front of the garage door and lift it by grasping the bottom edge with both hands. Lift the door straight up, being mindful of its weight. Even though it might be heavy, using both hands and taking your time can make the process easier and safer.
- Secure the Door
If you need to leave the garage door open, ensure it stays in place. Like lifting the door from the inside, you can use a prop to hold the door open if necessary. To close the garage door manually from the outside, pull it down slowly and securely until it touches the ground. Make sure it’s fully closed and locked to keep your garage safe from unauthorised access.
Power outages are an inevitable part of life, but they don’t have to be a major inconvenience. By knowing how to manually operate your electric garage doors, you can maintain access to your home regardless of the situation. Always remember the steps to disengage and manually lift your garage door from both the inside and outside. Whether you need a new installation or an upgrade, Belmont Glass has got you covered. Contact today!