It can be quite frustrating when you are trying to figure out how to get your car out of your garage during a power failure. Whether you are dealing with a power outage or the garage door motor is failing to work, it is important to know how to properly open your garage door in order to refrain from any unnecessary injuries or damaged products. Keep reading to find out the proper steps to take to open your garage door safely during a power failure!

How to Manually Open a Garage Door From the Inside

  1. Unlock the door. 
  2. Unplug the garage door opener. Disconnect the power cord. 
  3. Find the emergency release cord. It has a red handle and hangs from the center rail of the garage door track. Only use the emergency release handle when the garage door is in a closed position. 
  4. Pull the cord. This cord will disconnect the garage door from the trolley and allow it to be moved manually. 
  5. Lift the garage door carefully. Pull straight from the bottom until the garage door stops moving. Ensure that the door stays in place before backing any vehicles out of the garage. 
  6. Close the door. After safely making it outside, close the garage by pulling it down carefully. If your door has a lock bar, you can manually slide it to the lock position. 

How to Manually Open a Garage Door From the Outside

  1. Locate the emergency release kit. There should be a lock centered near the top of your garage door. Use your key to get your emergency release cable out. 
  2. Unlock the garage door. Below the emergency release kit lock, there is another lock located next to a handle. Use your key to unlock the door and turn the handle so that it is vertical. 
  3. Lift the door. Manually lift the garage door straight up. Ensure that it stays in place before moving anything into or out of the garage. 
  4. Close the door. Once inside or outside, pull the garage door down to a closed position. 

Safety Tips for Opening a Garage Door Manually 

Although it is highly advisable to have a garage door professional help you in these situations, it is possible to open your garage door by yourself during a power failure. When you open a garage door by hand, it is important that you take any necessary precautions and safety measures. Here is a list of safety tips to keep in mind when trying to open your garage door by hand: 

 

  1. Unplug the automatic door opener. If the power were to come back on while you are working on the garage, the opener might attempt to open the garage door while it is disengaged; this can make the garage door harder to reconnect. 
  2. Do NOT pull the emergency release cord when the door is open. If you pull the emergency release cord while the garage is open, the weight of the door could cause it to come crashing down. 
  3. Do not leave the open garage door unattended. If the power is out and your garage door is disengaged from the automatic opener, nothing is keeping the door from slamming shut. 
  4. Use the manual lock. When the power is out, make sure to slide the manual lock on your garage door into place in order to keep your home protected during an outage. 
  5. Know when to call a garage door technician. Garage doors and their springs can be very difficult to work with. If you are having problems with your springs, you will need the help of a professional. 

Let the Professionals Lend a Hand

While it is possible to open your garage door during a power failure, it is highly recommended that you contact a professional for help. Our team of professionals at The Garage Door Guy Corp is here for your convenience and peace of mind. Whether you are in need or a repair or replacement, we have you covered!

Contact our office today at 501-412-2475 with all of your garage door repair or installation needs. 

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