How Do You Open a Garage Door When There Is No Power?

A garage door upgrades your home’s curb appeal while allowing you to use this essential room each day. When the power suddenly goes out one day, you may find yourself stranded — the power failure will lock you in or out of the garage since your opener relies on electricity to automatically open and close the door.   Fortunately, you can open a garage door manually. 

How to Open Your Garage Door Without Power

You can still park your car inside the garage even though the door won’t open after a power outage. Here’s how:

1. Ensure the Door Is Down

Opening a garage without power is safer when the door is completely down. If you unplug the opener when the door is open, the door will slam to the ground, and it could harm you or damage something 

2. Assess the Springs

Assess the door’s springs to see if they’re damaged. If they are, don’t attempt to open the door because it could fall back down or be difficult to lift. 

3. Unfasten the Door’s Locks

Unfasten any outside locks or latches to allow you to open the door manually.

4. Disconnect the Door Opener

Disconnect the automatic opener from power by unplugging its power cord. The cord may be plugged into your ceiling, but this will depend on where your opener is located. Unplugging the opener means it won’t try to reengage with the door if the power comes back on, which could damage components.

5. Tug the Emergency Release Cord

Pull the emergency release cord with just enough force to detach the opener. The emergency cord is a red rope hanging from the trolley, and you should pull it down until you hear a clicking sound. Once you tug this rope, you can manually open and close the door. 

6. Lift the Door

Hold the bottom of the garage door and lift it. The springs will do most of the work, so lift it gently. Once you open the door, park your car. Avoid leaving the door open to prevent strong winds from slamming it to the ground.  

7. Plug the Opener When Power Returns

To electrically operate the door, enter the garage and close the door. Next, push the lever near the emergency release rope toward the door until you hear a click. Pushing the lever will reattach the opener. After completing this step, plug the opener and run the door through a complete opening and closing cycle to reattach the door to the opener.

Safety Tips

Use these tips to stay safe while physically operating a garage door:

• Call a technician if your springs are showing signs of damage. Manually operating the door in this state can cause injury to you and others. 
• After physically lifting the door and getting what you need out of the garage, close it immediately. 
• After reconnecting the opener, check the door for any issues. If its movement is uneven, contact a professional.
• Only pull the emergency release rope when the door is down to prevent the door from crashing down.

Choose AE Door & Window for Your Garage Door Needs

At AE Door & Window, we can repair your garage door if it fails to run smoothly after a power outage and replace worn-out springs. We also provide preventive maintenance services to help your door last longer.  We’ve been keeping the doors and windows of homeowners and businesses in greater Cincinnati and beyond in excellent condition for years, and we look forward to serving you, too. Schedule a service with us today!