As we know, most garage doors today are automatic, with a variety of automatic openers to choose from. You can raise and lower your garage door effortlessly by Bluetooth, remote, or sensor. A power outage, accident, or other circumstance may require you to open your garage door manually. As a homeowner, you must be prepared to do so safely and efficiently.
Keep reading to discover how to manually open a garage door.
Opening the Door Manually From the Inside
Start by making sure your door is completely closed. If it’s partially open, avoid the entry point as a safety measure. When this is the case, you might have a malfunction like a broken spring that would cause the door to slam to the ground unrestrained so it’s best to exercise caution.
While your door is down, release any locks or latches on the sides. Locate the emergency release cord and pull it back. The emergency release will let you manually slide the door along the opener carriage.
Observe how easy or difficult the door is to pull. Be careful not to injure yourself. Too heavy? You may have a broken spring or other issue and should steer clear of the door until you get a professional out to make repairs.
Opening the Door Manually From the Outside
If your garage door comes with an emergency release kit, you can manually open it from the outside. The location of your release mechanism may differ depending on your garage door brand. Typically, you’ll find it at the door’s top and middle. To access it, you must find the key that unlocks it.
After unlocking this kit, pull out the lock tumbler to locate another emergency release cord. Pull the cord, and you should now be able to open the door manually along the opener carriage.
If your door has locks on the bottom toward the level, you can use the key to disengage them. From there, you can manually lift the door from the outside. Again, pay attention to how easy or difficult it is to open the door in order to avoid injuries.
Reasons You Might Need to Manually Open the Garage Door
There are several situations where it may be necessary to manually open your garage door, including:
- A power outage in your home
- The garage door opener is malfunctioning
- You’re locked out of your garage or home
- You have a blown fuse or other electric malfunction
If your garage door opener is malfunctioning or the springs are broken, your best option is to contact a professional who can handle the garage door repair work for you.
Things to Remember About How to Manually Open a Garage Door
Except for spring damage, track damage, or another potential emergency, manually opening your garage door should be fairly simple. If you’re still having trouble accessing your garage, however, play it safe. Avoid injuries (and frustration) by reaching out to the pros.
At American Garage Door, we bring decades of experience that help you keep your garage door functioning safely and efficiently. If you’re in the Denver area, contact us today for a quick consultation or any questions on garage door repair or replacement.
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