Frequently Asked Question: How Do I Open My Garage Door During A Power Outage?

We’ve all come to highly depend on our automatic garage door openers; it’s an aspect of our day to day routine! They deliver a wonderful convenience with the simple click of a button, which often gets taken for granted. So, when something like a power outage occurs, it suddenly becomes a daunting task to get in and out of your garage. 

If you find that your car is stuck in the garage, don’t panic! Follow the steps below to learn how
to open your garage door during a power outage.

Safety First
The type of garage door you have installed will play a big part in how easy or difficult it will be to manually open or close the door. Make sure no one is standing too close to the door when you attempt to raise it. Garage doors are
heavy items that operate under a lot of tension, so it’s important to be aware of your surroundings.

Begin with the Bypass
All garage doors have a bypass switch for situations such as when the power goes out. On most garage doors, there’s a rope with a handle (typically red) connected to the end; this is the bypass trigger. Pulling on this rope will put your garage door in manual mode and the opener disengages. It is recommended to only pull on the bypass trigger when your garage door is closed, or else it could come crashing down.

Operating Your Door While the Power is Out
The rope controls the spring attachment in the trolley, so if your power is going to be out for an extended
period of time, it’s important to pull the rope down towards the back of the garage so that it doesn’t get caught on the tracks.

Opening Your Door from the Outside
You should locate the emergency release kit on the outside of your door and use your corresponding key in the lock. From here, you’ll be able to turn the key and pull the lock tumbler, which puts your door in manual mode. You can then pull your garage door straight up with your hands.

When You Need Professional Support
A1 Door Company has been providing Midlothian, VA with expert garage door repair services for almost 20 years.When you need support getting your garage door opener back in business after a power outage or similar maintenance, we’re just a phone call away!