Your garage door is a key part of your home’s convenience and security but what happens when the power goes out or your garage door opener malfunctions?
During a hurricane, it’s not uncommon for power to be out for extended periods. This can make it difficult for homeowners to access their garages, especially if they rely solely on electric garage door openers. By knowing how to manually operate your garage door, you can ensure that you have access to necessary supplies and can evacuate if needed.
The aftermath of a hurricane can leave your home vulnerable and the garage door is often a primary entry and exit point. Ensuring you can manually operate your garage door is a crucial part of hurricane preparedness.
Additionally, the heavy winds and flooding associated with hurricanes can cause damage to the garage door system itself. Springs and tracks may become misaligned or damaged, making it even more essential to be able to manually operate the door. After the storm has passed, it’s important to inspect your garage door for any damage and make the necessary repairs to ensure it is safe and functional.
Stay safe and secure by calling Easy Garage Door Repair for all your emergency garage door needs.
How to Manually Open & Close Your Electric Garage Door
In this guide, we’ll show you how to manually operate your garage door, keeping you prepared and secure in any weather.
What You’ll Learn:
- Safety tips before starting
- How to disengage the garage door opener.
- How to manually lift your garage door
- What to do when once power is restored
Understanding Your Garage Door System Before we begin, it’s important to understand the part of your garage door system. Use the diagram below to identify the essential components of your own system.
Step 1: Safety First: Before you attempt to open your garage door, perform some simple checks to ensure you can open it safely. Make sure your garage door is fully down before attempting to lift it manually. Keep children and pets away from the door to prevent accidental injury.
Step 2: Find the emergency release handle: This is the red rope or handle hanging from the trolley. Usually you’ll find it near the middle of your garage door tracks.
Step 3: Pull the emergency release cord: You’ll need to use some force. Pull until you hear a clicking sound. This indicates that the trolley is disengaged.
Step 4: Lift the garage door: Stand in front of the door and firmly grip the lower section with both hands. Bend your knees and engage your leg muscles to avoid injuring your back. Most people should be able to lift the garage door with some effort, so if it feels too heavy, there may be an issue with the spring. When you need support fast—call Easy Garage Door Repair.
Step 5: Secure the door: If the door doesn’t stay open on its own, use clamps or locking pliers to hold the door in place.
When you’re ready to close the door, remove the clamp. Lower the door slowly.
Remember, safety is paramount. Always ensure that children and pets are kept away from the garage door while you are manually operating it. Use proper lifting techniques to avoid injury, and never attempt to repair the garage door springs or other high-tension components on your own.
After the Storm
Once the power is back or the opener is repaired, you’ll need to reconnect the opener. Pull the emergency release cord down and towards the door. You’ll hear a click when the trolley re-engages. Test the opener with your remote or wall switch to ensure everything moves smoothly.
By following these steps and being prepared, you can ensure that your garage door remains functional and secure, even in the face of a hurricane. Stay safe, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us for any assistance you may need. We are committed to helping our community recover and rebuild after Hurricane Beryl.
When to Call For Help
Even after following these steps, you might encounter some common problems. If the door is too heavy to lift, the springs might be broken. If it doesn’t stay open, the springs may need adjustment. And if the opener doesn’t reconnect, check the tracks and trolley alignment.
If you find that your garage door is too heavy to lift or it won’t stay open, it may indicate a problem with the springs or other components. In such cases, it’s best to contact a professional for assistance. Our team at Easy Garage Door Repair is here to help with any repairs or maintenance needed to get your garage door back in working order.
Why Trust Easy Garage Door Repair
At Easy Garage Door Repairs, we believe that any job worth doing is worth doing well. The service we offer in Houston, Texas is unbeatable.
Easy Garage Door Repair Services is a family-owned and operated business in the Houston area. We are fully insured, use no subcontractors, and are accredited with the Better Business Bureau. Read our 5 star reviews on Google.
We’re a fully-insured family-owned and operate business . Our skilled garage door technicians have the experience and expertise to handle any repair project, whether for residential or commercial properties. We never use sub contractors so you can trust we’ll deliver the same quality ever time.
Be prepared for the next storm – Get in touch to schedule a maintenance check with our expert technicians.
