Thanks to modern technology, we can now open and close our garage doors with just a press of a button. But as with any modern system, your door may experience problems, which will force you to learn how to manually close a garage door. This way, you can secure your property even as glitches get in the way of what supposed to be a seamless operation.
For this post, our licensed technicians will share a quick guide on how you can do just that. We’ll teach you the steps for fixing a stuck garage door manually so you can lock it while waiting for our experts to arrive for a permanent fix. Keep reading to see how simple it actually is!
When do you need to manually close a garage door?
If you have an automatic garage door opener, why would you have to close it manually? Well, there are situations where it calls for some manual work on your part, like the following:
- Power outage. No matter how advanced your garage door opener is, it will be useless during a power outage. In this case, you’ll have to close the garage door by hand.
- Malfunctioning opener. There are also instances when the opener will not work properly, and you have to shut your door manually. After you do so, you should call us for professional garage door opener repair so that we can fix the root of the problem.
- Spring problems. If your springs are broken or damaged, you may also need to close your garage door manually. You should be careful as the door may slam shut if you don’t hold it properly. But if you’re worried of accidents, it’s best to call us and we’ll provide quick garage door spring repair.
- Sensor issues. You may also need to close your door manually if the sensors are malfunctioning and won’t shut the door automatically. In this case, you have to go manual if the garage door won’t close due to the sensor’s faulty detectors.
How to close a garage door without power
If you’re at a loss on how to troubleshoot manual garage door problems, here’s our quick guide to help you close it by hand:
Step 1. Clear the area
First, make sure that the doorway is clear and has no objects blocking the door. Also, you should keep pets and children away since the door will be ‘dead weight’ once it’s disconnected from the opener on the next steps.
Step 2. Unplug the opener
Next, you should unplug the opener if there’s power, but other circumstances force you to close the door manually. This way, your door won’t accidentally activate while you’re working on it by hand.
Step 3. Pull the emergency release cord
After that, you need to emergency release the garage door by pulling the red cord hanging from the overhead tracks. Pull this garage door manual release firmly until you hear a click, which means that the spring-loaded lever has been disengaged.
Step 4. Close the door manually
You can now slowly pull your door down to close it. Make sure you do so slowly and be prepared, as the door will feel heavy. Overall, you should avoid slamming it shut as this can damage the door panels and other components.
Step 5. Lock the door
Lastly, lock your door physically to prevent unauthorized individuals from prying it open. You should do this, especially if the smart security features of your door is malfunctioning.
How to lock a garage door when power is out
During a power outage, it can be challenging to secure a garage door that relies heavily on smart features. But if you happen to have this problem, here are the steps you can take:
- Use the door’s built-in lock. Most standard garage doors have a twisting handle towards the middle. You can locate it on one or both sides, which will let you lock the door manually during a power outage.
- Consider a battery backup. If power outages happen often in your area, you may want to invest in a battery backup. This way, your garage door opener will still function, and you can close or lock your door without the hassle.
- Install a sliding bolt and padlock. You can also drill in a sliding bolt on your garage door with a slot for a padlock. This way, you can secure your door during power outages or when you have to be away for long periods. If you don’t know where and how to install it on your door, call us, and our team of garage door repair in Los Angeles will do it for you.
Additional tips for securing a garage door in a power outage
During a power outage, you have to pay more attention to the security of your garage door. This way, you can prevent break-ins and ensure that your property is safe. Here are some of the tips our technicians suggest:
- Get a secondary lock. As we’ve mentioned earlier, you can have a physical lock installed on your door as a backup. It can be a slide bot, padlock, or hasp for extra security when all electronic features are unavailable.
- Cover your windows. Burglars are more active during power outages, and they will try to peek at your garage door windows to see if there’s anything valuable they can steal. In this case, it will be wise to cover your windows to reduce the risk of being the next target of intruders.
- Install motion-activated lights. It’s also smart to have battery-powered, motion-activated lights in and outside your garage. This can help deter intruders as they try to get through your garage door.
Garage door won't open manually? Call Rock Garage Door Repair for a quick fix!
Are you having a hard time opening or closing your garage door manually? Do you have other garage door problems that you need to be fixed quickly? Whatever it is, you can call us at Rock Garage Door Repair for 24/7 service!
We are available for 24/7 emergency service anywhere in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Also, our licensed and insured technicians can repair any garage door brand, type, or model you have.
Contact us today for a free quote and site inspection – our technicians can reach you in as fast as 1 hour, depending on your exact location and our availability.
