There’s nothing more frustrating than finding out your garage door won’t open on a busy morning. You might be running late for work or in a rush to catch a very important appointment. Regardless, a stuck door will keep your car ‘hostage’, unless you know how to open your garage door manually and safely.
In this post, we’ll guide you through the steps on how to do just that. Below, our licensed technicians outlined the safest way to open a stuck door together with safety precautions you need to observe. But if all else fails, you can always call us for fast and hassle-free repairs!
When do you need to open your garage door manually?
While modern garage door openers provide the convenience of opening or closing your door with a press of a button, there are times when you need to use manual garage door opening techniques. Here are some of these situations:
- There’s a power outage. Unless you have a battery backup, you’ll have to manually open a garage door without power. This way, you can get your car in and out of your garage until the power supply comes back.
- Your garage door opener is faulty. You’ll have to do manual operation if you’re still waiting for garage door opener repair. This is the case if your opener is broken or malfunctioning for some reason.
- Your remote control isn’t working. If your remote or wall keypad isn’t working, you’ll have to know how to manually unlock a garage door, so you can get your car in and out of your property.
- You’re traveling. If you’re planning to be away for long periods, it’s wise to disengage your garage door from the automation opener. In that case, you’ll have to open it manually once you get back or if you have to access something in your garage.
- You’re doing maintenance. Before doing any maintenance work, we advise that you use the garage door manual override. This way, the door won’t accidentally open while you’re inspecting the springs, tightening hardware, repairing panels, and so on.
Steps on how to open a garage door manually
Knowing how to bypass an electric garage door is actually simple, whether you’re doing it inside or outside your home. Below, we outlined the steps that you can follow:
Opening the garage door manually from the inside
Manual operation is your only option if your garage door isn’t budging, even if you try to open it through the garage door opener. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can do that:
Step 1. Unplug your door opener
First, you should unplug your garage door opener from the power source. This way, it won’t accidentally run while you’re trying to disengage the door.
Also, you should do the same when you’re opening garage doors when the power is out since you’re unsure when it will come back. And once it does, the garage door opener may turn back on or suffer from damaging power surges.
Step 2. Pull the emergency release cord
Next, you need to pull the green cord hanging over your garage door on one end of the motor rail. You have to pull this firmly toward your direction until you hear a solid click. This means that you’ve successfully disconnected the garage door from the opener and you can now move it freely.
Step 3. Inspect the tracks
Before you try lifting your door, take some time to inspect the tracks. It’s possible that there are damage or misalignment on the tracks that prevent the rollers from running smoothly. Also, the rollers itself might be damaged, causing your door to get stuck.
If you suspect that your door has damages, you can call us for quick garage door repair in Los Angeles. We can service just about any door brand, type, and model 24/7, so you can get your garage door running ASAP.
Step 4. Pull the door up
If you can’t find anything that looks damaged, you can pull the door slowly using both your hands. Take note that since you disconnected the door from the opener, it’s now ‘dead weight’ and will feel really heavy. We suggest asking someone to help, especially if you have a large door.
While doing so, make sure that no one is standing underneath the door in case it comes crashing back down as you do the next step.
Step 5. Lock it in place
It’s very important to lock your door in place if you need to keep it open for quite some time. For this, you can use a pair of vice grips or C-clamps on each side so the door won’t accidentally slam shut while you’re driving your car into the garage or as you walk by the doorway.
You should do the same thing when you’re closing your door and you don’t have a physical lock in place. This way, intruders won’t break into your garage while you’re waiting for our door technicians to arrive.
Opening the garage door manually from the outside
Now, what if you come home and your garage door won’t open using the remote or keypad? Well, you can still operate it manually, but a bit differently than when you’re inside. Here’s how you can do it with most garage door models:
Step 1. Open the manual door lock
Most doors we install have a manual lock on the outside, which comes with a key and a rotating handle. If you locked this before you left home, make sure you disengage it before moving to the next step.
Step 2. Open the emergency release kit
Next, look for the emergency release kit located at the upper part of your garage door. This has a designated key, which we or your garage door installer have provided you when they put up your door.
Put the key into the slot, turn it, and pull it slowly. This will release a small cord that you need to pull firmly to disconnect the door from the garage door opener. It works just like the red garage door manual release handle you have inside your garage. Once you’ve pulled this cord and heard a click, your door is now ready for manual operation.
Step 3. Lift the door slowly
Slowly lift the door using both your hands or ask for help if it’s too heavy. Again, make sure your door is stabilized overhead using vice grips so it won’t accidentally crash down.
Step 4. Unplug the garage door opener
While you’re trying to troubleshoot your garage door, make sure you unplug the door opener. You also should do this if the cause of the manual operation is a power outage and you have to emergency release a garage door.
Safety precautions when troubleshooting manual garage door opening
Garage doors are heavy, and opening them manually can be dangerous if you’re not careful. To ensure that you’ll be safe when manually operating your door, make sure you keep these things in mind:
1. Always unplug the garage door opener
You should always unplug your garage door opener when opening your door manually, be it due to a power outage or something else. This way, you won’t run the risk of electrocution, accidental operation, or power surges.
2. Don’t lift the door too aggressively
Always lift your door slowly, especially if you’re doing it alone. Also, be aware of the door weight so you can ask someone else to lend a hand. And if the door feels unusually heavy or unbalanced, you shouldn’t force it up and call a professional instead.
3. Keep kids and pets away
Before you open your door manually, make sure that children and/or pets are in a safe distance. It’s also important to educate your kids about the dangers of garage doors and why they should stay away while you’re working on it.
4. Check for balance before opening fully
Before you lift your door up completely, we suggest checking the balance first to see if it will hold in place. To do this, simply open your garage door halfway and let go of it – if it slams shut, it means the door is unbalance. It could also fall down once you open it completely without any support or locking mechanism.
5. Watch out for pinch points
In our almost 20 years of service in LA, we can’t count how many pinched fingers we’ve seen among homeowners due to their garage doors. So, if you have to open your door by hand, make sure you’re aware of the moving parts and where your fingers might get caught.
If possible, try wearing protective gloves or ask someone to assist you so you’ll have backup in case you get hurt in the process.
6. Don’t hesitate to call a professional
If you’re unsure how to go about opening your door manually, you can always call professionals like us at Rock Garage Door Repair. Our licensed technicians can disarm your door safely, so you can access your garage right away. We will also provide all the necessary repairs to restore your garage door’s functionality as soon as possible.
While hiring a licensed technician will cost a free, it’s just a small thing compared to the convenience you’ll enjoy. Your fingers will also thank you for not risking them on a DIY fix.
How to prevent your garage door from getting stuck again
Garage door problems like getting stuck or refusing to open can happen even to the most expensive unit. The good thing is that there are ways to prevent them, including the following:
1. Keep the tracks clean
First, make sure that your garage door tracks are free from any accumulated dust, dirt, and foreign objects. Basically anything that will block the door’s rollers will prevent it from opening properly, so make it a habit to give the tracks a quick cleanup from time to time.
2. Lubricate the moving parts
In some cases, garage doors get stuck due to excessive friction. For this, you need to lubricate all moving parts, including the tracks, rollers, and hinges to ensure a smoother operation. We suggest using a silicone or lithium-based grease or if simply call us for the best lubricant for your door.
3. Install a battery backup
If power outages are forcing you to open your door manually, we suggest getting a battery backup. This way, your opener will remain functional even if power outages strike your area. If you’re interested in installing a battery backup, contact us at Rock Garage Door Repair for a free quote.
4. Tighten bolts and screws
Don’t underestimate the power of a loose screw in messing your garage door’s operation. So if you’ve been using your garage for quite some time, you should look for loose parts and tighten them right away. This is especially true for all the nuts, bolts, and screws located along the tracks and panels of your door.
5. Inspect springs and cables
Your door’s springs play a crucial role in its smooth operation. If it gets broken or loose, there wouldn’t be enough counterweight to open your door, which means you might to do it manually. In this case, you can call us for same-day garage door spring repair or garage door spring replacement wherever you are in Los Angeles.
6. Consider upgrading to a new door
Is your garage door older than 10 years old and keeps on getting stuck? If so, it might be time for a new garage door installation. By upgrading to a modern door, you’ll enjoy hassle-free operation without the repetitive repairs or having to open it manually when problems strike.
Tried everything, but your garage door won't open manually? Call us for professional repairs!
If your garage door still won’t open despite trying the steps above, you can call us at Rock Garage Door Repair for professional repairs. We can send a garage door technician to your place in as fast as 1 hour, depending on your exact location and our availability.
We are available 24/7 and we’re ready to provide same-day repairs for all your garage door problems. Whether it’s a malfunctioning opener, broken springs, damaged tracks, or whatnot – our licensed and insured technicians can fix it for you.
Contact us today for quick garage door service anywhere in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. We can repair all garage door brands, models, and types at the best price!
