Do Garage Doors Open During Power Outages?

Perhaps the most common Anaheim garage door repair calls have to do with doors that are stuck and won’t open. But what do you do when the doors won’t open because the opener is electric, and the power is out? Many homeowners have found themselves in this situation for the first time and unsure of what to do.

Get a Flashlight or a Candle

You’ll need a way to see so the first thing is to get some source of illumination. If you have the owner’s manual, you can find the information discussed in there. If you’re not sure where it is, not to worry. Head into the garage with your flashlight. This varies from one brand to the next, but most modern openers have a red handle attached to a red pull cord.

The Emergency Cord

Pulling the cord will disengage the trolley operator that pulls the door under normal circumstances. To lift your door, locate the lifting handle. If the door is well-balanced and in good maintenance, even a small adult female should have no problem lifting the door with one hand. If this is not the case, you may have a bigger problem and need to call for a repair.

Backup Batteries

Note that higher-end batteries actually have backup battery systems that can have one or even two batteries that can last for years. If you have such a system, your door will likely still have an emergency cord, but your opener should continue to work during the outage.

Locking the Door and Restoring Operation

If your door has a side lock, then you can use it to lock the door when the trolley is disengaged. When power is restored, disengage the side lock, and then, reengage the opener trolley. Double check it to make sure everything looks right, and then, use your remote opener to test it.