By Bill Gilman Garage Safety • Garages • • • 1 Comment

Are You Prepared For a Power Outage?

Are You Prepared for a Power Outage Did you know that your automatic garage door opener may not work during a power outage? If your power goes out, you may need to disconnect your automatic opener to manually open your garage door.

It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with this process in preparation for a power outage. Follow these 5 steps to disconnect your automatic opener to manually open your garage door:

  1. Disconnect or unplug your automatic garage door opener when the garage door is closed.

  2. Pull the emergency cord to disconnect the garage door opener from the door. Typically, the cord has a red handle and will hang down from the center rail of the garage door mechanism.

  3. Lift the garage door straight up until the door is fully open. Make sure the door will remain open on its own. If the springs are properly balanced, the door will open easily and stay in place. If it’s difficult to open, have a garage door service professional inspect the door to avoid further damage or safety risks.

  4. Close the garage door manually and lock it. Remember, the garage door isn’t securely shut until you manually slide the lock bar.

  5. Reconnect the automatic garage door opener when the power comes back on. Make sure the door is unlocked when the opener is reconnected. Opening the garage door with the lock bar in place can cause major damage.

Storms can often be the cause of a power outage. If a power outage occurs, and your automatic garage door open no longer works, use the 5 steps above to manually open/close your garage door and prevent getting “locked-in” the garage. After a large storm make sure to:

Inspect your garage door for damage after the storm.

  • Make sure the track mount hasn’t pulled away from the wall
  • Look for bent or damaged sections and loose hardware
  • If you have a wood door that has water damage, have it repaired right away so the door doesn’t rot or warp

Consider investing in an automatic garage door opener that includes a battery back-up feature.

  • That way, when the power goes out, the garage door will still function using the opener, as will the entry keypad and safety sensors.

Thanks to Clopay for these great tips on how to disconnect your automatic opener and manually open your garage door in the event of a power outage, as well as what to do after a large storm. Knowing this process ahead of time can prevent a search in the dark. You can read full article here.

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