Plan Ahead to Avoid Garage Door Lock-In During a Power Outage

Oct 29, 2012

Most people don't even think about their automatic garage door opener not working during a power outage. We just expect it to faithfully go up and down when we press the button.

If the power goes out, you may need to disconnect your automatic opener to manually open your garage door. Familiarize yourself with the process in advance to avoid having to search frantically for the garage door instruction manual in the dark.

Here are some tips to help avoid getting "locked-in" the garage:

Disconnect or unplug your automatic garage door opener when the garage door is closed.
Pull the emergency cord to disconnect the garage door opener from the door. The cord usually has a red handle and will hang down from the center rail of the garage door mechanism.
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.
Close the garage door manually and lock it. The garage door isn’t securely shut until you manually slide the lock bar.
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.

How to secure your garage door during a storm

If you have a Clopay WindCode garage door installed on your home and are planning to evacuate during the storm, simply lock the garage door and go. Follow the steps listed above.

After the storm

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.
Invest 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.