How do I open my door if the power is out?

If the power goes out, homeowners may need to disconnect their electric openers to manually open the garage door. That can be easier said than done so we suggest homeowners learn how to do it before an emergency arises. To prevent having to search frantically for a garage door instruction manual in the dark, here are some helpful tips:

1. Disconnect the garage door opener when the garage is in the closed position, not when it’s open. Otherwise, if the springs aren’t balanced, the door could suddenly drop to the ground and cause injury.
2. If the springs are properly balanced, the door will open easily with the lift handles. If it is difficult to open, have a Professional garage door service technician check the door as soon as possible to avoid further damage or safety risks.
3. Lock the door. When the automatic opener is disconnected the door is not securely shut until you manually slide the lock bar.
4. Reconnect the opener when the power comes back on. Make sure the door is unlocked when the opener is reconnected. Electrically opening the garage door while the lock bar is still in place can cause major damage.
5. Invest in an automatic 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 the safety sensors, and the garage door will be locked and secured.

Contact Us with any questions or comments about our Hurricane Preparedness Information.

Hurricane Central Home Page

What should I do before hurricane season starts?

Do I need to protect my home?

Is your garage door Hurricane rated?

Why do I need to replace my garage door with a Hurricane rated garage door?

How important is the garage door to the safety of my home?

What is the HVHZ - High Velocity Hurricane Zone?

What is impact rating and why is impact rating important?

Can I have safety in style?

What is the difference between post reinforcement and built-in reinforcement? (Active vs. Passive)

What is an after-market hurricane post and what is involved in its installation?

Can a post system be integrated into the door design?

What is involved in a post system that a homeowner may purchase as an aftermarket product?

Can a post system be supplied with the door by the manufacturer?

What is the Homeowner Responsibility in a post system?

Are garage door manufacturers and installers responsible for the supporting structure’s ability to resist loads applied via wind loads on garage doors?

Do I need a permit to replace my door?

How do I choose a contractor?

What if my contractor is unlicensed?

What should a contract include?

How do I open my door if the power is out?

What do I do after the storm to open my garage door?

What is the difference between wind speed and wind pressure?

Why are garage doors rated by PSF (pounds per square foot)?

Why are wind pressures better than wind speeds when specifying doors?

Why can’t the industry just supply a 100 MPH door?

What is the difference between design load and test load?

Why are positive and negative wind load values required?

Why are the negative pressures higher for a double story house, versus a single story house?

What is the difference between fastest mile wind speed and three-second peak gust wind speed?

Does orientation of the door, i.e. front-facing vs. side-facing, affect design wind load?

Does house layout configuration affect garage door wind load?

Does the compass direction the door faces affect wind load design?

What high wind events are covered?

What are hurricanes?

Are Hurricanes assigned magnitudes?

What should be in my Hurricane supply kit?

How can I use a generator safely?

What are some of the testing protocols for a hurricane rated garage door?