Power Outage? How to Open, Lock and Reconnect Your Garage Door

Nor'easters, summer thunderstorms and the occasional ice storm knock out power across Philadelphia and South Jersey every year. Without power, the opener can't help, and the garage door is just a heavy door. Here is how to open it safely, how to keep the garage secure while the opener is disconnected, and how to get everything working again once PECO, PSE&G or Atlantic City Electric restores power.

Before You Touch the Release Cord

Take ten seconds to look at the door. The springs carry nearly all of its weight. On most homes there is a torsion spring on the bar above the door, and older doors may have extension springs alongside the tracks. A broken spring shows a clear gap in the coil. Also check the thin cables at the bottom corners: both should be tight.

If a spring or cable is broken, don't lift the door by hand. With its springs gone, a double door's full weight is on whoever lifts it. Our guide for when your car is stuck inside covers what to do instead.

How to Open the Garage Door Manually From Inside

1. Make sure the door is all the way down and that people and pets are clear of it.
2. Pull the red emergency release cord hanging from the opener rail. Pull straight down; some models also need a pull back toward the opener. You'll feel the trolley let go of the door.
3. Lift from the handle or the middle of the bottom section. Keep your fingers away from the joints between panels.
4. A door with healthy springs rises smoothly with moderate effort and stays put when you let go about halfway. If it feels very heavy or drops, stop, lower it under control and leave it closed.
5. Raise it fully before you drive out, and make sure it stays up. If it drifts down on its own, don't drive under it.
6. Lower it by hand afterwards. Don't let it fall the last few feet.

How to Open It From Outside

From outside, a closed garage door can only be released if it has an emergency release key lock: a small round keyed lock on the top section of the door. Turning the key and pulling it releases the trolley the same way the red cord does from inside.

If your door doesn't have one, there's no safe way to open it from outside without power. Don't try to pry it up; use the house door. Garages with no other way in are where an outside release is worth installing. Keep in mind that it is also a way in for anyone with that kind of key, so for garages that can be reached from the house it is usually not needed.

Keeping the Garage Secure While the Opener Is Disconnected

When it's connected, the opener holds the door closed. Once you pull the release cord, the door can be lifted from outside. While the power is out:

• Use the door's slide lock, the bolt on the inside that slides into the track, if it has one.
• If it doesn't, a C-clamp tightened onto the track just above a roller will stop the door from being lifted. Use it only while the opener is disconnected.
• Remove the lock or clamp before you use the opener again. An opener running against a locked door strains the motor and can strip its gear.

When the Power Comes Back: Reconnecting the Opener

1. Close the door fully by hand and unlock it.
2. Reconnect the trolley. On most openers you pull the release cord once more to set the latch, then press the wall button. The trolley travels along the rail and catches the door's carriage with a click. The exact direction of the pull varies by model, so check the label on the cord or your manual.
3. Run the door through a full open and close.
4. Test the safety reverse: lay a piece of 2×4 flat on the floor under the door and close it. The door should reverse when it touches the wood. Then wave something through the sensor beam while the door is closing; it should reverse too.

If the opener doesn't come back on

• Check the breaker, and the GFCI outlet the opener plugs into. GFCI outlets in garages often trip when the power returns.
• Unplug the opener for a minute and plug it back in to reset it.
• Remotes and keypads usually keep their programming through an outage. If they stop working, see our guide to a remote that isn't working.
• If the motor runs or hums but the door doesn't move, the trolley may still be disconnected, or the outage may have damaged something. See what it means when the opener hums but the door won't move.

Battery Backup Openers

Many newer openers have a battery backup, or accept one, that keeps the door running for a limited number of cycles during an outage. If you lose power often, park in the garage every day, or have no other easy way into the house, it's worth asking about when you replace the opener. The battery wears out over time, and most openers beep or show a light when it needs replacing.

A surge protector rated for the opener is also worth having. Power coming back on after a storm can spike, and the logic board is the part that suffers. For help choosing an opener, see our opener repair and installation service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you open a garage door when the power is out?

Yes, if the door is fully closed and its springs and cables are intact. Pull the red emergency release cord to disconnect the opener, then lift the door by hand. It should rise smoothly and stay put halfway. If it feels very heavy, stop: the springs aren't balancing it.

How do I open my garage door from outside without power?

Only if the door has an emergency release key lock on its top section. Turning the key and pulling it releases the trolley. Without one, there's no safe way to open it from outside; use another entrance.

Why won't my garage door open after I pulled the red cord?

Usually the trolley is still disconnected from the door. Close the door, pull the release cord again to set the latch and run the opener so it reconnects. Also make sure no slide lock or clamp is still holding the door.

Do I need to reprogram my garage door remote after a power outage?

Usually not. Remotes and keypads keep their programming through an outage. If they stop working, check the remote battery first, then reprogram the remote to the opener.

Is it safe to leave the opener disconnected?

It's safe, but the door is no longer held closed, so it can be lifted from outside. Use the slide lock while it's disconnected, and remove it before you run the opener again.