How to Use the Garage Door Manual Release Safely
Almost every garage door opener has a red cord with a handle. It hangs from the track near the opener. This is the manual release. It disconnects the door from the opener so you can move the door by hand. It helps in a power outage or when the opener fails. It can also be dangerous if you use it at the wrong time.
What the release does
A trolley on the track connects the opener to the door. Pulling the handle unlatches the trolley. The door is then free of the opener. The springs still carry most of the weight of the door.
Check before you pull
- Is the door closed? A closed door is the safest to release.
- Is the door partly open or fully open? Do not pull the release. A raised door can drop fast if the springs are weak or broken.
- Did you hear a loud bang before the door stopped? A spring may have broken. The door will be very heavy. Do not use the release to lift it.
- Do you see a gap in a spring or a loose cable? Stop and call for help.
Read can you open a garage door with a broken spring for the warning signs. For the sounds see what a broken spring sounds like.
How to use it on a closed door
- Make sure nobody is under or near the door.
- Pull the red handle down and back toward the opener. The trolley unlatches.
- Lift the door a little by the handle or the bottom edge. A balanced door feels fairly light.
- Keep fingers away from the gaps between the panels.
- If the door feels heavy or drops stop and call for help. Do not keep trying.
Reconnecting the opener
Close the door first. Then follow your opener manual. On many openers the trolley reconnects when you run the opener again. Brands differ so check the manual. Run the door once to confirm it moves.
Power outage with a car inside
If the power fails with a car inside the release lets you open the door by hand. Use the same checks as above. Some openers have a battery backup. Read how long a garage door opener lasts if yours is old.
Keep the handle clear
Do not hang things from the cord. A caught cord can release the door by accident. Never remove the cord because you may need it in an emergency.
When to call for help
If the door is jammed or crooked or the cables look loose do not force it. Our emergency repair page explains what to tell us when you call. If the opener has failed our opener repair service can help. Before you assume the opener is dead read garage door remote not working. For safety around the cord see garage door security tips.
Door will not move even with the release?
Do not force it. Call us or send a request and tell us what the door did.
2 Comments
Comments are closed.