When there is a power failure, you will be unable to automatically open or close your garage door (unless you have Battery Backup fitted to the opener). To use your door during a power outage, you will need to disengage the opener and operate the door manually. Follow these four simple steps to safely open and close your garage door during an outage.
Disengage your Auto-Lock (if applicable)
The Auto-Lock device automatically locks your door when it closes. The small square lock is located either on the left- or right-hand side of the inside edge of the door, approximately 10 – 30cm from the floor. Once you have located it, press the emergency lock/unlock button on the front of the device. This will unlock the door. Note: not all garage doors have Auto-Lock installed.
Manually release the opener
There will be a red cord hanging from your garage door opener (regardless of whether you have a sectional or rolling garage door).
– For Sectional Doors, either pull the cord towards or away from the door (this will depend on the specific opener you have installed – there is no harm in trying both ways until the door disengages).
– You will hear a click to signify the change to disengaged. Try to open it – it should come up fairly easily however if it doesn’t, then it hasn’t been disengaged properly so please try again.
– For Rolling Doors, pull the cord directly down.
Open and close the door by hand
You may now manually open and close the door as required. Take care and beware of items or people surrounding the door so as not to close the door onto them.
Note that your door will not be locked when the power is out therefore to lock the door you must re-engage the opener.
Reengage the opener
To re-engage the opener so your garage door operates as normal, follow the directions below according to your type of garage door.
– For Roller Doors, simply pull the red cord again in the same direction. You will hear a click to signify the change to engaged. Use your remote to operate the door.
– For Sectional Doors, you will need to pull the cord away from the door (towards the back of your garage). Use your remote to operate the door. If the chain is moving but the door is not, you need to wait until the chain index moves into the shuttle to engage the opener. It can help to lift the door a few feet off the ground and try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What if my garage door won’t reconnect after the power comes back on?
This usually means the trolley hasn’t properly re-engaged with the carriage. Make sure the door is fully closed, then run the opener through one full cycle using your remote or wall button. You should hear a clear click when the trolley locks back into place. If it still won’t reconnect, contact us for assistance.
2. Can I install a battery backup on my existing garage door opener?
In many cases, yes — depending on your current opener model. Battery backup units allow your door to keep working normally during a power outage without any manual disengaging. Contact our team to find out which backup options are compatible with your setup.
3. Is it safe to open my garage door manually during a storm?
It can be, but take extra care. Watch for fallen debris, flooding, or strong wind that could affect the door while it’s disengaged. Never leave a manually opened door unattended, as nothing will be holding it in place if it’s not locked.
4. Why is my garage door heavier than usual when I try to open it manually?
A door that suddenly feels much heavier than normal often indicates a broken or unbalanced spring. Stop immediately and avoid forcing it open — this is a job for a professional, not something to push through manually.
5. How do I know if my garage door has Auto-Lock installed?
Check the inside edge of the door, roughly 10–30cm from the floor, on either the left or right side. If there’s a small square lock device there, your door has Auto-Lock. Not all doors come with this feature installed.
