Tag: Garage Door Maintenance

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.

It’s an exciting day when your garage door is installed by the C&M Garage Doors Installation team. It’s works perfectly, looks great and services your home exactly the way you hoped it would. But it doesn’t stop there! Just like a car, garage doors require regular upkeep to make sure everything is working efficiently and safely. It’s not a set-and-forget situation after installation, due to the numerous moving parts in your garage door. And so, its recommended that you have your door serviced annually, and here’s why.

1. Safety for your family

Your family’s safety comes first, which is why this alone should be the number one reason to service your garage door. A garage door is generally the largest moving part in a home, with a single roller door weighing around 60kgs. That’s one big door, so it’s important to make sure it’s operating safely for your family. This is why it is so important to have a trained professional conduct a safety check as part of your service, each year.

2. Security for your home

Generally Speaking, garage doors are attached directly to a house. And so, to ensure the security of your home, you need your garage door to be operating as it is supposed to. When properly maintained with regular servicing, you can feel at ease knowing your home, personal belongings and loved ones are safe and secure.

3. Repairs can be costly

Servicing is a preventative approach to get on top of the small problems before they escalate. By servicing your door regularly, professionals are able to catch-out the initial stages of an issue before it becomes a problem for you and your family.

For example, your garage door has special hinges that must be kept lubricated. If not properly cared for, the hinges become dry and put stress onto other parts of the door, potentially leading to bigger issues that require a repair. C&M Garage Doors, provide quality and cost-effective repairs for all makes and models of garage doors in the Northern Rivers, so trust we’ve got your back. 

4. Prolong the lifespan of your garage door

By pursing a healthy lifestyle, eating your fruits and veggies, exercising regularly and drinking water you are helping to prolong your lifespan. Your garage door isn’t as high maintenance, but it does need regular servicing to help it and its motor live up to its expected lifespan. It’s a straightforward concept, but one to not let slide! Garage doors are an important asset to any home, and so make sure you schedule in an annual service to preserve its functionality as best you can.

5. Keep your door working the way it should

Even when operating normally, your garage door requires preventative maintenance to ensure trouble-free operation. People can have difficulty opening and closing garage doors, especially those that are getting a bit older. However, a regular general service should keep your door operating smoothly and safely for years.

6. Upholding your end of the bargain

When you purchased your garage door, it most likely came with a warranty. It is great to have the peace of mind that comes with a warranty, and there are terms and conditions to must meet to uphold it. In most cases,  your warranty is only attainable if you are servicing your door annually. Once again, providing you with another reason to have you garage doors serviced each year.

So, there you have it. 6 reasons why you should service your garage door annually, even when it appears to be in perfect working order. However, if your door is having issues (some examples are listed below), get in touch with so we can address the problem before it gets worse.

Some common problems with garage doors that require attention:

• The door is stuck (or gets stuck momentarily) in an opening or closing position
• The door is not responding to the remote control
• The motor is making a strange noise
• The door is not moving
• The door is squeaking

At C&M Garage Doors, we repair all garage doors, remote and accessories. The servicing team comprise of highly qualified technicians with years of experience and are not only trained to repair and service B&D garage doors, but most other makes and models, including accessories.