How to Deactivate a Garage Door Opener

Did you know you can disconnect your garage door opener from the garage door? It can be done in just a few simple steps. First, we’ll look at why you’d want to know how to deactivate a garage door opener in the first place. Some of the reasons for it include:

  • You’re going away on vacation
  • You plan to be away from home for a while
  • The power has gone out
  • A storm has disrupted the local power grid
  • The garage door isn’t working properly

Why Should I Deactivate My Garage Door Opener?

This is a question many homeowners overlook. But if you’re away from home or not, many things can happen that affect your garage door. 

A power surge can damage the transmitter. As a result, the door could open on its own. Thieves can manipulate exterior keypads; they can also find a garage door remote, especially if you left one in a car parked nearby (disconnecting the opener prevents them from operating it). Or, if the electricity has gone out, you can disconnect the opener and open or close the garage door manually to access your car.

How to Disconnect Your Garage Door Opener

Triggering the manual override for your garage door requires just a few simple steps and can be done relatively quickly. To do so:

  • Make Sure the Door Is Fully Closed: It’s easiest to disconnect the garage door opener when the door is closed. This is also the safest way to deactivate the opener system.
  • Pull the Emergency Release Handle: Most garage doors have a release handle that hangs from a red rope. Pull on the handle firmly, as it’s designed to be operated with intent. You should hear an audible snap or click as the trolley release arm moves to a vertical position.
  • Operate the Garage Door: The garage door opener will be deactivated once the release handle has been pulled. You should be able to easily open or close the garage door (if not, it may have a faulty spring and require immediate repair).

If you’ve deactivated the garage door opener before going away, install a padlock on the track or use a sliding bolt. These will prevent forced entry. But be sure to remove the padlock or push back the bolt before using the garage door again. Otherwise, it could be severely damaged.

How to Reconnect the Garage Door Opener

Reactivating it is similar to how to deactivate the garage door opener. Whether you’ve returned home or the power was restored, simply pull on the emergency release handle again. Then press the garage door opener remote button. The trolley should move back to its original position and reconnect with the door. Depending on the model, the garage door may need to be lifted manually for the trolley to reconnect.

If you’re uncertain about how to use the emergency release handle or operate your garage door manually, review the system’s manual. Call a professional if you’re still uncertain or are unable to deactivate the garage door opener or reconnect it.

Contact Mesa Garage Doors

If you discover any issues when you deactivate the garage door opener, such as the door feeling too heavy or being difficult to move, we can help. Our experienced technicians can quickly repair garage door springs, cables, and tracks, as well as garage door panels and garage door openers. To receive a free repair estimate and schedule garage door repair in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, or San Bernardino County, call (714) 844-5741 today.

12 Reasons a Garage Door Won’t Close

When your garage door doesn’t close, your home will be vulnerable to intruders, water entry, and other threats. But not every reason for the issue requires calling a professional. Some causes are easy to fix; others are not. Here are 12 reasons a garage door won’t close to help you decide what to do.

1. Something Is In the Way

An obstruction can block the path of the photo-eye sensor, preventing the door from closing. This is a built-in safety feature to avoid damage or injury. It’s included in most garage doors built in the early 1990s and later. If the door doesn’t close, look around for furniture, a toy, debris, or anything else in the way.

2. A Sensor Is Misaligned or Malfunctioning

The photo-eye consists of a transmitter and receiver that face each other from opposite sides. If the beam is blocked by dirt or a sensor is out of alignment, the signal won’t be received, and the door will stop midway or fully reverse and open again. It’s also possible a sensor has been damaged by moisture or its mounting is broken.

3. The Operator Isn’t Powered

If the power is disconnected from the garage door operator, the garage door won’t close or open. The operator may have been unplugged accidentally. In this case, plugging it back in should get the door to close. However, a tripped circuit breaker, overloaded circuit, or faulty outlet can also prevent the operator from working.

4. The Keypad Isn’t Synced 

Sometimes, the garage door opener remote needs to be reset. But when the remote works fine and you have trouble with the keypad, resetting the code can sync it with the opener system. Check the user’s manual or a troubleshooting guide for steps on addressing the issue.

5. A Disconnected Motor

A disconnected motor is another reason a garage door won’t close. The motor has a disconnect switch that lets you open the door without the opener (if this is activated, the door won’t close but the motor may still run). This feature is useful during power outages. Or, the cord can get caught and become unplugged from the socket. Check the switch or the cord before calling a professional.

6. An Extension or Torsion Spring Is Damaged

A torsion spring helps the door open and close smoothly and runs horizontally between the two cable drums. The extension springs are mounted on the sides of the track and extend and contract as the door moves.  Both of these store tension when the door is closed and release it as the door opens. A broken spring can prevent the garage door from closing and must be replaced by a trained technician.

7. A Garage Door Cable Broke

If you have torsion springs, the cables connect to the drum and rotate a winding cone to lift the door. Extension springs have cables inside them to prevent damage if a spring fails. Over time, these cables can wear out and break due to age, rust, impacts, or poor installation; the door won’t close or may fall to the ground. The door should close again after the cable is replaced.

8. The Garage Door Track Is Bent

A damaged track can prevent the door from moving. If it’s bent or misaligned, it will put pressure on the garage door and stop it from closing. Pressure and wear and tear contribute to the problem, and when one track is not aligned, it puts pressure on the other and can cause additional damage. Contact a specialist since handling a garage door track can be dangerous.

9. The Remote Transmitter Needs a Battery

Here’s a simple reason a garage door won’t close that you can fix yourself. If the transmitter’s batteries have expired, it won’t send a signal to the garage door opener. To determine if this is the issue, press the button on the wall receiver. If the door works, replacing the dead battery should resolve the issue. Depending on the remote model, slide off the back cover or unscrew the locking component to access the batteries.

10. The Signal Is Blocked

Even if the battery is good, a blocked signal or remote that’s out of range can prevent the garage door from closing. Check whether the opener’s remote antenna is obstructed and clean it off if necessary. Dirt, objects, or tree branches can block the signal. Trim any interfering branches away but call for help if the antenna appears damaged.

11. Lock Mode Is Turned On

Check whether you accidentally locked the garage door. If so, the motor may run momentarily and shut off. Disengage the lock to get your garage door to close. If manual locks are installed, turn the handle until the horizontal bar is disengaged (you’ll hear an audible snap). The door should now operate normally.

12. The Opener Has a Stripped Gear

The garage door opener can be strained by daily use. A stripped gear will prevent the opener from functioning so, if the door is open, closing it won’t be possible. Unfortunately, the only solution is to replace the garage door opener. Call for help if the door won’t move but the opener makes a humming sound.

Contact Us for Garage Door Repairs

Based in Anaheim, CA, Mesa Garage Doors has installation and service teams across the region to address customers’ needs. Our technicians are factory trained and insured and provide any type of repair on most garage door makes and models. They promptly address common issues and fix them quickly. Whatever the reason your garage door won’t close, call us 24/7 at (714) 844-5741 to schedule your free repair estimate.