How to Open Your Garage Door Manually

how to open your garage door manually

If you have an automatic garage door, there are times you may need to open it manually. A power outage can disable the opener. Or, the motor may stop working. Nonetheless, you can still operate your garage door. At Mesa Garage Doors, we can fix any problem with the system. We’ll also tell you how to manually open your garage door, so you have access to your garage, your vehicle, and other contents.

Before using the built-in emergency device, make sure your garage door is closed. Then check the springs. If they’re worn out or broken, you won’t be able to lift the door. Trying to will be extremely dangerous. When it seems safe to proceed, follow these steps to open your garage door manually:

Unplug the Garage Door Opener

Make sure there’s no power to the mechanism. Even if the power is out, unplug the opener because, if the motor engages while the garage door is disconnected, significant damage could occur. Keep the garage door opener unplugged until the garage door is reconnected.

Use the Red Emergency Release Cord

The red rope near your garage door is attached to the trolley. When the door is closed, the rope should be at the front. Pulling firmly on the emergency release cord disconnects the trolley from the garage door opener carriage, which moves the door along the boom attached to the opener. Therefore, pulling the cord prevents the opener from moving the carriage, so the garage door can’t automatically open or close.

Lift the Garage Door

To raise the door, grab it from the bottom with both hands; lift it with your legs and not your back to avoid injury. The door should roll up with little effort. When lifting it, don’t be too forceful or the door can open too quickly, hit the top, and then spring back, hit the ground, and break apart. If the garage door feels too heavy or won’t move, there might be a broken spring, so call a professional immediately.

Close the Garage Door

Once you park your car inside or have left the garage, close the garage door by pulling it down, making sure it doesn’t slam against the ground. Closing it is strongly recommended. An open garage door is a security risk as it’s an easy access point for burglars. Safety is another concern. A strong wind can pull it down hard enough to cause damage and injure people nearby.

Reconnect the Garage Door Opener

Now that you understand how to open your garage door manually, here’s how to reconnect it. Once the power is restored or the issue is resolved, reconnect the trolley, enter the garage, and fully close the garage door. Then pull the emergency release cord down and toward the garage door opener (or, you may have to reach up and pull a lever atop the cord).

To reconnect the trolley, activate the garage door opener and let the trolley and carriage run a complete cycle. Both mechanisms will reconnect when they pass one another. You’ll hear a loud click when this happens. If the system still hasn’t reconnected, manually lift the door about one foot until you hear a click. 

To ensure the garage door is connected, use the remote control to open and close it.

Contact Mesa Garage Doors

Knowing how to open your garage door manually can help in a few situations. In some cases, your garage door may need to be repaired. Mesa Garage Doors fixes all types and brands of residential garage doors in Southern California. We also specialize in installation, replacement, and maintenance. To request a repair or schedule a free estimate, contact us online or call (714) 586-8943.

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Do I Need to Replace a Garage Door That Doesn’t Close All the Way?

Dealing with a garage door that doesn’t close all the way is an aggravating experience. It can leave your garage vulnerable to the elements and put your home’s security at risk. But do you have to invest in garage door replacement? Usually not; in fact, you can often fix the problem without a professional. There are also minor issues a pro can fix to get your garage door to close.

If the garage door stays partially open, try the following methods before calling a repair company:

  • Inspect the Photo Eye Sensors: Located near the floor on both sides, these sensors detect when children, pets, or obstructions block the door’s path. Clean the sensors if they’re dirty. If a sensor is blinking, loosen one and adjust its position until both are aligned and the light stays on.
  • Check the Tracks and Rollers: You can usually remove dirt or obstructions from the tracks. If a track is bent, use a hammer or clamps to force it back into position. Stuck rollers can be lubricated with white lithium or silicone-based grease. When a few are sticking, the garage door opener may react as if something is in the way.
  • Adjust the Limit Screws: If your garage door doesn’t close all the way, the limit screws may need to be adjusted. Contacts on the screws determine how far the garage door opens or closes. Using a ladder, reach for the rear flap or light cover on the garage door opener and open it. Adjust the two plastic screws (labeled “Up” and “Down”) a quarter turn at a time with a flat screwdriver.
  • Continue making adjustments until the door closes all the way. If the door bounces back up after closing, reverse the “Down” adjustment in small increments until it closes properly.
  • Inspect the Trolley: The trolley may have been left in bypass mode the last time you disengaged the opener, or someone could have triggered it by accident. You can fix this by pulling the hanging rope toward the door. The trolley latch should engage and the garage door opener should work normally.
  • Change the Remote Control Batteries: Dead batteries will prevent the remote from closing the door. If replacing the batteries doesn’t help, reprogram the remote. To do so, press the “Learn” button on the garage door opener and wait for a light to flash. Then press a button on the remote.
  • Lubricate Moving Parts: Aside from the rollers, lubricate other moving parts such as the hinges, screw or chain, springs, bearing plates, etc.
  • Tighten Loose Components: Screws and bolts can loosen due to vibration and cause misalignments in the garage door system. Tighten any loose hardware or fasteners you find.

When to Call a Repair Technician

If none of the above methods get your garage door to close all the way, pull down on the bypass rope to disengage the trolley. You should be able to close the door manually. To lock it, secure bolts through any built-in locking latches.

Your garage door may not need to be replaced. But it may need repairs if:

  • The safety sensors don’t work after adjusting them
  • An extension spring is broken
  • A cable is worn or damaged
  • A track is severely dented, misaligned, or twisted
  • The rollers appear bent, cracked, chipped, or loose
  • The door doesn’t stay in position when you test the door balance
  • The garage door shudders, rattles, or makes loud noises

Contact Us If Your Garage Door Doesn’t Close All the Way

Mesa Garage Doors can fix virtually any problem with your garage door. But if your garage door requires constant maintenance, is excessively noisy, responds more slowly, or lacks the efficiency and safety features of new garage doors, contact us to discuss garage door replacement. We will provide professional advice and a free estimate. To get started, call (714) 988-6883 or contact us online.

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What Should I Do About Rats in the Garage?

Finding rats in your garage, or evidence of them such as droppings, signs of gnawing, nesting materials, foul odors, or scratching/light thumbing sounds is never a delightful experience. Dead or alive, rats can carry diseases and be destructive. They can damage cardboard boxes, machinery, wiring, and vehicles. If you have rats in the garage, you must get rid of them and prevent them from coming back.

How to Get Rid of Rats

If your garage is already infested, here are some ways you can deal with the problem:

  • Set Traps: A snap trap captures a rat with a heavy-gauge steel bar as it steps on a trigger plate. When a rat steps on a glue trap, a strong adhesive prevents it from getting away. If there’s a single entry point, you can place a one-way exclusion funnel that prevents a rat from getting back in. You can also set traps outside the garage where they can lure rats outside or control them before they get inside.
  • Use Rat Poison: While it’s highly effective at killing and repelling rats, poison is not the best solution if you have kids or pets. Carefully consider if rat poison is the right option for your home and use it only out of reach of children and pets.
  • Get a Cat: Cats love to capture rats and are great at it. A cat or two will find a few. And being the intelligent creatures they are, rats will leave an area where they are in danger. But don’t leave out other methods of deterrence, prevention, or cleanup; nests, odors, and droppings will remain, increasing the risk of future infestations.

Calling a professional rat exterminator is another option. Their expertise and equipment can help fight off any type of infestation. An exterminator will determine how to eliminate the problem and avoid future issues. They’ll also clean up debris from rats and any residue from the extermination process.

Keeping Rats Away for Good

After you find rats in the garage and eliminate them, it’s time to take steps to keep them out. These are the most effective strategies for permanently rat-proofing your garage:

  • Seal Holes: Rats usually get inside through holes. Inspect the walls and garage door for these holes, fill them, and place caulking around the edges. If necessary, contact a local garage door repair company to seal any holes or cracks in door panels or spaces around the edges. 
  • Keep Food and Water Out: No food should be stored in the garage. No matter how well it’s sealed and packaged, rats can smell it anyway. They’re also always searching for water, which they need to survive. Avoid storing water here and fix any leaks right away.
  • Don’t Clutter the Garage: Clutter provides rats with shelter and hiding spots. If you have a lot of debris and unused belongings lying around, clean up your garage and store items neatly. This will make the environment unattractive to rats.
  • Use an Electronic Rat Deterrent: An ultrasonic device emits sound at a frequency humans can’t hear but that rats find irritating. It will make your garage an intolerable place to be for them.
  • Fill Holes: Rats may have used or created holes in the past. If you find new holes dug near your garage, fill them quickly. But make sure no rats remain. They won’t be able to leave and may die and decompose inside your garage.
  • Inspect the Attic: Many infestations start in the attic, especially if tree branches touch the structure. Trimming branches back can help prevent rats from reaching your home. Also, do what it takes to address the problem inside your garage.
  • Fix the Garage Door: Rats can chew through the rubber seal that weatherizes your garage door. This should be intact for many reasons. But if it’s degraded, rats can squeeze through it, so schedule garage door repairs whenever you find any issues.

Call Mesa Garage Doors If You Have Rats in the Garage

We can fix your garage door fast, whether it’s stuck, has a broken spring, or is off the track. Our team can also repair holes, cracks, and worn weatherstrips. Rats in garages often get there due to issues with your garage door system. We can resolve any damage and rat-proof your garage permanently. To schedule a free repair estimate, book service online or call (714) 613-0646.

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