Getting accidentally locked out of your garage is never pleasant. There may be important matters to tend to at home and a jammed garage door opener can prevent entry in an emergency. How you handle the problem is critical. As many as 30,000 people are injured every year by garage door accidents, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. And, with the number of coronavirus/COVID-19 cases rising daily, distancing yourself from others can be difficult if you’re stuck outside and can’t seek shelter in your home.

Whether the radio signal is jammed, there’s a power outage, or your garage door remote has failed, or you can’t regain access due to a mechanical problem or electrical problem, here are some ways you can proceed:

Try the Manual Release

Chances are, your garage door opener has a manual release device. Most openers do, and many older doors have an exterior handle that triggers the manual release from outside. It can be found at the bottom or on the surface of the garage door. Using it will trigger and unlock the garage door.

Invest in a Wi-Fi Enabled Opener

A Wi-Fi enabled garage door opener can be controlled using your smartphone or tablet, via a dedicated app. Investing in one is a good idea if you keep getting locked out. It bypasses the radio frequency system when the opener fails. In addition, it lets you monitor use of the garage door, or even lock or disable the system, using a digital control panel.

Call a Locksmith

If you locked the door manually and didn’t re-engage the electric opener, you may not be able to get back inside. There may also be damage to the system. You could always call a locksmith to repair or replace the manual lock and/or provide you with a new key if one is broken or lost.

The DIY Approach – Not Recommended!

Another technique, if there’s no signal or your remote control isn’t working, is to drill a hole into the garage door. This is easier if your door has a thin aluminum skin. Access the center of the door near the top. Once the hole is cut, reach in with a spider tool to grab the red emergency release rope. Pulling it down will engage the door opening system so you can manually open the garage door.

Installing a vault lock in the hole you drilled provides access in case you have future garage access problems. It can be secured in place using the vault lock brackets and by drilling holes on either side of the lock to bolt it in place. Connect the vault lock to the emergency release handle with a cable or rope, and it can be used any time.

You can also remove the bottom roller from one side of the door. This will let you push the door in to crawl inside. But either of these methods come with risks of injury and damage to the door. It’s, therefore, best to have a technician check the door and door opener, who can save you headaches and money down the road.

Contact Mesa Garage Doors for Help

Servicing Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County, Mesa Garage Doors provides installation and repairs, while offering the lowest price guarantee. We service many types of garage doors and garage door openers. For a free repair estimate, contact us at 800-893-1107; our company is available 24/7 to respond to your emergency.