Guide
Opening a garage door by hand during a power outage
Find the cord with the red handle hanging from the opener rail. Pulling it separates the door from the motor, so you can lift the door by hand.
Your call goes to an independent garage door contractor.
Using the release
Check the door is closed
If the door is up when the power goes, take care. Once released, it can fall if a spring is weak, so have someone help hold it.
Clear the area
Keep children, pets and cars out of the door's path.
Pull the cord
Pull the handle straight down. You should feel the door let go of the opener.
Lift with both hands
Use the handle or the bottom edge. The door should rise fairly easily and stay where you stop it.
Reconnect later
When the power is back, close the door and follow the opener's manual to reconnect it.
If it won't lift
A door that's very hard to lift has probably lost its spring, or it's stuck in the track. Stop pulling. If it's partway up, lower it gently and call.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says a door that doesn't move freely by hand should be serviced by a professional.
Before the next outage
Check now that the cord hangs within reach without a ladder, and show everyone at home how it works. Some openers can run on a battery backup, which you can ask about at opener installation.
Need someone to look at the door?
Call this number to reach an independent contractor. Say what the door is doing, whether it is stuck open or shut, and what happened just before it stopped.