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If you find yourself in a situation where your automatic garage door opener isn’t working, don’t panic! You can still open the garage door manually. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of how to do it. It’s actually not as difficult as you might think. So, whether your garage door opener is broken or you just want to learn how to do it in case of an emergency, keep reading for instructions on how to manually open garage door.
Types of garage door openers
There are two types of garage door openers: chain-driven and belt-driven. The type of opener you have will determine how you will need to open the door manually.
Chain-Driven Openers
If your opener is chain-driven, there will be a red cord hanging down from the motor unit. This is the emergency release handle. To open the door, simply pull on the cord and the door will disengage from the opener. Then, you can open it by hand.
Belt-Driven Openers
If your opener is belt-driven, there will be a knob or handle on the motor unit that you can turn to release the door. Turn it counterclockwise to disengage the door from the opener. Then, you can open it by hand.
Manual garage door opener types
There are two types of manual garage door openers: trolley and jackshaft. The type of opener you have will determine how you open the door.
Trolley Openers
If your opener is a trolley type, there will be a handle on the trolley that you can use to disengage the door from the opener. Simply pull the handle to release the door. Then, you can open it by hand.
Jackshaft Openers
If your opener is a jackshaft type, there will be a cord hanging down from the motor unit. This is the emergency release handle. To open the door, simply pull on the cord and the door will disengage from the opener. Then, you can open it by hand.
How to open a garage door manually
Now that you know the different types of garage door openers and how they work, let’s walk through the process of how to open a garage door manually. If you do not understand how it can be done then we recommend hiring garage door experts.
Step one: disengage the door from the opener
The first step is to disengage the door from the opener. This will vary depending on the type of opener you have. Refer to the instructions above for specific instructions on how to do this.
Step two: open the door by hand
Once you have disengaged the door from the opener, you can now open it by hand. Simply pull on the door until it is fully open.
And that’s it! You’ve successfully opened your garage door manually.
Tips for using a manual garage door opener
Now that you know how to open your garage door manually, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
– Always disengage the garage door from the opener before attempting to open it by hand.
– If you are having difficulty opening the door, make sure that it is fully disengaged from the opener.
– Be careful when opening the door by hand, as it can be heavy. Use caution and good judgment to avoid injury.
There you have it—a complete guide on how to open a garage door manually. We hope this has been helpful and that you now feel confident in your ability to do this.
If you are not confident, then get contact a garage door repair service expert. Remember, it’s not as difficult as it might seem. So, if your opener ever stops working, you can rest assured knowing that you can still get into your garage.
Thank you for reading and Happy Opening!
