How to Open Your Garage Door When the Power Is Out
Long Island storms knock out power often enough that every family with a garage should know this. It takes a minute, as long as the door's springs are working.
- From $119 — Battery backup
- From $550 — Opener with backup built in
- 3 years — Opener warranty
- 27 years — Family business
Step by step
1. Make sure the door is fully closed if possible. Pulling the release with the door open can let it drop if a spring is weak.
2. Find the red cord hanging from the trolley on the opener rail.
3. Pull it straight down (or down and back toward the motor, depending on the opener) until the trolley disconnects.
4. Lift the door from the bottom handle or the bottom section, keeping your fingers out of the joints between panels.
5. Lock the door if you leave it closed — once released, it can be pushed up from outside.
When NOT to lift it by hand
- You heard a bang or see a gap in the spring above the door.
- A cable is hanging loose.
- The door won't stay up on its own when halfway open.
A door with a broken spring can weigh well over a hundred pounds. Leave it closed and call.
Reconnecting when the power comes back
Close the door by hand, then run the opener. On most models the trolley reconnects by itself on the next cycle. Some need the release cord pulled toward the door to re-engage.
Never get stuck again: battery backup
Battery backup keeps the opener working through most outages. We add it to compatible openers for $119, and the LiftMaster 84505R ($550 installed) and 87504-267 ($650) come with it built in.
Power outage questions
Will my garage door open automatically when the power comes back?
No. The opener waits for a button press. If you released the door, it may need to cycle once to reconnect the trolley.
Is battery backup required on new openers in New York?
No. California requires it on new openers, but New York doesn't. On Long Island it's still worth having because of storm outages.
How long does an opener battery backup last?
It depends on the model and battery age; most are meant for a limited number of cycles during an outage rather than days of normal use.