To reset your LiftMaster garage door opener after a power outage, it’s important to operate it in the correct way during the outage and to reset it once power is restored. In most cases, you can reset your garage door by closing it, pulling the cord toward the door to connect the power components and running the opener.
This article will guide you through these steps in more detail and ensure you’re prepared to get your garage door back on power after an outage.
5 Steps to Reset Your Garage Door
After a power outage, you’ll have to reset your garage door opener if you were operating it manually. You can do this in just five easy steps.
Note: If you’re unsure how to operate your garage door in manual mode during an outage, the next section will answer your questions.
Ready to learn how to reset a garage door after a power outage? Here are the steps:
- Start with the door in a closed position. Make sure it is completely closed.
- Pull the release cord toward the door to reconnect the garage door’s power components.
- With caution, run the garage door opener for a cycle. Open the door fully and close it fully. Listen for any strange or loud sounds.
- Once you hear a click, you know the door is locked in place and back on the track it needs to operate automatically.
- The garage door remote or button on the wall should now be functional. With a single press, your reconnected garage door should operate just as before the outage.
Following these steps should get your garage door running again after a power outage. If you notice any concerning sounds while running the reconnected garage door opener, or if it is not functioning as well as before the outage, you should contact a professional garage door technician to advise you and service the door.
If another power outage occurs, you can follow the steps below to open the garage door in manual mode when you need to leave and close it for safety. You can then return to this same procedure above to reset it again.
Garage Door Safety During Outages
A successful garage door reset starts with proper manual operation during the outage. Taking care when trying to operate your garage door manually will keep you and the door safe. The following tips will help you to handle manual mode with confidence.
How Does Manual Mode Work?
When you are stuck in a position of no power and are so used to being able to simply click a button, you might ask yourself — can I even open my garage door when the power is out? The answer is yes!
When there is no electricity to operate the garage door system, the power outage does affect your garage door opener. This is why being able to manually open your garage door is important. Manual release is simple:
- Pull the hanging release cord away from the door.
- The trolley of the door’s opener will disconnect from the carriage.
- With no power to operate the garage door automatically, manual operation allows you access in and out of the garage.
Use caution with manual operation to avoid damaging your door or your belongings. If you notice any resistance when trying to manually open your garage door, stop and contact a professional for a garage door inspection, as a component like the springs may be damaged.
How Do I Handle the Release Cord?
A great note to remember is that most door openers will have a backup garage door manual release option that can be used during a power outage.
The release cord will be hanging from the trolley on the metal belt that attaches the garage door operator box and the door itself. The release cord is usually red and has a handle toward the end to help you get a better grip and pull it to open the garage door. It is important to keep safety in mind when opening a garage door manually because of power outages.
There are some safety measures to keep in mind when handling the manual release cord:
- Clear the area: Make sure the garage is clear of any other individuals that could get hurt. If you need assistance resetting or manually opening your garage door, seek it from a trustworthy adult. You should also move any vehicles, tools or valuable items away from the door.
- Pull the rope cautiously: Make sure not to overwork the rope by pulling, yanking or hanging on it, as it could damage the rope and the system’s abilities.
- Seek professional emergency help: If you feel at all unsure about manually operating your garage door, it’s best not to do it yourself, especially if the door is in the open position. Broken or loose pieces that need to be repaired could cause the door to close with a strong force when it falls, damaging anything or hurting anyone in the way. If your garage door is open and you need to shut it during a power outage, please contact professionals immediately who offer 24/7 emergency service for situations such as these.
These tips will equip you to make the right safety decisions when handling the manual release cord during an outage.
How Do I Open My Garage Door Manually?
When the power is out, the motor of the garage door operator can no longer do all of the physical labor of opening and closing. However, if you need to get in or out, you can handle that yourself, as long as you follow the safety guidelines in this article.
When opening your garage door during a power outage, pull the red emergency release cord hanging from the trolley. The trolley gets disconnected when pulling the cord in a motion away from the door, allowing manual operation.
If you are in the opposite position and need to know exactly how to close a garage door with no power, your safest bet is to contact professionals for emergency service.
While operating your garage door manually, listen for any sounds of creaks or screeches and look out for parts that may appear broken. If there is noticeable damage, it is best to leave the garage door in the safest position possible and call an emergency service provider to ensure the delicate system is handled correctly.
Garage Door Service and Repairs
For over the past 50 years, Marvin’s Garage Doors has been serving commercial and residential customers in northwestern North Carolina. We understand that garage doors break down at inconvenient times of the day. Power outages especially can cause many individuals to feel stressed or anxious when they have no clear way to open or close their garage door to get access to their car or keep their belongings safe.
Reach out to us and request a service near you. We also have 24/7, 365-day-a-year emergency repair services to help you feel at ease and safely return to your normal activities.
If you have any questions or would like to speak to a qualified specialist for more information, please fill out this form or call one of our locations.