Power out and your garage door is stuck? Here's how to safely use the emergency manual release cord to open your garage door by hand — and reset it after.
Every automatic garage door opener has a manual release — that red cord hanging from the rail. It disconnects the door from the opener so you can lift it by hand during a power outage or opener failure. Used correctly, it's safe. Used wrong, you can damage the door or hurt yourself. Here's the right way.
Important: never pull the release while the door is open and unsupported. If the spring is broken, the door can crash down. Always test the door's balance first by lifting it a few inches.
The safest time to use the release is when the door is fully closed. If the door is open and you pull the release, the door free-falls — that's dangerous and can bend the track or damage the panels. If the door is open and you have no choice, hold the door firmly with both hands before pulling the cord, or brace it first.
Pull the red cord straight down (or toward the door on some openers) to disengage the trolley from the rail. You'll feel the door detach from the opener. On most LiftMaster and Chamberlain openers, pulling down then slightly back locks the release in the disconnected position.
Lift the door smoothly from the bottom with both hands. A properly balanced door with good springs weighs very little — if it feels extremely heavy or won't stay up, your spring may be broken. Stop and call for repair; don't force a door with a failed spring.
To re-engage, pull the cord toward the opener (or down, depending on the model) to release the lock, then run the opener with the remote or wall button. The trolley will click back onto the rail on the next cycle. If it doesn't catch, manually slide the trolley carriage along the rail until it reconnects, then run the opener.