As a business owner, you know that having reliable access to your garage door is integral for the day-to-day operations of your business. But what do you do if you can’t open or close your garage door electrically?
Many businesses find themselves in this difficult situation and feel helpless to keep their premises secure and operations running. Here’s some good news: it is possible to open a commercial garage door manually! With just a few simple steps, you can manually lift your garage door – ensuring that no one compromises security at any time. Keep reading and learn how
Navigating Power Outages: How to Open Your Garage Door Without Electricity
To open a commercial garage door manually from the inside, you must first unplug the motor and pull the emergency release. This will put the garage in manual mode by disengaging the automatic door opener system. based on ropes and pulleys.
This is especially helpful in emergency situations when the automatic opener disengages and you need to get out of the garage quickly. To close the door, simply plug in the motor and pull down on the ropes until the door is closed. This will ensure the door is locked and can’t be opened from the outside.
Opening a Commercial Garage Door Manually from the Outside
If you find yourself locked out of your garage, or if the power is out and your garage door opener is not working, there are a few ways you can open the door manually. If your garage has a key, keep it in a clear and organized location for these exact emergency needs. If your garage does not have a key, you can try one of the following methods:
- If your garage door has a manual lift handle on the outside, pull up on the handle to open the door.
- If your garage door has a metal bar at the bottom, use a pry bar or metal pole to lift it up and release the lock.
- If your garage door has an emergency release cord that opens the door, pull down on the emergency cord to release the lock.
Alternative Energy Sources for Garage Doors
If you’ve already been burned by the inability to open your business’s garage door when needed, you’re likely ready to consider alternative energy sources and/or backup reserves. Both options can help ensure your garage door opener stays up and running if electricity is suddenly gone.
Backup Generators
If your business relies on a garage door function to receive and store inventory or to deliver or receive customers, then a backup generator can be a lifesaver. In the event of an electrical outage, a backup generator can keep your business running smoothly by providing power to the electric garage door. This can help to ensure that the outage does not impact your business and that you can continue to operate as usual.
A backup generator is also a great way to protect your business during a natural disaster. If there is a hurricane or tornado and power is knocked out for an extended period of time, having a backup generator will allow you to continue to open your door with a garage door opener even when the power grid is down.
Consider chatting with a garage door professional for recommendations on this setup to ensure you purchase one capable of hosting the automatic garage door opener.
Solar Power
In the unfortunate event of a power outage, having a solar backup power system can be a lifesaver for your garage door-based business. Not only will it provide power to your essential equipment, but it can also keep your garage warm or cool until the power is restored. If you are in a location where this is possible, to have the garage door openers lift the door, you must have a battery to store extra energy.
Keep Your Garage Door Opener Choices Open
In the event of a power outage, several methods can be used to open a garage door without power, depending on your location and situation. If you are inside the garage, you can use the emergency release cord to open the door from the inside. You can try the helpful tips above if you are outside the garage door. You could also proactively consider the purchase of a backup generator or solar power system to provide power during a power outage.
Feeling Overwhelmed?
Pull the emergency release cord and let an expert from the Overhead Door Company in Puget Sound help you with your garage door needs. We offer commercial repairs to get your garage door open in no time, or we can counsel you on a new door opener system that is easy to utilize manually – just in case. Call today; we can’t wait to serve you.
