How to Reset a Garage Door after Opening it Manually

An automatic garage door opener is a wonderful, energy and back saving tool. At the click of a button, your door opens and you can drive your car in or out of the garage. If you are using the garage as a workshop, you can open the door just a little for ventilation.

There may be times that you want to disengage the automatic opener and use the garage door manually. This may be due to a power outage or just wanting to open the door a few inches and no more. Resetting the door is something that can be confusing. By following these steps, you can reset your garage door quickly and without fuss.

To manually open most garage doors, you simply pull a corded handle that is attached to the door. This disengages the electric drive from the door and you can manually open and close it. To reset it, begin by pulling the cord in the opposite direction. It should click in place. Once this happens, you can open and close the door electronically.

garage door opener

Step 1: Ensure the Door is in The Down Position

It’s important to be careful when disconnecting your garage door opener from your door. Make sure the door is in the closed position. If it’s not, and the spring is broken, the door could come crashing down and cause damage or harm.

If you experience a lose of power while your door is in the up position, please call your local Overhead Door Company.

 

Step 2: Pull the Emergency Release Cord

The emergency release cord is a lifesaver in your garage. It’s that red rope hanging from the door trolley that helps you take control of your garage door when you need it. The door trolley is attached to the door and moves with it as it opens and closes, but it’s also connected to an automated mechanism that moves the door along the door rail. If you ever need to, the emergency release cord lets you manually open and close your garage door by disconnecting the trolley from the automated mechanism. So, next time you’re stuck with a garage door that won’t budge, remember your trusty emergency release cord!

 

Step 3: Manually Move the Door Up and Down

By pulling the emergency release cord you now have the ability to move the door freely. You can effortlessly open and close your garage door as many times as you want. Just remember, once you’re done playing around, put the door back down before turning on the automatic opener again.

 

Step 4: Pull the Emergency Release Cord Towards the Door

The spring lever, has two positions – connected and disconnected. When you need to access your garage manually, simply pull the emergency release cord down and away from the door towards the motor. This will extend the spring lever, allowing you to take control. When you’re ready to re-engage the opener, simply pull the release cord down towards the door and away from the motor, compressing the spring lever and putting the power back in the hands of your trusty garage door opener

 

Step 5: Reconnect the Trolley to the Opener

You have two options to get your trolley back on track and reconnect it to the opener carriage. You can either do it the old-fashioned way by manually sliding the door along the track, or you can hit the magic button on your remote and let technology do the work for you. Either way, you’ll hear a satisfying click as the attachment point locks back into place. And once it’s all set, your emergency release cord will be ready and waiting if you ever need to move your garage door manually.

Conclusion

Resetting your garage door opener can be a breeze with these 5 simple steps. Firstly, make sure your door is in the closed position. Then, pull the emergency release cord to disengage the electric drive from the door and move it manually. Next, move the door up and down. To re-engage the opener, pull the emergency release cord towards the door and either manually slide the door along the track or hit the button on your remote. You’ll hear a click as the attachment point locks back into place, and your emergency release cord will be ready for use in case you need to manually open the door again.

If you find yourself still being unable to reset your garage door after following these steps, please reach out to your local Overhead Door company immediately.

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