How to open your garage door manually during a power outage

Last reviewed October 27, 2026. General safety information for homeowners in the Lake Charles area — always follow your door and opener manufacturer’s instructions.

Hurricanes and tropical storms in Southwest Louisiana can leave homes without power, and an electric opener won’t work without it. Most doors with openers can still be opened by hand, as long as the springs and tracks are in good shape. Practise once on a calm day so you know how your door works before a storm.

Step by step (from inside the garage)

1. Make sure the door is fully closed and nobody — including kids and pets — is in the doorway.
2. Find the emergency release: usually a red handle on a cord hanging from the opener rail, about six feet above the floor. If there’s no cord, look for the small release lever on the trolley.
3. Pull the handle straight down to disconnect the trolley from the opener. Some models need a pull down and toward the back of the garage. Don’t swing from the cord.
4. Unplug the opener if you can, so it doesn’t start unexpectedly when power returns.
5. Unlock the door if it has a manual lock.
6. Lift using the handles or gripping points, keeping fingers away from the section joints, and raise it fully open. A door left partway up can fall.
7. Check that it stays open before walking or driving under it. If it drifts down, it’s out of balance — lower it carefully and have it inspected.

Stop and get help if…

• The door is extremely heavy, lifts only a few inches, or won’t move after release — a spring or cable may be broken. See spring repair.
• The door is crooked or a cable is hanging loose — see off-track & cable repair.
• You’d need to force it or drive through it. Don’t — collapsing a door can release stored spring energy.

Storm-season tips

• Keep the door closed and locked during high winds. An open or damaged garage door can let wind into the house; see our wind-rated garage door guide.
• Never run a generator in the garage, even with the door open. Keep it outside, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents (CDC).
• Consider a battery-backup opener and test the battery periodically (DASMA). Ask about it when you have opener work done.
• If you use a garage door brace before a storm, remember it may block the door until it’s removed.

Frequently asked questions

How do I open my garage door when the power is out?

With the door fully closed and the doorway clear, pull the red emergency release handle on the opener rail straight down to disconnect the opener. Then lift the door by its handles or gripping points — not the panel seams — all the way to the fully open position.

Can I pull the emergency release when the door is open?

Avoid it. Raynor warns that if the door is open and the springs are worn, broken or out of balance, releasing the opener can let the door fall. Use the release only with the door closed.

What if the door is too heavy to lift?

Stop. A door that is very heavy or won’t move after it’s released may have a broken spring, cable or bent track. Don’t force it, and don’t try to drive through it — DASMA warns that collapsing a garage door can release stored spring tension and endanger the vehicle and occupants. Request service instead.

How do I reconnect the opener after the power comes back?

It depends on the model; many reconnect on the next open or close cycle after you pull the release handle back toward the opener. Follow your opener manufacturer’s instructions.

Can I run a generator in the garage during an outage?

No. The CDC says never to run a generator or other gasoline engine inside a home, basement or garage — even with the doors or windows open — or within 20 feet of a window, door or vent, because of deadly carbon monoxide.

How can I avoid this problem next hurricane season?

DASMA suggests an opener with battery backup if you live in an area prone to power outages, and testing the battery periodically. It also recommends making sure everyone in the household knows where the manual release is and that the door can be lifted by hand with little effort.

Door won’t open by hand, or damaged after a storm? Use the form to request help from a local pro, or see emergency garage door repair.