Garage door openers are a common sight in suburban neighborhoods. However, there are times when they can fail or when you may need to close the door manually for some other reason. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t worry – we have easy instructions for how to close a garage door manually, no matter what the situation is!
Types of garage door openers
There are three main types of garage door openers: chain-driven, belt-driven, and screw-driven. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, but they all work in essentially the same way.
Chain-driven:
Chain-driven openers are the most common type. They use a metal chain to lift and lower the door. These openers are durable and reliable, but they can be noisy.
Belt-driven:
Belt-driven openers use a belt made of either steel or Kevlar to lift and lower the door. These openers are quieter than chain-driven models, but they’re also more expensive.
Screw-driven:
screw-driven openers use a threaded steel rod to lift and lower the door. These openers are the quietest and smoothest operating, but they’re also the most expensive.
How to close a garage door manually using the correct technique for your opener
If you need to close your garage door manually, the first thing you’ll need to do is identify the type of opener you have. Once you know that, follow these instructions:
Closing Chain-driven:
Pull the emergency release cord (this will be a red cord hanging down from the motor unit) to disengage the trolley from the opener. Then, use your hands to guide the trolley down the rail until the door is fully closed.
Closing Belt-driven:
Locate the emergency release lever or cord (this will be a red lever or cord hanging down from the motor unit) and disengage it. Then, use your hands to guide the trolley down the rail until the door is fully closed.
Closing Screw-driven:
Locate the emergency release lever or cord (this will be a red lever or cord hanging down from the motor unit) and disengage it. Then, use your hands to turn the screw counterclockwise until the door is fully closed.
If the power is out and your opener doesn’t have a battery backup
If the power is out and your garage door opener doesn’t have a battery backup, you’ll need to close the door manually. The process is slightly different depending on the type of opener you have, but all you’ll need to do is disengage the trolley from the opener and then use your hands to guide it down the rail until the door is fully closed.
If the opener is broken and you can’t disengage the trolley
If your opener is broken and you can’t disengage the trolley, don’t worry – you can still close the door manually. First, locate the release handle (this will be a metal handle on the inside of the garage door) and pull it down to release the door from the opener.
If you lose your remote
If you lose your remote or the batteries in it die, you can still close your garage door manually. The process is slightly different depending on the type of opener you have, but all you’ll need to do is disengage the trolley from the opener and then use your hands to guide it down the rail until the door is fully closed.
We hope these instructions were helpful and that you now know how to close a garage door manually in any situation! If you need help we suggest you to contact garage door experts like us. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help. Thanks for reading!
