Homeowners may need to use the emergency release cord on their garage door for any number of reasons. Maybe your overhead door sensors are detecting an obstruction when there isn’t one. Perhaps your power went out, and you need to open your garage door manually. Maybe your opener is faulting.
No matter the case, resetting your garage door after using the manual release cord is essential. Newer technology makes the process of reconnecting the door to the automated system simple. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps.
What Is a Garage Door Manual Release?
The garage door manual or emergency release cord is generally a rope with a handle at the base that hangs down from your overhead door’s trolley. You may need a stool to reach it.
The emergency release cord allows the door to slide along the railing by disconnecting the trolley’s carriage. You can walk up to your garage door and manually open and close it with ease.
How to Use the Manual Release for Garage Doors
To properly operate an emergency release cord, you’ll first have to ensure your overhead door is closed completely. If the door is open, it may slam shut and cause damage or injury.
Once the garage door is closed, follow these steps:
- Pull the manual release down and disengage the carriage from the trolley.
- Test the door by walking over to it and trying to lift it.
- Open the garage door a few times, looking out for any functional irregularities.
- If your garage door is smooth in its operation, close the door.
- Simply plug the emergency release back in to reset it.
How to Reattach Your Garage Door After Using the Manual Release
Is your electric garage door manual release not working? While a handful of newer overhead doors will automatically reengage after a manual release cord is pulled, others will not. If your garage door does not reengage, follow these steps to reset the manual release:
- Ensure the area surrounding the door is obstruction-free. If you notice blinking lights on your garage door sensors, there may be an obstruction.
- Make sure all sensors are working correctly. You should only see solid colors.
- Pull back the manual release cord to a point where you can see the emergency cord’s level attach itself to the overhead door opener. You should hear it click into place. Ensure you are pulling the release gently, as pulling too hard may damage the opening mechanism or cord.
- Using the opener, try to open and close your garage door.
How to Lock the Garage Door After Manual Release
You will have to pull your garage door down with a sufficient amount of force after using the manual release to lock it into place, as the lever is spring-loaded.
Arrange for a Garage Door Technician to Check Your Garage Door and Opener Today
If you have tried the above steps and cannot manually release your garage door or reset the manual release, Quality Overhead Door can help. We repair and install garage doors and openers in Toledo, Ohio.
Feel free to browse our entry doors and residential garage doors to find the perfect additions to your home. If you have any questions about our products or services, reach out to us online today.
Additional Resources On Garage Door Tips and Tricks:
- How to Check Garage Door Balance
- How to Measure for Your Garage Door Replacement
- How to Manually Open Your Garage Door When the Power Is Out
- How to Keep Bugs and Pests out of Your Garage
- 7 Signs You Need a New Garage Door