Locked out of your garage door or having issues with your opener? It’s a common problem that can quickly throw your entire routine into chaos.
Here at Red Key LLC in Buffalo NY, we see these kinds of garage issues throughout the year. Here’s what we think you as a homeowner should know about dealing with and preventing garage door lockouts!
Common reasons for garage door lockouts
There are a few reasons why we get called out to homes in Buffalo for garage door problems:
- The power is out, cutting off power to the opener
- Your remote has stopped communicating with the door opener
- There’s a structural issue with the garage door itself that has created a jam
- There’s been an attempted break-in which caused damage to the door
- Weather conditions have warped elements of the garage door
What to do in the moment of a garage door lockout
Whether you’re on the way to work or you just picked up the kids from school, a malfunctioning garage door always seems to happen at the worst time. Here are a couple of things you can do in the moment to get the garage door open:
- Open the door manually. Garage doors have emergency release cords that allow you to manually open the door by disconnecting it from the motorized opener. In order to do this, you’ll need to be able to get inside the garage, as the cord hangs on the garage door track. Once you’ve pulled the red cord, you’ll be able to manually lift the door. This shouldn’t take too much effort unless there’s been damage to another element in your garage door system. In that case, don’t force it! You could cause further damage or injure yourself. Important note: This should only be done if your garage door is closed! Otherwise, the garage door could slam shut, causing damage or injury.
- Call in a specialist. Unless you know that your garage door lockout was the result of a temporary power outage, it’s a good idea to call in a specialist to take a look. Someone who works with garage doors will be able to troubleshoot any problems with the opener, garage door track, rollers, or remote transmitter.
Garage door quick release keys
Let’s say that your garage door opener stops working and you’re not able to access the emergency pull release. This may be the case if the power goes out while you’re away from home or your garage doesn’t have another entry door that you can use.
A Quick-Release Key is a great solution. This is an externally-mounted lock that can be installed by one of our locksmiths on your garage door. It works by connecting the lock cylinder with a cord that attaches to emergency pull cord mechanism. When the key turns, it disengages the electric opener and allows you to open the door manually.
Season-proofing your garage doors
Here in Buffalo, our garage doors have to withstand harsh winters and humid summers. But getting your garage doors checked out before the temperatures get really extreme is a good way to avoid a lockout in the worst moment. Here are a few tips for weatherizing your garage:
- Check your insulation. Homeowners often overlook the importance of keeping their garage well-insulated. But, this can be a good way to both keep your garage door working smoothly and also lower your energy bills
- Have your garage door maintenanced. Garage doors aren’t overly complicated pieces of machinery but they can benefit from a tune-up from someone familiar with the components.
- Replace the batteries in your remote control. As soon as your garage door remote shows signs of lagging, it’s a good idea to get the batteries replaced. Batteries can lose power faster when the temperatures drop, so it’s best to replace them before winter to avoid being stuck outside in freezing temperatures!
Get help with your garage door lockout!
No matter whether you’re in the middle of a lockout or are looking to prevent one, give us a call at Red Key LLC to come out to your home in Allentown, Sloan, South Abbott or anywhere else in Buffalo. We’ll help restore access to your garage and ensure that you don’t get locked out in the future!
