Opening and closing your garage door has never been easier with MyQ Smartphone Controller from Calgary Overhead Doors Ltd. By linking your router, smartphone and garage door opener, you can operate, monitor, and control your door from virtually anywhere in the world - so as long as you have an Internet connection, and power, you’ll always be connected to your home. Those who have experienced the convenience that an automatic garage door opener offers will likely never go back to a manually opening door.
These are the conveniences of contemporary life but what happens if there is no power and battery backup – either to your garages like a power failure, or your remote, like dead batteries – now what. Power outages could leave your garage door incapacitated and you stuck out in the cold. On the flip side, when you’re inside the garage with no power and you need to get out for work it’s important to understand these tips on how to open a garage door manually. Virtually all garage door openers have a bypass switch for when the power goes out, a motor goes awry, or the remote opener dies. On most garage door openers there is a rope with a handle on the end (usually red). This manual release handle disengages the trolley from the attachment point to the rail. Pulling on this rope will put the garage into manual mode so if the door is up, you’ll need to prop the door open for safe closing or it might come crashing down with enough force to damage anything that gets in its way. To be safe, always activate the handle when the garage door is closed. If you’re locked out when the power is out, it may be possible to release the lever from the outside. Some models include a lock cylinder on the garage door, typically it is in the top panel. To begin: Insert the key (hopefully, you have it) and the lock should come out when turned; a length of cord will be attached to the back of the lock; pulling the cord releases the door from the opener and allows it to be opened manually. When power is returned, or the failed mechanism repaired, you’ll likely want to take full advantage of the conveniences of an automatic door again. To reengage the trolley attachment, simply pull down on the cord but this time towards the garage opening to keep the lever from engaging. Pull up on the door until it snaps into place and you’re back in automatic mode. If that’s too confusing, simply hit the button on the remote opener and the track will force the spring attachment back into place. Finally, if your door is older, this switch to manual mode may reveal other problems like weak or broken springs. If your springs or cables break, this is where Calgary Overhead Doors Ltd.’s licensed and insured technicians care of the repair quickly and at a fair cost. For over 60 years we have been providing residential, commercial, and industrial garage door repairs for any architectural style. If you have questions about where Calgary Overhead Doors Ltd.’s new installations, repairs, or maintenance services, contact us today for emergency repairs or for a free estimate on a new garage door system.