How to Open & Close an Automated Sectional Door or Panel Door if the Power is out

What do you do when you have no power and your car is inside the garage with the door stuck down? Fortunately, you can operate garage doors by hand.

When the power is out, you can open and close your motorised sectional or panel door by hand. The first step is to disengage your door from the motor.

For most garage door models, there is a pull cord attached to a lever near your garage door arm. This arm is what is keeping your garage door in the down position.

Gently pull the red cord towards you. This will pull the lever down as well. You should hear a click sound, signifying that your garage has been disengaged. You can now lift your garage door by hand with ease. Slide is gently along the tracks all the way up.

If you want to re-lock the door in the down position when the power is still out or reengage it so you can use it by remote again, you need to bring it all the way down. Notice a shuttle along the rail of the garage door arm? Make sure it connects to the end of the garage door arm, flick the lever back to its previous position.

When you can’t lift the door again by hand, it means you have successfully reengaged it with the motor and it is ready for remote use once the power is back on.

For any problems relating to your garage door, get in touch with a reliable and capable garage door repair service. Doors Direct has a great reputation for repairing garage doors quickly and seamlessly.

For more advice on how to maintain your garage door see our guide on how to make your garage door last longer.

This blog was originally posted in June 2017 and has been updated in February 2022.