What to Do When Locked Out of Your Garage
Written by Nir S. Garage Door Technician – B&W Garage Doors
Have you had trouble opening your garage door from the outside or the inside? Stay calm; being locked out of your garage is a common problem.
B&W Garage Door Specialists knows what you are going through, whether locked out or when a garage door opener malfunctions.
If this happens, you can call us to have your garage door repaired quickly.
But there are a few other things you can try first before giving us a call.
You Can Try Opening The Garage Door From the Inside
If you have a garage door opener, you can use the manual release when it stops working and does not respond.
The release is inside the garage, allowing you to open the door if you cannot use the remote.
For older doors, you may find the release mechanism on the bottom or face of the door and follow these steps to open it manually:
- Look at the garage door exterior to unlock all the latches, locks, and switches obstructing the door from opening.
- Now close the door to keep it closed and prevent damage to you or the garage door.
- Unplug the garage door opener and disconnect the backup battery before you use the manual release.
- Locate your emergency release cord, which is usually red and found hanging from the track or railing in the middle of the garage.
- Grab the handle and pull it down to activate the release, which disconnects the door opener, allowing you to open it manually.
- Now, you open the door slowly until it reaches the top or stops moving. Ensure the door remains secure before you back out with the car or walk underneath it.
- After opening the door, close it and use the manual lock on the side to close and secure it until you can get professional help.
Open Your Garage Door From Outside
Before opening your door from the outside, we recommend checking to see if anything is blocking it.
If nothing blocks the door, you can use the emergency release kit, which looks like a small lock at the top.
Use the key to unlock the lock and release the cord.
Now, move the handle vertically to pull the release handle.
After the door unlocks, you can lift it using the handle.
You must pull it up to lock your door in the upper position before you release it.
Enter From The Side Door
Except for the garage door, which you do have a side door, it gives you another access point to the home.
You can unlock your side door without using a key.
But it will take some practice.
First, move the handle to check if it is locked.
If you find it locked, you can use a credit card to slide it through the lock to help, and it works on most side doors with a keyed handle or knob.
You may also need to contact a locksmith or a garage door emergency service if it does not work.
Steps to open the side door with a credit card:
We recommend not using an active or important credit card for these steps as it can bend and damage the plastic.
- Insert your card inside the gap found between the frame and the door. Slide your card down to place it next to the doorknob.
Now, push the card at a 90° angle. - Start moving your card up/down by tilting it towards the doorknob until it nearly touches it.
- Next, bend your card to the opposite position as it will allow the card to slip under the slant-latches angled end to force it open.
If the above steps do not work, it is time to lean into the door and move the card back/forth.
Adding pressure should help open the lock, or you must call a locksmith.
Other Means of Preventing Being Locked Out of The Garage
The above is your best methods to get back into the garage, but you can take some preventative measures for the following cases:
- Invest in a Wi-Fi-enabled garage door opener, especially if the radio frequency system fails.
You can use the provided application on your phone to control the door wirelessly. - If your garage door works with a manual lock and fails, you can contact a locksmith to replace the damaged lock.
We do not recommend trying to open the door forcefully.
The reason is that components like springs, the opener, or the motor can break. - If you cannot enter your garage because a power failure prevents the opener from working, it helps to invest in a backup battery for use in emergencies.
- If the remote control stops working or you have no signal, drilling a hole in the door can help.
You must drill at the top of the door to access your emergency release cord.
You will need a spider tool to grab the release cord inside your garage.
Now, pull down the cord to engage your opening system and open the door manually.
To prevent problems in the future, we can install a vault lock on the emergency release handle attached to a cable or rope.
Call B&W Garage Door Calgary Today
For all your emergency garage door needs, call us today.
We provide garage door maintenance, repairs, and opener services.
If you are locked out of your garage, call us so we can get you back inside or on the road.