How To Open A Stuck Garage Door From The Outside? (Step-By-Step Guide)

Last Updated on July 30, 2023 By Emma W. Thomas

To open a stuck garage door from the outside, follow these steps:

1. Check for obstructions or debris blocking the tracks.
2. Lubricate the rollers and hinges to ease movement.
3. Use a sturdy object like a crowbar to gently pry and release the door.
4. Seek professional help if necessary.

How To Open A Stuck Garage Door From The Outside?

Opening a stuck garage door from the outside can be a frustrating and challenging task. Whether it’s due to a power outage, a malfunctioning opener, or a broken spring, getting the door unstuck is crucial for accessing your vehicle or belongings in the garage. In this listicle, we will explore several effective methods to open a stuck garage door from the outside.

1. Method 1: Manual Release

• Locate the manual release cord or lever hanging from the ceiling near the opener.
• Firmly pull down on the cord or push up on the lever to disengage the opener mechanism.
• With the opener disengaged, attempt to lift the door manually by grabbing it securely at the bottom center. Apply gradual and even force until the door opens.

3. Method 2: Lubricate the Tracks and Rollers

• Inspect the tracks and rollers to ensure they are free of debris, dirt, or rust.
• Apply a high-quality lubricant, such as silicone spray or white lithium grease, to the tracks and rollers.
• Work the lubricant in by manually operating the door a few times. This can help reduce friction and make it easier to open the door.

4. Method 3: Check the Photo-Eye Sensors

• Locate the photo-eye sensors on both sides of the garage door, about six inches above the floor.
• Check if there is any debris or obstruction blocking the sensors. Clean them if necessary.
• Ensure that the sensors are aligned and facing each other. Adjust them if needed.
• If the sensors still don’t register properly, consult a professional to troubleshoot and repair any wiring or sensor issues.

5. Method 4: Release Tension on the Springs (professionals only)

• Garage doors with torsion springs carry high amounts of tension and can be dangerous to handle.
• If you have experience and proper tools, you may attempt to release tension on the springs to make opening the door easier.
• Note that tampering with springs without the necessary expertise can lead to serious injuries. Consider calling a professional if you’re unsure.

6. Method 5: Call a Professional Technician

• If all else fails or if you’re uncomfortable attempting DIY solutions, it’s best to call a professional garage door technician.
• Professional technicians have the knowledge, tools, and experience to diagnose and resolve any stuck garage door issues safely and efficiently.
• They can assess the problem, perform necessary repairs, and provide maintenance tips to ensure smooth operation in the future.

How To Manually Open A Stuck Garage Door From Inside

One of the main reasons you would open a garage door from the inside is during a power outage. Ensure that you unlock the door by opening any locks. Disconnect all automatic opening systems like the power supply systems and track down the emergency release cord. Usually, the cord’s design is red for easy identification during emergencies. 

Pull the red cord to let go of the garage door from the trolley, then lift the door until it stops moving. Ensure it remains in a stable position before you remove the car. Pull the garage door downwards once outside and insert the lock if available. 

Possible Reasons Why Garage A Garage Door Gets Stuck

Broken Metal Drums, Cables, And Springs

The garage door is quite heavy, and more weight is on the springs. This may cause some springs to break at some point. Since the door depends on electricity, the metal drums and cables may also be damaged as they interact with the garage door during lifting. 

Lack Of Lubrication 

Torsion springs require regular maintenance through the application of lubricants. It would be best to lubricate opener chains every few months for proper functioning.

Garage Operator

A blown fuse or damaged circuit breaker prevents power from reaching the garage operator. Conversely, the garage door will get stuck and resist any movement. Sometimes, you might unplug the operator absentmindedly, which prevents the operator from receiving electric power, making the garage door unresponsive.

Misadjusted Sensitivity Settings

This problem is common for new garage doors that require sensitivity settings to aid in the door’s performance. Sensitivity settings also determine the weight exerted by the garage door. Therefore, misadjusting sensitivity settings will lead to your garage door getting stuck. For that reason, you should consult the company for the recommended compatibility settings during installation.

Inadvertently Activated Lock Mode

Holding the lock button down longer when locking the garage door might activate lock mode by mistake. The next time you open the garage door, it will not open as expected because of accidental activation of the lock mode. To resolve it, hold down the button for a few seconds while opening the garage door.

Worn Out Opening Gears

Like springs and cables, gears also wear and tear with time. The first impression is a humming sound produced when you open a garage door. Unless you replace the opening gears, frequent wear, and tear distort the garage door until it gets stuck.

Why Doesn’t A Stuck Garage Door Go Down?

If a garage door doesn’t move downwards as expected after pressing the button, check the lights whether they are blinking. The problem is mainly associated with the photo-eye, whereby the safety beam is blocked to avoid letting the door down. 

What To Do If Your Garage Door Gets Stuck

You can quickly fix a stuck garage door by inspecting all the parts with the help of experienced personnel. Check out the torsion springs to confirm that they are working appropriately. If they fail or break, consider replacing them with new ones.  Besides torsion springs, rollers and tracks could cause stuck garage doors. 

Once you realize that the rollers are misaligned, use a hammer gently tap the rollers. Slight tapping brings tracks into their proper position without causing further damage. Use a piece of cloth to clean the tracks to remove any particles that may obstruct the garage door from opening smoothly. 

It would help to examine the tension springs to know whether they are in good condition. Snapped tension springs resist any movement caused by the garage door, which makes it stuck. Call a professional to repair any snapped tension spring in your garage to minimize any accident that instant responses could cause after the garage door is stuck.

Can A Stuck Garage Door Be Opened Manually?

Most garage doors are powered by electricity but also have manual opening systems. The garage door may also get stuck during a power outage when opening the garage door. In such scenarios, you can manually open a stuck garage door by pulling the huge handle at the center of your garage door. 

The handle is to help open and close the door during emergencies. However, this method will only work if the garage door doesn’t have other issues. Remember to lock the garage after manually opening the door to avoid any intruders from accessing your garage.

Closing A Stuck Garage Door

A garage door gets stuck for many reasons, but closing it is pretty straightforward. You will require a clean rug, vise grip, and a socket wrench, and then follow the simple step-by-step below:                                  

N/B: Before you begin, always ensure that springs are in good condition, rollers are inside door tracks, and cables are not loose. 

Step 1: Position Rollers Inside The Tracks

If rollers are not inside the garage door tracks, use a pair of vise grips to push rollers in the tracks before lowering the garage door. Use the vice grips to bend rollers to keep them intact. 

Step 2: Release The Garage Door

Pull the emergency release cord outwards to release the door from the opener. The yarn is in the form of a rope connecting the garage door to the opener track.

Step 3: Lower The Garage Door

Using a socket wrench, loosen the door track’s bolt while pulling the track towards the binding section. The stuck garage door will slightly move down without any binding. Still, tighten the track bolt with a socket wrench to make it firm.

Step 4: Test The Stuck Garage Door

Use the wall switch to operate the garage door and see its response. Likewise, use your car’s keypad and remote control if available. Raise the door, jiggle the emergency cord, and open it using the motor. 

Clean the photoelectric section with a clean rug if you did not use the opener during the entire process. In the meantime, you will be able to open and close the garage door manually if there’s a power outage. The operation can also be possible if done when there is electricity.

Fixing A Stuck Garage Door With A Broken Cable From Outside

If the door is still accessible by key and is lockable, pull the cable outside, and the door is released. As long as the whole system is inspected and confirmed not to have any problem, you will open the door. However, exercise caution because the door will be heavier than usual since it does not use electric power.

Reattaching The Spring Levers To Open A Stuck Garage Door

Before using the door’s remote control or manually moving the door towards the opener carriage, you must reconnect it. You can re-engage the torsion spring lever by pulling the emergency release cord backward, and the connection will happen automatically. 

Can Your Garage System Be Hacked When The Door Is Stuck?

When your garage door becomes unresponsive because of misaligned operation settings, you will need the company to send you new codes before reprogramming to those of your choice. Since they send the codes through radio frequencies, they are susceptible to hacking. Anyone with hacking skills and a code grabber can easily hack your car system during the code transmission process. 

Although it rarely happens, an intruder will leave a code grabber within the range of your garage to record your garage’s fixed code when you press the open button. The device will record your codes, giving an intruder a copy of your garage door password. Consequently, they will be able to open your garage from any location using their device.

Why Do Lights Flash When The Garage Door Is Stuck?

Garage doors will not flash when the garage door is in good condition. When you realize the lights are flashing, it is easier to detect the cause of your stuck garage door. Blinking lights indicate that safety reversing sensors are obstructed or misaligned. Therefore, you can easily focus on sensors when repairing the garage door. 

Flashes are indicators of shorted sensor wires that make the door stuck. Once more, replace the sensor wires, bringing the door to normalcy. When in doubt, consult your sensor manual installation guide for instructions about installation.

Final Thought

Garage doors often get stuck and require to be opened, but hiring a professional is a better way of doing it. It will minimize the cause of other problems and assure you to get everything done right.

References:

https://www.wikihow.com/Open-Garage-Door-Manually-from-Outside
https://www.mesagaragedoors.com/news/how-to-open-a-locked-garage-door-from-the-outside-without-a-key/