The lights are flickering. You receive a notification on your phone indicating a power outage. And then it hits you—your car is trapped in the garage, and you must drive off to work or pick up your kids from school.
This is a more common occurrence than you might think for New York City homeowners and Long Island residents. The typical American experiences around eight hours of power outages per year, and metropolitan areas such as New York often see even more during severe weather. When storms blow through Queens, Brooklyn, or the Bronx, power outages can leave hundreds of homeowners unable to open their garage door during a power outage.
At H&O Garage Door Repair, we get dozens of panicked calls from NYC and Long Island homeowners every time there’s an outage. The good news? You can safely open your garage door manually—if you know what to do. Here’s exactly how you can do it without damaging your door or risking injury.
Safety Notes Before You Start
Take 30 seconds before you touch anything to see what’s going on. Most garage door power outage open accidents occur because people rush and skip these important safety checks:
- Never pull on the emergency release cord if your door is already open. That’s the #1 mistake we see. If the door is raised and you disconnect it from the opener, it can crash down. A standard two-car garage door weighs 130–350 pounds—enough to cause serious injury.
- Check springs and cables for visible damage. Look at the torsion springs above your door or the extension springs on the sides. If you see gaps, frayed cables, or broken parts, stop immediately. A broken spring makes the door dangerously heavy.
- Keep children and pets out of the garage area. Even when you’re being careful, garage doors can move unexpectedly. Set up a safety perimeter before you begin.
- If the door feels extremely heavy, don’t force it. A properly balanced garage door should lift smoothly by hand. If it drops quickly or feels like you’re lifting a car, your springs are likely broken or out of balance.
If you’re not sure or feel resistance that seems wrong, call your local H&O Garage Door Repair expert. We offer 24/7 emergency service across NYC and Long Island.
Manual Release Steps – How to Open It Safely
This is the step-by-step procedure we walk Brooklyn and Queens homeowners through during service calls. We’ve guided hundreds of clients through it over the phone during emergencies.
- Make sure your garage door is completely closed. If it’s stuck halfway up, don’t attempt the manual release. Call a professional—half-open doors can be dangerous when disconnected from the opener.
- Disconnect the garage door opener. Unplug the unit from its ceiling outlet to prevent it from engaging while you work.
- Locate the red emergency release cord. This rope hangs from the opener’s trolley (the part connecting to your door). It usually has a red handle about six feet above the floor.
- Pull down and back toward the opener. You’ll hear a click—that’s the trolley disengaging from the drive chain or belt. It shouldn’t require much effort; if it does, stop and call a technician.
- Lift the door slowly with both hands. Stand in the center, bend your knees, and lift using your legs. The door should move smoothly and stay open on its own when fully raised.
- When power returns, reset the opener. Close the door manually first. Then pull the emergency release cord toward the door until it clicks back in place. Test using your wall button to confirm reconnection.
Pro Tip: If the door creaks or sits crooked while lifting, stop immediately. It may indicate a broken spring or stretched cable—both require professional garage door repair.
Battery Backup Options for NYC & Long Island Homeowners
Here’s something most Queens and Brooklyn homeowners don’t know—you can avoid this entire manual process with a battery backup system.
When power cuts out, a built-in battery automatically activates. You can still open and close your garage door with your remote or wall button—no manual lifting required. Systems like LiftMaster and Chamberlain typically provide 20–50 cycles on a single charge.
Why it matters in New York: According to the NYC Mayor’s Office, Con Edison manages over 1,200 outages annually across the boroughs. Long Island faces similar numbers through PSEG. Summer heatwaves, coastal storms, and winter freezes all contribute. If you’ve lived here for more than five years, you’ve experienced at least one major outage.
Modern backup systems work with most leading brands, including LiftMaster (8500W, 87504, 8587W), Chamberlain with Battery Backup, Genie with IntelliG, and Craftsman Smart Openers.
Installation takes just 30–45 minutes for a professional. At H&O Garage Door Repair, we install and service battery backup openers across Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Long Island—so you’re never stuck again during the next storm.
Cost Tip: Battery backup systems typically add $150–$300 to your opener installation and last 5–7 years before battery replacement. That’s less than a midnight emergency callout—and it pays for itself quickly.
Request a battery backup installation today and stay prepared for the next outage.
When to Call a Professional
Some situations require expert help. Don’t risk injury or more damage to your garage door system. Contact H&O Garage Door Repair if you notice:
- The door won’t move at all after disconnecting the opener — often caused by broken springs, jammed tracks, or damaged cables.
- Visible damage to springs, cables, or rollers — these parts hold extreme tension (torsion springs can support 200+ pounds of force).
- Trouble re-engaging automatic mode after power is restored — may indicate a misaligned trolley mechanism.
- The door drops quickly when released or sits unevenly — a clear sign of imbalance or faulty springs.
- You’re uncomfortable performing the manual release — no shame in calling for help. Safety first.
For 24/7 emergency garage door repair in NYC and Long Island, call your local H&O team:
- Queens: (718) 224-8808
- Brooklyn: (917) 361-4816
- Bronx: (718) 224-8807
- Long Island: (516) 316-9880
- Emergency Services: (833) 464-2724 or (888) 330-5556
Our trucks stay stocked and ready across all five boroughs and Nassau County. Most emergency calls receive same-day service—many within 90 minutes.
Final Thought
Knowing how to open your garage door safely during a power outage is an essential skill for every NYC and Long Island homeowner. But if you’re dealing with a broken spring, damaged cables, or want to upgrade to a battery backup system, don’t wait for the next blackout to fix it.
Call H&O Garage Door Repair or request a free safety inspection—we’ll make sure your door operates safely with or without power.