Problem
Car stuck inthe garage
If the opener just stopped working, you can probably lift the door by hand. If you heard a bang, the door looks crooked or a cable is loose, don't lift it. Call, and tell the contractor a car is inside.
Using the release handle
Safe to do
- Make sure the door is fully down.
- Pull the release handle, usually a red cord, down and back toward the opener.
- Lift from the bottom with both hands, all the way up.
- Check that it stays up before you go under it, then move the car.
Leave alone
- Don't use the handle with the door raised. The door can fall.
- Don't lift a door that feels very heavy. You may be holding what the spring should hold.
- Don't drive out with the door only partly up.
- Don't put your fingers between the panels.
If the door binds or sticks when you move it by hand, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says to have it serviced by a professional.
If the door lifts easily
If you're worried it could roll down, a C-clamp or locking pliers on the track just below a roller will hold it. Move the car, then close the door by hand. It stays disconnected from the opener until you reconnect it by following the opener's manual.
If the door won't lift
Leave it shut and stay clear of the springs. Tell the contractor the car is inside, whether you heard a bang and what you can see from the floor. Say if you need the car soon.
Ready to talk to a contractor?
Your call goes to an independent contractor who works in this area. Say what the door is doing, ask what the price covers, and ask for license details before you agree to anything.