Power Out? How to Open Your Garage Door by Hand (and When Not To)
Quick answer: First look at the spring above the door. If it’s broken, leave the door closed and call. If it looks fine, make sure the door is fully closed, pull the red emergency release cord, and lift the door by hand. When the power comes back, run the opener once so it reconnects.
When the power goes out, the opener stops, but the door can still be opened by hand. Every opener has an emergency release: the red cord hanging from the opener rail. Here’s how to use it safely, and the one situation where you shouldn’t.
First: check the springs
Look at the spring above the door. If you see a gap in the coil, or a lift cable hanging loose, don’t pull the release. With a broken spring, the door can drop fast and without warning, because the opener was the only thing holding it. Leave the door closed and call (507) 901-1400. More on broken spring repair.
How to open the door by hand
- Make sure the door is fully closed if you can. Garage door makers advise pulling the release only with the door closed. A partly open door can slam down when released.
- Pull the red cord straight down. This disconnects the door from the opener.
- Lift the door from the bottom handle or the middle of the bottom panel, keeping fingers out of the section joints. A balanced door lifts easily and stays where you leave it.
- Stop if it feels very heavy, falls fast, or won’t stay up. That points to a spring problem. Close it slowly and call.
When the power comes back
The opener needs to reconnect to the door. On most chain and belt openers you just run the opener: the trolley clicks back into place on its own. Some models need the cord pulled toward the opener first, so check your opener’s manual. Run the door through one full open-and-close cycle and watch it. If the opener hums but the door doesn’t move, see opener repair.
Report the outage
| Where you live | Who to call |
|---|---|
| Most of Mankato, North Mankato and Eagle Lake (Xcel Energy; check your bill if unsure) | 1-800-895-1999, or report it online at xcelenergy.com/out |
| St. Peter (city electric utility) | Weekdays 7 AM–5 PM: (507) 934-0670. Nights and weekends: St. Peter Police, (507) 931-1550 |
| Downed power line | 911. Stay away from it. |
Using a generator? Never in the garage
The CDC says never use a generator inside your home or garage, even with the doors and windows open. Run it outside, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents.
Battery backup openers
Some openers have a backup battery that runs the door for a while during an outage. California has required one on new openers since 2019. Minnesota has no similar rule that we’re aware of, so older openers here often have no backup. To test yours, unplug the opener and press the remote. If nothing happens, the battery may need replacing.
Door stuck or spring broken? Call
Call (507) 901-1400. Calls are answered 24/7, including nights when the power is out. Ask for a price range on the phone before anyone drives out. Getting ready for winter? See our winter garage door checklist.
Power outage garage door questions
Can I open my garage door if the spring is broken?
Don’t. Without the spring, the full weight of the door (often 130 to 250 pounds) is on your arms or on nothing at all. Leave it closed and call.
Why won’t my opener work after the power came back?
It may still be disconnected from the door. Run the opener once so the trolley reconnects, or follow your manual’s re-engage steps.
How do I report a power outage in Mankato?
Most of the Mankato area is served by Xcel Energy: call 1-800-895-1999 or use xcelenergy.com/out. St. Peter has its own city utility.
Sources: Chamberlain (LiftMaster), Genie, DASMA, CDC, Xcel Energy, City of Saint Peter, California SB 969. Last reviewed: October 2026.
