If you have ever lost your garage door opener remote, you won’t need us to tell you how inconvenient it can be. However, if you know what you are doing, it doesn’t have to turn into a major problem: with a little research and a calm head, you should quickly be able to open and close your garage door again and find a suitable replacement for the remote that you have mislaid.

Whether you have just lost your remote or you would simply like to be prepared, we hope this guide will help you to resolve the situation without any unnecessary drama or fuss. Prepared by our Arvada garage door installation team, it contains our top tips and suggestions.

What to Do if You Lose Your Garage Door Opener Remote

If you lose your remote and you need to get inside your garage, the very first thing you will need to do is work out how to open the door manually. The correct process may vary slightly from one type of garage door to another but it will normally include the following steps:

• Check the Door Is Fully Closed– For safety reasons, you need to make sure the door is in the fully closed position before proceeding to the next step. If it is not, you may be able to push it into the right position with the application of a little force. However, if you feel too much resistance or you are not sure what you are doing, it is better to contact your local garage door repair company instead of trying to do it yourself.
• Disconnect the Opener Mechanism– Before you attempt to open or close any overhead doors manually, you should disconnect the door opening mechanism (assuming that one is present). Failure to do so could result in damage to your door, the opening mechanism, yourself, or all three if you are very unlucky. If you have a relatively modern garage door and opener, you should be able to disconnect the opening mechanism simply by pulling on the red emergency cord that is hanging down. If you do not have a red emergency cord, please refer to the manufacturer’s handbook for instructions on how to disconnect the opener.
• Lift the Door, From the Bottom– The easiest and safest way to open most garage doors manually is to grab them at the bottom and pull upwards until the door is in the fully open position and stops moving. Some makes and models of garage doors may have a handle on them to facilitate this procedure but, in either case, it is a fairly easy task to accomplish if you are reasonably fit and healthy. If you are unwell or infirm, you may like to ask a friend, relative, or neighbor to help out.
• Pull the Door to Close It– To close the door once you have finished doing whatever it was that you needed to do in the garage, simply pull the door back down again, in reverse of the earlier opening procedure. At this point, we would like to stress that if you feel in any way uncomfortable with the idea of manually opening your door or you are not sure whether you are strong enough to manage it by yourself, please ask for help rather than taking a chance. You can contact a trusted family member or call your local overhead door company: the important thing is that you get the help you need and don’t risk your health and well-being for the sake of a garage door.
• Lock the Door– If your door is fitted with a lock bar, you should lock it now to secure the door in the closed position.

That’s basically all you need to do if you want to gain access to your garage but please don’t forget to unlock the lock bar before you reconnect the opener and attempt to open the door again with your new remote!

The second thing you need to do is to source a new opener remote. How you do this will depend on the make and model of the one that you lost. In the first instance, we recommend contacting the manufacturer

Avoiding Problems with Lost Garage Door Remotes

If you want to avoid the possibility of losing your garage door remote in the first place, we suggest looking into smart home systems. With just a basic system, you should be able to hook your door opener up to the Internet and access it via a secure smartphone or tablet app. Some of the latest garage door openers even have their own mobile apps, which makes them a great choice for this particular purpose.

Another way to eliminate the problem at source is to take advantage of your vehicle’s built-in electronic capabilities. For example, many GMC vehicles have what they call a Universal Home Remote feature. This feature, if included in your vehicle’s specifications, can be used to program one of the buttons in your car or pickup to operate the garage door opener.

If you need any help with a stuck garage door If you happen to live in the area, please feel free to call and speak to one of our Arvada garage door repair experts. We are proud to be able to offer a full range of garage door maintenance and repair services to local residents, businesses, and public sector organizations.