Garage door openers are life-changing devices that have made entering and exiting garages convenient. Your home’s electrical system powers these devices, and you likely don’t think about them unless there’s an issue and your garage door fails to open. But have you thought of what could happen during a power outage?
You won’t be able to operate your garage door remotely. You’ll have to disengage it from the opener to initiate manual operation. If you can’t physically handle manual operation or the power goes out while you’re outside, getting back into your garage would be challenging. That’s where battery backups come in as crucial emergency solutions during power disruptions. This guide shows you how to add a battery backup to a garage door opener to continue using your garage door remotely.
The latest garage door openers have a built-in battery backup or a separate add-on unit connected to the opener’s wiring. While older opener models didn’t come with batteries as supplementary power sources, manufacturers now offer compatible batteries you can install separately. Alternatively, you can opt for newer models with backups that make adding and replacing the batteries more straightforward.
During a power outage, these batteries serve as backup power systems to operate the garage door. This means that if you’re inside or outside the garage during an outage, you can still open and close the door as usual.
The State of California’s existing law emphasizes the importance of a battery backup. It demands that all automatic garage door openers manufactured, sold and installed after July 1, 2019, be equipped with one. The law was introduced in response to the devastating 2017 wildfires, which left many trapped in their homes with no power to operate their garage doors. These risks apply anywhere else.
When shopping for garage door openers, you’ll notice that many recent models have built-in batteries. These are located inside the motor unit and require unscrewing the battery compartment to access and replace them. Here’s how to add battery backups to garage door openers with a built-in feature:
Add-on batteries are separate units. Some brands are equipped with these batteries as part of the package when you purchase the garage door opener. You can also buy one separately if you own an older opener. The installation process for these batteries varies depending on the brand and age of the model. Follow these steps:
If you purchase a garage door opener with a separate battery, review the manual to familiarize yourself with the installation. The manual should guide you on where the battery goes, as some attach to the opener unit and mount while others require brackets. Checking the manual is even more important if you own an old opener model. You want to know if installing a backup battery is possible and which type is compatible with your model.
As a safety precaution, you should never add battery backups to garage door openers when they are connected to the power source. Unplug the door opener from the grounded outlet to ensure safety before installing the backup battery.
With the power disconnected, install the battery by following these steps:
Battery backups are critical in the event of unexpected power outages. Since you can’t predict grid disruptions, installing a supplementary power source to run your garage door is the ideal proactive step. With newer units, adding battery backups is generally easy. Older units are less straightforward since you’re not sure if a battery backup is even applicable.
You don’t have to grapple with uncertainty when you can let garage door professionals help. King Door Company, Inc. has trained technicians who can deliver same-day and 24-hour emergency services for all garage door issues. Contact us today to schedule a service!