Garage door won't open!

[kiwifruit]

This morning I unlock my garage (when i turn a key) and I heard something like a wire snap. Now I can't open the door, the door is a sectional and up and over. I have no other way getting in, any suggestion anyone? Or do I have to call a garage door specialist.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

You should still be able to turn the handle & then lift the door from the bottom, but it maybe more difficult than before if the wire has come off the spring.

 

[T675Rich]

I guess it depends on what broke. Mine is a solid door and on the old one the cable came off the roller so the spring at the top was not helping the door open but I was still able to open the door it was just heavier. If however you have cable going from the lock to the points of the door where it locks to the frame (like the image below) then you may still have a point on the frame where the lock hasn't disengaged.

Of course this is just based on my experience of a solid one piece garage door so sectional doors may be different.

 

[kiwifruit]

You should still be able to turn the handle & then lift the door from the bottom, but it maybe more difficult than before if the wire has come off the spring.

I can turn the handle and try to pull the door up and it moved about half an inch.

 

[cosmicbike]

Is it sectional, or is it up and over as it can't be both. Sectional will run in tracks as it opens, up & over will have vertical runners either side.

I presume the handle is T-shaped and in the middle of the door. Turning it will pull a wire which is connected to the locking mechanism (typically a pin) at the top. From the outside you may have a piece of strip across the top of the door, pull that off and you will be able to manually depress the pin to open the door. You can replace the snapped cable with a gear or brake inner.

Mine did this last month and it's annoying, but quick to fix.

 

[kiwifruit]

Is it sectional, or is it up and over as it can't be both. Sectional will run in tracks as it opens, up & over will have vertical runners either side.

I presume the handle is T-shaped and in the middle of the door. Turning it will pull a wire which is connected to the locking mechanism (typically a pin) at the top. From the outside you may have a piece of strip across the top of the door, pull that off and you will be able to manually depress the pin to open the door. You can replace the snapped cable with a gear or brake inner.

Mine did this last month and it's annoying, but quick to fix.

It is a sectional, thanks for the info will have a look in the morning.

 

[cosmicbike]

It is a sectional, thanks for the info will have a look in the morning.

Sorry should have said the info I put is for up & over doors. Sectional will be similar but likely lock mechanism will be at the side.

 

[PaulSB]

I had this happen to an "up and over" door. On one side the sliding bolt wouldn't disengage.

Find where the bolt is and locate the plate it slides in to. Get a hacksaw blade, slide down between door edge and garage wall. Begin sawing. It takes a very, very long time. You can buy a handle which will take a hacksaw blade without a frame, this makes it somewhat easier but not much.

 

[sheddy]

but cars are so last century !

 

[DaveReading]

Springs on up-and-over doors can do you a nasty injury. Please be careful.

 

[classic33]

I had this happen to an "up and over" door. On one side the sliding bolt wouldn't disengage.

Find where the bolt is and locate the plate it slides in to. Get a hacksaw blade, slide down between door edge and garage wall. Begin sawing. It takes a very, very long time. You can buy a handle which will take a hacksaw blade without a frame, this makes it somewhat easier but not much.

If using this method, use the blade so it cut's on the pull, not the push. Less chance of breaking/binding the blade, and a bit quicker cutting.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Centre of the door at the top.
Push a big screw driver or thin pry bar ..lever upwards.
The lock will pop.

Hence the need for dead bolts

 

[screenman]

Centre of the door at the top.
Push a big screw driver or thin pry bar ..lever upwards.
The lock will pop.

Hence the need for dead bolts

Beat me to it.

 

[bikingdad90]

On our up and over door we had the metal guide rope snap on one side and then the tension in the spring on the top unwind. Had to fit new cones and wires and then re tension the spring.

Also had the lock replaced with a half barrel ERA lock as although it was a Cardale Garage Door it was one of the newer ones that didnt take a barrel. If you can get into the garage you should be able to unscrew the internal door mechanism and change the broken wires.

 

[Dave 123]

Our cable snapped on our up and over door the other day.
New spring fitted by a man who knows how. Can’t remember what it cost, but I stood wincing as he put the tension back on the spring. Scared the life out of me!