I'm really in a bind here. The previous owner of my house lost the garage door opener when they moved out, and now I'm stuck. The walk-in door to the garage was barred from the inside, so even with the knob being unlocked, I can't get it open. I'm considering my options: should I try to break down the walk-in door and replace it, or is there a way to hack the door lifter to open the overhead garage door? What should I do?
3 Answers
You might want to contact a local locksmith. They can help you bypass the garage door opener and get you back into your garage. Plus, installing a keyed bypass for future access is a good idea to prevent this from happening again.
If you want to try opening it manually, you could make a hook and try to reach the garage door release cord from above. It’s risky, though—I've removed mine for safety reasons. If that doesn’t work, you may need to cut out the walk-in door, which would mean spending around $200 for a new door slab. Check out Home Depot for options!
A video can help you learn the tricks to this. Just remember, it's tricky and may take a few attempts. If you have someone who can help, you could use their phone for some extra visibility while you're reaching for the release. Oh, and don't hesitate to reach out to your realtor about the previous owner's oversight; they should be held accountable!