Immediate action guide
Garage Door Company Emergency Action Steps
What to do right now before a garage door company arrives, with clear lines for 911, utility, and contractor calls.
First rule
If there is fire, smoke, shock, collapse risk, gas odor, carbon monoxide alarm, injury, trapped people, or any uncertainty about safety, leave the area and call 911. Use these steps only when you can act from a safe position.
E1
Broken Spring
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the garage door, spring bar, tracks, opener, and vehicle path.
- Keep the door closed if possible and unplug the opener if safe.
- Keep people away from springs, cables, and the door path.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a garage door company; spring replacement is not a homeowner emergency repair.
Do not do this
- - Do not pull the emergency release or lift a door with a broken spring.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E2
Door Off Track
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the tilted door, rollers, tracks, cables, and opening.
- Stop using the opener and keep the door exactly where it is.
- Block the area so nobody walks or parks under the door.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a garage door company and send photos showing both tracks and cable positions.
Do not do this
- - Do not hammer tracks, cut cables, or force the opener.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E3
Door Stuck Open
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the open garage, door path, tracks, and exposed belongings.
- Stop the opener and keep children away from the opening.
- Move valuables inside and secure the house entry door while waiting.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a garage door company for emergency closure or repair.
Do not do this
- - Do not stand under the door or try to force it down with people nearby.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E4
Opener Smoke or Sparking
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the opener motor, ceiling outlet, rail, and garage door controls.
- Unplug the opener or turn off its breaker if you can do so without touching hot parts.
- Keep combustibles away and leave the door unused.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call 911 for smoke or fire, then a garage door company and electrician if wiring is affected.
Do not do this
- - Do not keep pressing remotes or wall buttons after smoke or sparks.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E5
Door Falls or Will Not Stay Up
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the door opening, tracks, springs, cables, and vehicle path.
- Keep the door down if possible and stop all use immediately.
- Prevent anyone from walking under the door or reaching around the tracks.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a garage door company and tell them the door cannot hold weight.
Do not do this
- - Do not prop the door with ladders, lumber, or vehicles.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.