A battery backup for your garage door opener is an excellent idea for several reasons. If the power were to go out in your area, then you may find that your garage door is trapping you or your car inside. With a battery backup, you can still get the door open and get out. Here’s how to install one so you have a backup.
The Importance Of A Battery Backup
Why learn how to install battery backup for garage door opener? As mentioned above, it’s a great backup should the power ever go out in your area. You don’t want to be left without power if you need to get the garage door open and get your car out.
As well as this, it’s a good safety measure. If there’s an emergency in your home, such as a fire, then you want to be able to get out by the nearest exit. You may not have any power because of the emergency, but thanks to a battery backup, you’ll still be able to get out.
So, it’s important to have a battery backup in your garage door opener to provide power when needed. Here’s how to install one.
1. Check The Manual
The very first thing you should do is check the manual for your garage door opener. This will tell you if installing a battery backup on your garage door opener is possible. It should be on most modern models, and the manual will tell you if that’s the case.
The manual will also tell you where the battery goes and what type you should use. Make sure you know this before you go shopping for a battery, so you can get the right one.
2. Prepare Your Battery
Now you’ll need to go get the battery that you need for your opener. You’ve checked the manual, so you should be able to get the right one. Taking a picture of the relevant page in the manual will help you, so when you go to the hardware store, you’ll get the correct battery.
Once you get it home, you’ll need to prepare it. Typically, you’ll need to charge the battery up before it can be used. This can take around 2 to 6 days, so check the instructions that came with it. Allow the battery to charge fully, and then you’ll be ready to use it for the next three years. Once it’s charged, it’s on to the next step.
3. Install Your Battery
Everything is now ready for the battery to be installed, and it is quite simple to do so. Typically, you’ll see battery backups are installed at the back of the garage door opener and sit on top of the unit. You’ll want to check that the unit you’ve bought will fit on top of the opener, with the current ceiling clearance that you have.
Put the battery in the backup unit, and then use a ladder to reach your opener. Place it in the correct position according to the instructions, and then use the wires to attach it to the back. You’ll usually see a section on garage door openers that allow for this, and it should be laid out in the manual. Plug the backup in, and it should be ready to go.
4. Test Your Backup
Now that the backup has been installed, you’ll need to test it to make sure that it works. Shut off the power to your garage, and then attempt to use the garage door opener. If everything is working as it should, then the opener should still work off battery power. Turn the power back on, and you’re ready should anything happen.
Typically you should be doing routine maintenance on your garage door at least twice a year. This includes checking for worn parts, lubricating moving parts, and so on. As part of your checks, turn off the power again and try the garage door opener to see if the battery is still working. That way, you’ll be up to date if it runs out of power or is damaged in any way.
Garage Door Battery Backup Troubleshooting
If you’re experiencing any problems with your battery backup, you’ll need some help getting it fixed. Here are some tips that will fix the most common issues people have.
Check if the Model is Right
If you’re not able to connect the battery backup or it won’t work, check the manual of your garage door opener. You want to be sure that the model you’ve bought is the correct one. You should be able to see which one you need here.
If you’re still not sure, don’t be afraid to take it to the hardware store and ask the staff for help. Many are knowledgeable and will be able to help you out.
Check that the Battery is Fully Charged
The batteries in battery backups are unusual, as they need to be charged for up to 6 days. When you first get it, you’ll need to charge it up before you can install it.
If you’re not getting power from your backup, take a look and see if the battery is charged. It may not have adequately charged or run out of power. Try charging it up before using it again.
Ensure It’s Installed Properly
You should get full installation instructions when you get your battery backup. When you follow these correctly, it should work as expected.
If you’re not seeing it work, take a look at the instructions and see if everything is installed correctly. A step may have been missed, which is why you’re not getting power.
If you’re still not sure, call on a garage door professional to help you. They’ll help you work out the issue and get that battery backup working.
It’s easier than you’d think to get a battery backup up and running on your garage door opener. Follow these tips, and you’ll be able to open your garage door whenever you need to, no matter if the power has gone out.