How Garage Door Lock Works?

When a homeowner asks how a garage door lock works, he often refers to a trolley assembly located on the belt or a chain opener rail. That locking mechanism allows you to disconnect the door from the opener for manual operation. This is useful in the event of power loss or garage door opener malfunction. There are different types of trolley assemblies, and they work a little differently depending on the opener manufacturer.

For Chamberlain, Gennie, Overhead, and Linear openers, the procedure is the same. When you pull down on the red cord attached to the trolley assembly, you will unlock the mechanism. Your garage door will be able to move freely up and down without locking back in place. You’ll need to pull on the emergency release cord in the opposite direction from the door and upwards to lock it back. It may be hard to do if you’re not tall enough; therefore, getting a ladder may be necessary.

For Liftmaster lock or trolley assembly, the procedure is similar but not the same. The door will disconnect from the opener rail if you’re pulling down on the emergency release cord. However, it will lock back in place once two pieces of the trolley assembly are aligned. If you need to disengage the mechanism, so it doesn’t lock back in place, you need to pull down and away from the garage door. This was a brief explanation of how the garage door trolley lock works. Now, let’s move on to the actual garage door locks.

How Garage Door Lock Works?

If you’re wondering how a garage door lock works, what it’s used for, and what are the main types of garage door locks, you’re at the right place. A garage door lock adds an extra layer of security to your house by physically preventing your door from opening. If your garage door has an automatic garage door opener, it already does a great job at preventing unauthorized entry to your house. But having an additional garage door lock makes it even more secure.

What Are The Main Types Of Garage Door Locks And How Do They Work?

Garage door locks can be divided into two categories, manual and electronic locks. They both have their advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before buying one. Of course, nothing prevents you from having both manual and electronic garage door locks simultaneously, yet we would consider that an “overkill.”

How Manual Garage Door Lock Works?

Manual garage door locks come in different designs. Some have a small footprint and slide into an opening inside the vertical track, making sure the garage door can’t be forcefully opened. Others are more complex and have a twistable handle that engages the mechanism that blocks the door on both sides. In addition, some manual garage door locks can only be operated from inside the garage, while others have external access with a special key that unlocks the door. Regardless of the design of the manual garage door lock, the main idea is to prevent forced entry into your garage. In general, manual garage door locks are getting less popular as most garage door openers perform perfectly at preventing forced entry, even without a special lock.

How Electronic Garage Door Lock Works?

Liftmaster, one of the leading garage door opener manufacturers, designed a unique electronic garage door lock that can be used with some of their more expensive opener models. The lock connects to a garage door opener with low voltage wires that transmit the signal to engage or disengage the lock. The device itself sits on the vertical track, and when engaged, it blocks the door from opening by blocking one of the garage door rollers. If your garage door opener is compatible with an electronic garage door lock, we highly suggest you invest in one instead of choosing a cheaper, manual lock alternative. When you press the open button on your remote, the opener automatically disengages the lock and then starts to lift the door. And when you’re closing it, the lock will automatically engage once the garage door is fully closed.

What Are The Downsides of The Manual Garage Door Lock?

The biggest downside of the manual garage door lock is that it is easy to forget to unlock it before you hit the open button. As a garage door repair company, we often get service calls after such incidents. The consequences of forgetting to unlock your garage door can be disastrous. For example, if your garage door opener starts to lift the door while the lock is engaged, you’re risking stripping the internal gears of your operator or messing up the limit settings. But, in more extreme cases, even damaging the door itself to the point it has to be replaced.

Some homeowners install an internal lock before leaving for a lengthy vacation to ensure no one breaks in while they are away. However, it is essential not to forget to unlock it first after returning home. Otherwise, the repair bill may be expensive.

What Are The Benefits Of Electronic Garage Door Lock?

If your garage door opener is compatible with an electronic garage door lock, we strongly suggest you choose it over the manual one. Your garage door opener will always unlock it automatically and lock it back at the right time. It will eliminate human error while still providing an extra level of security. Some garage door openers even come with an electronic lock as a set, so if you’re thinking about upgrading, a Liftmaster 8500W will be an excellent option.

How Garage Door Lock Works?

How Garage Door Lock Works?

What Are The Main Types Of Garage Door Locks And How Do They Work?

How Manual Garage Door Lock Works?

How Electronic Garage Door Lock Works?

What Are The Downsides of The Manual Garage Door Lock?

What Are The Benefits Of Electronic Garage Door Lock?

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