Maybe you know this story: It’s monsoon season. Lightning strikes nearby. The power cuts out. Everything goes pitch black. With no electricity to power your garage door opener, you are left without a convenient way into or in this scenario, out of your garage. Unless, of course, you have an opener equipped with a battery backup.

What is a Battery Backup?

A battery backup is a small, 12-volt battery unit that offers homeowners the security of always being prepared when severe weather hits, even in the event of a power outage. It’s an optional feature on new garage door openers that provides true peace of mind. Opener manufacturers, such as LiftMaster®, Genie, and Linear, now provide this option.

The benefits of a battery backup include:

• They are recyclable
• They recharge in 24 hours
• A fully charged battery is designed to supply a garage door opener with 24 hours of standby power during which time it can operate up to 20 full cycles

Testing the Battery

You should test the battery every six months or so.

1. Unplug the garage door opener. The battery status LED will either glow solid orange indicating opener is operating on battery power or will flash indicating lower battery power.
2. Open and close the door using the remote control, door control or keyless entry system keypad. The garage door opener may run slower if the battery is not fully charged. The battery will be fully charged within 24 hours.
3. Plug in the garage door opener. Verify the battery status LED is flashing green, indicating the battery is charging.