Openers must have a battery backup

Under state law effective July 1, all new sales and installations of residential automatic garage door openers must have a battery backup to operate during an electrical outage.

The law prohibits replacement garage doors from being installed to an opener that does not have a backup battery.

For background, the 2017 NorCal wildfires became the deadliest in California’s history, forcing thousands to evacuate from their homes. Some lost their lives during the evacuation because they could not get out of the garage during the power outages.

Garage doors have a release mechanism, usually by pulling a cord, to disconnect the motor and allow the door to be opened manually when the power is out. But garage doors can be heavy and difficult to open, especially for the elderly or disabled.

Backup batteries provide a safeguard so that automatic garage doors work without interruption during an electrical outage, allowing for quick and safe evacuation from homes.

Many popular brands of garage door openers have the option of including a back up battery on their devices. Depending on the model, it may cost $20-$100 to add a battery to an existing door opener. Some older automatic door openers may not have the capacity to connect to a backup battery and would need to be replaced.

Expect to pay $150-350 for a new garage door opener with a backup battery installed. Afully charged 12-volt backup battery is designed to provide 24 hours of standby time during which it can run the garage door opener up to 20 full open and closed cycles. These batteries recharge when connected to the power and need to be replaced every three years.

The new law does not require existing openers to be replaced with battery backup units unless the door is being replaced, but you should disclose whether you have an upgraded opener when you sell your property, especially if you live in a high fire hazard zone.

Adriana Donofrio deasypennerpodley Glendora (626) 926-9700 adonofrio@dppre.com