What to Do if Your Roller Shutter Won’t Open After a Power Cut
If you’ve just had a power cut in Newcastle, North Shields, Whitley Bay, or anywhere across the North East and your roller shutter won’t open, you’re not alone. Electric shutters rely on mains power to lift and lower safely — and when that supply cuts off suddenly, the shutter often locks in place.
This can be a huge headache for businesses trying to open up, or for homeowners stuck outside their garage. Here’s what you need to know before you try to force anything.
Don’t Force the Shutter
If the motor has stopped mid-cycle or the shutter is locked in the closed position, forcing it can:
• Strip motor gears.
• Snap straps or safety edges.
• Twist slats or jam the guides.
What looks like “just giving it a pull” can easily turn into a costly repair or replacement.
Check Your Power Supply
Before assuming it’s a shutter fault:
• Has the fuse tripped at the consumer unit?
• Is it just your property or a wider street outage?
• If you’ve got multiple shutters, test another on the same supply.
Find and Use the Manual Override
Most commercial shutters and many electric garage doors come with a manual override system so they can still be operated during a power cut.
• Check for the Hand Crank First
Most shutters are supplied with a crank handle — but here’s the catch: it’s often stored in the worst place. I usually joke with customers: “That’ll be the pole you’ve neatly stored by the remote-control unit… behind the shutter you can’t open.” 😆
Always make sure yours is accessible before you need it.
• Hex Drive Socket (7mm or 8mm)
The most common override is a hex drive on the gearbox. Insert the crank and turn slowly.
• Round Stump / Eyelet Override
If there’s no hex socket, look for a round stump or eyelet. This works with a hook-ended crank handle.
⚠️ DIY Hack: If the handle’s missing, you can use mole grips on the stump. It takes ages and a lot of effort, but eventually it’ll move. Just be careful — grips can chew the metal, slip, or strain the gearbox.
Hidden Override Access Points
Not all overrides are obvious. Some shutters — especially internal-rolling, high-security, or galvanised steel jobs — are designed so the manual access isn’t visible at first glance. This is for security and aesthetics, but it can leave owners scratching their heads in a power cut.
• Lockable Override Access
Many modern shutters have a small, lockable access point on the outside. It looks like a random hole in the plate (see photo below). These usually come with a dedicated key and bar (often a hex on a small winder) supplied with the shutter when fitted.
• Step-Off Access on Galv Steel Shutters
On galvanised steel shutters, the motor is mounted on flags, with a step-off section (usually a 55mm channel). Almost always, there’ll be a small, inconspicuously placed hole in this step-off where the override can be reached.
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• Gliderol Roller Garage Doors
These work differently. Gliderol doors are fitted with a cable release connected to the motor. When pulled, it detaches the motor and allows the curtain to be lifted manually. This should only be used with caution, as the curtain can be heavy without powered assistance.
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⚠️ Note: If you’re not sure where your override is — or you’ve lost the key/bar supplied — don’t start drilling holes. Call a qualified shutter engineer who can safely identify and operate the override without damaging the system.
Why DIY Attempts Usually Make Things Worse
Most shutters we see written off aren’t from natural failure — they’ve been damaged by repeated DIY forcing. Running a shutter up and down while it’s jammed twists the curtain, wrecks the gearbox and locks the guides solid. That’s when shutters become beyond repair and sadly, that’s also when people risk serious injury.
We also see cowboy “repairs” make matters worse. One job in Whitley Bay springs to mind:
• New slats were bolted in to patch the curtain.
• No checks on the motor, straps, or alignment.
• Within weeks the system failed and most of it had to be cut down.
What looked cheap ended up costing far more than a proper repair would have.
It’s Not About Stopping You Saving Money
We get it — nobody wants to spend money if they don’t have to. But we’ve seen too many shutters that could have been a simple, affordable repair turn into a full replacement because someone forced it, wound it wrong, or tried a “quick fix.”
The hardest part is seeing the customer’s face when we have to explain:
“If it hadn’t been forced, this would have been an easy repair.”
That’s why apart from using the supplied crank handle, we strongly recommend leaving it to the pros.
Why Safety Comes First
Shutters aren’t like locks or door handles — they’re mechanical machines powered by 240V motors drawing 2–5 amps. If adjusted or forced incorrectly:
• The curtain can drop suddenly.
• Motors can burn out or shear.
• Exposed wiring can become a live shock hazard.
That’s why UK regulations like PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998)and EN standards require shutters to be serviced and adjusted by trained engineers.
Why Call a Professional Engineer
A qualified, insured, DBS-checked shutter engineer like us deals with this every day:
• No override? No problem. We can bypass straight to the motor and power it externally.
• We’ll lift and reset the shutter quickly, with no damage.
• We’ll test limits, straps and safety edges before leaving.
• As part of our 24/7 emergency service, we also provide make safe and make secure solutions — protecting your property even if the shutter needs further repair.
✅ It’s the safest, fastest and most cost-effective solution — and usually far cheaper than people expect.
📞 If your roller shutter or garage door won’t open after a power cut, call Newcastle Commercial and Residential Lockout Specialists on 07745 858649 for 24/7 emergency help across the North East.
