How to Open a Garage Door?

We all have those rare (or not so rare) occasions where we lock ourselves out of our house. While you could learn how to pick your own locks, reader ilovetofu shows us how to open a garage door in seconds.

To open it up, all you need to do is thread a coat hanger or hooked piece of wire through the top of the door and open the emergency latch (which can also be done by the rope many emergency latches have). Check out the video to watch it in action. Unfortunately, this method could also be used by someone else trying to break into your house.

If you’re not the type to forget your keys and get stuck outside, ilovetofu adds on his method for protecting himself from this vulnerability:

I secured my opener’s quick release lever using a plastic zip tie. You may also want to remove your rope if you have windows in your garage door.

Of course, this makes your emergency latch a bit more difficult to open, but it all depends on what dangers you’re more likely to encounter. If you’re more likely to set the house on fire than get your garage broken into, for example—you’re probably better off leaving the emergency latch free. Got any other tips for breaking into your own house (or protecting it from outside break-ins)? Share them in the comments.