Well, it’s official, or at least it will be this July. California will require battery backup of all new newly constructed garage doors.
The bill that Governor Jerry Brown signed into law was sponsored by a state senator after he and his neighbors were unable to pull cars out of their garages during the 2017 wildfire evacuation because the electricity was out.
The law will be officially enforced in July of 2019.
Why Battery Backup is Critical for Older Doors Too
Just because battery backup isn’t required on existing garage door openers doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea. Even outside of a critical emergency like escaping a forest fire, battery backup offers modern convenience that makes life easier. Suppose you get home and there’s a power outage. Do you really want to get out of the car and manually raise the door yourself, especially in the middle of a thunderstorm? Battery backup ensures you can enjoy the convenience of your garage door opener, even in the worst storms and blackouts. And the fact that battery backup could indeed save your life is a win-win all around.
That’s why we always recommend it for our Rancho Cordova and Sacramento, California customers.
The recent devastating forest fires spurred on the passage of the law. And since these fires are a result of climate change, they won’t go away. Unfortunately, this is the new normal for residents in California.
But it’s a good idea regardless if you are facing a catastrophic fire. Say the electricity goes out and you need to get to work. With battery backup, it’s no big deal.
Manually lifting the door isn’t always possible if you are a senior or disabled. And with a battery backup, you’re not locked outside if you come home one evening to find the power out.
Installing Battery Backup on an Existing Garage Door
The good news is you don’t need to install a completely new garage door or garage door opener to have the option for battery backup. Many battery backup systems are add-on systems you can add to any existing garage door opener. You can buy a plug and play system that plugs into your garage door opener during an outage for less than $100. Most are good for at least 50 openings and closings — plenty of time in an emergency, and probably long enough for the lights to come back on.