Do Garage Doors Lock Manually, Automatically, or Not at All?

I clearly remember the day my friend visited my new home. When we locked up, he asked why I didn't lock the door from the garage into the house. I said, “Well, the garage is locked,” and he replied, “You're just one broken garage window away from a break-in.”

It was a change in how I thought about my home security. I never realized the weak link that my garage was, and that I still had work to do to secure my garage. I realized that locking the garage door was only the first step to good garage security.

Manual garage doors usually do not have locks built-in, and automatic garage doors use a secret pin code to open the door as a lock and key. You can add several types of locks to a garage door to make it more secure.

There are several types of aftermarket garage door locks that can be added for extra security. Here are some common types.

Automatic Garage Door Lock

If you have a remote control to automatically open and close the garage door, then you have an automatic garage door lock.

An automatic garage door is designed to stay shut unless it receives a code or its manual override is engaged.

The weakness in this kind of garage door “lock” is that thieves will break into the garage door to release the manual override. If there is any play at the top of the garage door where it meets the header, a thief can push a wire hook through the opening, hook the release, pull on it, and the door is not locked any longer.

A popular workaround is to zip-tie the manual lever so that it is fixed in place. Even pulling the release cable from inside the garage door (without breaking in) will not release the override. For that, you need to cut the zip tie first.

So in a sense, automatic garage doors come with a “lock,” but it's in the form of the automatic garage door opener architecture, and is not an actual lock.

Garage Door Inside Lock

A garage door inside lock — also known as a garage door security slide-bolt lock — is a sliding bolt installed on the inside garage wall and door. The lock has a sliding bolt that runs through the garage track, blocking the door from going up.

The keyed T-Handle lock is the most common inside door lock design. The handle on the outside of the garage door is shaped like a letter “T.”

Inside the door are long metal rods that slip into the garage door tracks to prevent the door from moving. When the handle is turned, these bars are moved along the track to the edges of the door. The ends of the bars slip into slots or holes in the vertical tracks of the garage door, effectively locking the door in place and preventing it from being raised.

When you unlock the T-handle and turn it in the opposite direction, these bars are withdrawn from the tracks, allowing the door to be opened again.

This mechanism provides a secure form of locking, as it engages with the structure of the door itself and does not simply rely on a latch or bolt.

 

Here's how it works:

1. The T-Handle is installed on the outside of the garage door.
2. The handle is connected to a locking mechanism on the inside of the door.
3. When you insert the key into the T-Handle and turn it, it operates the locking mechanism on the inside.
4. The mechanism operates the metal bars that slide into the garage tracks.

Garage Door Center Mount 5-Pin Tumbler Deadbolt Lock

A center mount 5-Pin tumbler deadbolt lock is another type of lock designed for garage doors. It's a bit more complex and secure than a standard T-Handle lock.

It's a “center mount” because it's installed in the center of the garage door. This is a common location for many types of garage door locks.

The 5-pin tumbler refers to the type of key mechanism used in the lock. A pin tumbler lock uses a set of pins to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. The “5-Pin” part means there are five sets of pins in the lock, which makes the lock more difficult to pick or open without the correct key.

The deadbolt is the solid metal bar or bolt that secures the door. When the lock is engaged, the deadbolt slides into a slot in the door frame or track, preventing the door from being opened. Deadbolts are known for their strength and security.

So, a Center Mount 5-Pin Tumbler Deadbolt Lock for a garage door is a lock that's installed in the center of the door and uses a 5-pin tumbler key mechanism and a deadbolt to secure the door. It's a strong, secure lock that can provide an extra level of security for your garage.

Bonus Tip: An Emergency Release Lock is Not for Your Security

I'm only going to say this once: “Garage door emergency opener keyed release disconnect key lock.”

An emergency release lock is kind NOT a security lock. In fact, it's an invitation to thieves to break a relatively simple lock to get into your garage. The purpose is to get the automatic garage door open when there's a power failure or the remote does not work.

 

Here's how it works:

1. The device is installed on the garage door and connects to the garage door opener.
2. It includes a lock that can be opened with a key.
3. When the key is turned, it gives you access to the cable that is connected to the automatic door release lever. This is the lever you pull to use the door manually.
4. Once power is restored or you have your remote, you can reconnect the door to the opener and it will function normally.

The emergency lock is a single point of failure that gives access to the garage interior from the garage exterior. It's literally the opposite of protecting the release cable from thieves who break into the garage door through the seam where the garage door meets the header. An emergency lock might be something one needs for their own reasons, but it is the opposite of a lock installed for garage security.

Conclusion

Manual garage doors do not come with locks. Automatic garage doors have a lock in the form of a remote control and pin code, as they won't open without the right signal or code. A “T” handle or center door lock adds security to the garage door.