Garage Door Maintenance Guide

As a prominent feature of your home's façade, the condition of your garage door can have a big impact on your home's appearance and value. Regular maintenance can help keep your door looking great and operating smoothly for years to come.

Where to Find Clopay Door Replacement Parts

Parts can be purchased through most garage door dealers or at The Home Depot.

FIND CLOPAY GARAGE DOOR PARTS NEAR YOU

Clopay® garage doors are built to last, but some parts do occasionally wear out or become damaged. Virtually any component of the door can be replaced. If you are reasonably handy and follow the instructions in your installation manual you can do some repairs yourself. Our DIY replacement parts include:

Dents and Dings.

Steel garage doors can accumulate dents and small dings over time, which greatly detracts from the door's appearance. To help minimize unsightly dents, Clopay® garage doors are constructed with true 24, 25, or 27-gauge steel. Thicker steel lasts longer and dents less. The lower the gauge, the thicker the steel. However, a "sandwich" constructed steel garage door with two 27-gauge steel skins and a bonded insulating core will be stronger than a "steel frame" door with a single layer of 24-gauge steel.

With non-insulated garage doors you may be able to push out the dings from the inside of the doors. If you are unable to do this, you may need to replace the dented sections or the entire garage door. Clopay sells replacement sections for most models, including panel sections with windows. View this post for more information on replacing garage door panels.

Garage Door Feels Heavy or is Hard to Open and Close

Garage doors have a lot of moving parts, and if your door is opened and closed frequently, many of those parts will wear out. If your garage door feels very heavy and is difficult to open, it can be the result of a broken or improperly tensioned spring. Garage doors use two main types of spring systems - torsion springs or extension springs - and a spring issue on either of these systems can make them difficult to open, while also putting additional stress on your automatic opener.

This can often be fixed by your local Clopay Dealer. We strongly advise against DIY spring repair or replacement, as attempting to repair springs on your own can cause severe injury.

Door Opens Unevenly

If your door is opening and closing unevenly, it is likely an issue with only one side of your garage door. This could be a worn spring or another problem with your track or rollers. When this occurs, it can create additional wear and tear on your opener's motor, compounding the problem.

As with the spring issue mentioned above, it is best to call a dealer for your safety and to avoid doing further damage to your garage door. If you are concerned that your door's problem could be dangerous, or cause additional damage to your door and opener, many Clopay Dealers offer emergency service to provide peace of mind.

Signs That It May Be Time to Replace Your Garage Door

Peeling or Cracked Paint on Wood Doors

Wood garage doors will need to be refinished periodically in order to protect them from the elements. The painted or stained finish can break down over time, which causes the wood to rot. The finish can also discolor or fade due to UV exposure from the sun. If you find the wood has cracked, there are holes in your door or moisture has wicked up from the bottom, it is time to replace it.

Sagging or bent garage door sections.

Wood garage doors have a tendency to sag over time if they are not properly maintained. When the door is closed, you'll see large gaps under the ends of the door. If your wood garage door is sagging, we recommend replacing it. Door sections can also be damaged by an automatic opener if they are not adequately reinforced.

Garage Door is Not Energy Efficient

Older garage doors or doors installed on new homes may not be well insulated or may not have full perimeter weatherstripping to seal out the elements. An insulated, well sealed door is especially important if you have living space above or adjacent to the garage. The insulated garage door will help keep those rooms warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and can also help reduce energy bills. Clopay® offers insulated garage doors with R-values up to 20.4 (R-value is a measurement of thermal efficiency of a door, or how well it insulates) Click here for an overview of our products.

Garage Door Maintenance Checklist

A quick review of your garage door's components can be a great way to ensure your door continues to operate consistently. Review these areas at least annually and as often as every three months:

Springs

• Are your springs broken?
• Are the springs properly tensioned? If you have an automatic opener, test your spring tension by closing your door and pulling the string on your opener to disconnect it. Then open the door halfway. If it does not remain still, your spring(s) are either broken or need to be adjusted.
• If your springs are broken or improperly tensioned, do not adjust or remove them yourself. Contact a qualified garage door repair professional.

Cables

• Are there any worn strips hanging loose on the sides of your garage door?
• Are the cables frayed?
• If the cables are frayed, they are in danger of breaking and could cause serious injury or property damage. Worn strips could also get caught and cause issues. Contact a professional to replace the cables.

Windows

• Are the windows broken or cracked?
• If your windows are cracked or broken, contact your Clopay Dealer, as they can provide replacement windows or sections as needed.

Bottom Weather Seal

• Your garage door's bottom weatherseal is a flexible strip that helps prevent heat loss at the bottom of the Door. It also helps to keep out water, dirt, and pests.
• Does the weatherstripping show cracks, or signs of visible wear?
• Place your hand along the bottom of your garage door. Do you feel a draft of cold air coming into your garage?
• If you feel a draft or your weather seal is cracked, it is time for replacement. Contact your Clopay Dealer or The Home Depot to purchase a replacement.

Track

• Are the tracks on either side of your garage door bent or twisted?
• Are they securely attached to the door jambs, and the ceiling via the rear track hangers?
• If you have issues with your track, Contact a professional for repair. Track issues can contribute to added stress on your opener.

Hinges

• Are the hinges that join the door sections bent or broken? If so, they should be replaced.
• Caution: The bottom brackets on all garage doors must not be removed while the door is under tension. Clopay recommends contacting a garage door maintenance professional to replace your hinges.