How To Seal Garage Door

Place your garage door into the fully open position.  Important: Secure a clamp or locking pliers abovevertical track section to secure garage door and prevent the door from moving unexpectedly during installation. If you have an automatic garage door opener attached, unplug the opener from the electrical outlet and pull disconnect cord to disengage the garage door from automatic garage door opener. Verify the sectional door is secure and will not move during the installation process.

Separate the existing jamb seal from the garage frame by removing existing fasteners. If the jamb seal is attached with nails, use a hammer and flat pry bar to separate the jamb seal for the garage frame. Inspect for excessive wear or damage and replace as needed.  If jamb stop is in good repair, clean free from dirt/debris and set aside until re-installation in Step 8.

Locate the lower track bracket, measure, and record the horizontal distances from the garage jamb to and existing vertical track. Remove fasteners from existing standard track and replace the vertical track section with ThermoTraks® track. Replace all fasteners allowing the track to slide within the track bracket slots. Position the vertical track section by adding 3/8” offset to the previous recorded dimension and adjust the track at the lowest track bracket to the new calculated distance.

Adjust upper track section to align with vertical track section. Use a locking pliers if necessary to make the alignment and tighten fasteners. Tighten all fasteners to secure track. Repeat Step 3 and 4 for track on the opposite side.

Step 5:Remove clamp or locking pliers from track while supporting the garage door. Manually guide the door down into the fully closed position. The garage door should not bind or contact the garage frame as it closes. If the door makes contact with the garage frame, place the garage door into the fully open position, re-secure a clamp or locking pliers and adjust track position by adding an additional 1/8” to the offset dimension and repeat Step 5. NOTE: It may be necessary to adjust the horizontal track section to align with vertical track section. This adjustment should be made with the door in the closed position.

Step 6:Remove slack in hardware by pulling firmly inward on the garage door and inspect gap distance between front of the door panel and the garage frame. Loosen angle bracket track fasteners (DO NOT remove) and adjust the track to achieve an approximate 1/8” gap between the front of the door panels and the garage frame. Tighten all track support bracket fasteners to secure track.

Step 7:The top guide wheel should be resting above the vertical track section of the track assembly.  Loosen jam nuts on the top guide wheel and adjust the top door gap to approximately 1/8”. Tighten nuts securely. Repeat Step 6 and 7 for opposite side. After completing adjustments, an approximate 1/8” gap should now exist between the garage frame and outside face of door around the entire perimeter of the door.

Remove dust/dirt from doorframe with soap/water solution or rubbing alcohol. Beginning with the door header (top opening).Measure and cut the ThermoTraks® seal to match the length of the opening with a utility knife or scissors.

Manually position door fully closed. Compress the ThermoTraks® seal firmly into the face of the door removing door hardware slack working your way across the length of the top opening placing marks every 12” on the outside edge of the seal. Repeat for both side jambs.

Beginning at a corner of the doorframe header, peel the pressure sensitive adhesive protective tape and apply ThermoTraks® seal to entire length of doorframe using the pencil marks as a positioning guide. Repeat to apply the ThermoTraks® seal to both side jambs.

Install all jamb stops over the ThermoTraks seal with screws/nails beginning with the top jamb. Manually cycle the door open/closed checking for bind free door motion. Micro-adjust track brackets if required.

Remove the clamp or locking pliers from the track assembly. Manually close garage door and inspect compression of seal around the entire perimeter. Additional micro track adjustments may be required to achieve optimal seal compression and energy efficiency. If applicable, reconnect the automatic garage door opener and plug opener into the electrical outlet.  Cycle garage door and adjust automatic door opener per the manufacturer’s instruction/manual.