Having problems with your door? Select the type of issue you’re having to see tips on what might be causing it and how to solve it.
Where is water leaking through?
Stained
PaintedThere is a draft / light is coming in around the door
| Identify Issue | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| The weatherstrip is missing, painted, cracked, torn or damaged. |
Replace weatherstrip. |
| The door is not meeting the weatherstrip evenly when it closes, hitting the top or bottom first. | Realign, reshim, readjust lockside jamb so door meets weatherstrip evenly from top to bottom. |
| The bottom corner seal pads are missing or removed. |
Replace seal pads. |
| The door is loose in the frame, with excessive in-and-out movement when latched. | Adjust strike plate for tighter fit. |
Water Leakage / Top of Door
| Identify Issue | Recommendations | |
|---|---|---|
| The door is not meeting the weatherstrip evenly when it closes, hitting the top or bottom first. | Realign, reshim, readjust lockside jamb so door meets weatherstrip evenly from top to bottom. | |
| Improper/incomplete seal and/or sealant breakdown around or on top of unit. | Properly flash and/or seal with Elastomeric or Polyurethane sealant around brickmould. | |
| Improper/incomplete seal and/or breakdown around fixed unit sidelites where they meet the jamb. | Reseal with Elastomeric and Polyurethane sealant to restore system integrity. |
Water Leakage / Around Lites
| Identify Issue | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Loose lites. | Tighten doorlite screws. Apply sealing tape around inside perimeter of interior frame if required. |
| Door face-to-lite frame seal breakdown. | Seal with Elastomeric and Polyurethane sealant around lite perimeter and/or paint or repaint the perimeter to form a paint seal. |
| Glass-to-lite frame seal breakdown. | Replace doorlite. |
Water Leakage / Around Panels
| Identify Issue | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Loose panels. | Tighten screws. Apply sealing tape around inside perimeter of interior frame if required. |
| Door face-to-panel seal breakdown. | Seal with Elastomeric and Polyurethane sealant around panel perimeter and/or paint or repaint the perimeter to form a paint seal. |
Water Leakage / Bottom of Door / Floor
| Identify Issue | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| The weatherstrip is painted or damaged |
Replace your weatherstrip. |
| The door is not meeting the weatherstrip evenly when it closes, hitting the top or bottom first | Realign, reshim, readjust lockside jamb so door meets weatherstrip evenly from top to bottom. |
| Improper/insufficient sealant and/or sealant breakdown between sill and subfloor. | Reseal under sill using Elastomeric and Polyurethane sealant. |
| Broken seal where the sill meets the jamb. |
Remove corner seal pad, pull out weatherstrip at bottom, and place a bead of Elastomeric and Polyurethane sealant along entire joint where jamb and sill meet. Replace weatherstrip and reapply corner seal pad. |
| Sill humped or depressed beyond range of door bottom’s sealing capacity. |
Anchor sill to draw down straight by drilling pilot holes and securing with galvanized screws. Replace any wrinkled torn door bottom. |
| Humped sill. | Shim jamb legs up to allow sill to straighten. Reseal with Elastomeric and Polyurethane sealant under sill and anchor sill in place. |
| Damaged sill saddle causing door bottom bulb seal to bunch up and wrinkle when the unit closes. |
Replace the saddle and screw down. |
| The bottom of the door is damaged. |
Replace door bottom, sealing first. |
| Door sagging out of square in frame. | Make sure LONG hinge screws provided are properly installed in the top hinge through the jamb to the stud. |
| Jamb out of alignment. | If jamb is twisted along length of the members, straighten it by reshimming to eliminate the twist and maintain an even head margin. |
| Jamb out of square to door. | Usually caused by plumb frame members sitting on unlevel floor/sill area. Free lowest jamb leg and shim it up to level the sill and maintain an even head margin. Shim under sill if necessary. |
Door Won’t Open or Close Properly
| Identify Issue | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| The door is not meeting the weatherstrip evenly when it closes, hitting the top or bottom first | Realign, reshim, readjust lockside jamb so door meets weatherstrip evenly from top to bottom. |
| Adjustable strike plate not properly aligned. | Realign adjustable strike plate. |
| Door sagging out of square in frame (uneven head margin). | Make sure LONG hinge screws provided are properly installed in the top hinge through the jamb to the stud. |
| Frame out of square (uneven sill/door bottom margin). | Usually caused by plumb frame members sitting on unlevel floor/sill area. Free lowest jamb leg and shim it up to level the sill and maintain an even head margin. |
| Hinge does not have enough force to close and latch the door. |
Remove cross pin. Insert 9/64” Allen wrench in hex adjustment hole and turn to left (clockwise). Insert cross pin when next hole lines up. Remove Allen wrench and test closing action of door. Repeat if necessary. Over-tightening may shorten the life of the hinge. Another hinge may be required. |
| Too much force cause door to slam and make opening difficult. |
Replace one of the hinges with a standard hinge without adjustable tension. |
Door is cracked or dented
| Identify Issue | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Door is cracked or dented |
Replace door slab. Find a Dealer |
Panels are loose or have come off
| Identify Issue | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Door face to panel adhesive tape breakdown. | Reapply by removing panel. Clean panel and door with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol, taking care to remove all old adhesive. Apply new adhesive tape. Apply adequate pressure. |
Door parts are broken or worn out
Use our Replacement Parts wizard to find the right parts for your door.
Glass is cracked
| Identify Issue | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Glass is cracked |
Replace glass. |
The finish is cracked or faded / Stained doors
| Identify Issue | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| The stain is cracked or faded. |
Re-stain door (Instructions on door finishes is found on pg. 23 of Owners manual.) You can also view our video on how to strip to refinish a door. |
The finish is cracked or faded / Painted Doors
| Identify Issue | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Fiber-Classic or Classic-Craft Door |
Strip & re-finish door (Instructions on stripping and door finishes are found on pgs. 23-24 of Owners manual.) |
| Smooth-Star or Steel |
Re-finish door (Instructions on door finishes is found on pg. 23 of Owners manual.) |
None of the above / Something Else
Sorry we were unable to resolve your problem. Please see the Therma-Tru owner’s manual (PDF, 17 MB) for more info about your door. You can also use our online contact form or call our Customer Care Department at 1-800-843-7628 (1-800-THERMATRU) for assistance.