1. First: Measure Your Garage Door
2. Identify Your Door’s Spring System
3. Organize and Inspect Before you Install
4. Always Replace the Track
5. Install the Operator Reinforcement Bracket

1. Make sure your new door is the correct size.

While this may be obvious, our Help Line staff gets many calls from consumers who have measured incorrectly and as a result, purchased the wrong door. There are several important measurements that must be absolutely accurate including the size of your door opening, head room and side room, among others. Taking proper measurements is especially important on special-order doors as those doors cannot be returned. (It’s worth noting that if you’re having your door professionally installed, the Holmes installer will conduct a site inspection and handle all the necessary measuring for you.) Click here for detailed measurement instructions and our printable measurement form.

2. Help simplify spring installation by identifying whether you’re installing extension or torsion springs.

Holmes’ patented EZ-SET® Spring Systems significantly simplify spring installation. Check your carton label to determine if you have an EZ-SET Extension Spring System or an EZ-SET Torsion Spring System. These are the most common spring systems sold with Holmes garage doors. It is imperative that you understand which spring system you’re working with before you can take advantage of EZ-SET’s benefits. Once you have identified the spring system, carefully review the instruction manual for that system from start-to-finish.

EZ-SET Extension Spring

EZ-SET Torsion Spring

Standard Torsion Spring

Standard Extension Spring with standard Safety Containment Cable

If you do not have either of the EZ-SET spring systems, it is possible that you have standard extension springs. Extension springs are coiled springs installed on either side of the door above the door’s horizontal track. If you are unable to determine which spring system you have or still have additional questions on installing the springs, by all means call the Holmes Help Line.

3. Take the time to organize and inspect all parts and components before you begin the installation.

According to our Help Line experts, this is a step that may take a bit more time up front but can save lots of time and frustration during the installation. Organizing the components will help the installation go smoothly, and it will also alert you to any missing or damaged parts.

4. Always replace the track.

Another common DIY error is to skip the installation of new tracking and install a new door on the existing track. That’s a big no-no according to our experts. Track components vary based on the size and weight of each door model. If you use the existing track, you run the risk that the track steel has fatigued over time or that the steel gauge is not heavy enough to support the weight of the new door. One other tip on track: Be aware that the track is designed to taper out from the bottom to top so that as the garage door rolls up the track it will clear the door opening. We get a fair amount of calls from DIYers who think they’ve installed the track incorrectly when they see the taper. Rest assured -- it may not look right, but it is.

Operator Reinforcement Bracket

5. Make sure you install the operator reinforcement bracket.

If you plan to hook up your garage door to an automatic opener, you must attach the reinforcement bracket. This bracket evenly distributes the stress applied to the door sections by the automatic garage door opener, so if you attempt to skip this step, you will damage the door. All Holmes garage doors include an automatic opener reinforcement kit as standard. If you’re not installing a Holmes garage door, make sure that you purchase the reinforcement kit before you begin installation.

The Holmes Help Line provides installation advice and consumer service support Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

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