Door closer adjustment is a skill that requires knowledge, patience, and an ability to climb up and down a ladder several times. But with these attributes and the appropriate wrench, hex key, or screwdriver, you can do it yourself. This article is primarily about commercial door closers, but the ideas here can be applied to other kinds of door closers as well.
Touch'n Hold Storm Door Closer Troubleshooting
National Hardware N279-794 V1345 Touch ‘n Hold Door Closer Best Automatic, Hydraulic And Commercial Door Closers Reviews Keeping some crucial factors in mind, we have selected the following 8 door closers for your consideration. The door closer measures 1.25 in. The door closing speed is adjustable, ensuring that doors shut securely every time. Photo booth for the mac. The seasonal adjustment options allow you to swap between window and screen on your door. The Touch-N-Hold function allows you to keep the door open by pressing only a button, the mechanism disengages once the. To get the door to close, simply nudge the door farther open (without touching the button). The door should close gently, like a feather on a calm summer breeze. If the wind caught your door and the closer seems to be locked open, try this: take the door closer off your door.
Most of the adjustments to the commercial door closer are implemented by opening and closing hydraulic valves. When it comes to turning the screws that operate these valves, a little goes a long way. A turn of just five degrees can significantly increase or decrease closing speed.
Making an Adjustment to a Commercial Door Closer
When you examine the closer, if you can’t see adjustment screws, chances are the closer has a cover. The cover is usually plastic, but it could also be metal. If you see no fasteners holding the cover on, that means the cover is held on by tension. Pull it off and if you do see fasteners, you can loosen, but not remove, the fasteners and the cover will slide off.
- If you find that there is oil in the cover or oil on or leaking from the closer body – stop right there – you need a new door
closer. (If, however, it is not leaking, you can proceed.) - Now that you have the cover off, you should be able to see the adjustment screws. They should be marked on the closer body as to what they are or there will be a diagram inside the cover. If not, you may have to experiment a little to see which is which.
- Remember, when it comes to turning commercial door closer adjustment screws, a little goes a long way. Start with no more than 1/8 of a turn. Turn the adjustment screw clockwise to slow the closer down, counter-clockwise to speed it up.
- Open the door and watch it close. If it closes right the first time, check it 10 more times. If it closes correctly every time, you’re done. If not, go back up the ladder and make another adjustment.
- When it closes the way you want 10 times in a row, it will probably continue to do so.
- Ideally a non-delayed action door closer will close and latch the door in seven to eight seconds.
Troubleshooting a Commercial Door Closer
- If there is a hinge problem, a warped door, or the door must swing uphill to close, a door closer will only go so far to solve the problem. Sometimes a door must be repaired before it will close and lock automatically.
- If the closer stops closing the door before it’s closed all the way, or actually springs back when you try to manually shut the door, the arm is probably installed on the shaft incorrectly. Download the instructions from the door closer manufacturer’s website and see if it is installed correctly.
- If the arm makes noise and bounces up and down while the door is in motion, tighten the fasteners that hold the arm to the closer, to the header, and at the knuckle that holds the two parts of the arm together.
When It’s Time To Replace Your Commercial Door Closer:
Wright Door Closer Troubleshooting
- If oil is leaking from your door closer, it must be replaced.
- If your door closer is slamming the door and cannot be adjusted to do otherwise, either the fluid has leaked out or the valve seals are worn out. In either case, your best option is to replace it.
- If the door closer has no spring tension and the spring tension adjustment turns around with no effect, the spring is broken the
door closer must be replaced. - If you’re having any of these problems with your commercial door closer and would like to see your replacement options, give us a
call or visit us online and we’ll be happy to discuss your options!
The Touch ‘n Hold has the added advantage of being able to adjust the slamming speed at the end of the closing cycle to accommodate normal doors with a lighter slam and heavier doors with a stronger slam. This ensures that your door, no matter how heavy, will latch even if the main door is closed. Without a strong enough slamming speed, many storm doors will not latch when the main door is closed because of an air pocket that forms in-between doors as the storm door shuts. This can be both expensive and annoying in cooling and heating months. This is not a problem with the Touch ‘n Hold. Changing the slamming speed involves rotating the door mounted bracket 180* and changing the pin location. See the process below or click on the link below for more detailed instructions.
To adjust closing slamming (w/ designer door bracket):
Little or no slamming is needed to latch a light screen door while strong slamming is needed to latch a door provided with heavy window and tight seals.
Touch'n Hold Parts
There are four adjusting positions by reversing the arrow direction on the door brackets and changing the hole that is used to attach the closer:
• Standard Installation:
Arrow on door bracket is pointed towards the closer and closer attached to door bracket using the front hole.
• More Slamming:
(for heavy window and tight seals) Arrow on door bracket pointed away from closer and closer attached to door bracket using the front hole.
• Less Slamming:
Arrow on door bracket pointed away from the closer and closer attached to door bracket using the rear hole.
• Least Slamming:
(for light screen doors) Arrow on door bracket pointed towards the closer and closer attached to door bracket using the rear hole.
To adjust closing slamming (w/ adjustable door bracket):
The door bracket can be positioned towards or away from the hinge side of the door by loosening. The further from the door jamb you adjust the bracket, the less latching force your door will have. The closer you adjust the bracket towards the door jamb, the greater the closing force.