How to Adjust a Storm Door Closer

If your storm door closer doesn't work properly, the door may have problems opening and closing correctly. This can cost you money as it will make your heating and cooling system work less efficiently. In order to adjust the storm door closer, follow the simple steps below.

Understanding How the Storm Door Closer Works

Once you know how the closers function, you will be better able to make the adjustments. The spring in the closer assists in closing the door. The closer of course can’t work only on the basis of spring since this would lead to sudden closing of the door which may lead to its structural damage. For this reason, the spring is assisted by an air tube or a fluid tube. It all depends on the air/fluid tube as to how quickly or slowly the door closes.

When the spring moves, it pushes the air/fluid in the tube. The adjustable valve in the tube/ cylinder allows the air/fluid out. If the air/fluid is released quickly, the door closes swiftly. If, however, the air/fluid is released slowly, the door closes slowly and vice versa. If the door slams or does not close completely, it means adjustments are needed.

Adjusting the Adjusting Screw

The storm door closers need adjustment when they start aging. This might be because the spring inside the closer may have weakened or the seals in the cylinder have failed to function properly. All of this can be dealt with if the adjusting screw in the closer is tightened. This screw may be found at the end of the door where the closer is mounted. If you screw the adjusting screw from left to right, it will lead to a slow closure of the door and if you screw it from right to left, the door will close quickly.

Adjusting the Mounting Bracket

If you feel that the adjusting screw does not need any adjustment, you can alter the mounting bracket located on the door. Several doors come with multiple holes on mounting brackets and/or closers. Their function is to increase or decrease the pressure applied to the spring. This is referred to as pre-loading. Make adjustments in the preloading in order to properly close the storm door. A point that you must remember while doing this is that it will allow you to close the door properly but opening the storm door will be problematic. The extent to which the door used to open earlier will be decreased. If the above adjustments are not applicable because your storm door closer is of the hydraulic type, then follow the following step.

Adjusting the Hydraulic Door Closer

In the hydraulic door closer, the fluid rather than air regulates in the cylinder. The oil in hydraulic closers works more swiftly than the air in the closers that are air-controlled. Thus, hydraulic closers work more efficiently than air-controlled closers. The hydraulic closer has no adjusting screw. Adjust the piston on the closer in order to fix the problem. Once the closers have been adjusted, check to ensure the storm door is closing properly.