This Phoenix home inspection video tip shows you a real simple fix for a common problem with doors that refuse to stay open and close by themselves. Yeah, you could use a door stop to hold the door open, but they can be a nuisance to deal with. It’s easier to apply this self closing door fix as a solution.
Sometimes the root of the problem is a door frame or wall that is not perfectly level vertically. Once the walls are up and the trim is in place and painted, that problem is not easy to fix, but we can go after the symptom. This solution only takes a few minutes to apply and resolves the issue permanently.
Tools & Materials Needed
- Hammer
- Small Phillips head screwdriver
- Concrete surface. A driveway, garage floor or sidewalk works best.
Steps To Fix a Self Closing Door
- Use the hammer and Phillips screwdriver to remove one of the hinge pins in a door hinge. The center pin is the easiest to work with. Be careful that you don’t scratch the door or door frame.
- Place the pin on a hard concrete surface and give it a rap in the middle with the hammer. The idea here is to bend the pin slightly so that it causes the hinge to bind or tighten. You can check the pin with a straight edge to see if it bent. If it hasn’t, give it a harder rap with the hammer.
- Replace the pin in the hinge. Tap it into position with the hammer. Once again, be careful that you don’t scratch the door frame or door.
- Test the door to make sure it now stays open on its own. If it doesn’t, remove another hinge pin and repeat the process until the door stays open on its own.