A door closer is an important component for doors, especially in public places. Its main function is to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the room, prevent the entry of animals, and provide access control.
Application of Door Closers
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Door closers are installed on both hinged and sliding doors, which are increasingly used indoors. The basic principle of operation of these devices is based on a spring mechanism: the spring stretches when the door is opened and compresses when it is closed.
Choosing and Operating a Door Closer
Choosing the right door closer is the first step towards its long-term service. It is important to consider which door it will be installed on. Doors should close easily.
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If the doors sag and require effort to close, the door closer will not function properly.
Therefore, first, the door should be repaired, and then the door closer should be installed.
Here are some recommendations to help you make the right choice of a door closer and avoid problems in the future:
- Matching the door closer model to the weight and width of the door is crucial. The larger and heavier the door, especially if it is glazed, the door closer should be designed to support a greater weight. For solid PVC or lightweight metal/wooden doors, a model up to 60 kg is suitable. If the door has glass elements, a model up to 80 kg is preferable. Heavy-duty metal doors or reinforced PVC/aluminum doors require door closers made that can withstand up to 120 kg of weight. Moreover, there are different kinds made for non-standard entrances that may handle weights of up to 200 or even 300 kg. It is not feasible to use powerful door closers on lightweight doors as this only serves to render the opening process harder.
- Consider the frequency of use. If the door will be used more than 300 times a day (e.g., in a building entrance with heavy traffic, a pharmacy, or a supermarket), pay attention to door closers capable of withstanding such loads. High-quality European or Japanese models are designed for 500,000 to 1 million opening and closing cycles. With this level of usage, these models will last at least 5 years.
- Wind resistance. If there is a possibility of strong gusts of wind or drafts when opening the door, choose a door closer with a wind brake function. This will prevent sudden jerks of the door leaf during sudden gusts of wind.
Door closer installation is usually carried out on the interior side of the room. Depending on the design features of the door, the door closer body can be mounted either on the door frame or directly on the door leaf.
The main rules for caring for a door closer
- Do not interfere with the door closer’s operation
Once the door closer is installed and adjusted, avoid interfering with its operation. Attempting to assist the door closer during its operation manually can increase pressure inside the casing, potentially causing oil leaks through weak points. Also, avoid holding the door while it closes, as the closing speed is calibrated, and the last 15 degrees of closing are usually executed with greater force. - Do not leave doors open for extended periods
It’s not advisable to keep doors with a door closer constantly open, especially if it’s equipped with a standard closing lever. You can use a doorstop to keep the door open for a short period of time (5–10 minutes) to provide artificial ventilation. On the other hand, using improvised things to secure open doors for long periods of time could lead to deformation to the door. The door closer’s spring stretches, altering its shape. As a result, constant stress may cause the door leaf to no longer close tightly, requiring adjustment or replacement. - Adjust closing and latch speed
Most door closers have two screws for adjusting the door closing speed and latch speed for the last 10-15 degrees. Door closers with special thermoconstant oil, which maintains its density in temperature fluctuations, usually require adjustments only during installation. For simple models, adjustments should be made regularly, at least twice a year. In cold temperatures, the oil thickens, causing doors to close more slowly, and latch force may be insufficient. In hot weather, the oil becomes more fluid, causing doors to close too quickly and loudly, weakening the door closer’s fastenings.
Failure to follow these recommendations may result in various malfunctions with the door closer.
Here are the main problems you may encounter with improper operation of a door closer:
- Change in door closing speed
The door closer may start under-closing or over-closing the door. In this case, trying to change the pace is suggested, but it’s advisable to leave this work to an expert. However, there are times when increasing the screws is no longer sufficient to reach the required outcomes, indicating that replacements are required. - Oil leakage
If the door closer leaks oil around the seal or adjustment screws, do not attempt to disassemble it yourself. Once such leakage occurs, the door closer is no longer repairable and needs replacement. - Rod or fastening breakage
If the rod attached to the door breaks, it can sometimes be repaired (welded) or replaced. It is essential to confirm that both the rod and case belong to the same brand, as items from various vendors might not fit correctly. Usually, door closer fastenings are made of standard screws. Check that they are the same length and diameter as the originals, and make sure they are tight all the time. - Door misalignment or poor closing
If the door becomes misaligned over time and the door closer is firmly attached to it, the door closer may fail to close the door properly or malfunction altogether. In this case, attention should first be given to door maintenance. Often, misalignment is due to worn hinges, which should be adjusted or replaced. After this, readjust the door closer to the desired operation.
If you have some data, you can try to handle these difficulties on your own or get help from a qualified professional to resolve the issues.
Professional tips for operating a door closer
- Use a door closer with hold-open feature
If you need to frequently leave the door open, consider a door closer with a hold-open feature. If your door closer is already installed, you can easily replace the rod with one that has this feature, requiring minimal tools. - Adhere to warranty conditions
Most manufacturers provide a warranty for one or two years. However, this warranty is only valid if the product is professionally installed. If you’re unfamiliar with door closer installation or adjustment, it’s best to entrust this task to a professional. - Choose a sliding lever type
A sliding lever type reduces the door closer’s class by one unit. If you opt for a door closer with a sliding lever for structural or aesthetic reasons, keep in mind that you may need to choose a stronger door closer. For example, if a standard lever door closer is rated for a door up to 80 kg, switching to a sliding lever may reduce its closing force to only 60 kg. - Invest in a quality door closer
Don’t skimp on quality when choosing a door closer. It’s a complex mechanism, and if you plan to use one model for 5-10 years, pay attention to the manufacturer and model specifications. In the long run, investing in a quality door closer will be more cost-effective than yearly replacements of budget models. - Consult with specialists
If you’re unsure about which type of door closer to choose, the type of rod to select, or how to calculate for door width and weight, you can always seek advice from specialists. For instance, in the online store “svitzamkiv.ua,” you can choose a convenient messenger or call the contact phone number to receive qualified assistance.
