If you’re tired of your storm door slamming shut, it’s time to install a closer. Get step-by-step storm door closer installation instructions in this guide.
How to Adjust a Door Closer Easily
Get some proper closure
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Get quotes from door pros near you
No obligation · 100% free
SKILL LEVEL
Easy
COMPLETION TIME
20 minutes
COST
$0
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
- Screwdriver or hex key
A door closer is a mechanism that ensures a door automatically closes behind someone when they’ve entered a room. Having a door closer can prevent damage to the door and promotes safety and security in case of events such as a fire. That being said, knowing how to adjust a door closer is essential in ensuring that it continues to function properly and you don’t have to pay the full door repair cost to do so.
Prepping to Adjust Door Closer
Before you make any adjustments to your door closer, it is important to inspect it to see if it needs to be replaced. If you notice any oily stains or leaks surrounding the door closer, this means that the seal for the door closer is broken and it needs to be replaced. You won’t be able to simply make adjustments to fix a broken door closer. Instead you should contact a door repair professional near you to determine the next steps.
Remove the Cover
Photo: Andrey Popov / Adobe StockWhile there are a few different types of door closers, surface mounted closers are the most common and the process of installation—or adjusting—isn’t that much different as if you were completing, say, a storm door closer installation.
The first step in how to adjust a door closer is to remove the cover. Removing the cover will let you access the necessary screws. Some covers are held on by screws, so you’ll need to grab a screwdriver to unscrew them and remove the cover. Others are holding on simply by tension, in which case you can just pull the cover off.
Close all the Hydraulic Valves
Now that the cover is off, you’ll need to close all the hydraulic valves by turning them clockwise until they stop. This will reset your valves in a sense before you make specific adjustments.
Make Small Adjustments to the Screws
Photo: Andrey Popov / Adobe StockThis next step is probably the most important in how to adjust a door closer. Using your screwdriver or hex key, make small—approximately 1/8 of an inch turn— adjustments to the screws to set the door closure’s speed and force. Turning the screws counterclockwise increases the speed and force, whereas turning them clockwise decreases the speed and force.
There are three components of the door closer that will need to be adjusted—the back check, latch speed, and swing speed. The back check is responsible for the door’s resistance when being opened, the latch speed is responsible for the force the door closes at when it is four or five inches away from being fully shut, and the swing speed controls how long it takes the door to fully swing closed.
It’s important to keep these roles in mind as you make door closer adjustments as they’ll inform how much you should be turning the screws.
Test the Door
The final step in making your door closer adjustments is to test the door. You may have to do this step a couple of times, as you open and close the door and determine if it's working as desired. Feel free to make small tweaks as needed to ensure everything is working properly.
Once your test is done and you're satisfied with the speed and force of closure, make sure to put the cover back on if your door closer has one, and you’re now good to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Door services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.8★ avg. • 25 total reviews
- Sue B.
Terrible experience. Walls/trim/floors/cabinets/doors all have drip marks, overspray, etc. Tiling at the fireplace had to be redone by another vendor due to incorrect and shoddy install by Profect. Contractor had his children in our house while he was on site without prior authorization or...
Profect painting & exteriors - Maggie M.
Jason has helped me with multiple household projects, with the most recent being new door installation. He has always showed up on time and organized and has done an incredible job! Jason is very professional and he's now my go-to for anything around my house that needs to be fixed or...
Huff Garage Rescue, LLC - Thomas S.
Company came to look at my garage door that was off track. They also said I needed a brace on the other garage door. They put the door back on track, and I paid to install the brace. The technician told me I needed a new garage door opener, and it would cost $1000. Red flags went off in...
Precision Overhead Garage Door Service - Lisa S.
On Sunday 2/26 I requested quotes via Angi from 4 refrigerator repair businesses. Northwest Appliance responded to me Monday morning (2/27) and my refrigerator was repaired by noon the same day. Great communication, they did everything they said they would. The technician had the parts on...
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Excellent customer service and knowledge. I was recommend to him from my neighbour. My front door and window came in great and were installed beautifully perfectly, I m very satisfied with their excellent work, so decided to order one more big bow window for my living room. I cant wait for...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Matthew L.
Called ahead and worked quickly to install keyless locks on vintage wooden doors.
Expert Lock and Key, LLC - Lori M.
Scott did not get appropriate access to the property prior to the scheduled inspection which required us to come back later in the day to complete it. He also, unprofessionally, knocked on a neighbor?s door in his attempts to reach someone with access. His overall report was fine though the...
Security First Home Inspections - Gary K.
Door Depot was very responsive - they came out the day after my call to assess my needs, then returned at my convenience to complete the work. They arrived early, and the work was completed in a shorter period of time than estimated. Very pleased with the results. I would definitely use them...
Door Depot LLC - Jim L.
Replace garage doors: Fast response, competitive estimate, timely work done well.
Village Garage Door - Dana M.
Jeremiah did an awesome job cleaning 28 windows inside and out! He was fast, efficient and now I have a beautiful view again. This was a Groupon for $139 for 20 windows, but I had 28 windows/doors cleaned, so there was an extra $6 per window. Totally worth it.
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