Why your door is not closing all the way

It might sound obvious that we want a door to close as well as open, but in many cases this is not just a case of convenience and practicality, it can also be essential that a door properly closes. Ensuring that a door closes all the way and is fully engaged in the closed position – ie. it won’t blow open again with a gust of wind – can be essential in terms of:

Health and safety – A door blowing open can cause injury
Accessibility – People with limited mobility need to have complete control over the door opening process
Security – In some cases an automatic lock might not engage until a door is fully engaged in the closed position, so you need the peace of mind that this is happening
Energy-efficiency – If a door is not closed properly or is continually blowing open, this means warm air is escaping to be replaced by cold air from outside, and therefore this results in excessive energy being used to moderate the temperature.
Professionalism – As well as convenience and all the reasons listed above, a business simply wants a door to stay closed because it is efficient and professional and reflects the standards of the business. A door blowing open and not shutting properly can suggest the business doesn’t care, has no attention to detail and is content to accept poor standards of work.

Reasons why your door isn’t closing

There can be many reasons why your door isn’t closing, and the most common ones are listed here:

Wear and tear – Over time it is possible that the door hinges have worked loose or have become misaligned. This is a common problem and effectively means the door isn’t hung properly. The latch and the striking plate can also become worn and means the door won’t engage in the closed position as it is supposed to.
Poor installation – The problem with the hinges and the latch or striking plate can also be a result of a poor installation. If these items were not fixed precisely or securely in the first place, the problem will only get worse and eventually the door won’t close properly.
Obstructions - Often the problem of a door not closing is a case of debris building up on the bottom or sides of a door. This may appear minimal at first but if left to build-up can become a problem.
Level issues – The final common reason for doors not shutting properly is because the door or the floor isn’t level. This could be the bottom of the door that has not been planed properly, or the flooring or the floor itself isn’t level. Often, the problem can be the door becoming warped or swollen. This can happen in high humidity or where there is a problem with damp. If the door begins to swell then it effectively becomes bigger and therefore won’t sit in the door frame properly.

How a door closer ensures a door is closed

If you have a problem with a door not closing properly, then installing a door closer will solve this issue, once you have carried out any necessary repairs to the door. A door closer uses a hydraulic mechanism to control the force and speed of a door closing. Hydraulic fluid within the mechanism is compressed when the door closer is engaged, and this stores energy. When the door is released to close it, this energy is also released to close the door. However, adjustments made to the door closer enable it to control the force needed and the speed in which the door closes.

This means a user can fine tune the door closer to meet the needs of the application, ie. to match the size and weight of the door. We would recognise this as a ‘delayed reaction’ in how the door closes, while a backcheck feature also prevents a forced closing. In other words, this maintains tension so that the door doesn’t slam shut. By controlling this closing speed and force we can ensure proper latching, and that the latch fully engages to secure the door in the closed position. So the door closer controls the door and prevents it slamming, to injure someone, and also ensures it sits firmly in the closed position, to help manage health and safety, security and energy efficiency.

Order your door closer online from MB Direct

You can order the style of door closer you need from our range of door closers at MB Direct. We have a range of designs which will meet your needs in terms of door size, location, traffic volume and budget. So check our range and order online today.