Doors are perhaps the most used part of your home. They are a feature that allows you to move freely about your house every day and feel secure. Therefore, keeping your door, particularly exterior doors, in good working condition is essential, as the last thing you want is a broken front door. However, doors take a lot of beating every day, and they will likely develop some problems over time. Here are four common door problems and how to fix them.
- A drafty door
Every homeowner wants to keep their house at a comfortable temperature, but that can be an issue if your doors are letting in outside drafts. Unfortunately, this problem can result in higher energy bills since you have to rely more heavily on your HVAC system to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.
A drafty door can result from various issues, but the main one is worn-out weatherstripping. Finding the root cause of the problem can be tricky sometimes, but the easiest way to improve how your home feels is by replacing the weatherstripping. If this doesn’t work, you may need to replace the entire door. Learn when you should replace your doors.
- A door that won’t stay latched
A door that won’t stay still is a common door problem, and it causes inconvenience since it isn’t doing what it is meant to do. This problem can result from the misalignment of latches or the door not hitting the strike plate. Fortunately, the solution to this issue is usually an easy fix. First, unscrew the strike plate, figure out where the door joins the jamb, and screw the plate into that area. Alternatively, you can remove the strike plate and fix it lower down the frame.
- Rattling door
A door that rattles when closed can be extremely annoying. Generally, there are three main reasons your door could be rattling; the door’s strike plate might be recessed, the latch bolt doesn’t align, or the strike plate requires a reset.
The strike plate often becomes recessed if your doorway is painted several times. An easy fix to this problem is to remove the strike plate and use cardboard shims to make it flush with the jamb. The issue of the latch not aligning with the hole in the strike can be fixed by filling up the strike plate.
If none of the two solutions quiet your door, remove the strike plate and use a chisel to drill pilot holes to refix the plate. Clean the exposed area with wood putty and smoothen it through sanding.
- Door hinges problem
Although they play a significant role in opening and closing a door, the most common door problems stem from the hinges. Signs your door hinges are damaged can be a screechy door or the door not opening and closing smoothly. A simple solution to a squeaky door is to lubricate the hinges with a spray or grease, which should instantly remove the screeching.
Endnote
No matter how you care for your house as a homeowner, you will eventually experience one of these door problems. Fortunately, most problems are easy to fix and don’t require much tools and experience. However, if you are continuously experiencing serious issues, this could be a sign there is a deeper issue, and you should call a professional for a door repair or replacement.