Squeak Be Gone Remedies!
Squeaking doors can be a really irritating
problem. Although many would consider it to be a major problem, it
isn’t! In fact, it’s a minor house problem that even you yourself
can fix, and here’s how to.
Stop, Look And Listen
First, you should know where that squeaking sound is coming from.
You can do this by stopping, looking and listening carefully. You
should perform the "swing test" first before you go off buying a
whole new door.
Start off by making sure that your surroundings is quiet. Then, you
should stand on the side of the door
in which you remember that the squeak was loudest. When you’re in
position already, swing the door in a gentle manner, covering its
complete arc. Do this action repeatedly and try to vary the speed
while
doing so.
While swinging the door, you should take note of some factors. Try
to note exactly where the squeak comes from. Then try to note when
it is loudest. See whether it is loudest when you swing the door
fast or slow. Then lastly, find out why exactly the squeak is
happening. Finding out why is a very crucial factor, since this
dictates what remedy you should use.
Two General Remedies
Once you’ve determined where the squeaks are, you can do two general
remedies. First, tighten all the screws in the hinges. Then, get a
flat-headed screwdriver. Carefully tap its blade in between the
hinge body and the hinge-pin head to separate them.
After doing this, get a 3-in-1 sewing machine oil and squeeze in a
few drops of it into the small space
between the pin-head and the hinge body. If you don’t have
sewing-machine oil, you can also use a WD-40, and spray some into
the same space.
By applying some lubricant in the space, you enable the lubricant to
seep in into the remaining length of
the pin, which is inside the hinge body. Thus, you give the best
lubrication coverage that you can give
for the hinge.
Doing this would generally resolve your squeaking problems-if you
were accurate on determining the
source, that is. However, if you pinpointed the wrong source, then
most probably your squeak would still be there.
All Hope Is Not Lost
If you pinpointed the wrong source of the squeak, don’t worry then!
By this point in time, you have
determined that the hinges are not the problem. Then, most probably
it’s a wood on wood kind of squeak problem.
To solve this kind of squeak, you would have to do the squeak test
again. After which, you have to release the bind, since the problem
may be the hinge binding on the wood. While performing the swing
test, heed on how the door’s hinge-side settles into the door-jamb.
Also, take note of how it makes a final contact with your door-stop.
This is when stop, look and listen wouldn’t be enough, since you
would have to make use of touch. If you feel that it has springy
feel, when the door is approximately in the closed position, odds
are very
good that it is hinge-bound. This can be the cause of the squeak
since the door is forced to rub with the jamb material. To repair
this kind of problem, you need to remove your door by removing the
screws on the hinges’ jamb side and leaving the hinges intact with
the door itself. Then, you need to chisel out some hinge recesses
towards the direction of the hinge barrel. Then, reinstall the door
and perform the swing test again.
If this doesn’t solve your problem, try chiseling out more recess.
It can be a trial and error process.
However, it can be fixed.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer
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