You were lying comfortably on your sofa, preparing to take your afternoon nap. But the heavy slamming sound caused by the screen door shook up your supposed peaceful rest. Sound familiar? The scenario might be different, but the root cause is the same slamming screen door. How can you stop this from happening for good? We also feel the frustrations, so we did the legwork and found the best ways to deal with it.
Here are several ways to solve your screen door slamming issue:
- Check and adjust the door hinges.
- Install foam weatherstripping or felt pads.
- Put a wedge or door stopper on the screen door.
- Install a pneumatic door closer.
All too often, reckless and forceful handling is the main reason why your screen keeps slamming. You can also associate the banging with worn-out hinges that outbalances the door. Luckily for you, this article will explore the various easy ways you can address this issue. Continue reading!
How do I stop my screen door from slamming?
The most reasonable thing to do when attempting to stop the banging for good is to check the condition of the screen door first. Then you can proceed to do the following:
Check and adjust the door hinges
Open the screen door to a 90-degree angle, making sure it’s completely ajar. Get a leveling tool and find out if the door is out of balance due to loose or worn-out screws.
Using a screwdriver, tighten any loose screws to mount the screen door to the door frame properly. Worn-out hinges need more than mounting; you need to replace them with new ones.
Replacing old hinges is simple and does not require removing the door from the frame. Unscrew the worn-out hinges and install the new ones successively, starting from the top hinge, the middle, and the bottom. Throughout the process, make sure to constantly check if the door is vertically balanced by using the leveling tool.
Your screen door may stop slamming after performing any of these minor maintenance tasks.
Install foam weatherstripping or felt pads
When your minor maintenance work did not solve the slamming issue, applying foam weatherstripping or felt pads might do the trick.
Yes, you read that right. Weatherstripping is effective in both minimizing door drafts and muffling the sound of a closing screen door. And it can also secure the longevity of both the door frame and the screen door itself.
To install, follow the easy steps below:
1. Clean accumulated grime or dust on the edge of the door frame by either brushing or wiping it clean.
2. Measure the jamb from all sides, along the top and bottom.
3. Cut the weatherstripping with the measurements you have and paste them in place.
Similarly, felt pads also provide enough cushion to slow down the screen door. To install these, stick two felt pads on both the top and bottom parts of the door frame. Adding two felt pads on the strike plate will also minimize the impact as the screen door closes.
Click here to see this foam weatherstripping on Amazon.
Put a door stopper on the screen door
Muffled door sound can still be annoying, especially when it constantly happens while guests and family members are around. So try the cheapest but a bit advanced anti-slam solution: door stoppers.
Door stoppers are loosely called soft close door dampers or door slam stoppers, depending on what particular issue you want to solve. But ultimately, they all are great solutions for lessening the loud slamming sound.
And the best part is that door stoppers are cost-effective as they protect your door frame or wall from being damaged in the long run.
Install a pneumatic door closer
Now, if what you want is total silence while the screen door closes, we suggest installing a pneumatic door closer to either the top or bottom portion of the screen door.
This door closer is an upgraded version of door stoppers and uses an air-filled piston to control the speed of a closing screen door. It assures that—may it be the wind, a kid, or a dog—the door quietly and slowly shuts.
Installing the pneumatic door closer can be a bit difficult, so follow along as we detail the steps:
1. Position the jamb bracket up against the door, drill through the screw holes, and pin it using the appropriate screws.
2. Slide the jamb-side nose of the closer and slip the pin into the connecting holes to fix the closer in place.
3. Attach the door bracket to the closer tube using the connecting pin. Then, mark and drill the door bracket’s position on the door.
4. Latch the door bracket in place, and you have now installed the pneumatic door closer.
Check out this pneumatic door closer on Amazon.
How do you adjust the tension on a screen door closer?
It is common for a pneumatic door closer to exhibit tension and cause the screen door to close aggressively after the installation. This can lead to minor ankle injuries if left as is.
You can regulate the tension using the tension adjustment screw at the bottom part of the door closer. Tightening the screw clockwise will result in the screen door closing at a slower pace. Turning the screw counter-clockwise loosens the tension, which will make the door close faster.
Is a hydraulic door closer better than a pneumatic one?
A pneumatic door closer is not the only solution for the abrupt closing of your doors and its disturbingly loud sound. A hydraulic door closer is also a viable option.
Identifying which of the two is better comes down to your preference and the door you’re going to use it on.
A hydraulic door closer uses liquid operation to control the speed at which the door closes. This door closer type utilizes Pascal’s law that says that force or pressure applied to confined liquid will be uniformly transmitted to the liquid and its container, which, in this case, is the hydraulic door closer.
In simple terms, the force from opening and closing the door is equal in all directions inside the hydraulic closer, which also allows the door to stay open at a 90-degree angle, albeit with fewer parts that need manual adjustments, unlike pneumatic door closer.
A hydraulic door closer is stiff, which makes it applicable for heavier doors, like the ones made of metal. In this sense, you can deduce that it is better than pneumatic ones.
But hydraulic types lag behind pneumatic door types when you want to have a system to cushion the blow of any home door because a pneumatic slamming system has a slower force and faster motion, which results in a more controlled door movement when closing.
What is the best screen door closer?
So which should you choose, then? We may not be able to provide the most suitable door closer for you, but we can recommend the top options for both pneumatic and hydraulic doors closers, which customers prefer.
1. Wright V150 Pneumatic Closer
This product manufactured by Hampton Products is an easy-to-install door closer and the perfect option for homeowners who are looking for an inexpensive pneumatic door closer that will shut the door quickly but silently.
Check out this pneumatic screen door closer on Amazon.
2. Wright V920 Standard Duty Pneumatic Closer
Made by the same manufacturer as the prior item, this pneumatic door closer is designed for screen and storm doors. According to product users, this door option is the perfect upgrade for your old door closer that no longer lets you open your door a full 90 degrees.
Check out this Wright V920 pneumatic door closer on Amazon.
3. Onarway Door Closer
You just found the right door closer if you’re looking for one that stops the door from slamming and protecting your door. With Onarway Door Closer, you no longer have to worry about someone not closing your door. This closer ensures that your door is pulled hard and fast enough that it latches on your screen door in no time quietly.
Check out this hydraulic door closer on Amazon.
4. Dorence Heavy-Duty Automatic Door Closer
Dorence Automatic Self-Closing Door Closer uses a premium and durable cast-iron with powder-coated anti-corrosion protection for homes that constantly experience unforgiving weather and environment. And just by adjusting the closing speed, you can make it shut your stubborn door in no time soundlessly.
Check out this hydraulic door closer on Amazon.
Wrapping Up Everything
The easiest way to stop a screen door from slamming is, obviously, by gently closing it as you enter or leave your home. But you can’t always make other people do the same as you do. So you have to check for loose hinges regularly. To take your screen door silencing game up a notch, installing felt pads, weatherstripping, door stoppers, or a high-tech door closer can help keep your lightweight screen door from banging loudly.
