Nothing’s worse than the startling sound of a slamming door while you’re still half asleep in bed, are in a meeting, or when you’ve finally put the baby to sleep. Not to mention the mini heart attack it can cause when your front door is blown shut forcefully by strong winds.
If slamming is an ongoing issue with your doors at home, then this article is for you. From practical tips like installing a door closer to easy DIY projects, we share the best ways to stop doors from slamming and protect them from damage.
What Causes Slamming Doors?
There are several reasons why your doors might be slamming on their own.
One primary culprit is air pressure differences within the home. When windows are opened or exhaust fans operate, they can create suction, pulling doors closed with unexpected force. Additionally, improperly installed or maintained doors can fail to latch correctly, leading to abrupt closures.
Furthermore, structural imbalances in the building or specific rooms, such as those caused by uneven flooring or settling foundations, can affect door operation. The design and weight distribution of the door itself, combined with the force applied during its closure, can also contribute to a slamming door.
By identifying these root causes, homeowners can implement targeted solutions to stop doors from slamming, ensuring a more peaceful and secure living environment!
6 Ways to Prevent Doors From Slamming
There’s no doubt about it: a slamming door can be annoying and frightening. Here are six measures we recommend you take when your door slams shut:
1. Install a Door Closer
Door closers are one of the most effective ways to stop your door from suddenly slamming shut. They are adjustable and spring-loaded mechanisms that automatically close a door firmly every time someone opens it. Most self-closing doors usually come with door closers that are operated with either an air-filled piston or a spring tension modulated by hydraulic pressure.
Beyond the purpose of trying to stop a door from slamming, residential and commercial property owners often install door closers for the following reasons.
- Prevent severe injuries from heavy doors suddenly closing on an individual
- Keep kids or pets from running out of the house if someone forgets to close the door on their way out
- Add an extra layer of security that deters unauthorized people from entering
- Ensure that any fire doors are sealed shut and the fire protection mechanism is not compromised
If you are in the process of getting a new replacement door or exterior door, ask your provider if they also have door closers available for installation. If you’re looking to install one yourself, they are likely available for purchase at your local hardware store.
2. Use a Door Slam Stopper
Soft-close devices like door stoppers are commonly used on interior doors to prevent the door handle from hitting walls if accidentally flung open. For external doors, stoppers can be used to wedge between the frame to hold the door open.
Luckily, this low-tech solution does not have to be an eyesore or break interior design rules given the decorative options on the market.
3. Inspect Your Door’s Hinges
As previously mentioned, the cause of a slamming door can be due to faulty installation or maintenance issues. Old or improperly installed exterior and interior doors often have loose or unbalanced hinges that cause them to shut on their own.
Inspect the door hinges by opening the door at a 90-degree angle. Put a level against the latch to determine whether the door is out of plumb. Then, tighten the screws around the hinges or replace the hinges entirely. In most cases, this minor tweak should be enough to stop doors from slamming in your house!
4. Attach Felt Pads to Your Door
If your door slams shut after you’ve adjusted the hinges, you can try sticking felt pads on it as a quick DIY solution. We’re referring to the self-adhesive felt pads usually used on furniture to prevent scratching and damaging wooden floors.
Attach a few felt pads to the edges of your door frame and both the top and bottom parts of the strike plate. The self-stick felt pads will provide soft padding against your door when it closes and prevent it from slamming shut. These are also a solution if you’re trying to figure out how to make a door close quietly.
5. Try Foam Weatherstripping for Heavier Doors
For heavy, solid wood doors, foam weatherstripping may be a sturdier anti-slam solution than felt pads. The idea behind this solution is the same: the foam weatherstripping will slow down the door as it closes and will muffle the sound of it closing.
Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to attach weatherstripping to your door:
- Clean the inside edges of your door frame to remove dust and debris that could hinder the adhesive from sticking properly.
- Cut the foam weatherstripping according to the size of the edges of the door frame.
- Stick each strip to the door frame edges and press them firmly into place.
6. Place Pinch Guards on Your Door
Pinch guards protect your or someone else’s fingers from getting hurt from slamming doors by physically preventing them from fully closing. Pinch guards also eliminate the offending noise that accompanies door slams. These are also cost-effective because they are sold in packs, making them an excellent solution if you have multiple doors to fix.
Have Clera Replace Your Slamming Doors
Are you tired of the disruptive clang of a slamming door echoing through your home? Don’t let door slamming steal your peace and quiet!
If none of these solutions worked, that’s where Clera Windows + Doors comes in. Sometimes what you need is professional door replacement, which just so happens to be our specialty. We handle the entire process from manufacturing to installation to ensure every door works as it should.
Contact us today and get ready to say goodbye to your slamming doors!
