How to Maintain a Door Closer

05/08/2015 Back To Blog

All door hardware components require proper care. This is especially applicable to the devices which enable opening and closing and locking and unlocking. If you have a commercial door closer on your premises, you have to maintain it on a regular basis so that it continues to operate effectively and safely in the long term. Learn how to do this in the right away. The guidance below is for the traditional hydraulic devices.

Thorough Inspection

The first thing which you need to do is to assess the condition which the device is in. This will enable you to take timely steps for repair or replacement, if needed.

Check for oil residue - Inspect the entire body of the door closer for oil marks, spots and accumulations, which are typically found in tighter areas where two surfaces slide against each other. You should also check the door panels and the floor for oil spots. All of these signs indicate malfunctioning of the device. It must be fixed without delay so that security problems and commercial lockout are effectively avoided.

Look closely for signs of wear and tear, rust, deformation and other types of damage - You should check the main unit, the hinges, the screws and all moving components. While rust is easy to remove with steel wool and a specially designed chemical product, the other issues are serious and repair or replacement will be required for their resolution.

Performance Improvement

There are a number of things which you can do to enable the door closer to work effectively for the highest level of security and for preventing office lockout.

Add appropriate oil - Check what the manufacturer of the device recommends first. In most cases, light household oil should work excellently. It is typically added through the screw holes by filling one at the time.

Adjust the settings - Turn the screw, which is found on the top section of the closer, to set the optimal closing speed. You will need to use an appropriate screw driver for this.

Test the operation of the device - It must close the door quickly enough without slamming it, however. It must not produce any noise while operating. Keep in mind that if this device does not work properly, even the best door lockset may not do its job right.

Finally, you have to keep in mind that doors with closers must be used with care so that the devices do not get easily worn-out and damaged. Be careful when opening such doors with keys so that key damage and key repair are avoided.