Even the most good doors Over time, they may begin to creak or sag: no one can cancel the force of gravity and friction. And if you have heavy steel ones, then even the metal will get tired of holding them. After the summer, plastic ones also “sag” - they almost always remain open in the heat, which leads to such results. There is no need to tolerate these “disgraces,” nor is there any need to spend money on eliminating them. Adjustment entrance doors Although the matter is delicate, in most cases you can do it on your own. Once you have adjusted the hinges and the rebate with your own hands, you can easily repeat it later.
Adjusting a metal entrance door
- creak;
- draft - blowing from under the canvas (cracks around the perimeter or from above/bottom);
- closes with difficulty.
The solution to all these problems is called “adjusting the front door,” but this includes very different measures - from banal lubrication and replacement of the seal, to actual adjustments and mechanical influences.
Sometimes, to fix a problem, you need to go through all the methods, and sometimes the problem that has arisen can only be eliminated radically - by replacement. Most often, this situation occurs with cheap Chinese products. Adjusting Chinese-made entrance doors is almost impossible. Of course, you can try to do something with your own hands: companies and craftsmen do not undertake them.
Eliminating squeaking
Doors can creak for two reasons: the hinge grease is clogged or the door leaf touches the frame. Although both are called “creaking”, the nature of the sound is different. It’s easier to deal with clogged loops, so they usually start with this procedure.
Hinge lubrication
First, remove the old grease, at the same time removing any dirt stuck to it. The procedure is standard: wipe with a soft cloth wherever marks are visible. If this procedure has not been done for several years, and the hinges are of a standard classic type, and even detachable, the fabric can be removed. It is better to clean it when removed.
If the hinges are rusty and cannot be removed even though they should, do not try to knock them off with a hammer or sledgehammer. You'll do more harm than good. It is better to buy a rust remover. It is usually sold in the form of sprays. Apply to the rusted hinge and wait for the prescribed period. Then remove the fabric from the loops and clean it. But this time it is necessary to remove all the rust. To bare metal, then coat it with a rust converter and only then with lubricant.
After the old lubricant is removed, take “fresh” and apply it to the hinges. If the blade is removed, no problems will arise - lubricate the pin and ring. If there are any other rubbing mechanisms visible on the frame, lubricate them too.
In traditional type hinges, creaking may occur due to the fact that the washer on the rod has worn off. You inspect it after you have removed the door panel. If there are signs of wear, replace them. Install a new carbide washer. You can use an engraver instead. It will also compensate for the load.
If the hinges are permanent, find a liquid lubricant in a can (the most common is WD40) or machine oil, which can be applied using a large syringe. Handle all rubbing parts carefully.
There is another method, but it is destructive. A hole is drilled in the upper part of the loop, which is then filled with lubricant. The trick is to not damage the mechanism inside.
If the hinges are hidden, find all the turning parts and lubricate them. Often these models have holes into which oil is applied.
After applying the lubricant, rock the doors from side to side several times, distributing the lubricant. If this was the reason, the squeak goes away. The final touch is to wipe off excess oil.
How to lubricate front door hinges
You must select a lubricant primarily based on the temperatures at which the loop is operated. If the loops go outside, you need a composition that does not thicken when low temperatures. There's not much choice here:
- Litol. Operates reliably at temperatures from -40°C to +120°C.
- Solid oil. The temperature range is slightly lower, but also sufficient: from -35°C to +65°C.
For entrance doors facing the entrance and operated at above-zero temperatures, several more items can be added to this list:
Eliminating friction on the box
If the creaking remains after processing the hinges, it is most likely caused by friction of the door leaf against the frame. Inspect the door frame for scuffs. If you find any signs of abrasion, look at which loop is closest. It will need to be regulated, if possible.
The difficulty is that there are a lot of types and models of loops and it is impossible to say unambiguously what needs to be done. All that is possible is to list the main points that may exist. Based on them, you may be able to determine how to “treat” your door.
Two types of hinges for an entrance metal door with adjustment
Standard hinges do not provide adjustment options. In this case, adjusting the entrance doors consists of replacing the washer. Select them of greater or lesser thickness, adjusting the position of the door leaf. Some hinges with a ball at the top have an adjustment screw. By unscrewing it, we lift the doors a little, and by twisting it, we lower them. You can try to correct the situation with its help.
If standard hinges are on steel door welded, we can assume that the possibilities have been exhausted. If they are mounted on screws, loosen the fastening screws and move the sash in the desired direction as far as possible. Then the screws are tightened. Check to see if the problem has gone away. If not, try with another loop. Sometimes it is necessary to loosen all the loops and tug the canvas in this position. In general, decide where to press and where to press.
There are hinge models in which the adjustment holes are hidden under a protective cap. But you can’t just remove it: it is secured with a bolt that can be unscrewed from inside the room. An example of adjusting such a loop is in the video.
If the hinges on the front door are screwed on, you can use them to eliminate friction between the door leaf and the frame. First, loosen the screws near the area where the wear occurs. Try to move the door leaf a little. To begin with, you can knock with your palm or fist, moving it in the desired direction. Try opening/closing a couple of times. Did it help? Screw the clamping screws back. And try to open/close again.
If it doesn’t help, you can use some kind of leverage, hit it with a rubber mallet or hammer through the board. But don't overdo it. You need to handle Chinese products especially carefully: they are very flimsy.
If these manipulations also do not yield anything, you will have to loosen the screws on all the hinges and try to move the canvas over the entire area. Take the edge of the canvas with your hands and shake it. In this case, the loops should fall into place. You try to open and close. If there is no squeak, tighten the bolts. That's all, adjusting the front door hinges can't do more. The next thing you can try is to change the geometry of the door frame. More on this in the next paragraph.
The photo above (right picture) shows an adjustable hinge. By loosening the screws, you can turn the adjusting screw. It doesn’t help - we try to move the canvas as described above.
Eliminating a leaky door (blowing from under the door)
Sometimes there is a noticeable blow from under the front door. If you examine the perimeter, you will most likely find that in some place the fit of the door leaf to the door frame is loose. There may be a decent sized gap. You can check your suspicions with a piece of paper. Open the doors, insert a piece of paper between the door leaf and the jamb and close the doors. If the rebate is normal, the paper either stretches with very great force, or is clamped so tightly that it is impossible to remove it. Just break it up. If the sheet comes out freely, then the fit is insufficient.
The simplest explanation is that the seal has lost its elasticity. If the doors are several years old, this is possible. And the first thing you do is change the seal. Didn't help or only partially solved the problem? Let's move on.
Replacing the seal is the first step if there is leakage from under the front door
If the door leaf is displaced relative to the door in the horizontal plane, we try to eliminate the draft from under the front door by first moving the door leaf. This is described above: loosen the fastening screws on the hinges, then try to move the blade in the desired direction. Check the result - the gap has disappeared - tighten all the screws to their original position.
Sometimes gaps under the front door occur due to misalignment of the door frame. This is checked using a level. Most likely, it is skewed in the place where the sheet of paper can be easily removed. The second option, on the contrary, the box was pushed out in the place where the sheet is pressed, due to the fact that the “normal” part cannot be pressed. All this is determined using an eye gauge and a level. Having determined what the problem is, we try to return the geometry to normal. The measures depend on how the box is installed:
For an option to correct the gap in the vestibule, see the video. After entrance door installation It turned out that it was blowing strongly from under it. The owner corrected the distortion with a hammer.
Eliminating door sag (shuffles on the threshold)
If, after several years of operation, the doors begin to open with difficulty and rub against the threshold, most likely the problem is that the ball or bearings have worn out. If there are possible adjustments, you won’t even have to remove them. Simply unscrew one of the bolts and lift it slightly up.
If there is no adjustment, there are several options:
- replacing hinges;
- replacing bearings with new ones;
- installation of washers instead of bearings.
All this is determined based on the situation and the design of the loop.
Adjusting plastic entrance doors
The problems may be the same: friction, creaking hinges and loose connection to the frame, which can cause blowing. But door adjustment PVC is easier— hinges and mechanisms are standardized, there are not many types. So there is hope that you can deal with the problems yourself, without calling a specialist.
Balcony door adjustment
After the summer, the plastic doors to the balcony sag: in the summer they often remain open for a long time, which is why such a nuisance happens. Then they touch the threshold, an unpleasant sound is heard, and the plastic is erased. In this case, you need to lift the canvas up. This is done using the adjustment located at the top of the bottom hinge.
They do this when open lock, but the door is closed. Take a hex wrench (usually 4 or 5) and insert it into the hole and turn it a few turns. There is no need to lift too much right away, as this may cause other problems. Raise only until the problem is fixed.
Sometimes, when closing, the doors rub from the side, hitting the metal latches. It turns out that you need to move the canvas towards the loop part. For this there is another adjustment on the same hinge. It is located below, visible when the door is open.
This adjustment is also carried out with a couple of turns clockwise or counterclockwise. If you need to keep the doors from rubbing against the counter, turn counterclockwise. Give it a couple of turns and check. Once the problem goes away, stop. Otherwise, you can move it so much that the lock stops “clinging” to the mate.
If the upper left corner “clings”, you need to adjust the loop that is at the top. The principle is the same: one or two turns until the problem is eliminated.
Top Hinge Adjustment - Top Left Corner Pressure
Pressure adjustment (to prevent draught)
Sometimes weak pressure is observed from the side of the locking part. It seems that the canvas adjoins smoothly, but there is a noticeable pull from under the door. In summer this is not a problem, but with the onset of cold weather it significantly reduces the temperature. There are two ways. The first is to adjust the clamping pins. These are metal protrusions on the sash.
They come in two types. as in the photo above - oval and round, but with an eccentric in the middle. The position of this element determines the degree of pressing of the sash to the frame. The method of changing the position depends on the shape of the trunnion. If it is like in the photo, take pliers, clamp it and turn it slightly. The maximum pressure is if the long side is turned horizontally, the minimum is if it is directed vertically upward. There are also all the intermediate options.
If there is an eccentric in the center of the trunnion, then there is also a hole for the hexagon. Insert it and turn it, achieving the desired degree of pressure.
It is not recommended to set the stasis to the maximum value: the seals will quickly lose their elasticity. Also make sure that all eccentrics are rotated the same way. This guarantees normal operation of the fittings.
But sometimes there is a situation where the balcony door leaf is not pressed tightly on the hinge side. This can also be eliminated by adjusting the hinges. At the bottom it is located under a protective cap. Remove it (pull it up). Take the key (hexagon) and with a couple of turns adjust the pressure of the lower right corner of the plastic balcony door.
Also available on frame hidden hinges, which also include the ability to adjust the pressure. They are located on the frame on the hinge side. Adjustment with the same hex wrench. Turns “clockwise” and “counterclockwise”.
Adjusting plastic entrance doors
The plastic entrance doors have different hinges, and there are no locking and tilting fittings. They have closed loops of the overhead type. They have three adjustments:
- the height of the door leaf relative to the frame - at the bottom of the hinge;
- the density of pressing the canvas to the frame is on the top on the hinge;
- movement of the sash horizontally - sideways
They are sufficient if the doors were initially installed correctly: the limits for changing positions are significant, which makes it possible to compensate for those changes that occurred during operation.
If there is a squeak in the hinges, they need to be lubricated. To do this, remove the top cap and put lubricant into the opened hole. Since plastic doors are installed as entrance doors mainly in private houses and they go out onto the street or into an unheated vestibule, you select a lubricant that does not thicken at low temperatures (Litol and Solidol).
Put lubricant here
In some models of hinges, the lid is simply lifted off, in others, you need to unscrew it and then pull it out. Determined by location.
Sometimes a situation arises when intervention is required: the lock does not lock properly. If the sash pressure is normal, correction of the striker is necessary. She is mobile in such doors. Loosen the mounting screws, use a screwdriver to move the bar slightly in the desired direction and tighten the screws back. Checking. It should help.
Very often when installing new plastic structures, windows or doors, there are problems with opening and closing mechanisms or other functions. This is due to many factors: improper installation, shrinkage of the house or careless operation. To eliminate the problem, you don’t need to call a professional: adjusting PVC doors yourself is quite possible. Moreover, the master will require a considerable amount for his services, and this is a reason to save the family budget.
For high-quality adjustment you will need only three tools: a No. 4 hex wrench, a screwdriver and an eccentric. They are universal, as the design plastic products presupposes their use. All fittings have special holes for tools, mainly hinges and handles.
Basic functions of door adjustment keys
Horizontal adjustment involves tightening the upper and lower loops. The door should be open at this time. If you turn the key clockwise, the sash will be pulled towards the hinge and, conversely, may loosen the fastening. This way the bottom of the door is adjusted. If you stand on the outside of the PVC door, then, working with the lower hinges, you can tighten or loosen the top of the sash. This adjustment method allows you to bring the door into parallel alignment with other plastic structural elements.
The eccentric is intended to be used in adjusting the sash pressure. Very often the main function of metal plastic doors far from ideal. Therefore, with the help of such a key you can bring it to the desired state. To do this, the eccentric is inserted into the pressure pads along the entire perimeter of the door. The key has a special mark indicating the degree of pressure. All this can be seen clearly when used. In addition to the eccentric, the sash can be pressed with special plates or, on the hinge side, with a hexagon. Doors can be installed depending on the season: weaker in summer, vice versa in winter. But it is worth knowing that with increased pressure, the sash structure can quickly wear out.
The clamping of the hinges implies greater reliability of the heavy structure. Adjustment is carried out using a key corresponding to a bolt perpendicular to the sash. First of all, you need to remove the caps from the hinges and install the canvas in open state. With this type of installation, the door must be held, because there is a risk that the structure may fly off, being held by only one hinge, which is not subject to adjustment, and the entire leaf may be in ventilation mode, that is, rejected. By turning the key, you can adjust either the top hinges or both at once, thus achieving a tight fit of the fittings.
The most common problems that you can fix yourself
- The bottom of the door touches the frame
Due to the heaviness, the sash may sag. Therefore, the adjustable parts, that is, the hinges, are tightened with a hex key. Depending on the symmetry of the door, both or one are pulled up. The elimination of the defect can be seen immediately. But if this does not help, the problem is solved radically.
The door may sag due to poor installation of the glass unit when it comes to balcony version. Such work should be left only to masters of their craft, otherwise there is a risk of completely ruining the structure. They can remove the beads and either replace the glass or adjust its installation. It will not be possible to solve the problem on your own without the knowledge to do so.
- The canvas is displaced
Visually, this defect will be noticeable immediately. The problem is eliminated using built-in regulators. The bottom and top are twisted in accordance with the parallelism of the leaf to the door frame.
- Drafts due to seal
Perhaps the most common problem in the operation of PVC doors. The issue is resolved by pressing the sash with an eccentric. You shouldn’t delay troubleshooting for too long: drafts can bring dampness, which is not very good for the seal. If it is dilapidated, the rubber should be changed immediately; no amount of pressure will help; on the contrary, too much pressure will lead to sagging of the PVC.
- Loose fittings
If these are hinges, they are tightened with a hexagon, installation is carried out crosswise, in case of failure of both elements, and in the usual way for one. Be sure to control the tightening force. Otherwise, in this case, the pinching may lead to other consequences, and adjustment will be needed in other parts of the structure.
To securely fasten the handles, you need to tighten the bolts by turning the handle 90 degrees. This is done using a screwdriver. In addition, a ventilator comb can be installed at the base of the door handle.
- Poor or difficult turning of fittings
In addition to the fact that the PVC door requires regular inspection and tightening, all running parts should be lubricated with machine oil, using cotton swabs so as not to leave greasy stains on the surface.
Methods for detecting defects when adjusting doors
There are several simple tricks to ensure that the door, when adjusted, immediately shows its own defects. Then the likelihood that unscrupulous craftsmen will return the money spent on the design will increase.
- Using a simple pencil. This way you can check the parallelism of the frame or door guides. The door is closed tightly, and the structure is outlined with a pencil along the perimeter of the entire canvas. After this, the drawn contour can visually identify the valves that are too tight. The adjustment occurs on the side where the lines are not parallel. If the sash can be faulty on both sides or on one, after working with keys, this is a reason to call the craftsmen.
- A method for identifying defects in sash clamping using a piece of paper. To do this, close the door with a piece of newspaper and then pull it back. If this happens easily, the door requires adjustment with an eccentric.
- The door can spontaneously perform its functions, open and close without action on the part of the owners. This indicates poor installation of the fittings. If the adjustment does not help, you need to call the company where this design was produced.
- Also, a consequence of poor installation may be the timing of the adjustment.
As a rule, it is not required for properly constructed doors. Defective ones or those with a violation of installation technology will require correction almost immediately. You need to be vigilant during the DIY process.
Many problems during the operation of doors can be avoided if you entrust the installation to trusted companies.
But it’s not always worth blaming unscrupulous craftsmen: it is quite possible that your own negligence led to such consequences, and the problem can be fixed yourself without resorting to expensive repairs.
If neither your budget nor time allows you to tinker with repairs and adjustments, you need to be extremely careful when choosing a company according to PVC production, reading reviews about it and checking the list of provided product certificates. A guarantee not only for the service life, but also for repairs is also important. And with the recommendations given, adjusting the door will not be difficult. Good luck!
One of the nuances of caring for plastic doors is their adjustment. In our article, we will get acquainted with the need to carry out such procedures for balcony and entrance doors, find out how horizontal and vertical adjustments are carried out, changing the pressing force of the door leaf, special attention Let's replace the gaskets.
In what cases is adjustment needed?
Modern entrance groups made of plastic, as well as balcony doors made of similar material, differ from similar products durable coating and high-quality fit of individual parts. Thanks to these properties, the described structures can serve their owner for decades without the need for repair work.
In some cases, the user may have a problem with adjusting the balcony door. This is especially scary for the home owner when the product fails warranty period. Despite the fact that many call a specialist, you can adjust the plastic door yourself.
Before carrying out the main work, you need to find a fault in the design of the frame or canvas and eliminate it by tightening special threaded connections. In the majority of cases new door the balcony does not require additional regulation. This is due to the fact that the products received from warehouses are made of wear-resistant materials, their main parts are fitted very carefully.
Despite this, situations arise when a plastic entrance or balcony door needs immediate adjustment. If this is not done on time, then the owner of the house will have to completely replace the entire structure, and this is an additional unforeseen expense. According to experts, the regulatory process should be performed once a year at most.
With more frequent repair work, the product can quickly become unusable. This is due to wear of the seals, microlifts, as well as adjusting screws or plastic frame.
The need to regulate balcony doors arises in the following situations:
- Sagging of the balcony sash when the leaf begins to rest against the threshold. As a result of friction of parts, wear occurs not only on the sash, but also on the threshold itself. Repair work must be carried out when the first signs of sagging appear.
- The lock does not click well or the blade is pressed tightly. In this case, it is necessary to adjust the pressure of the plastic doors. To do this, you need to adjust their location in the frame structure.
- At the junction of the frame and the canvas, a gap is formed through which cold air penetrates into the apartment. In this situation, the sash is adjusted using microlifts that are installed in the hinges. Loose pressing of the canvas to the frame reduces the energy efficiency of plastic windows or entrance groups.
- The doors cannot be closed. The reason for this phenomenon is considered to be the occurrence of distortions, which usually lead to deformation and fracture of the hinges, destruction of the seal structure or other problems. In this regard, before carrying out repair work, it is necessary to determine the location of the breakdown.
The need to adjust the entrance groups arises when sealing is lost. If there is a draft in the room, then between the frame and door leaf cracks have appeared that need to be addressed urgently. In some cases, to determine a breakdown, it is enough to run a pencil along the frame, after which you can see the discrepancies in the parallelism of the lines. The presence of distortions or free gaps can be determined in another way. You need to put a sheet of paper between the canvas and the frame and slam the door. Now try to pull out the leaf. If this element comes out problematically (with some effort), then there are no problems with the doors; if it is loose, then the apartment owner must adjust the door pressure himself.
Horizontal adjustment
Adjusting plastic doors is not a complicated process, but it does require attention to detail. Before starting the main work, you need to prepare the following tool:
- set of hex keys;
- construction tape;
- screwdrivers (flat and Phillips);
- plastic gasket;
- Manufacturer's instructions for adjusting door structures.
To adjust the door leaf in the horizontal plane, special screws are usually used, which rotate in the required direction using a hexagon. These elements are usually located under the holes above the top and bottom hinges.
To configure correct position product, you need to open the canvas slightly and get to the screws. By turning the fasteners in the desired direction (clockwise or counterclockwise), the correct position of the door is achieved.
If the screws are rotated clockwise, the surface of the product will slowly move towards the canopy, in the second case - away from it. Using a similar method, you can eliminate a gap or displacement of elements up to 2 millimeters. The different intensity of regulation of the upper and lower canopy allows you to adjust the required vertical deflection of the canvas. In some door models, the canopies are disguised. To get to them, press the tab on the end of the product and set the handle to the ventilation function. Once corrected, the door should close and open correctly.
Vertical adjustment
The need for vertical adjustment arises when the sash rests on the threshold or when there are dents on the upper or lower seal. A special screw is used to adjust the hinges. Rotation of this element in the required direction leads to the raising or lowering of the door, which will allow for a normal gap.
Before starting the main work, remove the plug from the screw for adjustment. Typically, such an element is located on the lower hinge, its working part is located along the axis. The screw rotates using a hexagon. To lift the blade up, you need to rotate the screw clockwise; to move down, the adjuster is rotated in the opposite direction.
How to adjust the door pressure
The front door's clamping force should be adjusted only after such a problem has been identified. This can be checked using a flat piece of paper from a notebook; it is applied to the frame and the door is closed. If the leaf is pulled freely from the slot or with little effort, then it is necessary to adjust the loops. To localize the existing problem, the specified work is carried out along the entire perimeter of the frame.
When pressing the sash against the frame, it is also necessary to determine and evaluate possible distortions of the interlocking structural elements. To do this, close the door and carefully trace its contours with a mechanical pencil. After opening the canvas, evaluate the size of the contour gap relative to the frame.
In most cases, the pressure of the door leaf is adjusted using a pin located at the end of the door. This element must be rotated with extreme caution, since a small movement causes a significant clamping force, which can lead to destruction of the seal structure. In the case when the trunnion is installed perpendicular to the profile, the clamping force will be set to maximum, when installed in parallel - to minimum. If the part for adjustment has reached the extreme maximum position, and it was not possible to provide the required gap, the apartment owner should seek help from specialists.
Some sources have information on how to adjust the clamp in another way. The fact is that in some models of plastic doors there are two or three eccentric screws at the end of the door leaf, the rotation of which leads to a change in the clamping force. Each of these products has a special mark to determine the clamping density. To weaken the clamping force, turn the screw towards the frame; to strengthen it, turn it towards the room.
Difficulties mainly arise when there are three eccentrics (in the upper, lower and central parts of the structure). In this case, you need to act experimentally, deflecting the eccentrics to the same angle. After each of these adjustments, the result obtained is checked. High-quality clamping can only be ensured near the handle mount, so in other places (top and lower parts door) the hinges may need to be adjusted.
Replacing rubber seals
Seals installed on door designs made of PVC, protect the apartment from noise coming from the street and drafts. Over time (especially in the absence of a closer), these products may become flattened or cracked, and in these cases their replacement is necessary. Let us immediately note that the rubber bands can be changed independently without using a special tool.
At the initial stage of work, you need to go to a hardware store and purchase insulation. It is made in the form of a rubber band of a certain shape. In this case, it is necessary to purchase a product specifically for doors (there are seals for sashes and frames of plastic windows).
First you need to remove the old seal, it is simply touched sharp object and pull it out of the groove. Now clean the recess from dust and dirt, insert one end of the elastic band and completely recess it into the groove. In a similar way we go around the entire perimeter until the material is completely laid. Next, we trim the rubber and check the tightness of opening and closing the door.
We will send the material to you by e-mail
Calling a specialist is usually expensive, so you should only invite him when emergency situations. If we are talking about how to adjust a plastic balcony door, then you can try to carry out the work yourself, having first familiarized yourself with the basic principles.
The door to the balcony may need adjustment
Every door block has basic and additional parts. Before starting adjustment work, a novice master should become familiar with the structure of such structures. He must clearly understand the operating principle of the fittings used.
The standard set usually includes:
- frame from PVC profiles, connected using special fasteners;
- a sash assembled according to the same principle as the box itself;
- hinges that allow the door to open and close;
- a handle with a lock, necessary to lock the sash in the pressed position;
- seals for tightness;
- glass unit
Useful information! The set of accessories may vary slightly depending on functionality. The standard equipment is usually supplemented with mechanical or hydraulic closers, stoppers and other parts.
Preventive measures
Before we start looking at information on how to set up a plastic balcony door, you need to familiarize yourself with preventive measures that will help reduce the number of adjustments and other problems. They consist of careful operation and correct selection fittings elements.
Plastic windows and doors have firmly won their niche in construction market. Today it is becoming increasingly rare to find wooden structures. And this is not surprising: PVC products are practical, durable and do not require special care. However, they also have a specific service life. Even if installed correctly, sooner or later you have to resort to adjustments and repairs. The balcony door is no exception, which develops various problems over time.
Balcony door installation
There are several options for balcony doors made of plastic: sliding, double-leaf, but the most common are doors with one leaf. In their manufacture, the same profile is used as in plastic windows. The design of the balcony door includes:
- glass unit;
- plastic profile;
- sandwich panel located at the bottom;
- fittings (handles, hinges) and sealing tape;
- system rotary mechanism.
Usually a balcony door is connected to a window, so they are made in a single complex and from the same material
Advantages and disadvantages of plastic doors
The advantages of such designs:- good sound insulation and tightness - thanks to the use of a multi-chamber profile and high-quality seals;
- reliability and durability - the service life of a door made of polyvinyl chloride reaches 40 years. This material is not afraid of changes in temperature and humidity, and high-quality plastic does not even fade;
- easy installation;
- ease of care;
- fire safety.
Despite all the advantages, over time the design has to be adjusted. This is due to natural wear and tear on the internal elements of the balcony door or improper installation.
- accumulation static electricity- constantly attracts dust to the surface;
- low resistance to mechanical stress - scratches remain that cannot be removed;
- large mass of the structure - must be taken into account during installation: an excessively thick double-glazed window can affect a weak doorway.
Video: pros and cons of plastic structures
https://youtube.com/watch?v=tqf5zykqzW4When to make adjustments
Is it time to get serious about customizing your door? This can be determined if the following problems are detected:
- When opening and closing, significant force is required;
- air passes through the cracks of the closed canvas;
- the door opens spontaneously;
- the lock handle turns with force or is too loose (looseness);
- When closing the door, it feels like it is clinging to the door frame.
These violations indicate that urgent adjustment of structural components is needed, and, possibly, repairs with replacement of failed parts. All this is fraught with financial waste. Therefore, it is necessary to learn how to promptly identify emerging problems in the operation of the door mechanism. It's easy to do:
Customization Tools
To solve problems with a PVC balcony door you will need:
Sometimes it becomes necessary to use a liquid sealant that hardens upon contact with air.
How to adjust a PVC balcony door
The adjustment procedure occurs in two directions: horizontal and vertical.
Adjustment of plastic doors is carried out through hinges and eccentrics of the rotating mechanism
Vertical adjustment
Here, temperature changes most often play the role of the “culprit” for the problem. As a result, the door leaf begins to “bump” into the opening mechanism. But if you constantly apply force when opening the door, the situation will only worsen. Settings are made using an H4 hex key in the following sequence:
Some manufacturers complete the door fittings with screws designed not for a hexagon, but for an asterisk key. Therefore, determine in advance what type of hardware you have. If necessary, purchase the necessary tool.
Video: how to properly adjust the top hinge of a plastic door/window
Horizontal adjustment
In this case, either the sash touches door frame, or is skewed to one side and clings to the threshold with its lower corner. To get rid of this problem, you need to move the door closer to the hinges. The algorithm of actions is as follows:
Video: how to independently adjust the lower door hinge in two directions
Pressure density adjustment
It is carried out through the parts of the turning mechanism located at the front end of the sash. These are eccentrics. They are responsible for the tightness of the door.
To find out the optimal clamping force, they need to be carefully rotated in both directions with an adjusting wrench (if the eccentrics have a key hole) or pliers (if there is no key hole). The adjustment is made until the pressure becomes strongest.
Plastic door eccentrics come in several types: round with holes for different rotary keys or oval without holes
First you need to familiarize yourself with the diagram of their location from the instructions or on the manufacturer’s website. It is recommended to carry out this operation when the season changes: in the summer, make the pressure weaker, and in the winter, make it stronger.
The door pressure is adjusted by rotating the eccentrics
Setting up the handle
Most often, this element of the fittings of plastic doors and windows fails due to long-term operation: The handle gets loose pretty quickly. As a result, the latch of the mechanism is activated only at the very end of the pressure. There are usually no problems with repairs here. If the handle becomes loose, then you need to do the following:
- Without touching the handle, turn the plastic cap underneath it 90 degrees.
- The screws that appear must be carefully tightened with a screwdriver.
- If the defect cannot be corrected, then the handle will have to be replaced: most likely, a crack has formed in it.
Adjust the handle pressure to plastic profile maybe even a child wielding a screwdriver
Replacing the seal
Any problems with the door leaf that have not been corrected for a long time usually lead to damage sealing tape. It loses its quality characteristics and subsequently has to be replaced. The replacement process is as follows:
The new elastic band will create a tight seal on the plastic door.
- Remove the old cord from the grooves. It's better to start from the corner.
- Clean the seat from dirt and dried glue at the junction of the old tape.
- Install a new seal: insert the end of the tape into the top hinge of the door, bring it to the middle, then lay it in the groove along the entire contour and glue the ends at the top.
Video: detailed step-by-step instructions for replacing the seal yourself
Lubricating door mechanisms
It is important to lubricate all major moving points metal parts balcony door
All structural parts are treated with lubricant in turn:
- Clean the fittings from dust with a cloth.
- Start lubricating from the top hinge.
- Walk along the top of the canvas, lubricating the metal moving elements.
- Having gone down to the middle, carefully lubricate the opening mechanism (places where the eccentrics are attached).
- Work the bottom loop.
- Close the door and let the oil flow throughout metal surface. Then close/open the door several times.
Not every lubricant is suitable for such a door. Not recommended for use vegetable oils and WD40 car spray (its composition is good only for cleaning accessories. Optimal solution- a special sprayer for PVC windows, as well as machine oil (sold in car dealerships). But you need to remember that some compounds corrode the sealing tape. Therefore, it is processed additionally.
Video: how to properly lubricate fittings and seals of plastic doors and windows
Prevention measures
The ability to correctly adjust a balcony door is very important. But it’s better to avoid problems by following simple preventive measures. They are as follows:
- When purchasing a door, you need to look at the hardware parameters in the documents. They must correspond to the weight of the sash (usually 130 kg);
- When buying a heavy structure, it makes sense to install a microlift - a lever on the side of the door or a roller at the bottom. Such “little things” will protect the sash from sagging;
- the door is installed so that the leaf is pressed against the frame along the entire perimeter.
In the open position, the sash should not move independently: this indicates correct installation structures vertically and horizontally.