An easy guide to silencing the squeak.
Hector M Sanchez
Apparently, a door’s loud squeaking serves a purpose beyond getting on your last nerve.
Next time your door begins to screech at you, dont just shut it out.
Credit:Hector M Sanchez
Your door might be trying to tell you something important, says expert handymanLillian Graning.
Usually, the message is that your hinges are dry or screws are loose.
In some cases though, that squeaking can indicate bigger problems.
Sometimes a squeaky door is just the tip of the iceberg.
It could be a sign of uneven floors, warped frames, or even structural issues.
Don’t ignore the squeak.
Heres how to silence the squeak.
What Youll Need
What youll need depends on what exactly is making your door squeak.
To prepare for practically every scenario, Graning says that she keeps these materials in her squeaky door toolkit.
Plus, this is a great opportunity to whip out some of those home remedies.
Identifying the root cause is your ticket to peace and quiet, she says.
Once you know what’s causing the problem, the fix is usually pretty straightforward.
Just masking the sound can lead to larger concerns down the line.
Clean the hinges then give them a closer look.
Are any rusted or has their paint been stripped away from friction?
Have their screws come loose?
Listen close as you open and wrap up the door slowly and see if you could identify the culprit.
It’s really a game of detective each time, says Graning.
Instead of a magnifying glass, youre relying on your ears and uneven wear.
Once youre looking and listening, the squeak won’t hide for long.
How To Fix A Squeaky Door
Step 1:
Start by tightening any loose screws.
Next, go in with a lubricant.
WhileWD-40is a tried and true household hero,other lubricationwould certainly work in a pinch.
Soap, wax, or even a spritz of hairspray can work wonders.
Still Squeaking?
Think of it like surgery for your door.
To remove the hinge pins, start by placing a nail at the bottom of the hinge.
Use a hammer to gently tap the nail until the pin can be removed from the top.
With your hinge pin removed, clean the whole thing down for any stuck grime and try greasing again.
Then, slide the hinge pin back into place from the same direction it came out.
Use your hammer to lightly tap it back into place.
Still Squeaking?
At this point, rusted, chipped hinges may have to go the way of the dodo.
Consider replacing the hinges altogether.
Then, reverse the process, re-attaching new screws and new hinges.
Still Squeaking?
Sometimes a squeaky door is a sign of a deeper issue, like uneven floors or warped frames.
Unfortunately, use over time makes wear and tear inevitable, leading to squeaking.
However, some simple maintenance once a year can hold off the squeaking.
Prevention is the name of the game, says Graning.
This task goes on our every year list.A little maintenancegoes a long way!
