Fire door closer repairs
A door that does not close itself is the fault inspectors see most.
Get a priceSwing the door wide. Let go.
Count to five. If it has latched, repeat with the door open only a hand's width.
Plenty of doors pass the first and fail the second. The weak point is the last few inches, where a tired closer runs out of push.
Adjusting a closer
Most overhead closers have two valves. One controls how fast the door sweeps shut and the other controls the final snap onto the latch.
Turning those is a ten minute job. It works if the arm is fixed firmly and the body is dry.
When it needs replacing
A closer with oil on its body is finished. So is one with a bent arm or a bracket held on by two screws out of four.
Closers come in power sizes, and one that is too weak for a heavy leaf never finishes the last inch. We pick the size from the door, then screw the body into solid timber and not into the paint.
Closers that were taken off
Tenants and residents remove them. The closer was stiff, or noisy, or it caught a child's fingers.
What is left is a door with four screw holes at the top and a pale patch on the frame. We plug the old holes in hardwood and fit a new unit.
Chain and concealed types
An inspector may fail a door that relies on a concealed chain closer in the edge. We take those out and plug the pocket, then fit an overhead closer.
Too strong
A closer cranked up too hard is a fault as well. You can tell by what is holding the door open, a shoe, a bin or a fire extinguisher.
We back the force off until a resident carrying shopping can still get through. A door that catches on the frame gets planed or rehung before any closer is set.
Hold open devices
Corridor doors that are held open magnetically should release when the alarm sounds. If they do not, the problem may be on the alarm side. We will look at the door side and tell you what we found.
Questions we get asked
Can I adjust the closer myself?
Yes. Count the turns as you go so you can put it back. If the door still stops short, the frame needs a look too.
Do flat front doors need closers?
Flat entrance doors are meant to be self closing. Check what your fire risk assessment says about yours.
Send it with the postcode and we will come back with a fixed price per door.
Get a price