How to Fix a Squeaky Door
No matter what type of door you buy, there’s one issue that seems unavoidable – the hinges starting to squeak overtime. It seems unavoidable because eventually, it is. The constant opening and closing of the door will eventually wear down the lubrication on the hinge and cause it to start making noise. Learning how to fix a squeaky door is something we’ll all have to deal with eventually.
Normal decay and settling is the most likely cause, but it’s also possible that the door was installed incorrectly and the pressure isn’t equal on the hinge pins.
How Do I Fix a Squeaky Door?
Step 1: Remove the hinge pin
To begin, you’ll need to pop the hinge pin out from the hinge. This can be done by tapping a screw driver into the bottom of the pin using a hammer.
If your working on a door that only has two hinge locations, put a small block underneath the door to maintain its height when you pull the pin. If the door isn’t supported and it falls to the ground, can pull the other hinge out of place.
Most doors will have three hinge locations. In this case, the remaining two should be enough to keep the door supported.
Step 2: Lubricate the hinge
This step is where people tend to make a very common mistake – that is, using WD-40 to lubricate the hinge pins. Not only is WD-40 not the best lubricant for a door hinge, but it can also do more harm than good. Using WD-40 on your door hinge can actually attract dust and dirt and turn your hinge black.
Instead, opt for a better alternative. Common automotive lubricant, petroleum jelly, olive oil, and even a bar of soap are good options.
If you’re using automotive lubricant or cooking oil, dab a q-tip into the oil, then rub the q-tip into the hinge slots where the pin was at. Be sure not to get the lubrication too thick, or it may begin to drip.
Tip: If your hinge pin is covered in rust, scrape it with steel wool.
Step 3: Put hinge pins back in the hinges
Now you can slide the hinge pin back into the hinge and repeat the process for the remaining hinges. Make sure the hinge slides in without any excess oil and the the door remains properly adjusted in the rough opening.
After the hinge pins are back in place, fully open and close the door a few times to work the lubricant into the hinge. You shouldn’t hear anymore noise coming from the door! Now you can rest easy knowing there will be no more squeak every time you leave the room.
If lubricating your hinges still doesn’t work, you may need to look at getting new hinges for your door.
For more information on fixing a squeaky door, or for more information about other door problems, see our guide on common door problems and how to fix them.
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