Reasons Why Doors Are Hard to Close in Winter and How to Fix Them?

Why is it common that entry door is hard to close in winter? During winter cold temperatures with snow often bring trouble to your home.

Your front entry doors, patio sliding doors, patio screen doors are designed to protect your home against blustery winds and snow, there are several problems that may arise this time of year.

Before you proceed with learning helpful tips on winter doors’ problems and how to fix them, please check our article https://vinyllight.ca/how-to-winterize-a-sliding-patio-door

If your door is worn allowing energy to escape your home, contact Vinyl Light Windows & Doors to learn more about your options for a higher-quality door that will last.

What Are the Reasons for Doors Harder to Close in Winter

The winter season brings window and door companies a number of homeowners' requests on why the door won't close in winter, why is my front door hard to close in winter? Or why is my sliding glass door is hard to close in the winter?

Before the final decision of replacing your old door, we would suggest finding out the main reasons and common problems why your door is hard to open and close in winter or why your vinyl sliding door is hard to close in winter.

Here are the main reasons and problems causing the front door hard to close in winter:

1. Screws that are loose. Your door may not fit squarely within the frame if the screws are loose. The door may also stick against the frame as a result of this.
2. Upper corner door bindings. When the door is pulling down from the top corner at an angle.
3. The Door Remains Open. The jambs are likely not vertical and are tilting to the left or right.
4. Squeaking Doors. A creaking door is one of the most irritating sounds you can hear, and it's a solid sign that winter has arrived.
5. Locks that are filthy and icy. It's that time of year when the cold weather threatens your home's security, especially when it comes to your door locks. Due to dampness, locks might become virtually lethargic in cold weather. Locks can even become stuck in place!
6. Weather stripping has become worn out. The goal of weather stripping is to prevent draughts from coming in from the outside. Install new weather stripping around your door if you notice draughts to help conserve energy this winter. If you're concerned about installing weather stripping, the good news is that it's a simple task that requires no experience.
7. The strike plate is missing on the door latch. If the door misses a striking plate on its latch, be careful not to force the door shut. This can result in binding! The small metal plunger on the side of your door must fit precisely into the plate attached to the frame for the door to latch properly.
8. The door won't close. It's possible that loose hinges are the cause of your door's inability to stay shut. It's funny how something so insignificant can cause such havoc with your front door!
9. In the event of inclement weather, the door fades. Winter weather can put a damper on your entry door, and it can even detract from its appearance! Your door may fade and lose its brilliant color as a result of moisture from the winter weather.

How to Fix a Door That Won’t Close in Winter?

Here are helpful suggestions on how to fix a door that is hard to close. Referring to the 9 common issues given above with the previous paragraph there are the following solving tips on how to fix an entrance door that is hard to close:

1. Screws that are loose. Simply tighten the current screws. If the screws are stripped, fresh pilot holes for new screws may be required. Replace the present screw with a larger diameter one. If that doesn't work, a dowel can be used.
2. Upper corner door bindings. The old screws must be removed and replaced with new ones. When replacing the screws, make sure they're somewhat bigger than the ones you just tossed away. Reduce pressure when the door begins to pull up and return to its original position as you drill. The idea is for the screws to relieve strain on the door and assist it to sit straight inside the frame.
3. The Door Remains Open. Re-drill holes to accommodate larger screws. Also, make a shim that can be inserted below the hinges' screws. The shims will then be used to balance out the door's swing.
4. Squeaking Doors. Use petroleum jelly to lubricate the hinges of your door. Remove any pins that allow the door to swing, lubricate them and replace them.
5. Locks that are filthy and icy. If possible, use a lock de-icer, which comes in a spray can or a little tube. When it comes to dirt, you may have to remove the lock and screws in order to clean the mechanisms. These tips are also helpful if you are concerned about how to fix a hard-to-close sliding glass door and how to fix a door that is hard to open and close.
6. Weather stripping has become worn out. Purchase weatherstripping in the form of peel-and-stick from a hardware store or elsewhere. The whole process is almost as simple as it appears!
7. The strike plate is missing on the door latch. You can simply adjust the striking plate to ensure that it is properly aligned with the door.
8. The door won't close. Tightening the top and bottom hinges can assist, but don't strip the screws—doing so would cause the door to loosen even more.
9. In the event of inclement weather, the door fades. Investing in a fibreglass entry door is the best decision in the long run. Fiberglass is moisture-resistant and has been coated to prevent fading. This means you'll have a door that looks great in any season, regardless of the weather or climate!

At Vinyl Light Windows & Doors you will get the best deals on high-quality vinyl windows, entry doors, patio screen doors and French doors. Call us for a free estimate!