Why Do Doors Sometimes Close by Themselves? How To Fix It

Giovanni Valle is a licensed architect and LEED-accredited professional and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). He is the author and managing editor of various digital publications, including BuilderSpace, Your Own Architect, and Interiors Place.

Doors closing by themselves definitely ranks up there on the list of unusual house problems. It’s not just your house, either. We have all been in rooms where doors suddenly close shut, startling us in the process. So what causes this to happen?

Doors close on their own for a variety of reasons. Doors have many moving parts. Most times, when they close by themselves, it is because one of those moving parts has failed or worn out and no longer allows the door to shut properly.

Most people only think about doors when they need to open or close them, but what happens when a door starts closing by itself? Is there something wrong with the door, or is there another explanation? This article will explore why doors close themselves and explain how to fix the problem.

Reasons Why Doors Close by Themselves

There are several possible reasons why doors might close by themselves. Keep reading to see which seems most likely in your situation.

It’s Just the Wind

Have you ever been startled by a door closing on its own? It’s a weird feeling, and it happens to most of us. Doors close for many reasons, but one of the most common is the wind. Cellar doors and windows open and close by themselves all the time. It’s just the wind.

Changes in Air Pressure

This phenomenon is caused by a difference in pressure across two different rooms. When you open a doorway between two rooms (like an exterior door), an imbalance of pressure will cause the door to swing and close.

When someone opens a door, they create a low-pressure area behind it. This low-pressure area sucks the surrounding air into the room, which is sucked back out when the door is shut. This process is what makes doors close by themselves.

Your House Has Settled

Doors are designed to swing open and closed, and it’s actually a sign of poor construction and settling when they start to close by themselves. If it happens, it’s usually an indicator that there is an issue with the foundation or framing of your house.

One of the most common reasons for doors closing by themselves is that the house has settled. This could be due to old age or a recent seismic event. The problem can be as simple as the door being off its track.

Your Door and Frame Are Not Aligned

When a door closes by itself, it is usually because the door and frame are not aligned. The door should be level with the frame when it is closed. This will help to prevent the door from slamming shut. The other reason doors close by themselves is a loose hinge or handle that needs to be tightened.

Hinges Do Not Line Up

When the hinge on one side is higher than the other, the door will swing shut on its own. This can happen if you have a small doorway or uneven doors, such as one that’s taller than the other. The next time you experience a door closing on its own, make sure to check out whether or not the hinges line up.

How To Prevent a Door From Closing on Its Own

Thankfully, there are several methods you can use to keep a door from closing on its own, most of which are easy to implement.

Use a Wedge

Door wedges are a simple but effective method for preventing doors from swinging closed independently. They work by inserting a wedge into the door frame to prevent the door from closing. For those that experience anxiety when doors close behind them or have pets that run into the room when they think you’ve left, this is a helpful way to prevent that from happening.

Tighten Your Hinges

If you are looking for a way to prevent your door from closing on its own, you might need to tighten the hinges. The first step is to remove the door from its hinges and then tighten the screws. If you find that screws are missing, replace them with new ones. You can also use a lubricant or petroleum jelly on the hinges so that they will move more quickly.

Place a Cardboard Shim Underneath the Hinge

Adding a small shim or spacer underneath the hinge is the easiest way to prevent a door from slamming closed. This works exceptionally well with pocket and double doors because of their tendency to swing shut.

Place a small piece of cardboard, wood, or even a thin book under the hinge to keep the door from closing all the way. If you have tall doors that tend to hit walls with the bottom edge, add an additional shim on the opposite side of the hinge.

Bend the Hinge To Increase Friction

To increase the amount of friction in the door hinge and stop the door from closing that way, follow these steps:

Remove the Hinge Pin: Get yourself a pair of vice grips, insert the jaws of the vice grips around the hinge pin, and clamp down. Twist the vice grips clockwise to loosen and remove the hinge pin from the door. Use a hammer to tap on the end of the vice grip to help loosen it.

Bend the Removed Hinge Pin: After removing the hinge pin from the door hinge, place a large C-clamp around it to hold it in place. Bend the hinge pin using a vise or pliers. If either end of the hinge pin is damaged, use a hacksaw blade to cut off any protruding metal before reinstalling.

Place the hinge Back in Place: It is effortless to remove the pin, but it can be tough to put the pin back together again. Apply a small amount of lubricant on one side of the hinge pin so it can slide in more easily. Then, you need to place the hinge pin into its socket at an angle, and while applying pressure, force the hinge pin into the socket.

Keep Repeating Until Door Stops Closing: Keep repeating the above steps until the door stops completely closing on its own. If the door continues to move freely and closes again, you might need to call a professional.

How To Prevent a Door From Opening on Its Own

Some people have issues with doors opening on their own, in addition to problems with doors closing on their own. Here are some ways that you can make sure that your doors stay closed.

Place a Stop-Pin Underneath the Hinge

It can be annoying and disruptive when a door opens unexpectedly on its own. Fortunately, there is a quick fix to prevent this from happening.

You need a stop-pin to keep doors from swinging open. The stop pin is cylindrical with a rounded end so that it slides easily through the hole in the hinge plate. Just as easily, it rotates and holds the door in place when closed.

Utilize Door Stoppers

Door-stoppers are used to prevent doors from automatically opening or closing. The primary purpose of door stoppers is to stop the door from closing and keep them open. They can be placed anywhere along the floor or wall and are often used in hospitals and schools. Door stoppers do not require any special tools for installation and are a quick way to prevent a door from closing on its own.

How To Fix Tight Doors

If your doors are tight inside the frames, they could be prevented from opening and closing properly. Here’s what you can do to solve this problem.

Tighten Hinges

The hinge is exposed to weather, wear and tear, and other elements that can cause problems with tight doors. Minor issues with the hinge can lead to all sorts of problems with interior doors.

If you notice your doors becoming more challenging to open or they take more force to shut than they used to, it’s time to tighten your hinges.

Remove the screws on the hinges.
Replace the screws and test the door.
If the door is still tight, repeat until it is fixed.

Replace the Middle or Bottom Hinge

If the door is difficult to open, it may be because the hinges are too tight. You can fix this by replacing either the middle or bottom hinge, depending on which one is causing the problem. Replacing a hinge is a simple process that can be done in minutes with just a few tools.

Follow these steps to replace the hinge and fix your door:

Remove the screws from the hinge.
Take out the old hinge pin.
Insert the new hinge pin.
Replace the screws on the hinge.
Test to make sure the door swings correctly.

Once you’ve replaced the hinge, test the door to ensure it opens and closes easily. If not, repeat these steps until the door is working correctly again.

Fix Your Framing

The door of a house should be made as strong and tight as possible. However, with time, the wooden jamb loosens. If the door is not handled in time, the problem will worsen daily. Eventually, you may have to replace it with a new one.

Here are some of the things that you can do at home to fix a loose door frame:

Identify the issue – your door may be too tight because the jamb (the framing around the door opening) is not square.
Use a shim to fix the frame – this will help to draw the door in and make it fit better.
Check the screws on your hinges – they may need to be tightened or replaced.
Make sure your threshold is level – if it’s not, you can adjust it using shims.
Caulk around your door frame to create a tight seal and keep out drafts.

Use a Sander to Plane Out Your Door

Belt sanders are used to fix doors in homes that do not close properly. The problem occurs when the wood is uneven, causing the door to catch and stick.

If the door sticks, it might be because it’s not quite the right size for the opening. A belt sander can be used to plane down the door so that it fits more snugly in the opening.

Get a belt sander and plane the door so that it opens and closes more easily. Sand in the direction of the wood grain to avoid damaging the surface. Be careful not to take off too much material, or you’ll have to buy a new door.

Sanding the door will also help remove any scratches or blemishes on the surface. Finish by applying a coat of paint or sealant to protect the wood from moisture and fading.

How To Fix a Squeaky Door

Squeaky doors get on everyone’s nerves. The best way to fix a squeaky door is to identify the source of the squeak and address it. Many factors can cause a door to develop a squeak, but they all come down to one issue: lubrication. This might seem like a simple solution, but it actually requires a little more effort than you might think.

How To Maintain Your Doors So They Don’t Close by Themselves

The hinges should be tightened every few weeks to ensure that they are in good working order and prevent closing or opening problems from occurring in the first place. If you can’t get in touch with an expert for this, you can adjust yourself with a screwdriver and wrench.

Conclusion

There are a few different reasons why doors may close on their own, and it’s essential to identify which one is causing the issue before trying to fix it. Thankfully, most of the time, it is an easy fix! If you ever experience a door that closes by itself, you can follow these steps to fix the situation. Hopefully, this article will help you resolve your issue and keep your doors from closing on their own.