What to do if the plastic balcony door does not close

Increasingly, the exit to the balcony is equipped with a plastic door structure, which protects the room from the cold and has good sound insulation. Due to the increased intensity of use, various problems may arise over time that prevent you from getting onto the balcony or closing the door tightly. Therefore, one of the main questions that an apartment owner faces if the plastic balcony door does not close is: what to do in this case?

The main causes of problems

If it has been noticed that the balcony door does not close tightly or is too tight, then you should not delay the problem, but solve it immediately, otherwise a small breakdown can lead to serious problems over time and repairs will cost a large amount.

The most common cause of breakdown is sagging of the door leaf, when, while closing it, the door begins to touch the threshold.

Due to constant changes in air temperature and high humidity, the door moves in the opening, as a result of which it no longer presses tightly in the middle. It also often happens that the handle closes tightly or is completely loose. This situation makes it difficult to close the door and rapid wear of the mechanism.

If at least one of the listed problems arose some time after the installation of the structure, then you should not engage in repairs yourself, but it is better to contact the company that installed the door block, because it is obliged to send a technician free of charge to fix the existing problems. But if the structure was installed a long time ago and the door to the balcony does not close, then you can try to eliminate the cause yourself.

Problems with balcony fittings or why the handle fails

Handle breakage or partial malfunction most often occurs through no fault of the manufacturer, although such options are not excluded. The causes of the problem are:

• Manufacturing defects are eliminated within the scope of warranty service. The claim is submitted to the manufacturer immediately after installation of the structure or in the near future after operation.
• Intensive use - associated with increased load on the mechanism leads to weakening of the fastenings, which puts it out of action ahead of time.
• Incorrect installation - installation without following basic rules and recommendations can also cause premature failure of the balcony door handle.
• Natural phenomena - the operation of the door handle is influenced by natural phenomena, such as the lowering of the foundation, subsidence of the soil, the formation of a layer of dirt and dust in the mechanisms.

All of the above problems may occur, but they are all solvable. The main thing is to prevent the situation from worsening by taking measures to repair and adjust the fittings with the help of a specialist or on your own.

Is it possible to deal with problems on my own?

During regular use of a balcony door, its heat and sound insulation characteristics deteriorate. In most cases, the horizontal and vertical pressure of the sash can be adjusted independently, but if more complex problems arise, it is better to seek help from a specialist.

No matter how high-quality and expensive a plastic balcony door is, it will still need adjustment of the fittings over time. To increase the service life of a plastic structure during installation, you should pay attention to the following nuances:

• Tight fit of the fabric around the entire perimeter;
• Is there any horizontal and vertical displacement;
• Lack of independent opening or closing of the door;
• The canvas should be easy to open, without any effort.

You should not put off repairs until later, and if even one problem is detected, you must immediately carry out adjustments to avoid more complex damage to the box, door leaf or locking mechanisms.

When is it necessary to adjust the door?

In the world, only accidents and disasters happen instantly. All other problems mature gradually. This thesis fully applies to the balcony door. As it is used, its geometry and clamping force gradually change, which over time, if appropriate measures are not taken, can lead to the replacement of fittings, either completely or individual elements. It is quite easy to diagnose and fix problems at an early stage.

1. The clamping force can be checked in several ways:

• bring a burning match or candle to a closed door. If the flame begins to sparkle, it means there are drafts between the frame and the door;
• insert paper into the gap between the frame and the door leaf. If it easily pulls out from under the closed door, it is necessary to make appropriate adjustments. Each side should be checked.

The ideal option is if the paper sheet is pulled out with the same force on all sides of the sash - the geometry is not broken, and the pressing force, if necessary, can be easily adjusted.

2. The most difficult case is when the geometry of the door begins to change. There are also several methods for early diagnosis:

• open the door to 45o and leave for a short time. If it spontaneously, without the help of the wind, completely opened or closed, the door sagged due to the weakening of the upper hinge;
• go out onto the balcony. Close the door. Along the inner perimeter of the door frame, using its edge as a ruler, draw on the door a diagram of its fit to the frame profile. The lines should be parallel to the edges of the door, and the width of all drawn stripes should be the same. Any deviations require a new adjustment of the door hardware.

If time is lost, for successful repair it is necessary to establish the cause of the malfunction:

the lower part of the door began to cling to the threshold of the door frame. The reason is always the heavy weight of the door. Door fittings are designed for weights up to 120-135 kg. The door together with single-chamber double-glazed windows weighs 35-40 kg. With an increase in the number of chambers, glass thickness or glazing area, the weight of the door approaches 60 kg, which is critical for hinges from any manufacturer. The metal of the canopies simply gets tired during the operation of the door, as a result of which the sash sags;

Balcony door adjustment points.

• the door leaf clings to the door frame in the middle. There are two possible reasons for this: the door profile has been deformed outward or it is moving to the side under the influence of high temperature (the door leaf expands, and the hinges push it onto the frame from the front side);
• the door does not close well - in the pressed position, the handle does not engage the pins in the striker (in the language of specialists, the striker). There are also two reasons: the door has settled, as a result of which the eccentrics (hooks) of the locking plate do not reach the grooves of the striker; the profile of the door leaf was deformed inward, pulling the hooks along with it - they stopped reaching the answer, or the frame bent outward with the same result;
• the door leaf does not fit tightly to the frame. In order not to blow, it is necessary to adjust the trunnions and the response;
• the handle jammed - the door was opened too quickly;
• the handle is loose or broken. This happens when the door leaf is used intensively;
• the glass in the double-glazed unit cracked - the profile of the door leaf was skewed;
• The plastic of the door frame or door leaf is cracked - the reason is the shrinkage of the house, and not the door.

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Fixing breakdowns

As already noted, among the main breakdowns are:

• Door sagging;
• The canvas touches the frame in the middle;
• There are gaps between the frame and the canvas;
• The handle came loose;
• The seal is worn out.

Sagging plastic door

In this case, it is necessary to adjust the upper hinge, and if the problem does not go away, then you should also tighten the lower one.

The adjustment occurs as follows:

• Open the canvas completely and remove the decorative trims from the hinges;
• On top of each loop there is an adjusting screw that must be turned clockwise 1-2 times;
• Close the door and check its operation;
• If the serviceability does not go away, then make a few more turns with the adjusting bolt.

If the plastic door to the balcony no longer closes tightly, and adjusting the hinges does not produce results, then the problem may lie in the double-glazed window, which must be moved towards the hinges. They resort to this method only if other troubleshooting methods have not given the desired result. It is more complex, but you can still try to cope on your own without the help of specialists, the main thing is to follow the following procedure:

• Remove the glazing beads;
• Using a special spatula, move the glass unit towards the hinges;
• Install special plastic gaskets into the resulting gap;
• Holding the double-glazed window, check whether the fault has been eliminated and only then can you install the glazing beads in their places.

How to tighten a loose handle, or remove and replace it with a new one

on a PVC balcony
If you are not planning a replacement, but just want to secure a loose connection, all you need to do is tighten the fastening screws with a screwdriver. Sequencing.

1. We turn the handle so that it is in a strictly horizontal position, as if you were going to open a window or door.
2. There is a rectangular shaped plug above the surface of the door. You need to push it towards yourself a little and turn it 90 degrees.
3. Now the heads of the screws have become visible, which just need to be tightened with a Phillips or regular screwdriver.
4. Now we test the mechanism several times and return the plug to its place if everything is in order.

Gap between canvas and frame

If this problem occurs, the solution is to adjust the clamping mechanism. At the end of the door there are pins or eccentrics that rotate towards the sealing contour. The eccentric is turned with a hex wrench, and the trunnions are turned with pliers.

After each rotation made, it is necessary to check the clamping force. To do this, you can use an ordinary piece of paper or newspaper, which is inserted between the sash and the opening. The door closes, and if the sheet is pulled out easily, then you still need to turn it, but if it is pulled out very hard, then the pressure is good.

If everything was done as expected, but there is still blowing from under the door, then the problem lies in a worn seal.

The seal is worn out

This problem may arise after 5 years of regular use of the door, but if preventive maintenance is not carried out, this time can be significantly reduced. The first signal indicating a loose door fit is drafts around the perimeter of the structure. Since the seal cannot be repaired, you need to remove the old one and go to a specialized store to purchase the same one.

You shouldn’t skimp on the seal, but buy a high-quality one from a German or Russian manufacturer, but under no circumstances a Chinese one.

The handle is loose

If the balcony door does not close because the handle does not turn or closes tightly, then the problem may be due to a clogged mechanism. The first thing that needs to be done is to clean the hardware and lubricate it.

Another reason for poor turning of the handle may be the incorrect position of the strikers. In this case, it is worth calling a professional, because it will be quite difficult to cope with the problem.

If it is noticeable that the handle is too loose, then it can be tightened with the mounting screws using a Phillips screwdriver. If this does not help solve the problem, then you should think about replacing the fittings.

The window handle does not lock or does not turn, what should I do?

A plastic window, unlike its wood counterpart, retains heat better, has increased sound insulation, and prevents the penetration of dust. Installed fittings can wear out over time, leading to problems. What to do if the handle of a plastic window does not lock, read on.

Closing a window sash with a handle

Lock malfunction

The main task of the lock in the design is to hold the door in the closed position, and if the leaf has been in use for a long time, the lock may fail and the door will stop closing. In this case, it is necessary to dismantle the old lock by unscrewing the fasteners and screw the new one using screws to the end of the sash.

Preventive maintenance of balcony structures

In order for a plastic balcony door to serve for a long time and properly, it is necessary to properly care for it. First of all, it is necessary to adjust the clamping mechanism twice a year - in spring and autumn. With the onset of summer it is weakened, and with the onset of cold weather it is strengthened so that the sash fits tightly to the frame.

In order not to adjust the structure too often, it is recommended to install a microlift, which will prevent the doors from sagging. This is especially true if the door is equipped with a heavy double-glazed window.

In most cases, if the plastic door to the balcony does not close, you can fix the problem yourself, but if the problem is serious, then you need to entrust the matter to professionals who will quickly and efficiently fix the problem.

Prices for repairing balcony doors and other types of window repair work

The cost of repairing plastic balcony doors starts from 300 rubles.

Make your own calculation of the cost of repair and maintenance of windows and doors