Reasons for squeaking on door hinges
The most common causes of creaking hinges are the following:
- Incorrect fastening of hinges when installing the door.
If this is the reason, the creaking appears immediately after installing the door and starting to use it. In the case of hinges on an iron entrance or street door that were welded before its installation, you are unlikely to be able to do anything yourself, so you should contact specialists to reinstall the hinges - for example, those who installed this door for you.
As for interior doors, in order to prevent the possible occurrence of creaking in the future and save yourself from the problems of removing and lubricating the door, you can install a new door while observing one nuance. To do this, half-hinges with an axle (pin) can be attached to the door leaf, and half-hinges with a hole similar to a cup can be attached to the door frame, while usually everything is done exactly the opposite, which leads to rapid leakage of oil when lubricating the door.
- The hinges and door trim touch each other.
In this case, in order to remove the creaking, you will have to be careful and adjust the dimensions of the cladding to specific hinges.
2. Lack of lubrication in the hinges, or the use of an inappropriate lubricant.
3. Lack of special balls in the hinge design.
There is only one way out: you will have to remove the doors and the hinges from them, which are then completed with the missing balls, after which the hinges are reattached to the door leaf, and it, in turn, returns to its rightful place.
That is, it is not so difficult to eliminate the cause of a door squeak, the main thing is to diagnose it correctly.
How to apply the composition
Fittings vary, depending on their type, and a specific approach is needed. Start from what exactly managed to creak. The video will help you perform the procedure correctly.
For detachable hinges or awnings
They usually consist of two parts, so the canvas can be removed without unscrewing them completely. In case of extensive rust damage, it is recommended to apply a rag soaked in machine oil for several hours - the oxide can be easily cleaned. After applying the lubricant, the sash is immediately hung in place.
On permanent hinges or hinges
It can only be dismantled by removing all fasteners - screws. Due to the significant number of elements, they quickly begin to make noise, especially with frequent use. Despite the complexity of maintenance, they are very popular because they are universal, making them suitable for both left and right-handed doors. They require systematic lubrication.
The door is creaking, what should I do?
Very often, doors begin to creak immediately after installation. Usually a few days pass, and apartment owners experience unpleasant noise. In this case, this is due to improper installation of the door leaf. It is necessary to call a repair team to ensure that they adjust the door correctly. If, in addition to hearing a creaking sound, it is difficult to open the doors, then sagging of the door leaf is to blame.
The door creaks, what to do:
- For these purposes, it is necessary to use an eccentric and correctly center the front door. You will need a special key. Very often there are problems with the lock if the door sag. In this case, it is necessary to urgently adjust it, because this can lead to damage to the lock.
- You simply won't get into the house because it's jammed. Please note that often door hinges and their component parts fit tightly together. This makes it impossible to pour lubricant into it. Try using other methods.
- To do this, you need to lift the door by about 1-2 cm, so that a gap is formed. Next, lubricant must be introduced into this gap. This could be machine oil or grease. Solid oil is applied with a thin stick. If you don't find anything in your house, you can use a regular pencil lead. It is necessary to grind it with sandpaper or a knife until dust is obtained. It is this dust that is found in the space between the hinge parts.
Door creaking
Lubricating a plastic door: step-by-step instructions
Plastic doors have their own characteristics. They differ from ordinary steel and even interior wooden doors. The loops of such products also have their own specifics. Before starting work, it is worth choosing the time of year.
It is better to lubricate plastic doors in the fall. In winter, silicone grease can harden, but in summer it can easily be washed off by rain. The spring period is unfavorable due to changeable weather. Autumn is the ideal time to care for plastic structures. Many people start lubricating the plastic door hinges directly, ignoring other parts of the product.
This is a big mistake, and it is not surprising that many owners experience door squeaking and other problems. When cleaning, you need to pay attention to the plastic pads that are on the hinges. The composition is also used to lubricate the fittings. First you need to remove dirt and dust from under the pads. There will certainly be enough of it there.
After the hinges are cleaned, you should thoroughly spray the silicone compound. When the composition is applied, it is recommended to open and close the doors several times so that the product penetrates inside the hinges. The fittings can be lubricated with simple products such as machine oil. But this composition will be absolutely useless for plastic linings and rubber.
If the creaking of the doors has not stopped or the structure still jams in the opening, then the problem may be due to improper installation or distortions. In this case, the door is either reinstalled or replaced.
How to lubricate a squeaky door
In order to lubricate door hinges, you can use both folk and special means. The following are usually used as folk remedies:
- vegetable oil;
- pencil lead;
- warm melted paraffin or wax.
Although these remedies are very affordable, they should be used only in extreme cases, and then with caution, since each of these remedies has certain disadvantages. Thus, warm wax and vegetable oil have a short-term effect, and therefore they are best used in emergency cases. In addition, vegetable oil used as a lubricant for hinges quickly becomes dirty. This also applies to various food fats, butter or petroleum jelly - they all quickly become dirty, contribute to corrosion on the metal, and they only get rid of squeaking until they dry out.
Therefore, if you have already used one of these home remedies to get rid of the squeaking hinges of a plastic or wooden door, it is still highly advisable to purchase a specialized lubricant as soon as possible. Just before lubricating the hinges, you need to remove previously used vegetable or any other “homemade” oil from them.
Lubricants for plastic and steel doors
Lubrication is needed for hinges of both plastic and steel doors. There are many types of lubricants. When choosing a suitable material, you need to take into account the design features. All materials can be divided into two categories:
- specialized;
- folk
Traditional lubricants are well known. It could be:
- graphite;
- vegetable oil;
- machine oil;
- paraffin.
Silicone lubricants are well suited for plastic doors. Such funds belong to the category of specialized ones. In addition to WD40, this category includes:
- Hi-Gear silicone lubricant (aerosol);
- Liqui Moly lubricant.
It is better not to use folk compounds for PVC structures - they can only cause harm. The best folk remedies for lubricating doors are machine oil and graphite, but they will also be useless for plastic ones.
Various types of lubricant
Lubricating door hinges is the first thing you can do against annoying squeaking noises. You can use both industrially produced lubricants and improvised home remedies.
But it should be remembered that only properly selected lubricant will have a long-term and effective effect.
Universal means
Well-known and affordable products that are easy to buy in a store or find in your garage:
- WD 40 - comes in a can with a convenient dispenser, allowing you to easily reach hard-to-reach places. A very effective product that cleans the surface and improves the sliding of parts. It works instantly, but not for long. You must use oil afterwards.
- Litol - due to its pronounced water resistance and frost resistance, it is widely used for lubricating entrance doors and gates. Not afraid of adverse weather conditions.
- Solidol is a popular inexpensive product, the effect of which will last for a long time. The reason for this is the thick and viscous consistency of the lubricant.
Machine oil
Ordinary machine oil is a good lubricant for door hinges. Almost every household has a bottle of this technical liquid.
Car owners always have waste - oil left after replacing it in the car with a new one. Oil for engine or car parts is also suitable. It is better to choose one whose viscosity is higher.
Sewing machine oil
Handicraft workers will most likely have oil for sewing machines on their households. A small plastic container with a thin spout will allow you to place a drop of oil exactly where you need it. Sewing machine oil is usually light in color and does not leave a dirty residue.
Vegetable oil
As a last resort, you can take vegetable oil from the kitchen. A short-term effect will be achieved, but some negative consequences are also possible.
Vegetable oil is too liquid, it spreads a lot and dries out quickly. Also, a lot of dust and dirt sticks to it, which leads to wear of the mechanisms. Over time, such oil can darken and thicken, which leads to damage to the fittings.
Pencil lead
An alternative to oil is dry graphite lubricant. The door is lifted and small pieces of pencil lead are placed in the hinges. When opening and closing the door, the stylus crumbles, and the resulting powder prevents squeaking. An easier way to use is to pour crushed stylus into the cracks of the hinges.
Paraffin or wax
Candles made of wax or paraffin are sure to be found in every home. A piece of the substance is heated to a liquid state and buried inside the creaking mechanism. When cooled, the wax hardens and forms a smooth sliding surface.
Lubricating parts
There are several parts that need to be lubricated regularly.
Hinges
The door leaf is opened and closed using special hinges. If you care for them incorrectly, an unpleasant squeak appears. Machine or sunflower oil, which is poured into the gap between the hinges, will help get rid of the creaking sound.
Awnings
This is another part that needs to be lubricated periodically. Metal sheds begin to squeak if they are not treated with oil for a long time. Therefore, they must be lubricated with grease or liquid oils every six months.
Guides
The accordion door opens not with hinges, but with special metal guides. Experts advise periodically washing them and cleaning them of debris. To make the door open smoother, the surface of the guides is coated with machine oil.
Door lock
Over time, the iron lock begins to work worse, which makes the key difficult to turn. To prevent the door lock from jamming, a lubricating compound is poured into it using a pipette, enema or syringe. 2-3 drops are enough.
Butterfly loops
Many doors have butterfly hinges that need to be lubricated regularly. It is better to use motor oil as a lubricant, which will extend the life of the hinge mechanism. Engine oil should be changed every four months.
What types of lubricants should you avoid?
Even if a squeaky door is very annoying, there is no need to try to lubricate it with the first grease you come across. It is highly undesirable to use organic substances - lard, butter and vegetable oil. They contain a large amount of water, which will interact with the metal and cause its slow corrosion.
Over time, this will only make the squeak louder. Also, animal fats quickly decompose, they can even become moldy.
The popular product WD 40 should also be used with caution. It is not so much a lubricant as a washing composition. It cleans the mechanism of dirt, but at the same time washes away the old lubricant. The quick effect of the first application will be replaced by worsening problems. Therefore, after using WD 40, it is recommended to lubricate the hinges with a thicker lubricant.
Solidol, "Litol" or "Ciatim"
Due to the thick composition, they are applied with a stick, ruler, paint brush or finger to the loops. Lift the creaking door slightly and apply one of the selected products into the gap.
Solid oil cannot be used to lubricate street doors (gates, wickets or driveways). When exposed to low temperatures, it thickens and turns into an abrasive, so it can only be used at home.
Litol is characterized as a water- and frost-resistant lubricant, but is harmful to aluminum surfaces.
Ciatim" (thick lubricant for automobile parts) has antioxidant and frost-resistant properties, is practically not washed out by water, but when left in the open air for a long time, the lubricant dries out.
Features of lubrication of various types of doors
Having decided how to lubricate the door hinges, all that remains is to do it correctly. The methodology for performing work is influenced by many factors: material, location, design.
Iron door
Usually it starts to “sing”, sagging due to the heavy canvas and corrosion. Iron doors, as a rule, are street entrance doors; they are predominantly all-welded, non-demountable structures. They will have to be processed on site without removing them. You just need to select a strong stop to lift the sash.
First you need to clean the fittings from dirt and rust, and lubricate them in places where the metal rubs - between moving elements.
Be sure to wipe off leaked residues, and then open and close the door several times to distribute the substance along the internal hinges.
Plastic
Mostly indoor, but sometimes balcony. In the latter case, the sash from the street is first processed, and then from the side of the room.
The open door needs to be lifted slightly using a stop. Apply a small amount of oil and close the cloth.
Important : stains from grease are very noticeable on white plastic, which is not visible immediately, but some time after the procedure. It is preferable to make a test in an inconspicuous place before “treating” the door and observe the reaction of the material to the substance.
Wooden
Installed mainly in apartments and between rooms. The procedure is carried out according to the generally accepted scheme, but is simplified by the fact that some models can be easily disassembled, providing access to the fittings. Otherwise, lubricant is introduced into the gaps on the hinges.
Important : it is better to protect natural wood from contact with chemicals, as deformation may occur or a stain may remain.
Glass
Despite the apparent airiness, such a door is very heavy, which is why the design uses special hinges with rubber seals. During installation work, this place is treated with glue to increase reliability and extend service life.
This feature does not eliminate grinding and creaking, and does not interfere with lubrication, but it is better to be aware of it when planning to carry out processing.
Important : oil cannot be washed off glass, so it is recommended to use WD-40.
Accordion door
Easy to understand, but requires a thorough approach:
- cleaning the groove and wheels from anything that has stuck during the door operation;
- lubrication of all moving elements.
But the latter is performed exclusively with a special silicone agent. Only the rubbish will not stick to it.
Sliding door
Most often it makes noise not because of poor lubrication, but because of debris that accumulates in all possible places. Some hardened deposits can be cleaned with a wire brush, and other debris can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner.
Important : to make the wheels move more easily, apply silicone lubricant after cleaning.
Stuck pin
Soak rusty hinges with WD - 40 spray If you cannot remove the hinge pin, spray it with a small amount of penetrating lubricant spray for up to 12 hours before attempting to remove it. Spray and let it sit.
Many people start to push it out with a hammer if it is very rusty. This can damage the wood of the door, break the hinge, and require more repair work.
Gently tap the end of the pin with a screwdriver. Use the end of a screwdriver to push the pin through the hinge, gently pushing it out. This is an effective way to remove the pin from the joint to lubricate it.
Even an ink pen or other small-sized object is suitable for this work.
Repair the pin if necessary. Turn your finger on a flat surface. Inspect the pin for deformation and signs of wear. If it's rusty and bent, then it's worth spending a little time fixing and cleaning it before reinstalling it to avoid door squeaks in the future.
- If it is bent, straighten it by laying it on the cement floor and tapping it with a hammer to bend it back into shape.
- Use sanding cloth to sand and remove rust. This will help secure the pin more loosely, creating less resistance and less potential for squeaking.resistance and less potential for squeaking.
How to use specialized tools to eliminate squeaks
How to lubricate the hinges of interior doors and what is required for this? Let's try to figure it out. First of all, you need to prepare:
- lubricant: oil, spray and so on;
- a dry and clean cloth;
- door removal tool. You can use an axe, crowbar, or other device that creates leverage.
If the hinges on the doors creak, then to eliminate it you need to take the following steps:
- remove the door from its hinges. To ensure that the procedure does not cause difficulties, the door leaf should be lifted slightly using an ax or crowbar. In this position, the loops will easily separate;
Removing the door from its hinges
- a lubricant is carefully applied to all hinge elements located on the door leaf and frame;
Lubricating door hinges
- the door is hung on hinges;
- several opening and closing cycles are performed to more evenly distribute the lubricant over the surface of the hinge;
- Remaining oil is removed with a dry cloth.
Removing residual oil
It is recommended to carry out work on lubrication of hinges with gloves that protect the skin of the hands from negative effects.
Now let’s figure out how to eliminate the creaking of universal hinges, that is, one-piece hinges. To do this, lubricant is simply applied between the hinge hinges without removing the door leaf.
Lubrication of universal one-piece hinges
To process permanent hinges, it is more convenient to use sprays or aerosols.
Methods
There are various methods for eliminating squeaking, which you need to familiarize yourself with in advance.
Without dismantling the door
A squeaky hinge can be lubricated without removing the door leaf. The lubrication procedure consists of the following sequential steps:
- opening the door;
- raising the canvas by 1-2 centimeters;
- removing old grease and debris from fittings;
- applying oil liquid;
- lowering the door.
With the canvas removed
Sometimes lifting the canvas is not enough and you have to remove it completely. To do this, the door is opened slightly and a metal lever is placed under it. Then, with its help, the canvas is lifted and removed from the hinges. Having got rid of the door, the hinges are treated with a lubricant.
How to adjust the sashes so they don't creak
The problem of adjusting the door has to be solved both immediately after installation and during further operation.
Adjusting a new door
In the first case, it is important to install the structure smoothly, and in the second case, to find the cause of the creaking and eliminate it. Possible reasons for the appearance of squeaking over time:
- the door sank;
- the hinges are clogged;
- the seal is uneven or too tight;
- The lock is not secured properly.
If the cause is sagging of the hinges due to the heavy weight of the door structure, then high-quality adjustment will help with this.
Adjusting a sagging door
To do this, loosen the upper loop and pull the lower one to lift them up; if you want to lower them, then the action is performed in the opposite way. To loosen the loop, manufacturers provide slight gaps that allow it to move to the side. The screws on the hinge are loosened, and then one of them is tightened well and they try to move the door, opening and closing it. When you can find the ideal position, the sash will move without effort or creaking, tighten the remaining bolts.
Clogged hinges on a metal door installed in an apartment occur due to accumulated repair dust. In this case, the door creaks, and blowing out the moving mechanism with a compressor will help get rid of this. Then the hinges are lubricated with machine oil.
Oil lubrication
Important! Regardless of whether the doors creak or not, the hinges should be lubricated periodically as a preventive measure.
If the cause of the creaking turns out to be an uneven or inappropriately thick seal installed by the manufacturer, then the door will be difficult to close anyway. Only the installed canvas is left for a while to allow the seals to sag a little. But if the door has been in use for a long time, then it is better to replace the sealing element with a new one.
The problem of an unevenly installed lock occurs in low-quality and inexpensive designs. In order for the lock to close well, the hole where the tongue goes in needs to be cut a little. Some models have a special plate that regulates the density of the rebate. It is located in the recess for the entrance of the tongue.
The main thing is to make the adjustment in time, since a poorly secured sash will damage the lock or jam.
How to eliminate a door squeak is shown in the video:
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Sergey 02/25/202017:51
You must first determine what is creaking, the hinges or the doors themselves are catching on something, and based on this, choose a method to eliminate the creaking. It is best to lubricate the hinges with old, proven grease, this is quick and will last for a long time, but there are canopies where grease cannot be reached, then with a bucket or any oil through an oil can. Well, if the doors themselves catch, then you need to either adjust the awnings or trim them in the right place.
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Expert advice
General advice from experts on lubrication of door hinges is fairly standard:
- do not wait for creaks and difficulties when opening to appear, but disassemble and lubricate regularly;
- use graphite-based greases due to their improved properties.
In addition, it is recommended to avoid using the hinges in dusty or extremely humid environments.
Lubricating door awnings is a simple process. Even without experience, you can easily cope with this task. It is advisable to follow the recommendations for the correct choice of lubricant and do this regularly.
When do you need to lubricate car door hinges?
As a rule, if a car door squeaks, it is important to figure out the reasons for the squeak, as well as how to lubricate the car door hinges. First of all, the door hinges themselves experience greater loads compared to a regular door in the house.
At the same time, the driver's door opens much more often than other doors in the car. Often it is she who starts to creak first. However, it also happens that creaking suddenly appears on the least loaded doors (for example, the rear ones).
One way or another, it should be taken into account that the lubricant for car door hinges under conditions of such loads and aggressive environments is used, washed off, loses its properties, becomes actively contaminated, etc.
It is for this reason that it is optimal to regularly lubricate the hinges in your car, regardless of whether there is a squeak or not. Renewing the lubricant even periodically often allows you to get rid of extraneous sounds, and also ensures the ease and smooth operation of the hinges themselves.
Let's move on. If a car door starts to creak, what to do in such a situation will be determined by the condition of the hinge itself. Traces of severe corrosion, cracks, or destruction of the elements securing the hinge may be the basis for a complete replacement of the part or attempts to carry out repairs (for example, welding the hinge).
In cases where no critical damage is identified, only adjustment and lubrication may be required. At the same time, it is a mistake to believe that the hinges in a car can be lubricated with anything.
It should be taken into account that the lubricant must have high penetrating ability, protect against corrosion, form a sufficient protective layer, not lose its properties in conditions of high humidity, remain on the surface in severe frosts or extreme heat, etc.
It is important that the composition can penetrate into the gaps between the rubbing parts of the loop and create a film there to avoid dry friction. At the same time, the product must be durable, not aggressive to rubber and plastic parts, not damage the car’s paintwork, etc. . These are the requirements that are put forward if you need lubricant for car locks, lubricant for car doors or hood/trunk hinges, lubricant for seals and other elements. In all cases, a high-quality lubricant includes additives, thickeners, as well as the lubricant base itself
These are the requirements that are put forward if you need lubricant for car locks, lubricant for car doors or hood/trunk hinges, lubricant for seals and other elements. In all cases, a high-quality lubricant includes additives, thickeners, as well as the lubricant base itself.
Just some twenty years ago, a variety of available means were used as lubricants, including kerosene, acetic acid, and even iodine, which is found in every first aid kit. But those times are far behind us, and today the choice of special chemicals is quite wide. Let us consider what properties they should have for each element separately.
Lubricants for locks should not be afraid of low temperatures, have excellent anti-corrosion properties and a minimum coefficient of friction
It is also very important that they are resistant to washing off, do not separate with subsequent oily discharge and, of course, have a long-lasting effect. Also, despite the fact that today there are many options for lubricating car doors, you need to choose a product based not on pricing policy, but on the quality of the product
Hinge lubrication
To do this, you need to wipe the parts with alcohol or gasoline, and then apply a consistent composition - litol or grease. Their advantage is their thick consistency, which does not lose its performance characteristics even in the heat. Also, due to their special structure, these products repel moisture, preventing it from entering the mechanism.
If earlier car service technicians used ordinary soap to lubricate door elements, now specialized products are made to “treat” creaking locks and hinges. Many of them contain Teflon.
Such coatings have the consistency of dry soap, and due to the absence of a greasy film, they resist the adhesion of sand, dirt, and dust. The only drawback of Teflon auto lubricants is their price. But the high cost is compensated by a long service life - about two years. Although soap protects mechanisms about the same - 1-2 years.
The answer is simple: after washing, for example, with Karcher and before winter, when the risk of acquiring an irritant in the form of a creaking door increases. In this case, lubricating the door locks and hinges of the car is simply necessary!
Range of lubricants
To eliminate squeaking in door hinges, you do not need any specialized means. Consistent compositions that can be found in every garage are suitable:
- Water repellant WD-40. Such a lubricant in the form of a spray has two main characteristics - it eliminates corrosion and contamination, and also forms a stable sliding coating on the iron base. The composition can be applied directly to a contaminated surface; the sprayer is equipped with a special thin tube for spraying in hard-to-reach places.
- Motor, semi-synthetic oil. Almost any type will do (regardless of the manufacturer). It has a better ability to form a sliding film on hinges and lasts longer.
- Industrial compounds that are used to lubricate mechanisms operating under load. The most common are thick lubricants, for example, litol or grease. These compounds are the classic answer to the question of how door hinges are lubricated without removing the panel.
If you suddenly don’t have the above mentioned products at hand, then ordinary household items, for example, vegetable oil or a simple pencil, will do. In the case of a pencil, you need to crush the lead into powder and thickly coat the inner surface of the loop.
However, these funds can only be used temporarily.
Attention! It is not recommended to use candle wax, even temporarily, as it will be difficult to clean.
