In order for a plastic door to work properly, it is necessary to ensure trouble-free operation and regularly monitor the technical condition of all parts, including the handle. With constant use, the mechanism can wear out, causing it to start to wobble, turn poorly, or break off. And then the question arises, how to repair the handle on a plastic door?
How to fix doors in a house
After several years of active use, even the most expensive and reliable plastic doors can malfunction: they stop closing or, conversely, do so arbitrarily, handles and locks break, and hinges become loose. If the branded door is still under warranty, it is strictly not recommended to carry out even minimal repair work on your own. If arbitrariness is detected, the product will be removed from warranty. If free company service no longer threatens you, you can try to identify the problem and repair the plastic door yourself.
Installing a handle with a locking mechanism (lock)
A type of repair that is strongly recommended for parents who are the lucky owners of small children who are actively exploring the world around them.
It doesn’t matter which floor you live on - on the first or the top one.
A window and balcony for a child is always a place of increased risk, and it is the parents’ task to take measures to ensure that the child cannot open it independently.
According to the technology, replacing an installed handle with a handle with a lock is identical to replacing a broken handle and does not require additional explanation.
Repairing plastic doors
In order to easily get to the cause of the breakdown and eliminate it, prepare a hex key of the required size and a medium Phillips screwdriver. An oil can with a lubricant and WD-40 solvent will not be superfluous.
Determining the type of malfunction
Even if the door simply does not close, there may be several reasons: the lower or upper fastening has become loose, the door itself has become warped, the handle or lock has broken. Each of these reasons requires its own approach and solution. Absolutely anyone can tighten and lubricate the upper and lower hinges, and the same goes for replacing the handle. Replacing the lock is possible for a person who has either already performed similar work or is familiar with technical work. But if the problem is hidden in the curvature of the double-glazed window or the plastic structure of the door, it is unlikely to be corrected without the involvement of a specialist in a decent manner.
Step 2 Replacing the door handle
One of the most common and easiest to repair failures of plastic doors is a faulty handle. It can crack or simply become unusable due to wear and tear. The handle can only be replaced, it cannot be repaired. To remove it from the canvas, you need to move the plate at the base of the handle, under which two bolts are hidden. After unscrewing the bolts, you can remove the handle from the hole and put a new one in its place. Finally, place the decorative plate in place.
Note! It is worth purchasing replacement components from the same company as the entire door. This will ensure long service life and adequate operation of the handle, lock and the entire door.
Step 3 Return the handle to its original position
Sometimes it happens that the door handle remains turned while the door remains open, and it is not possible to return it to its original position. The problem is solved unexpectedly simply: plastic door structures provide an emergency release for such cases. Below the locking mechanism is a metal tongue. If you press it, the handle will return to its original position.
Step 4 Eliminate Constant Knob Turning
If this problem is systematic, then the cause may be various deformations of the window frame, which could occur due to temperature changes or wear of the mechanism. The handle does not return to its original position due to the fact that the tongue does not come into contact with the response plate of the mechanism. In this case, this plate must be unscrewed and a gasket 2-3 mm thick must be placed there. This will replace the deformed parts and return the mechanism to working condition.
Step 5 Elimination of difficulty turning the handle
It happens that the handle of a plastic door begins to turn poorly. At the same time, in order to open or close the door, you need to make a little more effort than usual. The most common cause of this is the lubricant drying out on the lock mechanism. The first step is to lubricate all moving elements using WD-40. If after this the damage does not disappear, then the problem may be due to sagging doors. To eliminate the sagging, you need to remove all the decorative attachments on the fasteners and try to adjust the position of the doors yourself, but it would be better to contact a specialist.
Step 6 Elimination of blowing
It often happens that in winter you feel a cold wind blowing through a closed window or door. This may occur due to the fact that the thermal seal does not fit tightly enough to the frame. In this case, it is possible to press it additionally using a key. To do this, you need to find movable objects on the frame for a hex key. Using the clamps, you can adjust the tightness of the gasket to the frame. Screw this control to the position you require and close the door. Don't forget that in the summer these elements will need to be loosened a little.
Why you may need to adjust your balcony door
The main signs of problems that have arisen:
- loose closing, in which the lock handle does not turn completely or when the handle is fully turned, a gap remains between the door and the lintel;
- spontaneous opening of the door when the lock is open (in normal conditions, a tightly closed door should remain in place);
- too loose or, on the contrary, too tight movement of the lock handle;
- Difficulty opening/closing the door.
In addition to the clearly noticeable difficulties, you can additionally test for the design’s need for customization:
- check the fit of the frame around the entire perimeter. To do this, you need to place a sheet of usually writing paper between the sash and the jamb and close the door. After this, remove the sheet. Repeat along the entire opening contour. With correctly adjusted hinges and lock, the force for removing the sheet should be the same everywhere;
- outline the outline of a closed door on the jambs. If the lines are parallel to the contours of the doorway, we can assume that everything is in order.
Important: it is also necessary to adjust the opening mechanisms with the onset of warm and cold seasons. By increasing or decreasing the tightness of the sash to the frame, you can achieve normal operation of the hinges and lock and extend their service life.
These problems cannot necessarily be solved by adjusting the plastic balcony doors with your own hands; you may have to call a specialist and change individual parts of the structure. However, first you need to figure out what exactly and how can and should be configured for normal operation of the mechanism.
Repairing regular doors
In addition to plastic doors, doors made of wood, plywood and other materials can be used in residential premises. The design of such door products is simpler than that of plastic door panels. But the repair of these products has its own characteristics.
Step 1 Repairing door hinges
If a wooden door does not work well, then, first of all, it is necessary to check the hinges. You need to check for loose screws. If there are any, then they should be screwed tightly. Completely deformed or rusted ones must be replaced with new ones. You can also screw in screws coated with PVA glue to strengthen the hinges in the door frame. Additional fastening can also be achieved by driving longer screws in place of the old ones.
Step 2 Eliminate door jam
If an interior wooden door jams at the top point, then most likely the problem is in the top strip of the frame. To do this, you need to remove the bar and use a chisel to treat the jammed area. This refers to the removal of interfering parts of wood. After this, it is worth performing a test closing of the door. If the jamming has disappeared, then the result has been achieved. If not, then it’s worth doing the work again.
Step 3 Moving the cover strip
Sometimes a situation occurs that the lock tongue moves and begins to scratch the door frame. To do this, you need to move the closing bar a short distance. If the displacement is too large, then it is necessary to process the contacting surface with a file or needle file.
Step 4 Getting rid of squeaks
This type of repair is perhaps the simplest. You just need to place a small support under the doors and drip some lubricant onto the canopy. After this, the creaking will disappear and the door will operate as usual.
Step 5 Elimination of arbitrary closing or opening
If the door opens by itself, then you need to place a gasket under the top canopy. If the problem is self-closing, then the gasket must be placed under the lower canopy.
It's blowing from the balcony door
Thanks to the PVC seal, the PVC structure is airtight; air and dust from the balcony do not spontaneously enter the room.
During operation, cracks may appear on the material, sometimes it loses its shape or breaks. If this stage of wear has reached, it is better to replace the sealing tape.
Correct sequence:
- You should buy new material that will fully match the previous one (in type and size);
- We dismantle the old tape;
- The groove should be thoroughly cleaned of glue residues and accumulated dust;
- We install a new seal; the tape can be pressed with your finger, but not pulled (the groove must be dry). The sealant is laid starting from the bottom. This principle is easy to explain: if part of the tape comes off during operation, it will not sag;
- The final step is to cut off the ends of the seal and fix the laid edges of the material with glue. The door should not be closed while the glue is drying.
To increase the service life of the seal, the material must be coated every six months with a special agent that will prevent it from drying out. You can purchase the protective composition from PVC window manufacturers.
When replacing a glass unit, the sealing tape should also be replaced.
Do-it-yourself repair of plastic doors
The plastic door on the balcony does not close well. Video
During long-term use, natural sagging of the plastic door occurs under its own weight. It begins to close and open poorly - clinging to the box.
Restoring normal operation of the door is carried out by tightening or adjusting the hinge mechanism.
The entire door is attached to two hinges. Bottom and top. It seems to stand on the bottom one and the top one keeps it from moving horizontally.
To move the door horizontally, you need to turn the adjusting screw located at the end of the canopy on the door leaf, just the top hinge. And to adjust the blade vertically, you need to tighten the screw on the bottom hinge
For more information about how to repair a plastic door if it doesn’t close well, watch the video
The handle is hanging on the door
During operation, it is constantly subject to increased mechanical loads. As a result, a natural gradual unscrewing of the mounting screws occurs. To tighten them, you need to remove them or turn them to the side, it depends on the design of the handle and the decorative cover.
Loose screws are tightened using a screwdriver. The decorative cap returns to its place.
The handle on the plastic door is loose, repair - Photo 1
Broken handle, latch or locking mechanism
This breakdown can occur when the connection between the handle and the core is broken or some internal element of the lock fails. To find out the reason, you need to remove or turn the decorative cap. Unscrew the fastening screws.
Installing a double handle
The first step is to remove the single handle. We turn the protective plastic cover, then use a screwdriver or screwdriver to unscrew the screws that secure the handle.
Do not forget that the handle itself must be turned to the open position. When the screws are unscrewed, take out the hexagon handle.
To secure the double handle, you will need to drill a hole for the square rod (pin). But there is one important nuance here.
The long axis of the double handle will pass not only through the mechanism that opens and locks the balcony sash, but also through the reinforced profile installed inside the frame.
Therefore, you won’t be able to simply take a drill of a suitable diameter and drill a hole. If you do this, you will damage the mechanism.
To prevent this, you need to loosen the entire drive mechanism for locking and opening the balcony door.
It is enough to unscrew just a few screws, and then slightly bend the drive mechanism to the side, fixing it in the required position with a wooden wedge, pencil, screw or screwdriver.
Drilling a hole in the balcony door
From the side of the room, use a 6 mm drill to drill a through hole for the axis of the double handle. You should try to drill strictly in the center, perpendicular to the balcony sash. From the side of the balcony we drill a hole with a drill with a diameter of 10 mm.
Now you need to check if the hole is drilled correctly. To insert the handle, return the drive mechanism to the reverse position, but do not fix it with screws.
Next, we insert the handle and make marks for the holes for the protruding parts - they should be recessed into the frame profile, the mounting screws will be screwed into them. Then we bend the mechanism again and fix it.
Let's start drilling the holes. First, according to the markings made, we drill holes with a drill of a smaller diameter, and then with a larger one - with a 9 mm drill.
In order for the long screws included in the kit to pass through the door frame, you need to drill holes with a diameter of 8 mm through the reinforcing metal profile.
Double handle installation
We return the drive mechanism to its original place and fix it with screws. The kit includes universal mounting screws, which can be easily shortened to the required length if necessary.
Before fixing the installed handle, you need to make sure that it is in the open position.
After installing the double handle, you will need to turn the cover and check the operation of the mechanism.
Detailed instructions on how to install a double handle can be viewed in the author's video. The author of the YouTube channel “Do-it-yourself apartment renovation” shared this useful advice with us.
Do-it-yourself plastic door repair
Plastic doors are deservedly considered one of the most reliable options for any premises. Despite this, under severe loads, as well as during prolonged use, even the most reliable door can break. Repairing plastic doors is quite possible. The complexity of the repair varies depending on the specific breakdown. Most often, the problems are minor and can be eliminated by minor adjustments of the mechanisms or replacement of fittings. Repair costs are usually small. In addition, breakdowns are eliminated in the shortest possible time.
The door handle is loose
This procedure is considered the simplest when compared with other problems. Depending on the degree of damage, this element can be tightened in the right places, adjusted or replaced.
If the handle becomes loose, you need to turn the base bar 90 degrees. This will make it possible to regulate the screws that attract the element to the PVC profile. In order to better fix the part, use a screwdriver.
Self-adjustment of self-tapping screws using a screwdriver.
The need for replacement may become apparent unexpectedly when inspecting the mechanism.
Let's look at the procedure:
- Turn the handle or part that is preserved parallel to the floor;
- Remove the plug located at the base (rotate 90 degrees);
- Unscrew the screws using a Phillips screwdriver;
- We remove the handle together with the rod from the structure;
- We install a new mechanism in the socket. If the rod is too long, you need to saw it off using a special machine;
- We fix the screws. In the process, you need to control the force to avoid damage to the handle itself or the PVC profile;
- We mount the latch back, masking the screws;
- We check the installed part, namely the door clamp and the free movement of the handle.
Removing the handle with a Phillips screwdriver.
Usually, the handle is installed from the inside of the room, but this is not always convenient.
If you spend a lot of time on the loggia, you can make a special latch and an element on the outside that helps tighten the door.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=IahXf2BLSSY
Possible breakdowns
There are several typical breakdowns that occur most often. Such breakdowns include:
- Problematic opening and closing of the door (problems caused by adjustment failure, in particular sagging and distortion of the structure);
- Insufficient tightness of the door handle to the door leaf, looseness of the mechanism;
- Broken fittings, in particular: locks, other locking mechanisms, handles, latches;
- Cracks and other damage to the glass unit;
- Problems with the door seal;
- The need to restore the canvas due to mechanical damage.
Advantages of a double-sided handle
Due to the fact that the double-sided type of handles for a balcony door is most often chosen, let’s consider their advantages:
- They are based on a reliable, strong mechanism made of metal.
- The product is convenient, an alternative to a shell handle or latch.
- Soft locking mechanism.
- Hermetic closure.
- Resistant to temperature changes.
- There are a lot of available options for such fittings (from a combination of materials - fiberglass, metal-ceramics, etc.).
- Narrow design (as a result, you can mount it on a door profile of any width).
Troubleshooting
Each breakdown requires a specific approach to its elimination. Most problems can be fixed without resorting to the services of a professional. Let's take a closer look at how the above types of breakdowns are eliminated.
Trouble opening and closing the door
In the vast majority of cases, problematic opening and closing is caused by a failure in the adjustment of the mechanisms. The adjustment process does not take much time; repairing a plastic door in such cases is the simplest. Let's consider the adjustment procedure step by step.
First of all, if the door is sagging, as well as problems with opening and closing it, you should determine the place where the leaf comes into contact with the frame. At the point of contact (displacement), a line is drawn using a simple pencil.
The adjustment consists of moving the leaf in the direction opposite to where the sash touches the frame. For example, if the door catches the top edge of the frame, it is necessary to move the leaf down and to the side opposite to the point of contact.
The adjustment is quite simple. There are screws in the top and middle hinges that are rotated using a hexagon. Turning the key clockwise presses the blade to the hinges, counterclockwise - unclenches them. This type of repair of plastic doors is quite simple.
The bottom loop is also adjustable. The screw located on the end of the hinge adjusts the blade in the vertical direction, and the screw on the side adjusts it in the horizontal direction.
If the door is equipped with glass, adjustment is possible using a double-glazed window. To do this, remove the glazing bead that holds the glass, and then use a wooden spatula to move the glass unit to the side until the sagging is corrected. Gaskets are inserted into the gap where the blade was. After adjustment, the belt should move freely. Upon completion of the adjustment procedure, the glazing beads are installed back, but they must not be mixed up. Incorrect installation may result in cracks in the canvas.
Repairing a loose handle
Repairing plastic doors if the repair involves adjusting a loose handle is very simple. The fact is that with increased loads on the mechanism, as well as during long-term operation, the fastening of the handles is often unscrewed from the socket by one or several turns. Because of this, the handle begins to wobble.
The solution to the problem is to remove the decorative cap from the door and then tighten the loose screw. The screws can be replaced if necessary.
Repair of broken fittings
Repairing a plastic door cannot always be completed without replacing its structural elements. If the locking mechanism breaks, it is much easier to remove it and replace it than to carry out repairs. Locking mechanisms can be purchased at any hardware store. Any other fittings are changed in the same way, in particular a broken door handle.
Double-glazed window repair
Failure of a glass unit is a serious problem. The fact is that cracks in glass cannot be completely eliminated. There are special liquids for eliminating cracks, but at certain angles, due to the refraction of light, the crack will still be visible. In such cases, the entire glass unit needs to be replaced. Repairing plastic doors with broken glass is very expensive, so it is necessary not to expose the glass to mechanical stress and protect it from sudden temperature changes.
Troubleshooting door seal problems
One of the main functions of doors is noise and heat insulation. The seal plays an important role because it ensures a tight fit of the canvas to the box, does not allow sound to pass through and retains heat. During operation, the seal wears out and loses its properties.
To replace a seal, you must first select a replacement of the appropriate size. It can be purchased at any hardware store. The old seal is removed and the new one is glued to the door using special glue. It should be noted that repairing a plastic balcony door if it is necessary to replace the seal is no different from repairing any other PVC doors.
Restoration of doors due to mechanical damage
With prolonged use of doors, as well as mechanical stress, various damage may occur on the door leaf. Plastic doors are repaired by restoring the plastic. Such restoration is possible with the help of special compounds that mask the damage. They can be purchased at specialized construction stores. If you need a really high-quality repair of plastic doors that have mechanical damage, it is better to contact a specialist. Only a professional can restore the door to its original condition, completely masking all damage.
So, you can repair a plastic door with your own hands, having certain skills and knowledge. Some breakdowns are not very difficult to repair, while others are best left to specialists. By carrying out the repairs yourself, you can save money and spend money on something more necessary.
What problems might arise?
Often people come to window and door installation shops and complain about the standard problems they encounter. Below is a list of the most common complaints that require adjustment of a plastic door:
- The door drops and touches the threshold. This problem is usually associated with the load of the double-glazed glass panel on the hinges themselves, which causes such sagging.
- The sash does not close well in the middle of the leaf or does not close tightly. The fact is that the canvas may shift towards the free part of the box, which is often observed due to certain temperature fluctuations and high constant humidity.
- The doors do not close tightly, which causes a draft or the passage of cold air. The reason is due to the loosening of the regulatory mechanism.
- The handle is loose. Most often, this is due to the frequent use of plastic fittings, and this is absolutely normal and fixable.
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How to fix: the handle on the plastic door is broken
There is a wise saying among people that doors without handles can only be compared with locks without keys. And in fact, these sophisticated details are a very basic accessory for every door . Moreover, in today's society it is also an excellent part of the entire decor. Unfortunately, for door handles, failure is quite logical, and they may need repair work much more often than the doors themselves.
