Whether you’re trying to be quiet when sneaking out or you simply can’t handle the annoyance of a squeaky door, it might seem like there’s no solution in sight. However, you can take on the challenge by using a handful of household products to reduce or eliminate the nuisance.
So, do you want to learn how to open a squeaky door quietly? Here are the various methods:
- Lift the doorknob when you open it to relieve pressure.
- Open the door fast to reduce the metal-on-metal friction.
- Lubricate the hinges, pins, knob, and lock.
- Shave or trim the paint and wood around the areas that are stuck.
- Apply inward pressure toward the hinges.
There are a plethora of suggestions, all of which will help you lower the squeaky frustration. Throughout this article, you’ll also learn about the causes of squeaky, loud doors as well as whether or not you need to replace certain parts.
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Tips and Tricks to Quietly Open a Squeaky Door
When you’re trying to open a door that won’t stop squeaking, it might seem like the only option is to buy new parts. However, you can save plenty of money and frustration by trying out one of the five suggestions on this list. Let’s check out what you can do to prevent your door from making any more annoying noises.
1. Try Lifting the Door Upwards
It might seem silly, but what you’re actually doing is relieving pressure off of the hinges. Sometimes, old metal hinges can start to corrode or get stuck when they’re on a doorway. By lifting the door by the knob every time you open it, you’re removing the metal-on-metal friction.
2. Open the Door Faster Than You Normally Would
Don’t slam through it incredibly quickly, but try to swing it open fast enough to minimize the squeaking time. Instead of a long, drawn-out noise, all you’ll have to deal with is a half-second squeak. The faster you open the door, the short the noise will be.
3. Use WD40 on Every Metal Surface Around the Door
Spray or rub it on the hinges, pins, the lock, and the latch bolt. Try twisting the knob and opening the door numerous times to move the oil around thoroughly. You can use WD40 or another lubricant.
4. Trim or Shave the Surfaces That Are Stuck
Open and close your door to figure out where the pressure is built up, then take a woodcutting knife and slowly trim away at it. Only do a small amount; You don’t want to alter the appearance of the door too much. Try a few trims, then test your work and repeat until you’re satisfied with the results.
5. Push the Knob Toward the Hinges
Whenever you open the door, push the knob toward the hinges. Much like the first suggestion, pressure can buildup on the hinges and cause friction. Since metal is almost always the root source of a door’s squeakiness, it’s always good to try to push it in different directions when you’re opening it.
What Causes a Squeaky Door?
Squeaky doors aren’t threatening to your home, but they can be a constant nuisance to deal with every day. Fortunately, you’ve been able to review the five repair methods above to get rid of the sound. It’s important to find where the cause of the noise is coming from so you can know which solution to try out.
Here’s a list of causes for your squeaky door:
- As mentioned above, metal-on-metal friction is the most probable cause of your squeaky door. When metal scrapes against other metal surfaces that aren’t lubricated, it causes a high-pitched noise. Think of a train hitting its brakes, or the sound of a car that’s brake pads are worn down.
- Swelling wood is another common issue. When a door is installed during cold weather, the wood expands once warmer temperatures come around. The result is a door that’s a bit too large for the doorway. It’ll barely fit in place, causing a loud thump every time you open the door.
- Old hinge pins are a problem, though they’re not as frequent as the previous two. If your hinges start to corrode, rust, or lose their lubrication, you’ll definitely hear a squeaky noise. They can also bend and warp if you’re constantly slamming the door, which will also cause difficulties opening it.
- Loose screws on the hinges can make the door squeak from excess pressure. If you have stripped or loose screws that connect the hinges to the wall, your door will always pull them down. The squeaking sound will slowly increase as the hinges have to work harder to hold the weight of the door.
- If the door wasn’t properly installed, the lip and the latch might not line up. This misalignment causes squeaking because one is wearing down the other. Over time, it’ll become increasingly difficult to close and open the door. An accompanying squeak will only make matters worse.
When Is It Time for a New Door?
If you’ve tried everything that you possibly could and you’re ready to buy a brand-new door, hold off for just a bit longer. You can buy spare parts to save yourself money, but you could also try continuously lubricating the metal parts. As you’ve read before, metal causes squeakiness. If you lubricate it, there’s almost no way that the noise will stay for much longer.
However, there’s no denying that all doors have an expiration date. In fact, the National Association of Home Builders states that most doors last about 30 years before they need to be replaced. If your door is beyond that limit, it might be time to consider getting a new one.
You can also try to lengthen its life by replacing the hinges, screws, hinge pins, and other parts of the door. You can save quite a bit of money by doing it this way, and repairs only take a few minutes each.
The best ways to help your door last as long as it should:
- Never slam a door. We’ve all been mad, in a hurry, or too lazy to stop the motion, but slamming a door is a surefire way to shave years off of its life. If you slam it, you’ll ruin the hinges, screws, and other parts. It also causes the lip to loosen and the latch to break off.
- Make sure it’s always lubricated. You don’t have to spray your doorway once a week or anything like that. All you have to do is lubricate it once every six months and your door will open like a charm (without a squeaky noise!).
- When a problem shows up, deal with it right away. Prolonging your response time will only damage the door even more, perhaps causing irreparable issues.
Conclusion
Squeaky doors are a part of life that nobody enjoys. You can tackle the annoyance with one of five of the suggestions in this post. As long as you can find the root cause, you’ll be able to figure out how to fix it. Remember that fast opening, lubrication, and pressure are the best ways to reduce the sound.
Here’s a recap of the post:
- Metal is usually the source of squeaky doors.
- House doors typically last up to 30 years before you need to replace them.
- Lubricate your door hinges every six months.
- Never slam a door.
- Consider repairing individual parts instead of replacing the whole assembly.
