Soft-close hinges are a helpful invention found in the majority of kitchens across the country. A soft-close hinge does what it says on the tin; it prevents cabinet doors from slamming shut. However, soft-close hinges are prone to breaking, and fixing them can be a daunting task without the right skills and knowledge.
When a soft-close hinge has stopped working, it’s most likely due to one of the screws becoming loose. This will cause the hinge to come out of place or allow the door to sag down. To repair this, all you need to do is find the loose screw and tighten it with a screwdriver.
Keep reading to learn more in detail about common causes of malfunctioning soft-close hinges. We’ll also explore how you can repair these issues at home as a DIY job. By the end of this article, you’ll have all you need to tackle any damaged soft-close hinges in your home.
1. Loose Screw
The most likely cause of your soft-close hinges malfunction is a screw loose somewhere in the hinge. Depending on what has stopped working in your hinge, it could indicate which screw is loose or poorly adjusted.
If the screw holding the hinge together is loose and a heavier door is attached, this can cause the door to hang down. Loose screws can also cause the hinge to separate from the door, which will cause damage to other hinges on the door as they have to bear more weight due to the hinge with loose screws detached.
You might also want to read: How Many Hinges to Use on a Cabinet Door
How to Fix
Fixing a soft-close hinge with loose screws is a very straightforward process. All that you have to do is find the right type of screwdriver, Phillips or flathead, and find the loose screw. Then you’ll need to realign the cabinet door, so it’s in the correct position, then tighten the screws to ensure the hinge remains in place.
Once the screws have been tightened properly, your soft-close hinge should function well as new. However, sometimes more than just a few loose screws cause problems in a soft-close hinge.
2. Door Is Slamming Shut
Soft-close hinges are designed to prevent doors from closing with too much force, which creates a found bang but also can cause damage to items in the cabinet. Therefore, when your wardrobe with soft-close hinges slams shut, it can be incredibly annoying.
Soft-close hinges slam shut for a couple of reasons. The doors can slam shut if your hinges are poorly aligned. This causes the doors to overlap, which leads to a bang when they close and collide together. Soft-hinged doors can also slam shit when screws are loose or installed out of place or in alignment.
How to Fix
To fix a soft-hinged door that’s slamming shut, you must first figure out why it’s doing so. Check the doors when closed to see if there’s any overlapping. If there’s an overlap, you’ll need to check for loose screws that could be causing this. If no screws are open, the doors may be poorly aligned.
If the cabinet doors haven’t been aligned correctly, you’ll need to realign the hinge with the door and the cabinet. To do this, you may need to remove the hinge and reinstall it in proper alignment, or there may be a screw you can adjust to realign the hinge.
Once the overlapping doors have been realigned, the door should stop slamming shut unless there’s an issue with other settings in the soft close hinges mechanism.
3. Door Is Not Closing
Soft-close hinges can sometimes be too robust for their purpose. This happens when the hinge is turned up to too high of a setting, which will cause the door to remain open and never shut properly. This is due to the mechanism that stops slams from being too strong.
Similarly, if the mechanism for preventing slams is too weak, the door will claim shut as there’s little resistance in place. This issue isn’t very common as these settings are adjusted during installation. However, sometimes, soft-close hinges aren’t installed correctly in the first place.
How to Fix
The solution to your door not closing with a soft-close hinge is straightforward. It would help if you located the resistance adjuster. This will likely be a small screw that’ll have a plus and minus symbol above it. Then, you’ll need the appropriate screwdriver to fit the screw.
Next, if your soft-close hinge prevents the door from closing, you should turn down the resistance. In contrast, a hinge that allows the door to slam will need increased resistance to prevent it from happening.
To ensure that your soft-close hinge has been adjusted correctly, close your door a couple of times and check to see if it slams or stays open. If there’s an issue, continue to adjust the settings in your hinge until it functions properly.
4. Squeaking or Slow Closing Doors
Another common cause of annoyance with soft close lines is a squeaking hinge or a hinge with slow movement. This is likely due to poor lubrication or rust starting to form within the hinge. This will cause the hinge to create annoying sounds, or it can even cause the hinge to become very stiff and difficult to use.
Squeaky hinges can be incredibly irritating, mainly when the doors are regularly used. Squeaky doors and cabinets can also make your whole kitchen feel old and outdated. To prevent this from happening, keep reading to learn how you can fix this issue.
How to Fix
Fixing a squeaky hinge is a quick and easy job. All you need to do is buy a lubricating spray that’ll allow the hinge to move freely. You can do this by purchasing a lubrication spray, or you can apply grease that will prevent the hinge from seizing shut.
Apply a generous amount of lubrication, especially when the hinge has begun to stiffen once you’ve applied the lubricant; open and close the doors a few times to see if the issue persists. You may need to reapply the oil over a few days to eliminate squeaks or stiffness.
5. Build Up of Dirt
Soft-close hinges are prone to become backed up with dirt and old grease. When this happens, it can cause the hinge to malfunction. Dirty hinges can also squeak and be very annoying to use. Build-ups of dirt can also lead to your hinge becoming stiff and stopping closing.
How to Fix
To fix build-up dirt, all that you need to do is submerge the soft-close hinge into a pot of hot water. Keep the hinge in hot water for a few minutes or until the dirt and grease melts away. This will clear out all of the hinge build-ups, which should allow the hinge to function correctly.
Ensure that you apply a fresh layer of grease or lubricant after numbering your hinge in cold water. This will ensure that your hinge does not begin to rust or stiffen up again shortly.
Summary
Soft-close hinges are a valuable addition to any kitchen. They prevent doors from slamming shut when working correctly. However, when these hinges malfunction, they can lead to an array of issues that are caused by various reasons.
Loose screws cause most issues within the hinge; however, sometimes, problems can arise due to other aspects of the hinge mechanism. Ensuring that your soft-close hinge is aligned correctly and is free from dirt should also resolve any potential issues.
You may also like: How to Stop Cabinet Doors From Hitting Walls
