Screen Door Closer

A screen door closer can be helpful if you are having problems with insects getting in because the screen door is constantly left open.

How it works:

Have you ever seen those keychains where the keys are kept on the end of a long thin spring loaded chain attached to a housing that clips on your belt? When you are finished with the keys the chain springs back to the housing. The screen door closer works the same way. There is a housing that mounts on the screen door, and a long spring loaded string which gets attached to the door frame.

When you open the screen door, the string pulls out. As soon as you let go of the door, the spring pulls on the string and closes the screen door.

One thing to watch out for is that it wont work properly if you screen door is hard to open. If you have this problem, get the door fixed first before installing a screen closer.

Screen closers come in a couple of different types. The most common are small plastic housing that mount on the top of your screen door. They have a string which pulls out and attaches to the door jamb.

Other types resemble a long thin plastic tube. These also have a string which pulls out and attaches to the door jamb.

Both types use spring pressure to close the door.

How to install a screen closer :

Its very simple to install a screen closer.

* First make sure your screen door slides easily. The closer wont work if the door is hard to open. * Close the screen door completely. * Locate the screen door closer at the top of the screen on the side closest to the main door frame or jamb. * Attach the string with a screw to the main door frame or jamb. * Attach the screen closer to the screen door frame with three screws. You may need to predrill a hole slightly smaller than the size of the screw to make it easier to install the screw and prevent the screw from breaking as you screw it in. * Pull the screen door open. The string will pull out and the screen door will slide closed as soon as you let go of it.

If you have a screen door that is in between panels of glass, you need to watch out where you mount the closer to make sure it does not interfere with the operation of the sliding glass panels. You may have a use a screen door closer shaped like a long thin tube on these types of doors. These closers mount on the edge of one of the vertical screen door rails and are thin enough that they do not interfere with the glass panels.

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Here are some screen closers available for sale on eBay. Note that there are a number of listings for storm door closers as well. These are meant for aluminum storm doors with hinges. Check for the sliding screen door types to make sure you find the right kind.

Be sure to carefully check the feedback of any sellers before doing business with them.