Storm Door Hardware

Has your storm door seen better days ? Is it time to change out some of your storm door hardware ? Perhaps your door wont stay open when you are fighting for your front door keys with bags of groceries in your hand. Or maybe the storm door wont latch closed properly. Or you dont like the storm door handle your door came with and want to change it out to something a lot nicer. Whatever the problem. I want to address the most common storm door hardware problems and give you solutions.

The Storm Door wont stay open

The metal clip on the closer rod is the whole source of the problem. Nothing else to it. Replace that clip and your door will work fine. That clip is just made of mild steel. The manufacturers make it that way so the clip wears out before the cylinder rod.

If your storm door is sliding slowly shut, close it fully and pull out the pin the holds the cylinder rod in place. Slide the metal clip off the the cylinder rod. Remember the way it goes on! Take a look at the clip where the metal contacts the rod and you will see a small area worn flat. It is supposed to be a sharp edge so it grips the cylinder rod better. Replace the clip. Many glass shops carry the part. The picture below is a clickable link to a useful kit that includes the closer rod clamp that I've been talking about.

The storm door wont stay closed

A broken latch should be easy to identify. See if the latch will lock. Or does the still open even when the latch is locked. Time for a new door lock. Most big box hardware stores carry new storm door locks.

The latch plate is usually a small white plastic or aluminum plate that gives the lock something to latch on to. It often comes loose, sometimes falling off entirely. You may have to add "shims" behind the latch plate to move it out further to make contact with the lock striker. Or if the latch plate is missing, just replace it. Latch plates usually come with new lock assemblies, so you will have to replace the whole thing. Heres a link to a common storm door latch National #N213-074 White Push DR Latch

If the door still doesnt close, you may have broken corners. The next section addresses that problem

What to do if your Storm Door has broken corners

The corners, especially if they are made of "powder metal", can break. This often happens when the door gets caught in a wind gust and gets blown open. Or the door may get slammed forcefully. If a corner breaks, you often see the top of the storm door sticking out not closed while the bottom is fully closed. Or vice versa.

Open your storm door. Grab hold near the top and near the bottom instead of holding the handle. See if it is easy to twist the door. The door should be stiff and resist twisting. It if twists a few inches, one or more of the corners may be broken.

Often, if corners are broken, you need to replace the whole door, simply because the corners may just not be available. But, if you do know where your door came from, there may still be corners and other storm door hardware available. If you have a replacement corner, changing it usually just involves taking out the screws holding the top or bottom of the door on.

More Help with Storm Door Hardware

There are lots of choices for new storm door locks nowadays. Heres a page with more information on storm door locks

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