How to Stop a Door From Slamming Shut in 6 Easy Steps

Having doors inside your home that regularly slam on their own can be very disturbing, and if the situation isn’t dealt with in good time, this can also wear out the door’s frame, as well as damaging the door and the latches.

A slamming door may be the result of heavy winds, an angry child or the design of the door itself. Luckily, there are many ways in which you can stop a door from slamming constantly, so you can have a quiet and peaceful home.

How to Stop a Door From Slamming Shut

Without wasting any more time, let’s look at the most effective ways to stop a slamming door.

1. Inspect the Door’s Hinges

The first thing we suggest is that you properly inspect the door’s hinges. A poorly installed hinge may cause the door to be imbalanced, which can then cause it to slam on its own. That’s why you must check your door’s hinges to ensure that they’re still in a good condition and haven’t been installed incorrectly.

To check and see if they’re installed properly, open the door at an angle of 90 degrees, and then set a level tool against the latch to see if the door is out of plumb.

If you notice any imbalance, you can simply tighten up the screws or (preferably) replace the hinge with a new one.

Replacing the Door’s Hinges

The simplest way to replace the hinges is to remove and replace them one at a time. This method is an easier one than removing the door completely.

You can start by unscrewing each hinge from the door, and from the doorframe as well. All you’ll need to do is tighten the screws after adding a replacement hinge. After you’re finished tightening the screws, you should check the alignment of the door by using a level tool, and adjust the new hinge until it’s completely vertical.

Do the same thing to all of the door’s hinges, remembering to check the alignment each time. When it’s all finished, the slamming of the door should stop.

2. Install an Automatic Door Closer

Another thing we recommend doing is installing an automatic door closer (more often called a door opener). This is one of the most effective ways to stop your door from constantly closing on its own.

An automatic door closer is just what you need to make sure the door is properly closed, as gently and quietly as possible. What I really like about these is the fact that they’re pretty easy to install and they come at an affordable price.

There are lots of automatic door closers to choose from on the market. However, I recommend buying one that’s made from aluminum or steel, because they tend to last a lot longer than the ones made from plastic.

We’re very pleased with the quality of the Dakason automatic door closer. It’s made from premium aluminum and is fully adjustable, and there are instruction manuals to help you set it up easily.

Installing this type of product is relatively easy and straightforward. All you’ll need to do is follow the instruction manual carefully, and you’ll be finish within a matter of minutes. If you’re still not sure how to proceed, then this video will help you out.

3. Use a Weatherstripping Kit

Another effective method of stopping a door from slamming on its own is using a weatherstripping kit. Weatherstripping is great, because not only will it stop your door from slamming, but it’ll also help reduce unwanted noise from entering your home.

Weatherstripping is very easy to install, and this may actually be one of the most affordable materials for silencing a slamming door.

Before you apply the weatherstripping, you should wash away any dirt from the inside of the doorframe. After you’ve finished, all you’ll need to do is measure the gap between the door and the frame; then, simply attach the foam weatherstripping tape and press it into place.

The most effective and affordable weatherstripping tape I recommend is the Frost King Rubber Foam Tape.

4. Install a Door Silencer

If you’ve tried all the methods above and you still haven’t experienced any success, then you can try a door silencer. You may have seen some door silencers on the heavy steel doors inside schools and hospitals.

A door silencer is a small piece of molded, heavy-duty rubber material. It may be cone-shaped or rod-shaped. These can be applied to both metal and wooden doors.

Door silencers are pretty easy to install, even if you’re not a handy person. Each one is to be installed on the face of the stop when the door is closed, and the stop will rest against the silencer.

5. Attach Felt Pads to the Door

If the slamming continues, you may want to try this simple trick. The idea is pretty simple, since we know that felt pads are normally used to keep decor from scratching furniture.

You can start by attaching felt pads to the top and bottom of the door, along the edges of the doorframe. The pads will provide enough soft cushioning to slow down the door as it closes, which will help prevent it from slamming.

6. Use a Doorstop

Another effective and affordable way to keep your door from slamming is to slide a door stopper underneath the offending door. The door will remain open while the stopper is in place, but you may prefer this over unwanted slamming.

There are many door stoppers to choose from, but if you’re in a hurry, you may want to check this one out.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many ways in which you can prevent your door from constantly slamming throughout the day. The methods I’ve outlined above should help you significantly, and they shouldn’t take much time or effort to implement. When choosing the right anti-slam products, make sure you go for aluminum or metallic ones, because they’ll work magic in comparison to the ones made from plastic.

If you have any questions, please let us know by leaving a comment down below. You may also be interested in our article about how to soundproof a gaming room.

image: Pixabay

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