I installed a good metal storm/screen door (EMCO, from HD, about $400 list, 36″ wide). The mounting seemed well designed, the hardware was solid, and the latch was exquisite. I really love the look and feel… EXCEPT…
I really hate the closing system. The door doesn’t open a full 90 degrees because of the length of the plungers in the hydraulic units (there are two), it snaps 2/3 shut quickly before the hydraulic action acts, and then the springs in the hydraulic units doesn’t pull if fully shut all the time. I have talked to EMCO (friendly, responsive) and replaced both hydraulic units with new ones they sent. I have adjusted the tension screw as best I can, but I just cannot get it to work. Last Fall I found it worked best (usually latching) using just the larger of the two hydraulic units.
I need to get a replacement full-length piano hinge now – the wind whipped the door open so hard last winter (full size glass so the door is heavy) when it hadn’t gone the final 1/2″ to latch. It bent the hinge, snapped the single hydraulic unit I was using, and broke a porch light.
Any suggestions? The entrance is covered by an 8′ wide porch and the space between the storm door and the main door is only 3″.
Replies
Firstly, if the door doesn't open all the way (90 degrees), I think you have mounted the bracket(s) to far from the hinge side of the door. If the bracket on the door was closer to the hinge side, it would allow the door to open fully. Secondly, if you truly have hydraulic (vs. pneumatic) pistons, they sound defective to me. In fact, I think that if your adjustment screw is on the end of the cylinder, it is almost certainly pneumatic. Hydraulic pistons are adjusted by turning the whole barrel relative to the rod. The action you describe, initially closing fast, then dramatic slowing down for the last few inches sounds characteristic of inexpensive pneumatic (not hydraulic) pistons. I've installed at least a half dozen of those EMCO doors and don't recall ever seeing anything other than pneumatic closers. I'd toss them and get a new hydraulic piston at any good hardware store. They cost a few bucks more than the pneumatic ones but are worth it. You may need to drill a couple of new holes in the door to get it mounted the correct distance to allow it to open fully, just get some stainless steel sheet metal screws to plug the old holes with. Good luck.
Pneumatic - makes sense. I stand corrected (I thought they were all hydraulic).I mounted the top bracket on a 3/4" block of wood so it is not flush with the door frame. I did it to reinforce the mounting and some other reason (I think it was to stop the body of the closer from hitting the door and limiting the opening angle). And that might be enough to make the door open the extra few degrees to reach 90. But I sure wish I could open it much wider (the deck is 8' wide, so there's 2 1/2' of floor blocked off by the door when it's open.So you say there are hydraulic units. Maybe I can find some, now that I know there are two types.Or maybe I'll try and find some type of articulated unit that can fit in the limited space.Thank you for your insight.
My local Tru Value Hardware store sells three aftermarket closers, two pneumatic and one hydraulic. Shouldn't be to hard to find, and not really that expensive, less than $20 for sure (the two pneumatics were about $10-12).
I can't remember the brand of closer but I got it from New Cannan Hardware in, you guessed it, New Cannan Connecticut. It worked great and the customer was happy!