[thepettyyeti]

We have a screen door that, as the title describes, closes slowly, then slams (and bounces multiple times) when it's about 3 inches from being fully closed. A few points of interest:

Our door is a larger door: it is normal height, but about 6 inches wider than a standard door (pretty sure it was custom made with a standard closer).

[Being custom made] The door is made from wood: The majority of it is screened, but the door holds significant weight, with solid wood up to my knees and 6-8 inches around the screened area.

As a note, I've tightened the hydraulics of the closer to the point where it closes excruciatingly slow, but it will still slam once it crosses that 3 inch threshold.

Do I need a stronger closer because of the weight/moment of the door, is there a different change I can make, or am I forgetting something?

 

[de-nagorg]

Check the rod to see if it has gotten bent, Often these will bend if anything has flung the screen open and hit hard on the fully open position.


If it is bent replace it as these are impossible to realign again.

Is the safety chain installed near the top to hamper any violent opening?


ED

 

[ZTMAN]

May be time for a new door closer. Your door may be such a size and weight that you need two, one at the top and one at the bottom. If you do install two, just make sure you get the Pneumatics of each in sync.

 

[Windows on Wash]

Definitely are closer adjustment settings and there is a bypass at the last portion of the travel path to allow for enough momentum to shut the door completely.

If you can't get it tuned in perfectly, might be time for a replacement.

There are also two pin placements for summer and winter settings.

 

[ZZZZZ]

I posted the same problem about 6 months ago when I replaced my screen door.

It closes slowly and nicely until the last 6" or so, then BAMM, it slams full force.

It's a wood door with a brand new heavy duty closer. I've adjusted the closer all the way to the softest/slowest close, and it still does the same thing.

I never did find a solution. All that I could do was add some weatherstripping to the jam to cushion the slam.
.
.

 

[hkstroud]

Try two closers. One at the bottom and one at the top.

 

[09thorntont]

We have a screen door that, as the title describes, closes slowly, then slams (and bounces multiple times) when it's about 3 inches from being fully closed. A few points of interest:

Our door is a larger door: it is normal height, but about 6 inches wider than a standard door (pretty sure it was custom made with a standard closer).

[Being custom made] The door is made from wood: The majority of it is screened, but the door holds significant weight, with solid wood up to my knees and 6-8 inches around the screened area.

As a note, I've tightened the hydraulics of the closer to the point where it closes excruciatingly slow, but it will still slam once it crosses that 3 inch threshold.

Do I need a stronger closer because of the weight/moment of the door, is there a different change I can make, or am I forgetting something?

Hey there everyone,
After staying at my in-laws for ~2 days with their screen door that had the “last mile problem”,aka slamming shut once the door was 5-6” away from the frame, I think I found a fix!

A combination of a new piston, messing with the settings and most importantly relocating the mount on the door a little further away from the hinges. This allows the resistance to stay active longer, reducing the distance to the frame once the piston gives out. Moving the door mount further away also reduces maximum open angle slightly but, for me at least, it’s worth not being surprised by a gunshot every time the door closes.

 

[georgemcq]

You posted on a 6 year old thread.

 

[Ajh1133]

Hey there everyone,
After staying at my in-laws for ~2 days with their screen door that had the “last mile problem”,aka slamming shut once the door was 5-6” away from the frame, I think I found a fix!

A combination of a new piston, messing with the settings and most importantly relocating the mount on the door a little further away from the hinges. This allows the resistance to stay active longer, reducing the distance to the frame once the piston gives out. Moving the door mount further away also reduces maximum open angle slightly but, for me at least, it’s worth not being surprised by a gunshot every time the door closes.

Thank you for this. I ran into this same issue after replacing my slow closer on my screen door. Would slowly close till the last few inches and then BANG! I ended up extending the piston out and screwed it into the door a little further from the hinge. I also tweaked the settings to make it a bit faster. And now it closes slowly and quietly.

I just registered on these forums to say thanks for replying to this 6 year old thread lol. It was one of the top hits when I googled the issue

BTW this was with the cheap Wright Brothers screen door slow closer. Like $13 at Lowe’s.

 

[Tooly655]

You posted on a 6 year old thread.

And glad he did. I have the problem now and the positioning suggestion makes sense.

 

[cecild1962]

This solution worked perfectly for me. Thank you!

 

[berghammerlindi99]

I know this is a seven year old thread but the issues remain the same I'll share my story and maybe it might help someone who also comes across this information with the same problem in the future with an idea? It happened to me on a new prowler proof 3K screen door. The door went bang (exactly as the title for this discussion) when opening it and then resisted when I tried to close it only 4 months after having it installed. When asking about warranty I found out that the mechanism used to install the prowler proof door was a Lockwood mechanism. I wondered why it's not a prowler proof mechanism. Anyway it was covered under warranty so Im not upset but I still have not got to the bottom of why I spent 3K on a prowler proof door that has a Lockwood part.

 

[chandler48]

@berghammerlindi99 glad it worked for you, but it is still a 7 year old thread.

 

[NatalieMarie]

And glad he did. I have the problem now and the positioning suggestion makes sense.

Ditto '; )

 

[chandler48]

@NatalieMarie it's still a 8 year old thread. If you are having a problem start your own thread and give us as much information such as door model, etc. and post pictures so we can see what you see.