Replacement Door Swings Open by Itself

I installed 5 replacement doors in my house. They were slabs, not pre hung. Basic hollow 6 panel series 800 doors with 2 hinges per door.

I just measured the hinge locations, recessed the hinges, and hung the doors.

Four out of five were perfect.

The fifth door has a problem. If I leave the door open more than half way, it slowly swings open all the way.

As far as I can tell, the hinges are in the exact same position as the old door.

Do I need to shim the hinges or move their position so my door will not keep swinging open.

If so, do I adjust the top or bottom hinges?

 

I sounds as if one of your hinges may be set too far in. It doesn't take much to cause the door to swing on its own. With the door in the halfway position, see if it is plumb. With the level still on the door edge, slowly swing the door open and then closed. Note what the bubble does. Also check the plumbness of the door casing as well. I know you installed slabs, but the casing may not have been exactly perfect even with the old door.

 

I am having the same problem, but I have put up a prehung door. I put a level to the edge of the door vertically and the bubble is slightly off center very minimally. The door will swing open half way. I jammed half a tooth pick in with the pin for the hinge to add some friction but that did not work at all. The screws do not appear to be too far in on the hinges.

I need some advice please to that this door to stay put!

 

TheDJgtc,

It's out of plumb -- and it doesn't take much.

I would also question the level that you are checking it with. (Don't feel bad -- I check every one of mine before I use it!) Hold th level vertically against the edge of the open door and note what it reads. (The door is leaned slightly in one direction or the other.) Now, keeping the same end of the level up, spin it 180 degrees, so that the opposite side of the level is against the door. NOW what does the level read?? If your level is 'right on' -- it'll read EXACTLY the same.

Use the same method to check it for accuracy in the horizontal plane. Lay it on a floor or whatever and not what it reads. Then, keeping the same side up, swing it 180 degrees, swapping the ends. NOW what does it read? A 'right on' level will read the same. Anything else, and your level is lying to you.

 

If your door has a hinge with a removal pin, remove the pin and bend it slightly. You can bend it by resting it on something and hammering both ends. Insert the pin and it should keep the door from swinging open or closed on its own. Good luck.

 

Fixitjoy, welcome to the forums! The post you answered is over 2 1/2 years old, so I hope they got the problem fixed. Incidentally, bending the pin only starts another problem when it starts wearing the hinges, but for a short term fix, it is good.