Okay, here is how to adjust a double glazed door, covering the common types of adjustments needed for uPVC doors.
Adjusting a double-glazed door, often a uPVC door, typically involves making adjustments to the hinges and sometimes the keeps on the frame to correct issues like sagging, sticking, or poor sealing. There are three main types of adjustments you can make: lateral (side-to-side), vertical (up-and-down), and compression (seal tightness).
Over time, the weight of a double-glazed door can cause it to drop or sag, leading to issues such as:
- Difficulty locking or unlocking
- The door sticking against the frame or threshold
- Drafts around the edges due to a poor seal
Fortunately, most modern uPVC doors have adjustable hinges and keeps, allowing you to realign the door within its frame and improve its sealing.
Types of Adjustments
Here are the primary adjustments you can make:
- Lateral Adjustment: Moves the door left or right within the frame. Useful for correcting issues where the door is catching on the side of the frame or needs to be shifted to align with the keeps.
- Vertical Adjustment: Moves the door up or down within the frame. Useful for lifting a sagging door that is dragging on the threshold or catching at the top.
- Compression Adjustment: Adjusts how tightly the door seals against the frame when closed. Useful for eliminating drafts and ensuring a good weather seal.
How to Make Specific Adjustments
The specific tools and adjustment points can vary slightly depending on the hinge and lock type, but the general principles apply. You will typically need a set of Allen keys (hex keys), often in sizes like 4mm, 5mm, or 6mm, and possibly a spanner.
Lateral Adjustment (Side-to-Side)
This adjustment is commonly done at the hinges.
- Purpose: To move the door horizontally within the frame.
- Tool: Typically a 5mm Allen key or similar size.
- Process:
- Close the door so you can see its position relative to the frame.
- Locate the adjustable points on the hinges. These are often covered by a plastic cap or strip.
- Slide the hinge cover open using a five millimeter allen key or pry it off carefully.
- Insert the Allen key into the designated adjustment screw (usually horizontal to the door).
- Turning the screw clockwise or counter-clockwise will make the lateral adjustments left or right. Adjust each hinge a little at a time (e.g., half a turn), starting with the hinge closest to the point where the door is binding or misaligned.
- Once you are happy with the alignment, test the door by opening and closing it. Ensure it doesn't bind and the latch engages correctly.
- Close the cooler cap or slide the hinge cover back into place.
Vertical Adjustment (Up-and-Down)
This adjustment is also typically made at the hinges, often at the bottom or top part.
- Purpose: To raise or lower the door height.
- Tool: Can be a 5mm or 6mm Allen key, or sometimes a larger size.
- Process:
- Open the door slightly or keep it closed, depending on where the adjustment screw is located (sometimes accessible from the top or bottom of the hinge body).
- Locate the vertical adjustment screw on each hinge. Again, this might be under a cap.
- Insert the Allen key into the vertical adjustment screw.
- Turning the screw (usually clockwise to lift the door, counter-clockwise to lower) will raise or lower the door. Adjust each hinge evenly to keep the door level.
- Test the door for clearance at the threshold and the top of the frame.
Compression Adjustment (Seal Tightness)
This adjustment ensures the door seals tightly against the frame when closed.
- Purpose: To increase or decrease the pressure of the door seal against the frame.
- Tool: Often a spanner, Allen key, or even pliers, depending on the type of keeps or locking points.
- Process:
- Examine the locking points along the edge of the door and the corresponding keeps on the frame.
- Some doors have adjustable keeps on the frame (where the rollers or hooks latch). These might have screws that allow you to move the keep slightly in or out.
- Other systems have adjustable rollers or 'mushrooms' on the door edge itself that can be rotated or adjusted to increase or decrease compression against the keep.
- Adjust these points gradually along the door edge, testing the seal as you go. A good seal should provide slight resistance when closing the final bit, but not make it overly difficult to lock.
General Tips Before Adjusting
- Check the Frame: Ensure the door frame itself is plumb and square, as sometimes the frame foundation is the issue, not the door adjustment.
- Lubrication: Before adjusting, try lubricating the hinges and locking mechanisms. Sometimes this alone can resolve minor sticking issues.
- Go Gradually: Make small adjustments (half turns or full turns) at a time and test the door's movement and closure after each adjustment.
- Identify Adjustment Points: Consult your door's manual or look closely at the hinges and keeps to find the specific adjustment screws.
When to Call a Professional
If you are unsure about making adjustments, the door is severely damaged, or adjustments don't resolve the issue, it's best to contact a professional locksmith or window and door technician.
