A squeaky door hinge is one of those small household annoyances that can drive you crazy. A loose hinge, on the other hand, can be a bigger problem, causing the door to sag, stick, or not close properly. Luckily, both of these common hinge problems are usually very easy and quick to fix with just a few simple tools.
🤫 How to Fix a Squeaky Hinge
The squeak is caused by friction between the metal parts of the hinge. The solution is simple: lubrication.
🔩 How to Fix a Loose Hinge
A loose hinge is usually caused by the screws stripping out the wood in the door or door jamb.
The first thing to try is simply tightening the screws with a screwdriver. If they just spin without getting tight, the screw hole is stripped and needs to be repaired.
Fixing a Stripped Screw Hole:
- The Toothpick Trick: Remove the screw. Dip a few wooden toothpicks or a golf tee in wood glue and insert them into the hole until it's filled. Let the glue dry, then snap the toothpicks off flush. You can now drive the original screw back in.
- Use a Longer Screw: A simpler fix that often works is to replace one of the screws in the top hinge with a 3-inch screw. This long screw will go through the door jamb and anchor directly into the solid wood stud behind it, pulling the door back into alignment.
Small repairs can make a big difference in your home's functionality. For door and hinge problems that go beyond a simple fix, such as a misaligned door frame, contact the handyman professionals at The Box Advantage Group.
Author
Handyman Team