Q&A

A “back check” function on a door closer is a feature that slows down the door’s opening speed when it reaches near its fully open position, preventing it from slamming open and potentially damaging the door, frame, wall, or injuring people; it essentially acts as a shock absorber to absorb excessive force when opening the door, making it particularly important for exterior doors exposed to wind gusts or high traffic areas.

To adjust the closing speed of a door closer, locate the small adjustment screw on the closer body, usually marked with an “S” for “sweep speed,” and turn it clockwise to slow down the closing speed or counterclockwise to speed it up; make small adjustments and test the door after each change to achieve the desired speed.

If your door closer is making noise, the first step is to check for lack of lubrication and adjust the closing speed by tightening or loosening the adjustment screw on the closer; this is usually the culprit for noisy door closers; if that doesn’t work, inspect for worn parts, misalignment, or loose mounting brackets, and consider lubricating the moving parts or replacing the closer if necessary.

Yes, in most cases, you can replace a door closer without drilling new holes if you choose a replacement model specifically designed to fit the existing mounting holes of your old door closer, often called a “retrofit” option; this means you can use the existing bracket and screw locations on the door and frame to install the new closer.

“Closing speed” refers to the overall speed at which a door closes from its open position to nearly closed, while “latch speed” specifically refers to the speed at which the door closes in the final few inches before fully latching, essentially the last part of the closing cycle where it secures itself shut; meaning, latch speed is a smaller, more focused part of the overall closing speed.