Autumn Maintenance — Servicing Door Closers Before Winter

September marks the start of the maintenance season for commercial door hardware. As temperatures drop and wind speeds increase, door closers face greater demands — and those that haven't been serviced since spring are at much greater risk of failure over the winter months. A proactive inspection now will prevent emergency call-outs in January.

Why autumn matters for door closers

Cold weather thickens hydraulic fluid in overhead closers, making them close more slowly — or in some cases fail to close at all. Wind pressure increases the effective weight of the door, putting additional load on the closer arm and spring. And the increased footfall from people entering and exiting buildings quickly results in more abrupt opening cycles that stress the backcheck mechanism.

What to inspect

Work through each external door systematically. Check that the door closes fully from any open position. Check that the latch engages cleanly without bouncing. Inspect the arm joints for play or corrosion. Look for oil seeping from the closer body — a wet patch indicates a seal failure that will accelerate over winter. Check that electromagnetic hold-open devices release correctly when the fire alarm is tested.

Adjustments to make

Increase the closing speed slightly on external doors exposed to wind. Reduce the latch speed to ensure the door doesn't bounce off the frame. Check the backcheck is set to provide resistance before the door reaches full open.

When to replace rather than adjust

If a closer is leaking, has a cracked arm, or is more than 10–15 years old on a high-traffic door, replacement is more cost-effective than repair. Door Spares stocks replacement closers and arms from dormakaba, GEZE, Briton and Exidor. Same-day despatch before 2pm.