Each modern balcony is decorated with plastic double-glazed windows
Content
The device of a plastic balcony door
Before proceeding with the diagnosis of the problems that have arisen and subsequent repairs, it is worth understanding the structure of the structure. There is a base unit as well as spare parts for a plastic balcony door. Moreover, among the accessories there are both irreplaceable and optional parts. As a rule, the following elements are included in the door block:
- frame made of PVC profiles, which are connected by special fasteners;
- a sash assembled according to a principle similar to a door frame;
- hinges, thanks to which the structure closes and opens;
- handle and latch for PVC balcony doors;
- a seal that ensures the tightness of the sash closing;
- double-glazed window of the balcony door.
The door block includes a frame, a sash, hinges, a handle, a seal and a glass unit
In addition, the device may include additional elements that expand the functionality of the balcony door: stoppers, mechanical or hydraulic sensors and other details.
When adjustment of a plastic balcony door is required
The price of a plastic balcony door is quite high, but buying an expensive high-quality model does not save you from frequent cases of breakdowns of the mechanism. It's all about its frequent use, leading to a decrease in the tightness of the sash.
Plastic door installation process
In addition, the glass unit provides excellent sound insulation and PVC guarantees durability. However, it is these materials that noticeably make the structure heavier, as a result of which it begins to sag under its own weight and ceases to close tightly. As a result, a noticeable draft appears in the room, and the insulation of the balcony does not help.
The normal position of the plastic door is as follows:
- if the door is open, it does not move on its own;
- no sash displacement;
- the leaf is firmly pressed against the frame of the door frame.
If everything is so, no intervention in the door mechanism is required. However, if you notice the slightest deviations, you immediately need to repair the plastic balcony doors. You shouldn't delay calling the master, because with each opening and closing the situation will worsen. This can result in the balcony doors not closing at all.
The plastic door should open and close smoothly without effort
Useful advice! If the door installation warranty has expired and you do not want to contact a specialist, you can watch a video of self-adjusting plastic balcony doors and fix the problem yourself.
Types of balcony door faults
If you are adjusting a plastic balcony door with your own hands, it is important to determine the causes of the malfunction for the success of the repair. The most common problems are as follows:
| Fault type | Cause of occurrence |
| Sagging of the door (when closing, the door clings to the plastic threshold) | Most likely, the structure is too heavy, which leads to its displacement downward. |
| Hanging handle for balcony door | Usually the handle starts to dangle when the balcony door is opened very often. |
| Plastic balcony doors do not close tightly (the sash is not tightly pressed against the frame and you feel a draft) | As a rule, this is a symptom of a malfunctioning door handle or door skew. |
| The sash is offset to the side (the door touches the middle of the frame) | Most often, the problem is in the hinges, adjusting them will help eliminate the malfunction. This problem arises often due to constant sharp temperature changes affecting the fittings for plastic balcony doors in the event of insufficient insulation of the balcony |
To test the door for tightness, slam a regular sheet of paper with the flap. Try to drag the sheet around the perimeter of the door. If it moves easily, the structure has lost its density and needs to be adjusted.
Also evaluate the tightness of the gasket pressure: unequal gum pressure, as a rule, indicates sagging. Determining the side of the offset is simple: pay attention to the place where the seal is squeezed and check if there is a trace of the sash on it.
How to determine the skew of the door leaf
If you suspect a skewed structure, cover the sash, and then draw along the perimeter of the closed door with a simple pencil. Open the door and compare its outline with the drawn line. The presence of unevenness indicates that the door is skewed. For an accurate result, use a building level.
Table of values for door leaf adjustment
Let's say, as a result of measurements, you learned that the width of the drawn strip is 8 mm (an error of 1 mm is permissible). So, everything is in order, and the door is not skewed. If the width of one strip is 12 mm, and the other 4 mm, this clearly indicates a skew of the door by 4 mm.
Note! Sometimes it turns out that from the side of the hinges the width of the strip is 3-4 mm, and from the side of the handle is 6-7 mm. Such indicators indicate a narrowing of the sash by 4-6 mm - this is a manufacturing defect, and it makes no sense to move such a door.
Also check the width of the opening on all sides of the frame. The difference in measurements should not be more than 1 mm.Otherwise, the opening will be in the shape of a barrel - this happens with an incorrect installation, when the middle of the frame is pulled to the wall more than the top and bottom. Such errors also lead to a loose clamping. By measuring the width of the sash from all sides, you will determine the correct length of the impost. The difference between three measurements should not be more than 0.5-1 mm. With indicators different from the norm, the length of the impost differs from the required one and causes the door to be skewed.
To adjust the door leaf you need a hex wrench
How to adjust a plastic balcony door: step by step instructions
To avoid mistakes or accidental damage to the glass unit of the balcony door (the cost of which is quite high), you need to figure out how to adjust the plastic balcony doors correctly. When carrying out work, it is not necessary to overpay for the master: you can adjust the balcony door yourself - video instructions can be easily found on the Internet.
To work, you need very few tools:
- hexagon;
- crosshead screwdriver;
- flat screwdriver.
Instructions and video: how to adjust plastic balcony doors when sagging
If you notice that when opening and closing the door, it scratches the bottom edge of the frame, this indicates a sagging sash. The adjustment in this case can be vertical or horizontal.
Diagram of vertical and horizontal door adjustment
Horizontal adjustment steps:
- Open the door wide to the swing position.
- There is a screw near the top hinge at the end of the sash. Take a hex wrench and turn it clockwise 2-3 times.
- Remove the plugs covering the holes leading to the top screws.
- Turn all screws underneath the plugs clockwise.
- After adjusting the mechanism, check if the door now closes freely. Tighten the screws again if necessary.
To understand how to adjust balcony doors vertically, do the following:
- Raise the door exactly and find the screw at the bottom of the hinge along its axis.
- If the screw is covered with a cover, carefully remove it.
- If you turn the screw clockwise, gently lift the door, if against, lower it.
Adjusting the pressure of balcony doors and door handle
To tighten the handle for a plastic balcony door, you must do the following:
- Slowly and carefully rotate the plastic cover at a right angle.
- Find the screws for the fastening under the plastic cover. Pull them up.
If the handle does not turn well, sometimes it is enough to lubricate the lock with a special material that does not contain resin and acid. In case of complete breakdown, you should buy a handle for plastic balcony doors, unscrew the screws, remove the old part and put a new one in its place.
Useful advice! A good option is to install a magnetic latch on the balcony door. It will avoid pushing the doorknob too often each time the door is closed and opened, which will have a beneficial effect on its durability.
Schematic instruction for self-adjusting the position of the balcony door
If it blows from the plastic balcony doors, this is a sure sign that the sash is not tightly pressed. It is necessary to adjust the pressure of the balcony plastic door. To figure out how to adjust plastic balcony doors to the clamp, look for locking elements on the door leaf. They are responsible for the density of the clamp.
Using a wrench or pliers, rotate the locking elements until the door is in the desired position. Professionals recommend periodically self-adjusting plastic balcony doors, depending on the season. It is enough to figure out how to adjust plastic balcony doors for the winter, and you can easily loosen the hold-down in hot weather and seal in the cold season.
Sometimes the adjustment of the hinges does not help to solve the problem, and then the looseness of the clamp can be eliminated with the help of the trunnion. To do this, you need pliers... To maximize the door hold-down, set the trunnion perpendicular to the profile. On the other hand, to achieve the minimum pressure, place the trunnion parallel.
Adjustment / replacement process of the plastic door handle
Replacing the seal and adjusting the door when the frame is scratched
It may turn out that adjusting the door pressure did not bring the desired result. This is because the rubber seal has worn out, and any door adjustments are meaningless without replacing it. For this you need:
- Pull out the old rubber. This is done effortlessly and you don't need additional tools.
- Remove dirt from the inside of the groove.
- Place a new seal. Make sure that the side fold falls on the end of the sash.
Useful advice! To make the work easier, remove the sash from the frame: this way, access to the rubber gaskets will be free from the hinge side. It is better to prefer a seal from the same manufacturer as the installed doors.
Replacing the seal of the plastic balcony door
If the balcony doors do not close well and touch the frame, scratching its center, follow these instructions for self-adjusting plastic balcony doors:
- Lower the sash to the bottom hinge.
- Insert the adjusting key into the side screw and tighten the flap.
- If the position of the door has not returned to normal, repeat the procedure with the upper hinge.
Related article:
How to insulate a balcony with your own hands: step by step photos and instructions
Self-warming of the balcony. Frequent mistakes. Installation of windows. Insulation of walls, floors and ceilings. Balcony roof insulation. The nuances of winter insulation.
Prevention of malfunction of balcony doors
If you had to build a house yourself, adjusting the hardware of the balcony doors is more important, because you want the result of the work to last longer. To minimize the risk of future problems, try to follow these rules:
- a reputable manufacturer is a guarantee of good quality products, because in terms of durability and performance, the quality of the materials from which the door and fittings are made is of primary importance;
- when buying fittings, make sure that all the selected parts are suitable for the type and size of the balcony door: please note that modern fittings are designed for a weight of 100-130 kg;
- so that you do not have to figure out how to tighten plastic balcony doors, take care of the presence of a special microlift: this compensator part prevents the door leaf from sagging under the influence of its own gravity;
Adjustment of the door hinge in three planes (shown with hexagons)
Useful advice! The microlift is especially relevant in the case of a two-chamber double-glazed unit, characterized by impressive weight and dimensions. The design of the microlift can be different, representing a small lever on the side of the sash or a roller in its lower part.
- so that the door does not sag and the sash does not stick, it is worth installing a special additional bus that limits the door opening.
Also, even at the stage of installing the door, follow the following points:
- Along the entire perimeter of the door frame, the frame must adhere to it evenly and tightly.
- Opening and closing doors should be easy and effortless.
- When checking with a building level, it should be obvious that the structure is installed exactly vertical.
- There should be no drafts.
- If the door is installed evenly, in a semi-closed position it should not open or close by itself.
If you follow the instructions, you can cope with adjusting the balcony door yourself
Remember that self-adjustment of the door is possible, however, it requires attention, caution and careful diagnosis of problems.Therefore, if there is a valid guarantee for the balcony door, if the slightest malfunction is detected, it is worth contacting specialists who will quickly determine the causes of the problems. If you are sure that malfunctions arise due to a factory defect or installation problems, it is also better to turn to professionals - tightening the bolts yourself in this case will not correct the situation.
If you decide to adjust the door yourself, be sure to follow the instructions, and in case of replacing the fittings, choose the products of the same company as your balcony doors.
