How to adjust a plastic balcony door on your own? Methods and schemes

Unfortunately, PVC profile doors, despite their widely advertised reliability, with time they begin to jam, close loosely, there are problems with the functioning of the door hardware.

Of course, these are little things that many homeowners do not pay attention to. However, a balcony door that does not fit snugly against a plastic box or a non-locking lock can provide enough troubles, ranging from a slight cold and ending with the unauthorized entry of children into the balcony territory.

Some apartment owners, until the door product warranty expires, contact the company where the door was purchased and whose craftsmen installed it.

But this procedure is fraught with unpredictable consequences:

1. You can wait for a master for a long time.
2. The representative of the company always tries to prove that the malfunction is caused by improper operation and the owner should not be responsible for.
3. The necessary spare part may not be found in the company's warehouse.

At the same time, basic adjustments to the plastic door structure and minor troubleshooting is quite within the reach of any apartment owner who has minimal skills in performing simple locksmiths works.

Main operational defects

Most of the plastic products installed in the balcony opening do not require maintenance and their adjustment or minor repairs are necessary if any defect is found.

The most widespread problems detected during operation are:

1. The lower edge of the door leaf touches the edge of the frame, which serves as a balcony sill. Usually this defect is associated with sagging of the sash under its own weight. This typical drawback is due to a violation of the door leaf assembly technology. Often, the manufacturer, in the absence of the necessary glass unit, installs a similar in size, but having a large mass.
2. If there is a gap in the upper corner of the box, on the side of the installed hinges - the reason is the same - the sagging of the door leaf.
3. When closing, the sash rubs against the middle of the door frame height. This malfunction is caused by thermal or other type of deformation.
4. The door leaf does not fit snugly against the frame, and the installed seal does not interfere with the blowing of outside air. This fairly common defect is caused by improper adjustment of the hold-down devices - their weak tightening or constriction.
5. When you turn the locking knob, a backlash is felt. This is the simplest fault and is usually caused by loosening of the grip cover fixing screws.

Knowing the main malfunctions and the reasons they are caused, it is much easier to make the necessary adjustments and bring the plastic balcony door into a trouble-free working condition. Once the cause of the door malfunction has been identified, its elimination is not difficult and takes a lot of time.

Prevention of doors made of plastic profiles

Subject to the rules of operation and timely periodic maintenance, the majority of apartment owners do not have any comments on the operation of plastic construction products.

However, observing some fairly simple rules for using doors, it is possible, if not completely get rid of the adjustments of door systems made of PVC profile, then significantly reduce them repetition.

Moreover, some requirements for door structures should be taken into account already at the stage of their acquisition:

1. When choosing or ordering a balcony door, it is necessary to ensure that the hinges and the locking fittings correspond to the weight of the door leaf. Hinges installed in plastic door structures must withstand the weight of the fold 100.0-130.0 kilograms (the final weight depends on the type the selected glass unit) and if this requirement is not met, distortions are inevitable, and therefore, you will have to constantly resort to adjusting the door.
2. Preference should be given to systems equipped with a microlift (sometimes called a sag compensator). Usually, plastic doors with double-triple glass units have a microlift in their design, however, when buying, you should clarify this question with the store manager.
3. Opening limiter, will also significantly reduce the likelihood of sagging, and sometimes deformation of the door leaf.

Basic adjustment methods

To adjust the plastic doors, you need the simplest set of tools:

• set of keys with an external hexagon;
• Phillips and slotted screwdrivers;
• pliers;

Some hinge suspension systems have an adjusting screw that has a star-shaped groove instead of a hex. In this case, you need to stock up on a set of advisory keys.

Most of the adjustment work is associated with a hinged suspension system, the defects of which lead to a loose closing or skewing of the sash.

Consider the basic adjustment methods:

1. If, due to the sagging of the sash, the tightness of the cover is broken and the lower edge touches the box, then the following operations must be performed sequentially:
   
   • open the sash wide and remove the protective and decorative cap from the hinge of the upper plate;
   • using a hex key clockwise, turn the adjusting screw a few turns;
   • perform a similar procedure on the lower loop;
   • we check the tightness of the door leaf and the absence of rubbing the edges of the sash and frame;
   • repeat the operation if necessary;
2. When touching the sash and frame in their middle part, it is necessary to shift the door leaf towards the hinge hinge. The procedure for eliminating this defect is as follows:
   
   • we start elimination of jamming from the bottom loop;
   • by inserting the key into the slot with the side adjustment screw, tighten the sash to the hinge hinge;
   • we check the opening and closing of the door and, if necessary, carry out a similar operation with the upper hinge;
3. To adjust the force, which must be attached to the door to close it tightly, are the fittings built into the sash itself. In most balcony door designs, the adjustment system operates on the eccentric principle. Turning the eccentrics in one direction or another. you can achieve the desired degree of adherence of the canvas to the frame of the box, thereby providing the required force of opening - closing. We carry out the work in the following sequence:
   
   • turning the eccentric with pliers, we achieve the desired clamping force;
   • in systems where the eccentrics are turned with slotted screws, an appropriate key is used;
4. The easiest way to eliminate backlashthat appeared in the door lock handle. Usually, the cause of this malfunction is the weakening of the clamping bar, which occurs with frequent exits to the balcony. To eliminate free play or the resulting backlash, you should:
   
   • turn the decorative and protective cap on the handle head by 90 °;
   • tighten the screws that appear in the recess of the handle, avoiding too strong a tightening, which can lead to damage to the handle;
   • if the backlash could not be eliminated, you should carefully inspect the handle for cracks;
   • if a crack is found, the handle will have to be replaced;

In conclusion, it should be noted - before you take on the adjustment work yourself, you should carefully read the instructions for use and adjustment of the product used. The type of fittings used and, therefore, the methods and methods of adjustments depend on the brand and the specific model.

When carrying out all adjustments, remember that sometimes a half turn of the screw is enough to eliminate any gap or jamming. Therefore, starting the adjustment of the balcony door system, all operations should be approached carefully and carefully.