Most homeowners are familiar with the spring hinge. You find them on cabinet doors, entry doors and even garage doors. They ensure the door swings shut after you open it and that it doesn’t remain ajar.

What many homeowners don’t know is that you can adjust the tension on a spring hinge, and it isn’t that difficult. “Adjusting the spring on a self-closing hinge will get you the level of swing you’re looking for,” says contractor Bar Zakheim. “A spring that’s too loose may not close your door all the way, or it may take too long. A spring that’s too tight could slam the door on you or force you to hold it open.”

In this post, we’ll show you, in a simple two-step procedure, how to adjust the tension on a spring hinge for a swinging garage door. With modifications — and perhaps slightly different tools — the process is the same for every spring hinge.

Remove the Locking Pin

spring hinge

Insert a hex wrench into the socket at the top of the spring hinge and the handle back and forth to release tension on the pin. When the pin has been loosened, remove it with pliers.

Tighten or Loosen in Small Steps

spring hinge adjusted

Rotate the wrench until the next hole comes into view and install the pin. If you’re reducing tension to prevent the door from swinging too forcefully, rotate clockwise. Go counterclockwise to increase tension and make the door close all the way instead of hanging ajar.

Test the door closing rate. Repeat until the door closes and latches without slamming.

General Spring Hinge Adjustment Tip

If you’re thinking: “Well, that was easy,” remodeler Courtney Franzen agrees, and the procedure is just about the same for any spring hinge. “It isn’t difficult – you just use a screwdriver (typically Phillips) to adjust a small screw that changes the spring tension.”

See how easy it is to replace an interior door yourself.

FAQ

How often should I adjust a self-closing hinge?

Once you get the right adjustment, you can put away your tools. “You typically won’t ever have to adjust it again,” says Franzen. “Spring hinges wear out over time, but that can take many years.”

Can I adjust hinges on heavy-duty doors?

Sure. The procedure we show you in this article is for a garage door. Doors don’t get much more heavy-duty than that.

Is professional help necessary if adjustments don’t work?

If you can’t seem to adjust the tension of a spring hinge to get a door to close smoothly, the problem probably has something to do with how the door is hung in the frame. This may or may not be something that requires professional help, depending on the type of door and your skill set.

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