Keep that door closed!
In rereading my blog posts, I see that my two year old daughter figures in them heavily, which isn’t surprising, given how much of our lives she consumes. Without getting grisly or moribund, let me just say that the thought of her falling down the basement stairs makes my heart drop.
There is no landing at the top of the stairs. Open the door and down you go. The stairs are steeper than current code allows, and the headroom at the bottom of the run is inadequate. But I like them, and I like walking down them to my temperate subterranean office. There’s real green linoleum on the risers and treads, which is cool, and there’s a six-over-six window that lends some natural light to the stairwell.
I’ve installed a foolproof closer on the basement stairs door that keeps it closed and makes me less anxious.
Stanley’s number 865885 Automatic Hinge Pin Door Closer takes all of ten minutes to install. You don’t even have to remove the existing hinge.
Stick a small wad of paper towel or tissue down on the floor between the door and the hinge-side jamb. Close the door, and wedge a matchbook or two under the door to wedge it in place temporarily. Use a hammer and a big nail or nailset to tap out the hinge pin. Put a drop or two of 3-in-1 oil on the hinge’s leaves. Matter of fact, oil all the hinges while your at it. Can’t hurt. (Olive oil works too.) Any extra oil that drips off the hinges is going to land on that wad of paper towel you stuck down there before closing the door. 
Slide the spring loaded hinge pin into place. Use the little supplied wrench to adjust the spring tension. Slide the decorative spring cover in place and you’re done. Pull out the pack of matches and put them in your pocket, or your kid will find them and light the closet on fire.
Open the door. Watch it close all by itself. Open the door. Watch it close all by itself. Open the door. Watch it close all by itself. You get the idea.
If it doesn’t close fast enough, you can install another door closer one of the other hinges. My basement door has two of them.
Posted by Jefferson Kolle | Categories: Quick Fixes & Tips | Permalink
(2) Comments
Great little gadget. Are you aware of a similar thing that would keep a door open? I have a door that like to rest at half-closed, and another that likes to swing closed in the breeze. Both are in busy hallways and don't keep a floor wedge well. A modestly tensioned hing pin door opener would be a perfect solution.
Hey Jerry D. I got this ( http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10098949 ) from IKEA and it works wonderfully even on our carpet, all you have to do to close the door is step on it lightly. I'm sure there's a similar product somewhere if you don't have an IKEA near you.