how to measure for a storm door
 
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    Featured Question

    Why do I have to lift up on the handle to open my door?

    If you need to lift up on the handle to open the door, the handle set has been installed upside down. Please refer to your original installation instructions to remove and reinstall the handle in the correct position. You may also need to reverse the latch assembly.

    • General Operation

    • Handles & Hardware

    • Glass & Screens

    General Operation

    • General Operation

      • How do I install the screw cover strips?

        • Fit the straight, outer leg into the mounting rail first, and then snap in the inner leg, which may have a hook. Start at the top end, and slide your finger down the strip while pressing firmly.

          If one or both legs are damaged or bent, the screw cover strips need to be replaced.  

      • How wide will my door open?

        • Your door is designed to open to about 80 degrees, which helps prevent the hinges from overextending and being damaged.

      • Why won’t my storm door close?

        • You likely need to adjust the closer.

          Other possibilities:

          The storm door's bottom expander sweep may be dragging on the threshold. Loosen the two expander screws and raise the expander so that the rubber sweep just touches the top of the threshold. Retighten the screws.

          There may be a pocket of air pressure between the primary door and storm door. To create an escape route for the air, try raising the storm door expander or leaving the storm door window slightly open.

          The hinge rail screws may be too tight. Loosen the hinge rail installation screws a ¼ turn to relax the tension.

      • How can I stop my door from squeaking when it opens and closes?

        • If your door is new, the hinges could be tight until they receive some use. Lubricate the hinges with silicone spray or 3-in-1 oil.

          Other possibilities:

          The inside hinge rail screws could be too tight.  Loosen them a ¼ turn to relax the tension.

          The door opening may be out of square, which can happen as a home settles. You will need to adjust the door opening square and plumb so the storm door can perform as designed. 

      • Why does my door leak?

        • If water is coming in around the window opening, the drainage holes (also known as weep holes) may be blocked. Inspect and clean the drainage holes, which are located on the outside of door just below the window area.
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          You’ll gain top performance with the top glass panel in the outside track, overlapping the bottom glass panel in the inside track. Reverse the panels if needed.
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          Caulking behind the top drip cap and the mounting rails can prevent water or air from leaking around the edges of the door.
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          You may find water in the bottom expander after a rain. This occurrence is normal, and the water will naturally drain to the outside when you open the door.

    Handles & Hardware

    • Closers

      • How do I adjust my door to make it close faster or slower?

        • Unhook one closer to adjust one closer at a time. Turn the adjustment screw or knob (varies by model) 1/4 to 1/2 turn at a time, until you've achieved your desired closing speed. Turn it counter-clockwise to increase speed, and clockwise for a slower speed. 

      • How do I hold my storm door in the open position?

        • To hold a storm door open with a standard closer, open the door to the desired position and slide the hold open washer until it rests against the closer tube. To close the door, open the door a bit more to take pressure off the hold open washer. Slide the washer back past the knobs on the rod and against the jamb bracket. Let go of the door and it will then close on its own.

          Some models have a One-Touch® button on one of the closers. The closer with this button is typically installed as the bottom closer, and the button should be pointing up. Open the door to the desired position and tap the button to hold the door in position. To close the door, slightly push the door further open and release. The door will then close on its own. 

      • My primary entry door hits against the storm door closer. How can I correct this?

        • Move the closer bracket nearer to the storm door. If it still hits, you can try adding shims under the side and top mounting rails to move the storm door further away from the entry door.

      • Why does my closer make a popping noise?

        • The door closer bracket may not be securely attached to the door. If the bracket screws are loose, the closer can move side to side creating the popping noise when the door opens or closes. Securely tighten the screws. If the screw holes are stripped, you can use larger diameter screws to hold the bracket in place or add additional screws.

    • Handles

      • Why do I have to lift up on the handle to open my door?

        • If you need to lift up on the handle to open the door, the handle set has been installed upside down. Please refer to your original installation instructions to remove and reinstall the handle in the correct position. You may also need to reverse the latch assembly.

      • My handle came off the door-what do I do?

        • Many handles are held in place by a set screw, and the set screw likely came loose. Reattach the handle, and firmly tighten the set screw. If the set screw is stripped and cannot be tightened, the handle will need to be replaced. Some handle sets require a D-Clip on the back side of the trim plate for the outside handle, which may have come loose. With the outside handle inserted through the outside trim plate, slide the D-Clip through the grooves on the end of the handle. Insert the spindle into the handle, and complete the handle installation.

      • What can I do if my deadbolt is stuck or not working?

        • The storm door deadbolt and latch side rail are likely misaligned, which can prevent the deadbolt from retracting.

          To unjam the deadbolt, remove the latch side rail installation screws. This will loosen the tension on the deadbolt allowing it to retract and the door to open. Once the door is open, operate the handle and turn the deadbolt. If either does not operate when the door is open, the hardware needs to be replaced.  

          If the handle set and deadbolt move freely when the door is open, the deadbolt may be hitting the edge of the strike plate. Adjust the strike plate to allow the deadbolt to move freely. To determine in which direction and how much to move it, apply some lipstick to the edge of the deadbolt. When the door is closed, engage the deadbolt all the way. Open the door, and if there is a lipstick mark on the latch rail or strike plate, adjust as needed. Wipe the plate clean, and repeat the test until the deadbolt engages freely and doesn’t leave a mark.

          If there is not lipstick on the strike plate, but there is a mark on the back surface of the deadbolt hole, the deadbolt hole in the door frame needs to be deepened with a chisel.

      • How do I clean my brass handle set?

        • Several handle sets are solid brass. These handle sets have a clear coat finish to protect the brass. Over time, the clear coat finish can wear through or be compromised by nicks from rings and keys, exposing the solid brass to the elements. Unprotected brass will tarnish under this exposure. Brass has an enduring quality, in that it can be refurbished to its original polished finish again and again by using a quality brass polish and a soft cloth.

          1. Remove the hardware from the door so the finish of the door will not be affected. See the hardware instructions for removal. NOTE: you may be able to leave the hardware in place on the door when polishing the handle only – make certain to completely mask off all areas around the handle before starting. If polishing the key cylinder, protect the internal mechanism by covering the opening with tape.
          2. Use a quality brass polish or cleaner to clean the brass - follow the product’s directions and cautions. Note: Firm rubbing may be necessary to loosen the coating on the brass.
          3. Reseal the brass.

          a. Use the properties from the brass polish you used to clean the brass. (Easiest method, but requires more frequent polishing.)

          b. Apply a high quality, non-abrasive, polymer-based automobile wax to seal the surface.

          c. Apply a new clear coat with a clear lacquer spray - follow the product’s directions. (Most difficult, but lasts the longest.)

          PLEASE NOTE: If you removed the hardware from the door, lubricate any internal workings with a spray lubricant. Re-install the hardware on the door. 

    Glass & Screens

    • Low-E Glass

      • How should I clean my high performance Low-E glass?

        • Glass cleaners may be used with lint-free soft cloth. To avoid streaks, do not try to completely dry surface. Never use any type of scraper or abrasive cleaner because they may cause damage to the coated surface. A mixture of 80% water / 20% vinegar is recommended.

    • Rolscreen®

      • How can I adjust my Rolscreen® screen so that it doesn’t blow out or push out on the sides?

        • The screen is designed to blow out in heavy winds or when pushed on to prevent damage to the screen. To reset the screen into the sides, slowly lower the glass all the way to the bottom. Then raise the glass all the way to the top. Slowly lower the glass again, and the screen should be reset. 

      • Why does the glass panel drop a bit when I release it?

        • When not locked into place, it is normal for the top glass panel to drop 1–3 inches. If the sash consistently drops more than 3 inches, there may be an issue with the screen tension. Contact our support center.

      • What if my glass will not stay up at the top?

        • Ensure the latch mechanism at the top of the glass is engaged. For some doors, this latch is built into the screen handle, and needs to be installed during the door installation. 

      • What should I do if the screen will not retract?

        • The screen balance mechanism may need to be reset. Lower the glass panel about half way. Open the door, and place a hand on each side of the screen material-one inside and one outside of the door. Pull down on the screen about six inches and then release it. The screen should snap up, resetting the tension of the rolling mechanism.

          The screen roll may have come out of its brackets. Remove the cover that is over the screen roll. The screen cassette should be seated in a bracket on each end. Adjust the screen if needed.

    • Fullview Doors

      • How do I install the glass in my fullview door?

        • First, make sure that only the glass or the screen, but not both, are in the door at one time. Hold the glass firmly in the door opening with the “exterior side” sticker facing the outside of the house, while inserting the retainer strips in place. Start at the top of the door and hold the retainer at about a 45 degree angle. If one edge has writing on it, the writing should be facing you. Slide it into the door channel in front of the glass panel; it should not go in between the glass panel and the door frame. Working your way down the door, slide and snap the retainer into the track until the markings are no longer visible, applying pressure as you go. When you get to the end, you will hear a snap as the last portion of the retainer goes in. If you find the fit to be tight, spray glass cleaner on the retainer strip to help it slide in the channel. 

      • I want to put the glass back in on my fullview door, but it no longer fits. What do I do?

        • The metal trim on the edge of the glass panel may be coming off. Gently tap the metal trim back in place with a rubber mallet. If the metal trim and the rubber boot have come off too far to tap back on, first tap the metal trim OFF the glass. Reset this rubber boot on the glass edge and then tap the trim back on. Use care not to carry the glass panel by the metal trim alone.