Taking on Door Closer Service

Door closer service and lock service are inter-related.
The service life of a lock is directly dependant upon how well the door closer performs.

I remember when I got serious about door closers. I was visiting my good friend George Redmond at Redmond’s Key Service. We were about to go to lunch and George wanted to make one stop at a shop a few doors down. He explained that he had to change a top arm on a storefront door and asked if I wanted to help.

I accepted but explained to George that I have never worked on storefront doors or the closers and certainly wouldn’t attempt to pull the door by myself. I further explained that I considered store front doors work for glazers, not locksmiths.

George was shocked and couldn’t understand why I would pass up the “easy bucks.” He also explained that glazers typically wouldn’t just replace the top arm. Instead, the customer foots the bill for an entire closer replacement, top arm included.

Anyone who knew George knew he wasn’t in the best of health and he was a bulldog when it came to servicing anything on a door. George never turned down a job, especially if it paid well.

After picking up a few tools and a stepladder, George and I walked to the location. Because I had never worked on a storefront door, George insisted I watch.

He easily removed the store front door, replaced the top arm of the closer, then reinstalled and adjusted all, in less than 20 minutes. In less than 20 minutes, my attitude changed regarding door closers.

Door closer service and lock service are inter-related. The service life of a lock is directly dependant upon how well the door closer performs.

That was back in the early 80s, and it was hard for locksmiths to get storefront parts. This has all changed with lock distributors carrying all types of storefront and door closer parts.

George has since passed away. He was a great locksmith, and I learned a great deal from him.

Who works on door closers?
Finish carpenters will install door closers as part of the sub-routine when called upon to “hang” (or install) a door. The carpenter will install a door hardware including the closer and lock. Carpenters are not usually associated with servicing the door closer (or lock) once it has been installed and the warranty period has expired.

Glazers routinely install door closers associated with store front doors. Glazers will also provide services after the warranty period. Glazers usually will not replace parts on a door closer.

In recent years, some glazing companies have expanded their scope of operations to also cover commercial doors. These companies will install and service closers (and locks) on commercial hollow-metal doors.

Locksmiths are used to replacing damaged lock parts. Locksmiths will install and service all kinds of door closers, including those found on storefront doors.

ecause this is second nature to locksmiths, they are more likely to replace damaged door closer parts than to install a new door closer.

Why should the locksmith work on door closers?
Door closer parts and fasteners are very similar to lockset or exit device equivalents. Similar tools are used to install and service door closers and locks, with the exception of certain wrenches that are usually included with the door closers.

The door closer, like other door hardware components, must work properly if the lock is to perform well.

Door closer installation and servicing is profitable, and in demand.

Types of door closers
Door closers can be differentiated as either surface-mounted or concealed. Surface-mounted closers are further differentiated by how they are mounted:
Top-mounted is where the closer body is attached to the push side of the jamb face and the closer arm is attached to the push side of the door. The closer arm rod is perpendicular with the door face.

Pull-mounted is where the closer body is attached to the pull side of the door and the closer arm is attached to the pull side of the jamb face. The closer arm rod is perpendicular with the door face.