How to fix a moving door

Having a door that moves on its own can be a real problem. Many people do not realize how simple they are to fix. A couple of things that may be the problem are either the hardware is seated wrong or your house has settled over the years.

Having too much humidity can also be a problem. In some houses that use a vaporizer or humidifier for too long of a period have excess moisture. This can cause many problems with wood expanding. If you use either of these, try to stop using them for several days if at all possible and see if it helps. This may be the simplest fix of all. Then go back to using your humidifier but for a shorter period of time. Adjust it by watching to see if you have problems with your doors. If not, then address these issues.

One hinge is farther into the door than the other. If you notice one is in farther, then this will make your door swing open. Try tightening the screws on your hinges. This usually takes care of the problem. If that did not do the trick then try to pound the hinge pin down farther into the hinge. If it has a screw hinge, then try to tighten it.

If this did not work, you may need to either deepen or extend the hinges. Looking at your door, you can determine if one is out too far or in too far. If one is out too far you will need to shim the hinge to get it further into your door. Remove your door and unscrew the hinge plate. Insert a shim made of cardboard or use a screwdriver to remove some of the wood to deepen the hole for your hinge. Re-hang your door and insert the pins and swing it back and forth, checking that it swings with no problems. Now, check to see how it closes. Does it fit into the door jam without any problem? Does it open without sticking? If all this is fine, then you have solved your problem. No more adjustments needed.

The next problem may be from your house settling. Then you will have to reinstall the entire door frame to resolve this problem. If you have been planning to get a new door then this is the perfect time for it!