How to Fix a Loose Door Hinge Most homeowners can fix hinges that are loose If the holes for screws are shattered and do not hold screws, you may require wood glue and dowels to fix the hinge Remove any surface corrosion This will aid in keeping the dowels in their place and provide a solid foundation for them to rest on Take the Hinges off A lot of door hinges are removable, which makes it easier to move the door from one side to the next or take the entire door off of the frame if need be Anyone with a little patience can take the hinges off, but you must be aware of what to do If the hinges have been painted you'll need to take off it before you attempt to remove the pins If you do not, the paint may flake off and scratch your door when you attempt to lift it To break the seal put the hinges in a stainless steel dish and fill the pan with water until the hinges are completely submerged Let the hinges sit in the pan for 30 minutes The heat from the water will soften the paint and make it easier to take off the pins After the pins are loosening and the pins are loose, you can take off the hinges from the frame and door It is possible to use a standard screwdriver, however you should use a magnetic screwdriver for this project This type of screwdriver has been specifically designed to take out metal screws and assist you in getting the task done much faster Before you attempt to remove the hinges, it is recommended to spray them with some grease A simple lubricant can make the process move along quickly and make it easier to remove the pins and screws This kind of lubricant is able to be found in most hardware stores and home improvement stores The number of hinges needed will also depend on the kind of door you have, and how it's set up Solid-cored and heavier doors will require more hinges whereas lighter and hollow-cored doors may only require two or three hinges Understanding the different kinds of hinges will help you determine which one is best for your needs Exterior hinges are designed to hold the weight of a door, whereas interior hinges must be able to handle heavier loads Reattaching the Hinges Over time, the hinges of doors may become loose and start to slide or hang crookedly This can be a problem however, it's usually simple to fix Most of the time an easy tightening of the screw will fix the issue If the screw holes have been ripped out, it could be difficult to do A dowel made of wood can be used to tighten these holes again Begin by drilling the hole using a drill bit close to the size of the new screw normally 3/8" Fill in the hole using wood glue and a wooden stick To ensure a secure fit, the dowel must be cut at the same length as the screw Install the screw again, and tighten to desired tightness If the door has a tendency to bind and close, then you can add another dowel to the gap and repeat the procedure Be sure to shut the door slowly so that you can verify the clearances at the perimeter after each adjustment You can also use a wooden plug instead of the dowel It works similarly, but it may take a little longer to set up You can use a piece of wood which has been cut to the proper size If you don't have an instrument for woodworking You can use toothpicks or matchsticks made of wood Make use of a countersink in order to make the hole smaller for the head of the screw after you have reinstalled it This will stop the screw from hitting the edge of the doors when they are opened and closed This will aid in tightening the screw prior to you are reinstalling the hinge After installing the hinge again, you should make sure to lubricate the hinge using dry lubricant This will prevent it from becoming stuck in the future You can use products like PB Blaster and Liquid Wrench Apply a thin layer of it and allow it to penetrate the hinge barrel for around 15 minutes Refinishing the Hinges If you're not yet ready to replace your hinges, you can try a few easy fixes The first step is to check whether the screws that secure the hinge plate to the door and frame are tight If they're loose, tighten them using a screwdriver or power drill Be careful not to tighten the screws to the point that they create gaps at the trim joints, or worse, strip the threads If the issue is that the hinge plates are separating and you want to reattach the plates by applying wood glue to the side of them and inserting toothpicks or wooden dowels into the holes Dowels or toothpicks will give a solid foundation for the screws and prevent the plates from shifting when you drive them into the holes Let the glue dry before attaching the hinge The screws can also be damaged or missing This can be fixed by replacing the screws with larger ones Use a drill bit that is the same size as the screw hole to avoid drilling into the jamb or hinge Close the door once you've reattached the hinge and check the gap between the frame and the door It should be approximately the thickness of a nickel all around, or less if there's a gap that was caused by a previous door that hung improperly If https//wwwrepairmywindowsanddoorscouk/croydon-window-hinge-repairs-near-me/ were installed properly, this shouldn't be an issue If you discover that the hinges are loose, try adding a thicker hinge shim between the hinge plate and the mounting surface to give a little extra space You could also try taking the hinge pin from the problem hinge and pounding it down using a hammer to make it more secure or using a new hinge pin altogether It is also possible to lubricate the hinges using mineral or jojoba oil to lessen friction and assist in keeping their position Lubricating your hinges regularly will stop them from becoming stiff and squeaky and also extend their lifespan Cleaning the Hinges A hinge's continuous movement causes friction, which attracts dust particles These particles can get stuck and accumulate over time in the moving parts of door hinges, if they're not regularly cleaned and lubricated The hinge will become stiff and creaky and its appearance could rapidly diminish Regular cleaning, lubrication, and inspection can preserve the quality of door's hinges and ensure their proper operation Check the hinges to see how much rust has built up on their surfaces If the corrosion has reached the point of destroying surface of the hinge barrel or screw holes, you'll require replacement of the hinges If you are able to save the hinges, you can remove any loose rust by using wire brush and steel wool Apply a commercial rust-removing product or homemade solutions like lemon juice on the hinge Let the solution that removes rust be on the hinges for a few minutes to penetrate and dissolve any remaining rust If you don't want to spend the cost and time to replace hinges, simply tightening the screws can make the hinges functional again If you've sanded the screws, however, it may be necessary to attach the dowel of wood or shim to the hinge Wooden dowels are round pieces of wood that are in the form of rods, which are available in various lengths and sizes You can find them at home improvement stores as well as woodworking supply and craft shops, or on the internet You can also make an shim using made of plastic or metal depending on the type hinge you own To make a dowel cut an unfinished dowel into the desired length You can dip the dowel into the adhesive of a carpenter and insert it in the hole The glue will hold the dowel firmly in the desired position Before you begin cleaning the hinges, place down a paper or cloth towel to shield floors and other surfaces from accidental spills and drips After the area is secured, proceed to clean the hinges using a soft sponge or cloth that has been soaked in mild cleaner or vinegar to remove the build-up of dirt, grime and tarnish You can use a toothbrush or small brush to reach hard-to-reach spots in tight spaces and crevices