How to Stop a Door From Swinging Open
Updated: Jan. 29, 2019Stop a door from opening on it's own by putting a slight bend in the hinge pin.
- Time
- Complexity
- Cost
- An hour or less
- Beginner
- Free
Door Won’t Stay Closed: Bend the hinge pin
If you have a door that swings all the way open every time you leave it slightly ajar, the door frame isn’t plumb. But you don’t need to take the door down and go through the hassle of disassembling everything just to adjust the frame and learn how to stop a door won’t stay open. Instead, try this much simpler fix.
Grab a hammer, a few scraps of wood, a large nail and a shim. Take them into the room and close the door. Stick the shim loosely between the door and the jamb to hold the door in position when you drive out the upper hinge pin. Then bend the pin slightly with a firm whack. Reinsert the pin and check the results. If the door still won’t stay open, do the same with the lower hinge.
Required Tools for this Project
Have the necessary tools for this how to keep a door open DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.
- Hammer
- Pliers
Required Materials for this How to Fix a Door that Won’t Stay Open Project
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.
- You'll need a nail to knock out the hinge pin.
