Storm doors are great for insulating your home and protecting it against severe weather, but if they don’t have a closer, they can swing open and potentially break—especially in heavy winds. Fortunately, storm door closer installation is simple.
There are a few storm door closers to choose from, including ones with push buttons (which you press to prop the door open) and hold-open washers (which you slide to leave the door open). Below, we’ll explain how to install a storm door closer to make it more secure, even in extreme conditions.
Prepping to Install a Storm Door Closer
The first step in prepping to install a storm door closer is determining the size of the closer you need. You'll need to know the thickness and weight of your storm door. Pneumatic storm door closers are broken down into two categories: standard and heavy-duty. However, some manufacturers offer ultra-heavy duty.
Standard storm door closers work for doors between ⅞ inch and 1 ¼ inch. Heavy-duty storm door closers work for doors between 1 ⅜ inch and 2 inches. For doors over 2 inches thick, you’ll need an ultra-heavy-duty door closer. If you opt to hire a pro who installs storm doors, they can help you choose the right closer for your door.
While commercial doors use a hydraulic door closer—including a large box in which hydraulic fluid helps control the opening and closing of the door—your storm door will use a pneumatic storm door closer. This type of door closer consists of a pneumatic tube that uses air pressure to control the rate at which the door closes. You’ll have the option of a push button or hold-open washer style, and you’ll have to decide if you want to install the door closer on the top or bottom of the storm door.
How to Install a Storm Door Closer Yourself
Installing a storm door closer is a relatively easy DIY job. Just gather your supplies and follow the steps below.
Decide Where to Install It
Many types of storm doors come with a closer, but if yours doesn’t and you want to install one, you’ll have to choose where to put it. Some closers sit at the top of a storm door, while others are at the bottom.
When deciding, consider what’s most convenient for you. If you’re tall, it might make more sense to put it near the top of the door so it’s easy to put it in the “open” position without crouching down. Also, installing it at the top makes it less likely to get damaged, especially if you have kids or pets.
No matter which spot you choose, the closer should be on the interior-facing side of your door near the hinges.
Position the Jamb Bracket
Find the jamb bracket in your storm door closer kit (hint: it’s triangular-shaped) and hold it against the door jamb near where you want to install the closer. Many jamb brackets have an arrow that shows you which way to place them, but if yours doesn’t, make sure that the straight side of the bracket faces away from the door.
Adjust the positioning of the jamb bracket until it’s in the middle of the door stop. Then, use your measuring tape to set the bracket at least 2 and 1/8 inches below the top door jamb or above the bottom door jamb (depending on where you’re installing the closer). Finally, set the bracket back from the front edge of the jamb (in other words, the door side) by 1/4 inch.
Mount the Jamb Bracket
Once the jamb bracket is in place, mark the locations of the screw holes with a pen or pencil. Set the bracket down, then create pilot holes to mark the spaces where the screws will go. Make sure to use a drill bit that’s smaller than the jamb bracket screws (the four longer screws in your storm door closer kit). Otherwise, the holes may be too large for the screws to fit.
Next, line up the jamb bracket with the pilot holes and screw it into place with your drill.
Connect the Closer to the Jamb Bracket
Photo: Navinpeep / Moment / Getty Images
Go inside your house and shut the storm door, keeping your front door open. If you have a closer with a hold-open washer, pull out the adjustable rod slightly (about 1/4 inch) and insert the washer over it. Slide the washer all the way toward the cylinder so it locks in place. (Push-button closers don’t have a hold-open washer.)
Fit the rod side of the closer into the mounted jamb bracket, making sure to align the holes in the closer and bracket. Then, connect the closer and bracket by slipping the shorter pin from your closer kit through all of the holes (the pin should face downward). When you’re done, take your hands off the closer. It should stay in place.
Set Up the Door Bracket
Using the longer pin in your kit, attach the free end of the closer to the door bracket. The flat side of the bracket should face toward the door. Then, move the closer until the bracket touches your door, adjusting it until it’s parallel to the jamb bracket.
Make pen or pencil marks through the door bracket screw holes and move the closer away from the door so you can drill pilot holes into the storm door. Put the closer and bracket back in position and mount the bracket to the door with the two shorter screws provided in your kit.
Adjust Closing Speed
With the closer and brackets in place, you can now adjust the tension to make your door close slower or faster. First, test the current closing speed by opening your door all the way and letting it close on its own. It should shut gradually without slamming.
Need to adjust the speed? Unpin the closer from the door bracket and find the small screw on the end of the cylinder. If you want your door to close slower, use a screwdriver to tighten the screw clockwise and increase the tension. To have it closer faster, turn the screw counterclockwise.
Repeat these steps until you’re happy with the closing speed.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
If you already have a storm door installed in your home, adding a closer is easy and should take less than half an hour. Plus, no high-end tools or expensive supplies are required, making this a budget-friendly DIY project.
However, if you don’t feel confident measuring and drilling into your door, you can hire a local storm door installer to handle your storm door closer installation, but with labor costs, it could double or triple the price of this project. On average, door installation professionals charge between $40 and $90 per hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some storm doors might need two closers, depending on the weather conditions in the area. For example, if it’s particularly windy where you live, installing two storm door closers (instead of one) can prevent your door from slamming shut when it’s propped open. You can place one at the top of your door and another at the bottom.
There are a few reasons why your storm door won’t close when the front door closes. One possible explanation is that there’s air trapped between the two doors. If your door has a glass insert, try cracking it open slightly for better circulation.
Alternatively, there might be an issue with your storm door closer. If you have a hold-open washer, make sure to slide it all the way toward the hinges before shutting the door. You can also try adjusting the tension on the closer.
Stephanie Mickelson is a freelance writer covering home improvement, real estate, design, and personal finance. Before beginning her freelance career, she worked in residential construction, specifically remodeling kitchens, installing cabinets, flooring, countertops, trim, and more.
Stephanie Mickelson is a freelance writer covering home improvement, real estate, design, and personal finance. Before beginning her freelance career, she worked in residential construction, specifically remodeling kitchens, installing cabinets, flooring, countertops, trim, and more.
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