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Door Closer Repair Oxford Fitting and Adjustment
Overhead, concealed and floor spring closers adjusted, repaired or replaced across Oxford. We set the sweep and latch speed so doors shut gently and still latch, which matters most on fire doors.
Get a door closer price
Tell us what you need and we will call you straight back. Calling is quickest: 07520 644 595. Photos by WhatsApp: 07466 695655
Sweep and latch speed set
Two valves tuned so the door neither bangs nor stops short.
Right EN 1154 power size
Closer matched to the width and weight of your door.
Fire door closers
Self closing doors that latch every time, as fire doors should.
Leaking units swapped
An oily closer has lost its fluid and is replaced, not topped up.
We provide door closer repair in Oxford for homes, flats, offices and shops, adjusting, repairing and fitting overhead, concealed and floor spring closers, usually arriving within 10 to 30 minutes in the city. A new closer costs £75 to £125 to fit plus the closer at £45 to £120, and many faults are cured by an adjustment priced as a £55 to £85 latching repair.
Slamming, drifting and leaking closers each have a clear cause, and the fix is often quicker than people expect. This page is part of our Oxford locksmith services.
Overhead, concealed or floor spring: which closer do you have?
Knowing the type of closer on your door helps us bring the right part. A photo of the door top, frame and floor usually tells us straight away.
Overhead surface closer
The familiar box on the top of the door with an arm to the frame. A standard arm sits on the pull side; a parallel arm or slide channel sits on the push side and looks neater on corridors and flat doors.
Concealed chain closer
A spring and chain hidden in a hole bored into the hinge edge of the door, often called a Perko after one well known make. Common on internal doors in houses and flats. Only certified versions should be used on fire doors.
Concealed jamb or transom closer
Fitted inside the door or the frame head, with a slide arm that is only visible when the door opens. Seen in hotels, college buildings and modern offices.
Floor spring
Set into the floor under a pivoting door, typical of glass and aluminium shopfronts. For these, see our commercial door repair page.
Door closer problems and what fixes them
| Problem | Most likely reason | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Door slams | Sweep or latch valve open too far | Adjust valves |
| Door stops a few centimetres short | Latch speed too slow, closer too weak, or the latch or keep binding | Adjust, ease the keep, or fit a stronger closer |
| Oil on the closer body or floor | Seals have failed | Replace the closer |
| Door crashes open against the wall | No backcheck or backcheck set too light | Set backcheck or add a stop |
| Arm loose or clicking | Worn fixings or a stripped arm shoe | Refix or replace the arm |
| Concealed closer will not pull the door shut | Spring tension low or chain anchor worn | Retension or replace |
If the door still will not latch after the closer is set correctly, the problem is often the door itself: dropped hinges, a swollen edge or a keep in the wrong place. Our domestic door repair service covers frames and hinges.
How closer adjustment works
Most hydraulic closers control the door in two zones. The sweep speed covers the main swing from fully open to roughly 15 degrees from the frame. The latch speed covers the last few degrees, where the door needs a little extra push to get the latch over the keep.
Each zone has its own small valve, usually a screw on the end or face of the closer body. Turning it a fraction changes the speed noticeably, and turning it too far can let the oil escape, which ruins the unit. That is why we change one valve at a time in small steps and test the door after each change, including with any draught seals compressed.
Many closers also have backcheck, which cushions the door if it is flung open, and some have delayed action, which holds the door for a few seconds before it starts closing. Delayed action is handy for wheelchair users and for doors people push trolleys through.
Choosing the right closer size for your door
Closers are graded by power size under BS EN 1154, from size 1 for small light doors up to size 7 for very wide or heavy ones. As a rough guide, an internal door around 750mm wide needs a low size, a standard 838mm front or flat door sits in the middle, and wide entrance doors or exposed doors facing the wind need a higher size.
Many closers are adjustable across a range such as size 2 to 4, which lets us set the force to suit the door. A closer that is too weak leaves the door ajar; one that is too strong makes it hard for children, older people and wheelchair users to open.
Fire doors generally need a closer that is at least size 3 and certified for fire door use, but your door and its certification set the actual requirement.
Door closers on fire doors in Oxford flats and offices
A fire door only works if it is shut. That is why the flat entrance doors in most purpose built blocks, the doors off common corridors in HMOs, and many office and staircase doors are fitted with self closing devices. In many houses, the door between an integral garage and the house is also expected to be a self closing fire door.
Never wedge a fire door
If a fire door is wedged open because the closer is too heavy, there is a better fix. A lighter adjustable closer, a free swing closer or an electromagnetic hold open device linked to the fire alarm can keep the door usable and still close it when the alarm sounds. Which is acceptable is a matter for your fire risk assessment.
Building managers often call us after a fire door inspection lists closers that do not latch. We can work through the list room by room and provide an invoice per door. If the same building has exit doors with push bars, see our fire exit door lock service.
Closer fitting for Oxford homes, flats and businesses
In homes, the most common jobs are concealed closers on kitchen and garage doors that have stopped pulling the door shut, and overhead closers on side doors that bang in the wind. In blocks of flats around Headington, Summertown and the city centre, it is often the communal entrance door, where a slamming closer disturbs residents and a weak one leaves the building insecure.
Offices and shops call us when a closer starts leaking or when a new tenant wants doors to close quietly. We often combine closer work with lock changes for the same premises; see our commercial locksmith page. If a communal door also has a faulty entry keypad, our keypad lock repairs can be done on the same visit.
For anyone weighing up costs before calling, our guide to choosing a reliable Oxfordshire locksmith explains how fixed quotes should work.
Door closer prices in Oxford
Prices include VAT and labour, the closer is priced separately, and we confirm the total before work starts.
| Service | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Door closer fitting or replacement | £75 to £125 | Plus closer £45 to £120 |
| Door will not close or latch | £55 to £85 | Closer adjustment, keep or hinge work |
| Door handle replacement | £55 to £85 | Plus handle £25 to £60 |
| Loose handle | £35 to £55 | Often found on the same door |
Prices include VAT and labour. Parts are listed separately. See the full Oxford locksmith price list.
