Refrigerator door creaks, what should I do? how and with what to lubricate?

The reasons for the squeak

A door creak in an apartment can be a lot of anxiety. First you need to identify the cause of the squeak:

1. Rusty hinges. This problem is especially true for street doors. Metal entrance structures are susceptible to corrosion due to high humidity.
2. Lack of lubrication. Over time, the lubricant thickens, spreads or dries up. The result is friction as the door moves, which causes the squeak. In this case, it is necessary to lubricate the hinges, otherwise they may block the door or break.
3. Improper lubrication. If the hinges are lubricated with material that cannot be used for this purpose, then the door will not be able to open and close easily. As a result, there will be friction of parts and squeaking.
4. Wear. Hinges usually serve the wearer for many years. But even this reliable mechanism can wear out and fail over time. Then you will have to replace the loops with new ones.
5. Clogged door mechanism. Squeaking noise can be caused by accumulated dust, rust and small debris. In this case, you just need to clean the mechanism.
6. No special bulb. For the installation of metal gates, ordinary hinges are used, inside which a ball is inserted. If this part is missing for some reason, it must be purchased and placed inside the hinges.
7. Manufacturing defects. The consequences of a marriage or improper door installation usually appear immediately. These include: distortion of the structure (if the door is too heavy for the installed door frame), weak hinges, friction of the door leaf with trim or door frame with platband.

Usually, at home, it is enough to lubricate the door so that it does not creak. But if a factory defect was allowed or there was an incorrect installation of the door, it is recommended to contact a professional.

How to "cure" the creak of the refrigerator door?

Finally, it is worth mentioning the refrigerator doors. Usually, such a door contains both metal and plastic elements. A squeak here can occur, for example, only when the refrigerator door is thrown wide open. On the other hand, it is not surprising if a squeak appears immediately upon opening.

In this case, the first thing to do is to lubricate the plastic rings located on the lower axis of the door with some means. Then you need to move the door back and forth, up and down, so that the grease is evenly distributed.

There may be another reason for the squeak - this is the abrasion of the "native" plastic insert. It can be replaced with a fluoroplastic washer, this will really help to cope with unpleasant sounds when opening the refrigerator.

And one more thing: if the refrigerator has not yet expired the warranty period, then the creak is quite a reason to call the official service center - they are obliged to respond and send a master.

So, if the entrance, interior or balcony door begins to emit annoying sounds, this can be easily fixed. It is also easy to tidy up the door of the cabinet or refrigerator, the main thing is to correctly determine the cause of the annoying squeak.

Reasons for the squeak of the door

Only in the famous New Year song by Eduard Khil, the words about the ice ceiling and the creaky door could evoke positive emotions. In fact, the creak of a door, especially an intense piercing one, can lead to a stressful state. To prevent this from happening, you need to urgently take measures to eliminate the causes of the squeak, and first of all, you need to establish the cause of its appearance.

The door creak appears mainly for two reasons:

1. due to friction of the door leaf when opening against the door frame or floor covering;
2. due to corrosion in door sheds due to high humidity or insufficient lubrication.

In practice, there are cases when the sources of squeak are cracked panels of a wooden door or even poorly fixed glass, but such cases, of course, are extremely rare.

It is easier and faster to identify the cause of the squeak together, when one person slowly opens or closes the door, and the second at this time reveals its origin visually or by ear.

The friction of the door leaf against the frame or floor causing a nasty squeak may be the result of an error during installation (the hinges are incorrectly installed, the box is poorly reinforced or incorrectly positioned and the door leaf “plays” under the weight of the door leaf), the weakening of the door canopies or their corrosion.

It is quite difficult to correct a mistake made during installation without being an expert in this matter, since for this, in addition to certain skills, you also need special tools (chisels, chisels), which it is not always profitable to acquire for performing a one-time job, it is cheaper to invite a master for this.

"Sagging" of the door due to the loosening of the canopy fastening can be easily eliminated by yourself. Sometimes you just need to tighten the screws that secure the awnings well. If this cannot be done, since the screw is not tightened, but simply scrolls, you need to replace it with screws of a larger diameter or seal it with wooden pegs in the holes (you can use matches or toothpicks greased with PVA glue, which will allow even old screws to be tightened tightly).

If the door hinges are the source of the squeak, then they need to be well cleaned and lubricated. Removing the door leaf (if the hinge structure is removable) will greatly facilitate this work. It will simplify the procedure for removing the door by using a lever (ax, pry bar, nail puller), the main thing is to take care not to damage the door leaf itself or the floor covering, if necessary, put a gasket. For personal safety, it is advisable to carry out this work together. After that, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the steel pin and the hinge knuckle from scale and residues of hardened grease. For this, it is better to use various kinds of solvents. In some designs of door hinges, steel balls and various kinds of spacers are used to improve their work, so they must be carefully inspected and replaced if their integrity is violated, if possible. After completing this preparatory work, you can proceed directly to eliminating the cause of the squeak. And here the question often arises of how to lubricate the door so that it does not creak, so that as long as possible you can not return to this procedure.

Tips: how to lubricate the door hinges so that they do not creak

If the door squeaks due to unlubricated hinges, the correct lubricant will help solve the problem.

Hinge lubrication with WD-40 is an excellent low-cost solution.

The better to lubricate the hinges of interior door leaves:

• Sewing machine oil;
• Machine oil that is used for a car engine;
• Diesel oil;
• Tsiatim - perfectly removes not only squeak, but also protects parts from corrosion and the effects of aggressive components;
• A special agent WD-40 - in addition to the usual lubricant, this substance perfectly fights rust, and you can buy it at any auto parts store.

Do not grease the creaky door with vegetable or olive oil. This gives, firstly, a short-term effect, and secondly, it causes the formation of excess plaque on the fittings, and as a result it will have to be changed.

An excellent homemade way to lubricate a door is to use a soft pencil lead. This is very simple to do - just put the lead on the hinges and move the door a little in different directions. The material will crumble and fall on all the loops.

If the front door of the house creaks, then it is better to lubricate it with substances such as:

• Litol - this lubricant is not afraid of frost and can withstand the temperature range from -40 to +120 degrees;
• Solidol is a fairly cheap tool that can act in temperature conditions from -35 to +65 degrees.

If the front door leads to the vestibule or staircase, where the positive temperature is constantly maintained, then you can use ordinary engine oil or WD-40.

Choosing a remedy

There are quite a few options for how to lubricate door hinges. Optimal is to use machine oil. Moreover, if you do not have a car, it is not at all necessary to purchase a whole canister.

Automotive engine oil can be used to lubricate the door.

In hardware stores, you can find household machine oil for sale, which is sold in small plastic tubes. It is intended for sewing machines, locks and other mechanisms, respectively, it copes well with the lubrication of door hinges.

Household engine oil is the traditional solution for canopy lubrication

The price of a tube of such oil is 30-50 rubles. As practice shows, it is much more than enough for domestic use.

WD40 is useful not only for the lubrication of awnings, but also for other household needs.

But what if there was no such oil at hand, and there was no strength to endure the creak of the doors?

You can solve the problem in the following ways:

WD. If you have this tool, you can safely process the loops with it, and the squeak will disappear for a long time. If you do not have it, then we recommend buying it, since it can be used not only for lubricating mechanisms, but, as they say, “for all occasions”. In particular, WD40 allows you to remove rust from threaded connections and then easily untwist them, clean surfaces from glue, paint, etc.;

Graphite grease will allow you to forget about squeaky awnings for many years

Graphite lubricant. This is perhaps one of the best solutions for hinge lubrication, as it allows you to get rid of squeaks for many years;

Silicone based agent - optimal solution for lubricating exterior doors

Silicone Grease. It is also a durable lubricant that makes a good alternative to graphite grease. It can be especially recommended for exterior doors, since it is not afraid of frost and, in fact, high temperatures;

Solid oil is a thick, but durable lubricant

Solid oil / Litol. These lubricants are also great at eliminating squeaks. However, due to their density, it is not very convenient to work with them. But on the other hand, if you disassemble the hinges and qualitatively lubricate the axles with grease, you will forget about squeaks for many years.

You can, of course, grease the hinges with grease and superficially, i.e. without disassembling the hinges, but such a measure will help for a short while, since the composition will not penetrate deeply;

You can process the hinges with a soft graphite pencil.

Lead pencil. This tool can be used if there are no lubricants at hand at all. Graphite has excellent sliding properties, so it eliminates squeaks well, especially if the pencil is soft.

The only thing is that the squeaks will disappear for a short time, since the graphite spills out quickly enough. However, such a measure is sufficient to temporarily solve the problem until you acquire a more reliable remedy;

In extreme cases when no other lubricants are available, butter can be used.

Butter or lard. Use these tools only as a last resort, to temporarily eliminate squeaks, if you did not have anything else at hand.

Sunflower oil cannot be used to lubricate canopies

The reasons for the squeak

There are several reasons for the appearance of an unpleasant creaking sound when the door is opened or closed.

Incorrect fastening of the hinges during installation

Among the common causes of squeaks, improper installation of the loops is distinguished. In this case, extraneous sounds appear in the first days of using the installed door. To eliminate such a problem, you will have to reinstall the hinge parts. If they are not bolted to the door frame, but welded by welding, you will have to seek help from specialists with a welding machine.

Hinges and cladding touch each other

Sometimes creaking sounds appear due to the contact of the door cladding with the installed hinges. Most often they are in contact due to size mismatch.

Lack of lubrication or use of the wrong substance

Often, after prolonged use of the doors, an unpleasant squeak appears. Extraneous sound coming from the loops may indicate a lack of lubrication. The lubricating fluid applied during the installation of the door structure is enough for 4-5 years. After that, it is necessary to replace the grease with a new one.

No special balls in the design

There are special balls in the hinge designs that prevent squeaking. Some hinge manufacturers do not add enough balls to them, which leads to squeaks. There is only one way to get rid of this problem - to disassemble the structure and complete it yourself with everything you need.

High wear

Door hinges, like most other parts, wear out over time. Determining that the product has begun to wear out is quite simple. To do this, it is enough to carefully examine the loop. A worn-out part begins not only to creak, but also to sink. If the hinges sag too much, the door will no longer close tightly.

Rusty hinges

All metal products are faced with a problem such as corrosion. Most often, traces of rust appear on the doors that are installed in private houses on the street. Due to prolonged rains and high humidity, rust forms on their surfaces. Over time, it falls from the surface into the inner part of the hinges, after which they begin to creak.

Manufacturing defects

Sometimes people buy factory-defective door hinges. Common consequences of using such parts include the following:

• weakening of the loops;
• creaking;
• platband contact with the door frame.

Lubricant

In most cases, problems with hinge squeak are due to lack of lubrication. Various means will help to remove the creak of a plastic door, the most common of which are:

Lubricated with oil in plastic tubes. They are equipped with a long and narrow "nose", which helps to get to the most inaccessible places. Such tubes of oil with a sharp nose will protect the frame and the decoration of the walls and ceiling from damage, because they allow the oil to get into the hinges, and not next to them.

Oiler with a special thin spout

• If the agent is not in a tube, but in a larger container, a syringe is used for processing. Before you lubricate the hinges with this method, you need to raise them a little, which will open up access to problem areas.
• Graphite grease. You can prepare such a tool yourself by cutting graphite from a regular pencil and mixing the shavings with oil (any). The tool is laid in the gaps between the hinges, which can be opened by lifting the canvas. When the door is lowered into place, the graphite will crumble.
• Litol, solidol - this tool is widely used by motorists, but it is also great for lubricating hinges.
• VD-40 - this spray is simply irreplaceable if the canvas loops are one-piece. Since its properties allow it to penetrate into the most inaccessible places and remove rust.

Hinge lubrication options

How to lubricate a door lock

Caring for a door is not only about lubricating the hinges in a timely manner to prevent squeaking, it also applies to the door lock.If you lubricate it regularly, you are unlikely to encounter a jammed or jammed lock that is difficult or impossible to open. That is why you should not forget about regular lubrication of the locks.

But still, how to lubricate the lock for optimal performance? In principle, lubricant for locks and door hinges are often the same products. So, for lubricating sulvad locks usually a dry lubricant made of crushed graphite is used, which is poured into the interior of the disassembled lock or directly into the keyhole.

For lubricating cylinder locks, machine oil, universal silicone grease, or the previously mentioned WD40 fluid for the care of various mechanisms are well suited.

To lubricate the lock, the door hole must be pre-treated with a cleaning agent: pour the agent inside and turn the key several times. After cleaning, a little lubricant is poured into the well - it is more convenient to do this from a spray bottle equipped with a thin plastic tube.

Comments (1)

Lubrication technology

We figured out the means, now let's look at how to lubricate the door hinges with their help.

This operation can be performed in two ways:

1. Superficially, without disassembling the hinges;
2. Thoroughly, i.e. disassembled.

Lubricate without disassembling

Most often, there is a need to quickly lubricate the hinges without disassembling them.

In this case, the technology depends on the type of product you will be using:

Please note that all these methods can only temporarily get rid of squeaks. Those. half a year / year will pass, and you will have to return to the problem of creaking doors. In some cases, if debris trapped in the loop is causing the squeak, surface lubrication may not help much at all.

Left without lubrication, the hinges will quickly become unusable.

Therefore, if you want to lubricate the awnings once and for all, you need to disassemble them.

Remember to grease the lock after lubricating the awnings.

Lubricate the disassembled hinges

The instruction for capital lubrication looks like this:

Illustrations
Actions

Pull out the axis connecting the cards

As a rule, awnings consist of two cards (plates), which are connected by an axis. To disassemble them, you need to unscrew the lock, which is located at the lower end of the axle, and then pull the axle out with pliers.
If the axle does not come out, do not try to knock it out with a hammer, as in this case you risk damaging the hinge and door leaf. It is better to treat it with WD40 and wait for a while until the agent corrodes the rust.

Machine axle and hinges

Remove dust and dirt from the axle

This is very important, as we have already said, the cause of the squeak is often debris trapped in the moving mechanism.
Then follow these steps:
Thoroughly coat the axle with graphite lubricant, silicone or, for example, grease.
Do the same DIY work with the loops themselves.

Collect the loop and rotate the cards around the axis

Assemble the hinge by inserting the rod and rotate the cards around the axis, closing and opening the door. This will squeeze out excess grease.

Wipe the surface of the cards with a rag

Wipe down the canopy surface with a rag and remove excess grease.

If the axis is bent, be sure to align it

A bent rod may cause the squeak. Therefore, after removing it, carefully inspect it and, if necessary, level it with a hammer.

If the awnings do not have a removable axle, lift the door leaf to disassemble them.

I must say that some models of awnings do not have a removable axle. To disassemble them, you need to raise the door or first remove the canopy by unscrewing the screws from the door leaf or box. Otherwise, the process of their processing with a lubricant is carried out according to the above-described principle.

Some hinge models cannot be disassembled

There are also generally non-separable hinge options. Accordingly, they can only be lubricated superficially.

How to properly lubricate the door

Lubricate the door so that it does not creak, it is more convenient to use a special silicone WD-40 grease. Choose a spray with a straw nozzle. If not, take a standard syringe. You can also use a cotton swab or a thin brush.

Fill a syringe with grease and gently apply to parts. If you are using a brush or cotton swab, pour the product into a separate container. It is better to remove doors with detachable hinges, then the procedure will be much more effective. If the structures are non-separable, we carry out processing without removing the door leaf.

To lubricate the door without removing it from the hinges, open the door leaf wide open and lift slightly. To do this, place or substitute an object under the end of the product. Then wipe off old grease, accumulated dust and dirt from the parts. Then we apply a lubricant to the elements using a cotton swab, brush or syringe.

Pay special attention to inner parts, top hinges and parts that are starting to wear off. If the hinges are a hidden mechanism, locate all pivots and lubricate each carefully.

In some designs, special holes are provided where grease is poured. If necessary or for prophylaxis, lubricate the interior door handle as well.

After the performed procedure, remove the stand and move the door in different directions so that the solution is evenly distributed over the hinges. Remove excess residues of the product with a dry cloth or cloth. When processing a balcony door, first lubricate the hinges from the side of the balcony, and then from the side of the room.

Do not rub the hinges directly with your fingers! Rusty or starting to rust hinges are best replaced with new ones, otherwise the situation will worsen during operation. Or lubricate the products with a special compound that corrodes rust. Do not use iodine, vinegar, or kerosene for processing. They will only exacerbate the problem.

To prevent the door from creaking and the hinges to last a long time, regularly clean the parts from dust and dirt, treat the fittings with oil or grease. This will prevent corrosion and abrasion.

Best anti-squeak hinge lubricants

In fact, in most cases, these problems can be solved quite simply. As a rule, the fact that the door squeaks is a consequence of the friction of the door hinge elements against each other. These elements need to be lubricated. There are several popular and effective remedies for this:

• machine oil;
• diesel oil;
• spindle oil;
• ciatim;
• grease;
• various silicone lubricants and aerosols;
• special formulations for lubrication.

It is clear that the substances and materials listed above are unlikely to be at hand in an apartment or house at the right time. You will have to go to specialized stores for them.

Meanwhile, there are alternative means that are almost 100% found in any home:

• vegetable oil;
• candle paraffin;
• graphite shavings of a soft grade pencil.

However, these simple "folk" remedies still cannot be compared in terms of their effect, say, with engine oil or diesel oil.

Special mention should be made of vegetable oil. The door structure, after lubricating the hinges with this oil, will most likely begin to make sounds again in a few days. In addition, heavy and frequent use of sunflower oil is corrosive. This means that instead of the old creak, an even more unpleasant rattle may appear. That is, to achieve a short-term result, vegetable oil is quite suitable, but in order to achieve a long-term victory, you still need to apply something more serious.