Closets are basic components of a well-finished house, and you wish to have them well maintained throughout your entire stay in a house.
Well, while well-maintained closet doors should remain silent, there are times when you will hear a creaking sound from your closet doors, especially when you are opening or closing them.
In most cases, closet doors produce noise at night, and you could be wondering…..
Why Do Your Closet Doors Make Noise At Night?
Night temperatures vary greatly with daytime temperature. During the day, many equipment and furniture will expand due to the relatively high temperature. They will then contract at night because the temperature has fallen and is colder. Basically, this is why most closet doors will make noise at night.
The biggest problem homeowners face is the door noises when shutting or opening a door.
Such noises can make one feel like living in an unlivable and annoying house.
Luckily, some of the closet noise causes can be easily solved.
Importantly, even though closet door noise can be rectified, it should not always worry you, especially if it was too hot during the day.
In fact, if you are keen, you will notice that even other furniture like tables, cupboards, and cabinets produce some sound after a long hot day.
In worse circumstances, closets will make noise even during the day.
Of course, this won’t be because of temperature change, but some other underlying issues like dirt, misalignment, and much more will be covered in this article.
Five Reasons Why Closet Doors Make Noise
There are several reasons why a closet door may make noises both at night and during the day.
Normally, the closet doors make noise because something is rubbing against another, or something impedes the door’s smooth movement.
Here are some causes:
1. Poor Adjustments
A closet door opens up to your range of fashion and designer clothing in your wardrobe; therefore, it should be properly installed with precise and perfect alignment to the closet track.
When handled carelessly, the door can get off the rails and fall off to the floor when being opened.
If the door gets off the track, it misaligned hangers and door rollers, thus causing noise when moved.
2. Dirt
The closet door produces noise probably because dirt and grime have built up between the door and the sliding track, making it rub and scratch whenever the door is closed or opened.
For a home that has not been used for long, the closets are usually unattended and very dirty.
The dirt accumulates on the openings of the closet doors and causes more noise when you open the closet doors.
A poorly organized closet will easily make noise, especially when some of the clothes fall off to the floor or get stuck in the small spaces on the door resulting in terrible noises when opening or closing the closet.
3. Door Knobs Are Loose
Whenever you hear squeaks and creaks while opening a closet, one of the first things is to check the knobs.
Loose doorknobs are a common cause of door noises, and this makes it essential for every homeowner to make sure that the knobs are in good condition.
4. Loose Hinges
Hinges are important parts of a door that connect its two sides and keep the door in place.
After some time, the door hinges wear out and start making noise when they move.
The hinges are made of the pivot pin, which holds or pivots the leaves, and the hinge leaves that swing outwards when the door is being opened and inwards when it is closed.
When the pivot pin experiences friction when leaves move, it can produce a squeaking sound.
5. Moisture
During cold and wet seasons, humidity levels in your house will also rise.
Clearly, this is the right time to check for damp spots in a hose, especially the furniture appliances, which can easily warp when exposed to excess moisture.
Once the door warps, it will produce noise when being opened.
If the door is wooden, the situation can worsen and leave the door badly damaged and susceptible to mildew and mold growth.
When unattended, the wooden door starts to produce a stuffy odor and ends up rotting.
Eight Ways To Deal With Noisy Closet doors
Noise distracts concentration from several activities in the house, but it worsens when it distracts a peaceful sleep.
When your closet doors make noise, you will try to find something to do and fix the doors to continue enjoying silence and peace in a home.
Here are a few things you can try to stop closet door noise.
1. Hire A Qualified installer
A qualified house installer can help you determine and fix any problem on your closet door that is aiding its production of noise.
Though this might be relatively expensive, it is the best option, especially when the door noise becomes a nuisance.
2. Apply Lubrication
If the main cause of noise from your closet door is friction, then oiling or greasing the involved moving parts will greatly help reduce the noises.
3. Tighten Up
If you identify loose hinges or knobs as the cause of noise from the door, it is wise to tighten them.
It is uncommon to hear noises from a door whose hinges are tight enough.
4. Install Studio Foam Bass Trap
These are foam sound absorbers designed to absorb any unwanted sound of low to medium frequency.
They are commonly found in recording rooms but can also be installed in any room to help absorb noise.
These noise absorbers do not require any technical fixation, but yours is just to drop them.
Dropping them near a closet or in the bedroom or dressing room will save you from the terrifying noise you are used to.
Many economical homeowners prefer installing them in the summer and dump them during winter when the weather is not bothersome.
5. Remove Moisture
Be vigilant and cautious not to let moisture accumulate at your closet doors.
Wipe dry to doors every day during humid seasons.
6. Seal Cracks
If your closet door has openings, cracks, or gaps, cover them with weather stripping or an approved acoustic sealant.
Using any other sealant may be costly because it can easily shrink or crack, allowing sound to pass through.
7. Remove Dirt
Anytime you notice dirt in the closet or wardrobe, clean it out.
If you leave your closet dirty, it will start producing an unpleasant sound whenever you open or close it.
8. Add Carpet
Noises easily bounce on hard floors and travel around a room, causing unwanted interference to a home.
Carpeting the floor will help solve this problem because the carpet can absorb the sounds before they worsen and distract you.
Alternatively, you can put a rug near the closet to absorb any little noise coming from the closet.
Conclusion
It is not uncommon for closet doors to make noise at night or anytime you move the closet doors.
However, there are simple DIY remedies for closet noise that you can apply and continue enjoying the stay in your home without any noise from the closet.
With this article, you may not get pissed off twice with closet noise, but instead, easily identify the cause and give it a solution.