Most modern kitchen or bathroom cabinets use cabinet hinges to close and open the door. However, there may come a time when your cabinet door doesn’t close or open up smoothly. Or, in some cases, the cabinet hinge may become stuck and doesn’t allow the door to close at all. In such a case, the best way to fix a faulty cabinet hinge is to replace it altogether and install new ones.
Fixing a damaged cabinet hinge is not as difficult as installing a brand new one because you will still have the pilot holes in both the structure as well as the door of the cabinet. So all you have to do is fix the new cabinet hinge in place of the old one using the same screw holes. With that being said you still need to know the right process to fix a cabinet hinge when it is not working properly. This comprehensive guide is going to cover everything you need to know to fix your cabinet hinge, so read on.
Signs that you need a new cabinet hinge
A cabinet hinge that is low quality or not designed for the purpose will not last long. However in most cases cabinet hinges don’t fail without warning and you have plenty of time to spot the potential issues and replace a cabinet hinge before it stops working completely.
With that said before you fix a cabinet hinge, it is important to know the signs of a bad hinge. Here are some signs that tell you its time to fix a cabinet hinge:
Loud noises: A bad cabinet hinge will initially become louder and may produce creaking noises when the door is opened or closed. If a cabinet hinge has been becoming increasingly noisier then chances are you will have to fix it sooner or later.
At this stage the damage to cabinet hinges may not be clearly visible. However if you ignore a noisy cabinet hinge, it will become severely damaged over time and lose its functionality. The loud sound may be caused one one or more lose components inside the hinge.
Visible damage: If the cabinet hinges seem to be worn or broken or they have shifted from there original location its a sign that the cabinet hinge needs replacement. Bent or broken parts inside a cabinet hinge are accompanied by other issues such as improper closing or opening.
Cabinet not closing: When a cabinet hinge is damaged to the point of failure it will stop holding the door in its place. In such a situation the door may seem tilted at an angle and won’t close all the way. Or in rare cases the cabinet hinge mechanism may get stuck in the closed position and won’t open without damaging the hinge itself.
All of these signs indicate an issue with the cabinet hinges and the only solution is to install brand new hinges.
Once you have determined that you need to install new cabinet hinges you can begin the repair process. Before you actually start installing new cabinet hinges you have to make sure that you have the correct type of hinge. Hench Hardware has a complete range of cabinet hinges where you can find a hinge that matches your cabinets.
Once you have bought the correct type of hinge you can start collecting the right tools to fix the cabinet hinge. In addition to the right type of cabinet hinges you also need:
# Phillips-head screwdriver
# Flat-head screwdriver
# Needle-nose pliers
Once you have everything you need you can Start by unscrewing the old hinges from the cabinet door and the frame until the screws are loose. Before you begin this step make sure that you have properly supported the cabinet door to prevent it from falling down and get damaged.
Once the old hinges are removed here are the exact steps to follow in order to fix a new cabinet hinge:
Step 1. Place the door on a flat surface and position the hinge in such a way that the holes inside the cabinet hinges line up perfectly with the existing holes in the door frame.
If the existing holes are not lining up or they are too wide you can use a drill bit to make pilot holes. Simply adjust the cabinet hinges and drill holes in the slots where screws are supposed to go.
Step 2. Take the screws and a screwdriver and fasten them into the pilot holes on the door of the cabinet. Tighten the screws one by one and make sure the cabinet hinge is straight during this step.
Ensure all the screws are properly tight and the cabinet hinge is secured to the cabinet door before moving on to the next step.
Step 3. As an assistant to hold the door against the cabinet frame in the open position and insert the screws in the pilot holes on the frame. Now tighten the screws using a screwdriver until they are fastened and slowly release the door to test if it holds in place or not.
Step 4. Close the cabinet door and open it while ensuring there are no gaps on any side of the door. Next make sure that the door is closing properly without any obstructions and there are no unwanted sounds coming from the hinges.
Once you have fixed your cabinet hinges there are certain precautions that you can take to make sure your new hinges last a long time. Here are some precautions you can take to make cabinet hinges last longer:
Inspect the cabinet hinges for loose screws: Inspect your cabinet hinges once in a while to make sure there aren’t any loose screws on the door or the frame of the cabinet. If you find any loose screws tighten them using a screwdriver to prevent further damage.
Avoid putting excess pressure: Ensure you aren’t putting excess weight or pressure on your cabinet doors as it can cause the hinges to bend or break.
Clean the cabinet hinges regularly: Cabinet hinges can collect dirt and debris which can cause them to corrode over time. Regular cleaning makes cabinet hinges last longer but removing corrosion causing elemements.
Conclusion
If you want to make sure you never have to replace your cabinet hinges then make sure you pick high quality ones. Hench Hardware cabinet hinge manufacturer offers high quality and precision made cabinet hinges that are meant to last throughout the life of the cabinets.
You can browse the wide range of cabinet hinges on Hench Hardware’s website.