Back doors can take a beating.  We receive over 31,000 service calls a year – so when I say we’ve seen it all, we have.  Take a look this back door.  Yes – this is a real door that we saw in the field.  While many of the service calls we receive are for issues like sagging doors and broken closers, we have also received our fair share of “what were they thinking” issues like this door.  For instance, we had people poor hot water on an interior panic alarm because they thought the lock was frozen.  While that may unfreeze the lock, it most certainly will fry the electronics.

Top 10 Ways to Increase the Longevity of Your Back Doors

1. If you have to prop the door open, use a proper door stop.
   • We have seen countless back doors with hinge problems caused by objects such as brooms being wedged into the hinge and frame.
2. Don’t abuse the door – use the exit hardware properly.
   • We have been called out for malfunctioning panic hardware only to see a foot imprint on the hardware.  Hmmmm-I wonder why it’s not working.
3. If you are going to hose out the back of the restaurant, prop the door open and/or avoid getting water on the door.
   • Getting the door and hardware wet can cause a number of issues including interior door rust and hardware damage.
4. Call a technician at the first sign of problems.
   • If you notice the door dragging, slamming, sticking, etc – call.  Early repairs are the easiest way to prevent further damage to the other hardware on the door.
5. Ensure there is a solid coat of paint on the door at all times.
   • Touch up any chipped paint to avoid rust.  If you see rust forming, wire brush the area thoroughly and paint it with primer and a good exterior paint.
6. Don’t’ install anything on the exterior of the door that holds moisture, such as large adhesive signs and kick plates.
   • Anything that holds moisture between itself and the door will cause rust.
7. Don’t install any auxiliary locking hardware such as deadbolts and police bars on any exterior doors labeled as exits as it may be against fire code.
   • Consult a professional, building inspector, or fire marshal before installing any auxiliary locking hardware.
8. Avoid propping doors open in the rain whenever possible.
   • The rain can damage any hardware mounted on the interior of the door, especially if it is electrified.
9. Change the batteries on your panic alarms on a regular basis.
   • Not only will this help you avoid the annoying low battery chirp, but it will also ensure that you will always be notified of unauthorized exit from your building.
10. Always prop the door open using a proper door stop before moving merchandise in and out.
    • We have seen numerous doors damaged by hand- and push-carts.

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