At the sides of the unit of pull-down attic stairs are coil springs. The springs maintain the door shut and level with the ceiling thanks to power arms that link to them at the top of the stairs. Older staircases may have reduced spring tension, which results in partial closure.
Having the door closed allows you to make the necessary spring adjustments. When erecting new stairs, the springs are frequently adjusted as the last stage. The assistance of a helper makes adjusting the springs on attic stairs simpler.
It might cause serious problems for your household if you cannot access or close the attic door, especially if your water heater or furnace is housed there. Your attic door might get stuck at some point for several reasons.
Table of Contents
Reasons Behind Stuck Attic Door
A jammed attic door may occasionally be fixable by you, but other times you may want the assistance of a skilled contractor. You never know what the project may entail. Therefore, it’s always better to fix the problem as soon as possible.
Cheap Hardware
Many pull-down attic doors and ladders have defective hardware. The pull-jambs and springs are held in place by nuts and bolts, which are part of the hardware. To preserve the safety of your ladder and pull-down, you must replace them if they become worn.
Typically, all it takes is to open the door and lower the ladder to inspect the hardware. Examine each step and every hinge on the pull-down to see whether the hardware needs to be replaced.
Dried-Out Pulling Springs
Pulldown springs that are worn out or dried out are another typical cause of blocked attic doors. The springs may easily pull down and retract when the attic door is closed because they are situated on both sides of the door. They may dry out over time, so add more lubricant.
The springs and joints should be oiled frequently to avoid this from happening.
Misaligned Plates
Occasionally, if the strike plate has moved out of alignment, the attic pull-down will become stuck. The striking plate’s screws frequently become looser over time, making it difficult for the door to close and open.
This can be fixed, though, and it’s not too difficult. You must carefully inspect your door to confirm that it is positioned correctly against the strike plate. The door and frame should be flush with the striking plate.
Climate Changes
Your pulldown may stick due to changes in the weather, which is a frequent problem. The cause is that wood swells when there is too much moisture in the air or humidity. If the door has widened or grown longer than the door frame can accommodate, it will become stuck.
You might need to wait for the wood to return to its previous size after expanding, depending on how much. Once it occurs, shaving the sides of the door or the frame to accommodate growth is the best method to avoid this problem in the future.
To solve this, you must identify the troublesome area, measure the door and the frame, and trim a few inches from both to achieve the ideal fit. Go for it if you have superior carpentry skills. If not, you must speak with a qualified carpenter.
Improper Attic Door Installation
Serious safety issues might result from a pull-poor down installation. Your door may also become stuck at any time as a result. You likely had a poor installation if your door appears too large for the frame, has out-of-place hinges, has gaps around the door jambs, or doesn’t close all the way.
If you don’t have much experience with carpentry, you might want to hire a trained contractor to fix your door. Before hiring the contractor, make sure to review their ratings.
Steps To Fix Attic Stair’s Pull-down Or Door
1) Pulldown Attic Stairs
Lower the stairs by pulling. To enter the attic, turn on the light or bring a flashlight. To raise and close the stairs, ask a helper. Identify the adjustment nuts on the threaded stems of the J-hooks that join the inner end of each spring to the corresponding power arms.
2) Use Wrench To Loose Each Nut
A wrench with an open end should be used to remove each locking nut holding the adjustment nuts on each threaded stem. While keeping an eye on how the door face is situated concerning the door frame, turn the adjustment nuts clockwise in equal degrees.
When a gap exists between the inside face of the door and the frame, the initial adjustment is considered complete.
3) Close The Door Again
To open and close the door, ask the assistant to pull it down. To close a gap, rotate the adjustment nuts as needed. To secure the adjustment nuts, tighten the locking nuts against their outside edges.
Conclusion
We believe the information in this post has answered any questions you may have had about the potential causes of a stuck attic door. In case you forgot, if you don’t have much experience with sophisticated carpentry, it’s preferable to have a professional carpenter’s opinion.
By attempting to fix sophisticated repairs on your own, you don’t want to end up causing further issues. Your attic pulldown can also be changed in a short period. In most cases, you may buy a new attic door directly from the manufacturer or have a bespoke attic door created if your old one gets broken or warped.
