Our back door slammed every single time someone used it. The dog would jump. The baby would wake up. I put a foam pad on the frame hoping it would soften the noise but it just made the slam sound wetter.

The door closer — that metal arm at the top of the door — is adjustable with a simple screwdriver. Nobody tells you this. I lived with the slam for a year before I figured it out.

Find the Adjustment Screws

Look at the body of the closer. There will be two or three small screws on the end face, usually labeled with letters or symbols. Most have a plastic cover that pops off.

Adjusting the Speed

Turn the screw labeled S or SW (sweep speed) clockwise to slow the door down, counterclockwise to speed it up. Make small adjustments — quarter turns at most. Open the door and let it close. Watch the speed. The latch screw (labeled L or LS) controls the final few inches. You want it to close firmly enough to latch but not hard enough to make noise.

Important

The adjustment screws are under spring tension. If you unscrew them completely, hydraulic fluid will spray out and the closer is ruined. Never turn more than one full rotation without checking the effect.

Clean and Lubricate

Wipe the arms down with a rag. Put a drop of light machine oil on the pivot points where the arms connect. Do not oil the hydraulic body itself.

After I adjusted ours, the back door closed with a gentle click. The dog stopped flinching. My wife asked when I had called a handyman.