770.767.3525
How To Adjust Tension on Waterson Self Closing Door Hinges
If your door swings too slow, won't latch, or slams shut every time, the fix is simpler than you think. You just need to dial in the right tension.
Waterson self-closing door hinges have a built-in numeric adjuster that controls the closing force the spring applies. Here is how to set it correctly.
What you need
A 5 mm hex wrench. That is all.
Step 1: Find the minimum closing power
The goal here is not to crank it up as high as possible. You want the lowest setting that still gets the job done.
- Out of the box, every Waterson hinge ships at "N" (neutral). The adjuster goes from N all the way up to 7.
- First, make sure the door swings freely from 0° to 90° without binding. If it fights you, no tension setting will fix that.
- Move the door to 20°, then let go. If it closes on its own from that position, great. If not, keep going.
- Add one click of tension at a time. Do not jump straight to 7. Go up one number, test, repeat.
- Stop at the lowest setting where the door closes from 20°. That is your minimum closing power.
The door might slam at this point. That is okay for now. The priority is confirming it actually closes from 20°.
Step 2: How to increase or decrease tension
To increase tension
Insert the 5 mm hex wrench and turn the numeric adjuster toward a higher number.
To decrease tension
Press down on the adjuster first, then turn it toward a lower number. You have to depress it before it moves down.
Tension settings reference
Each click adds roughly 15-22 lbs (7-10 kg) of closing force.
| Setting | Closing force | Works well for |
|---|---|---|
| N (default) | Near zero | Starting point only |
| 1 | ~15-22 lbs (7-10 kg) | Light interior doors |
| 2-3 | ~30-66 lbs (14-30 kg) | Standard residential doors |
| 4-5 | ~60-110 lbs (28-50 kg) | Heavier or wider doors |
| 6-7 | ~90-154 lbs (42-70 kg) | Commercial / high-traffic doors |
Setting tension beyond 5 may reduce spring longevity. Use the minimum setting that works.
Why Choose Waterson Hinges Instead of a Traditional Door Closer?
Most doors that need to self-close end up with a traditional door closer mounted on top: a bulky arm, a separate bracket, a door stop, extra screws, and a full afternoon of installation. And that is before you deal with the arm swinging out every time someone walks through.
Waterson self closing door hinges works differently. The closer is built directly into the hinge, so you get self-closing function without any of the extra hardware. No overhead arm, no separate bracket, no door stop needed. Just three hinges and the screws that come with them. If you can install a regular door hinge, you can install Waterson.
FAQs
My door closes from 20° but slams. Is something wrong?
Not at this stage. You have got the minimum closing power set. If you want to slow the close speed, that is a damper adjustment, not a tension adjustment.
Do I adjust all the hinges?
Yes. Each hinge is adjusted separately. The top and bottom hinges can have different settings depending on how the door feels.
The adjuster won't turn to a lower number. What's wrong?
You need to press it down first before rotating. The ratchet mechanism prevents it from moving downward unless you depress it.
For all the instructions and visual walkthrough, check out the Waterson hinge tension adjustment video on YouTube.