Door Hinges - Auto Lock Vs Non Auto Lock

Product:  Door Hinges

When I was in the market for purchasing door hinges, I was particular in buying the best quality ones, especially for the front door, bedrooms and kitchen. The reason was simple. It was something which will be used to the maximum.

The hardware shop vendor showed me two versions

1 - Door Hinge with AutoLock: This hinch has some spring mechanism between the rolling section. This spring ensures that the hinge will remain in two positions. One in fully open position and other in closed position. So when the door is opened, one can apply only the slightest pressure to close it since the springs in hinges will also aid to close the door. Similarly for opening too.

2. Door Hinge without AutoLock: This was the normal Door Hinge.


I chose the AutoLock version (only for the front doors) since it seemed to have superior technology.

Two to Three years later I found that the front door with autolock hinges was touching the floor on one end. The carpenter came and removed some wood so that it won't touch the floor. But after 6 months or so again the same thing happened.

This time I made the carpenter examine the door fully and find out the real reason. I could see a small gap on top of the door frame.

This means that the door has sagged towards one end. I suspected that the hinges might have come loose. The carpenter, after carefull examination told that the hinges are intact in the frame, but the spring has become loose as a result of which it sagged.

I brougt a new set of hinges, all with non auto lock. Removed all the existing ones.

See the autolock hinges with the springs in between the rotary sections.

This type of hinges eventhough aided well in opening and closing of door has this disadvantage owing to the presence of that spring.

The non autolock ones seemed to be quite good.

I bought one more extra than what the carpenter demanded, just to ensure that the sagging does not happen again.

So Hinges with autolock are not recommended unless you are ready to change the hinges once in 3 years!!!!

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