Install a Safety Chain on a Storm Door
Learn how to stop the effects of wind damage to your storm door by simply installing a wind chain doorstop. Step-by-step instructions given by the expert - The Storm Door Guy
Steps
- Open the storm door to 90 degrees. On the top of the entry door frame in the middle of the door opening, make a mark 19" from the hinge side of the door. This is where the spring side of the chain stop is going to mark. Hold the bracket of the spring side of the chain doorstop up to this mark, rotate the bracket 45 degrees towards the storm door, and pre-drill the 2 holes. Secure the bracket to the jamb with the 2 longest screws that came in the kit. Let the chain hang down in the opening.
- Take the loose bracket in the kit and stick it in the last link on the chain that is hanging down in the door opening. The "T" part of the bracket should go into the link. Now extend that chain horizontally to the ground and at a 45 degree angle to the storm door. Mount that bracket near the top of the storm door. Usually it is at the tip of or just above the door closer piston that is mounted at the top of the storm door.
- Close the storm door to check the clearance. If the chain does not get in the way of the storm door closing, then the chain will form a "U" shape when the storm door is closed.
- Take the link at the bottom of the "U" and attach the spring that comes in the kit to that link. That spring will then be mounted to the hinge side of the storm door but into the pre-hung door jamb. It basically pulls the chain out of the way and keeps it horizontal at the top of the door. Take the nail or another screw and secure the end of the spring somewhere in the pre-hung door jamb so the chain stop is horizontal.
