Panic Bar Sticking or Door Slamming? Exit Device and Door Closer Repair in Jacksonville
Taking calls until 9 PM
Most of Jacksonville in 20–45 minutes
Common problems we fix
Exit doors and closers take a beating. They open hundreds of times a day, get propped with wedges, get pushed with carts and pallets, and deal with Jacksonville's afternoon storms and air-conditioning pressure. These are the calls we see most:
- The door doesn't latch. The bar goes out, the door swings shut, but nothing catches.
- The panic bar is hard to push or sticks in the pushed position.
- The door slams or blows open in the wind.
- The door won't close all the way, especially when the AC is running.
- Oil is leaking from the closer, or the closer arm is bent.
- The outside key or lever stopped working, so staff can't get in the back.
- The dogging won't hold, so the bar won't stay pushed in during business hours.
Exit devices we work on
An exit device, often called a panic bar or crash bar, lets anyone open a door from the inside with one push, even when it's locked from the outside. We repair and install:
- Rim exit devices, the most common kind on single rear and side doors
- Surface vertical rod devices, with rods that latch at the top and bottom of the door, often on double doors
- Concealed vertical rod devices, with rods hidden inside the door, common on aluminum storefronts
- Mortise exit devices, built into the door edge for heavy-use entrances
- Alarmed exit devices that sound when an emergency door is opened
We work on common commercial brands, including Von Duprin, Sargent, Detex, Yale, Corbin Russwin and Precision, and we can add outside trim, keyed or lever, that ties into your master key system.
Door closers we adjust and replace
A door closer controls how a door closes: fast at first, then slow, then a firm push at the end to latch. We service:
- Surface-mounted closers on the top of the door or frame
- Overhead concealed closers hidden in the header of storefront doors
- Floor closers and pivots on older glass storefronts
- Hold-open closers for doors that need to stay open during business hours
A closer that still holds oil can usually be adjusted. We set three things: the sweep speed, the latch speed and the backcheck, which stops the door from being thrown open into the wall. A leaking closer can't be fixed and has to be replaced.
The rules, in plain English
Exit doors are life-safety equipment, so the rules matter. We're not a replacement for your fire marshal or building official, but here's what we keep in mind on every job:
- Florida's fire code, based on NFPA 101, requires panic hardware on many latched exit doors in places people gather, such as restaurants, churches, gyms, schools and day cares. The push bar must open the door with one motion, with no key and no special knowledge.
- Fire-rated doors must close and latch on their own. They need fire-rated exit hardware and must never be propped open or held with a doorstop.
- Accessibility. Under the ADA standards, interior doors without a fire rating should open with no more than 5 pounds of force, and closers should take at least 5 seconds to close from fully open to nearly shut.
- Never chain an exit. Chains, padlocks and slide bolts on exit doors break the code whenever people are inside.
- Exterior doors in Florida are often part of a wind-rated assembly. On those doors we replace hardware like for like, so the door keeps its rating.
If a fire inspection flagged a door, text us a photo of the report and the door, and we'll tell you what it needs.
Repair or replace?
We repair first when it makes sense. Springs, latch bolts, rods, strikes, dogging parts and trim can often be replaced on their own. Full replacement makes sense when:
- the device is worn out, damaged or no longer made,
- the door needs a different type of device to meet code, or
- the closer is leaking or the wrong size for the door.
Our lock installations are backed by a 5-year money-back guarantee.
What exit device and closer work costs
We quote before we start. What changes the price:
- Adjustment or new parts. Many visits end with an adjustment and a spring or strike.
- Device type. Concealed vertical rod devices take the most labor.
- Fire-rated and wind-rated doors, which need specific listed hardware
- Outside trim and keying into your existing system
- How many doors we can service in one visit
See our pricing guide for more. You get the full price on the phone before we drive out, and we confirm it before any work starts.
Where we work
We service exit devices and closers for offices, restaurants, churches, medical offices, warehouses and shopping centers across Jacksonville, including Southside, Mandarin, San Marco and Jacksonville Beach. Door won't lock at closing time? That can't wait. See our business lockout service or our full commercial locksmith services.
Call (904) 509-0907 or text us a photo of the door for a quote. We're available Mon & Fri 7 AM–2 PM and Tue & Thu 7 AM–6 PM.
How we work
No surprises. No scare tactics.
Locksmith scams follow a pattern. Here is how we do the opposite, on every job.
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Upfront price on the phone
Tell us what's going on and we quote the total before we drive out. If something on site changes the job, we explain why and you approve the new price before we start.
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ID check before we open
Before we open a door, we check your ID and something that ties you to the address or vehicle, like a lease, bill or registration. It protects you as much as it protects us.
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Courtesy call and marked arrival
We call when we're on the way and arrive in a vehicle marked with our name. The person you talked to on the phone is the business that shows up, not a subcontractor.
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Non-destructive entry first
Most lockouts open by picking or bypass tools, with no damage. We only drill as a last resort, and only after you agree to it and the cost.
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Itemized invoice
When the work is done you get an itemized invoice with our business name on it. It matches the price you agreed to, with no surprise fees added at the door.
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Local and owner-operated
When you call, you reach a local business based in the 32258 area, not a national call center that sells your job to whoever is closest.
Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
Does my business need panic bars on its exit doors?
It depends on how the space is used and how many people it holds. Florida's fire code, based on NFPA 101, requires panic hardware on many latched exit doors in places like restaurants, churches, gyms, schools and day cares. Your local fire marshal has the final say. We install hardware that meets the requirement for your door.
Why won't my panic bar door latch?
Usually because the latch and the strike no longer line up. Vertical rod devices get bent bottom rods when the door drags, storefront doors sag on their pivots, and a weak closer may not push the door all the way shut. Most of these are fixed by adjusting or replacing a rod, strike or closer, not the whole device.
Should I repair or replace a leaking door closer?
Replace it. Door closers are sealed hydraulic units, and once oil is leaking the closer can't hold its speed and will slam the door. A closer that works but closes too fast, too slow or not all the way usually just needs adjustment. We check it and tell you which you need before any work starts.
Can we chain or padlock an exit door after closing?
No. Chains, padlocks or bars that stop an exit door from opening from the inside break the fire code whenever anyone is in the building, and they put people at risk. If you're worried about break-ins through a rear door, we can add stronger latching or an alarmed exit device that still opens with one push.
How hard should a commercial door be to open?
Under the ADA standards, an interior door without a fire rating should open with no more than 5 pounds of force, and a closer should take at least 5 seconds to move the door from fully open to nearly closed. Fire doors and exterior doors follow other rules. We set closers to meet these numbers.
Can you add a key or lever to the outside of a panic bar door?
Yes. Most exit devices accept outside trim, such as a pull with a key cylinder or a lever that locks and unlocks with a key. That lets staff come in through the rear door while the inside push bar always lets people out. The cylinder can be keyed into your existing key or master key system.
Related
Related services
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Business Lockout
Locked out of the office or shop? Damage-free entry and same-visit rekeying.
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Lock Installation
New deadbolts, fresh door preps, patio door and window locks, fitted on site.
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Master Key Systems
One key for managers, one per office: master key systems planned and installed.
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Lock Repair
Sticky keys, loose knobs, deadbolts that won't throw: diagnosed and fixed.
Service area
Where we offer exit devices & closers
Get a quote for exit devices & closers
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