ᐅ At high humidity levels, the KALLAX door opens by itself – is this a known issue?

Hello everyone,

I have a somewhat unusual issue with my IKEA KALLAX cabinet: in conditions of high humidity—especially over the past few days when it has been very muggy and damp—one of the doors seems to open by itself, without me touching it. This is quite confusing and gives the impression that the door does not close properly or changes shape due to the moisture.

I’m wondering if this problem is known, meaning if other KALLAX users have had similar experiences. It looks to me like some kind of swelling or expansion movement of the wood, possibly caused by moisture affecting the wood or the material of the door.

Has anyone looked into why KALLAX doors might open in humid conditions? Are there any tips on how to prevent or fix the issue? I’m particularly interested in whether there are mechanical adjustments (e.g., hinges or magnetic catches) that could help. Or whether the material itself might influence this behavior.

Thanks in advance for your insights and experiences!

paubo schrieb:
With high humidity – especially in the last few days when it has been very muggy and damp – one of the doors basically opens by itself

Hi,

your issue is actually not as uncommon as you might think, especially with furniture made of wood or wood-based materials like the IKEA KALLAX. The main cause is the material’s expansion or deformation due to fluctuating humidity. At high relative humidity, the wood or wood-based material absorbs moisture, leading to volume changes. Specifically, this can mean that door frames or the cabinet itself may swell or warp slightly.

Another important factor is the hinges and locks used in KALLAX. These are usually simple inset hinges with magnetic catches that rely heavily on precise fitting. If the door softens slightly due to moisture and the gaps in the door frame change, this can cause the magnetic catches to lose grip or the door to open slightly due to gravity and alignment.

My advice would be:
- First, check if the hinges are properly aligned. Sometimes a small adjustment is enough to restore the closing force.
- Make sure the cabinet is standing level and stable, as otherwise gravity can make the door more prone to opening.
- If possible, add small sealing strips at the contact points of the door to reduce flapping caused by air movement.

One question: Have you checked whether the door only opens at very high humidity or also during temperature fluctuations? For example, is it placed near a kitchen or bathroom where high moisture regularly occurs?

Such causes and effects can definitely overlap.

Nathanaelk schrieb:
the material expansion or deformation caused by changing humidity levels

I find this point interesting, but I wouldn’t accept uncritically that this is really the cause of the door opening. Wood swells with moisture and shrinks when dry, of course. But whether that alone is enough for a door to open by itself is questionable, since the mechanics of the hinges and magnetic catches also play a role here.

paubo schrieb:
Has anyone looked more closely at why KALLAX doors open due to humidity? Are there any tips on how to either prevent or fix this problem?

The obvious assumption is that the magnetic catch is not strong enough for the changed conditions. However, there could also be a misalignment of the hinges or even a slight twisting of the cabinet caused by installation on an uneven floor, which, combined with humidity, leads to the door opening.

I would recommend thoroughly checking all mechanical factors, including floor level, hinge adjustment, and the catch itself. Simply attributing wood swelling as the cause is symptomatic but often not the root of the problem.

Does anyone have specific experience with readjusting KALLAX doors, especially in humid environments?

Basically: Check the magazine locks to see if they are still secure.
Often, moisture in the air reduces the tension in the lock.
Tighten the screws on the hinges; this is often the solution.

paubo schrieb:
With high humidity – especially in the last few days when it was very muggy and damp – one of the doors practically opens by itself

Oh yes, that sounds like the ‘magic doors’ from IKEA 🙂 Wood expands slightly with moisture, everyone knows that, but when the door suddenly opens as if by magic, it usually has to do with the mechanical adjustment.

Have you tried closing the door while pressing gently on the latch? Sometimes the magnets just need to be aligned closer together, which is rarely possible with furniture like KALLAX unless you replace the magnet part.

Or maybe a little trick: adding a thin piece of felt or rubber as a seal at the door closing edge can work wonders because it increases tension and holds the door better.

Moisture and wood are an unpredictable pair, but usually with a bit of tinkering you can get the fun back 😉 Good luck!