ᐅ The KALLAX doors open on their own due to drafts – does this happen to you as well?
Created on: 15 Jul 2024 10:23
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Neokarlhei
Do the KALLAX doors open by themselves due to drafts at your place as well?
I bought a KALLAX shelving unit with doors some time ago. I noticed that the doors sometimes open slightly on their own, which I attribute to air drafts. This mainly happens when nearby windows are opened or closed. I’m curious if this is a known issue and if there is a practical solution without completely removing or modifying the doors.
Has anyone experienced something similar? How strong does the draft need to be for the doors to move? And are there any mechanisms provided by IKEA for KALLAX to prevent this? Simple solutions like adding magnets or special dampers?
I would really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any tips.
I bought a KALLAX shelving unit with doors some time ago. I noticed that the doors sometimes open slightly on their own, which I attribute to air drafts. This mainly happens when nearby windows are opened or closed. I’m curious if this is a known issue and if there is a practical solution without completely removing or modifying the doors.
Has anyone experienced something similar? How strong does the draft need to be for the doors to move? And are there any mechanisms provided by IKEA for KALLAX to prevent this? Simple solutions like adding magnets or special dampers?
I would really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any tips.
I think this whole discussion actually highlights a common weakness in Ikea’s product design – namely, the failure to anticipate practical everyday problems.
That also depends on the room. In modern apartments with ventilation systems, even minimal airflow is enough.
I mean, the piece of furniture isn’t an airtight safe. So why not include a small rubber seal or an integrated catch right from the start?
There shouldn’t be a need to modify the door itself; small DIY fixes shouldn’t really be necessary.
The manufacturer needs to address this properly.
Neokarlhei schrieb:
How strong does the airflow have to be for the doors to move?
That also depends on the room. In modern apartments with ventilation systems, even minimal airflow is enough.
I mean, the piece of furniture isn’t an airtight safe. So why not include a small rubber seal or an integrated catch right from the start?
There shouldn’t be a need to modify the door itself; small DIY fixes shouldn’t really be necessary.
The manufacturer needs to address this properly.
I didn’t expect to end up discussing doors on a KALLAX unit, but here we are.
Because it seems that measurements in IKEA furniture design primarily target the budget segment ;-) Jokes aside, it’s probably a cost issue.
You could even consider adding small weights inside the door frames so they close by themselves.
If you’re very picky, you could use a type of door magnet designed for kitchen cabinets – but then the door would no longer hold up well against drafts.
likuken schrieb:
Why not just add a small rubber lip or an integrated latch?
Because it seems that measurements in IKEA furniture design primarily target the budget segment ;-) Jokes aside, it’s probably a cost issue.
You could even consider adding small weights inside the door frames so they close by themselves.
If you’re very picky, you could use a type of door magnet designed for kitchen cabinets – but then the door would no longer hold up well against drafts.
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Neokarlhei17 Jul 2024 08:17To conclude, here are my findings after some research and testing:
The KALLAX doors on simple models with thin, hinge-mounted doors are indeed held open by drafts because they do not have built-in closing mechanisms.
It is recommended to retrofit small magnetic catches (commonly used on simple cabinet doors) and/or flexible rubber bumpers on the door/frame edges. These provide light resistance and prevent accidental opening.
This confirms that you have to rely on third-party solutions.
For me, it is clear that changing the weight is not a good solution, as it puts too much strain on the hinges and causes uneven movement.
Thanks to everyone who contributed. If anyone has more tips, feel free to share.
The KALLAX doors on simple models with thin, hinge-mounted doors are indeed held open by drafts because they do not have built-in closing mechanisms.
It is recommended to retrofit small magnetic catches (commonly used on simple cabinet doors) and/or flexible rubber bumpers on the door/frame edges. These provide light resistance and prevent accidental opening.
Joshbe schrieb:
IKEA offers no official magnetic or damping solutions for KALLAX to my knowledge
This confirms that you have to rely on third-party solutions.
For me, it is clear that changing the weight is not a good solution, as it puts too much strain on the hinges and causes uneven movement.
Thanks to everyone who contributed. If anyone has more tips, feel free to share.
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