Exclusives
Wooden spas
Nordic baths
Wooden saunas
Douche en bois
- Difficulty level
- Easy
- Estimated time
- 5 min
Storvatt saunas are made of premium solid Red Cedar, a noble wood, knot-free and recognized for its stability. However, solid wood remains a living material. Over the seasons, external temperature fluctuations and humidity variations cause it to swell and then contract slightly. This movement occurs mainly perpendicular to the grain, that is, in the width of the boards, and very little in their length.
Your wooden sauna door follows this natural movement. A slight shift is enough for the ball latch, which ensures closure, to no longer align exactly with its recess: the door becomes difficult to close, or no longer stays closed. A simple adjustment of the latch restores smooth closure to the door, which keeps the heat inside. This adjustment is easy and is done, in most cases, by hand, without any tools.
Observation | Cause | Solution |
The door is stiff or closes with difficulty | The latch protrudes too much | Push the latch in by screwing it |
The door does not stay closed or opens by itself | The latch is too recessed | Pull the latch out by unscrewing it |
Adjusting your sauna door
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Watch the door's behavior
Close the door gently and observe: does it force at the end of its travel, or does it refuse to stay closed? The door wood may have shifted and impacted its closure. This simple observation determines the direction of adjustment.
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Step 2 — Locate the ball catch
The ball catch is located on the edge of the door, on the opening side. If poorly adjusted, it can make closing difficult or, conversely, prevent the door from closing. Observe the position of its ball: does it protrude clearly from the edge, or is it almost retracted into the wood?
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Tighten or loosen the latch
Warning: only intervene when the sauna is off and cooled down, as metal parts can be very hot.
Open the door wide to have direct access to the latch. Based on the diagnosis made in steps 1 and 2, tighten the latch if closing is difficult, or loosen it if the door no longer closes. Turn the threaded body of the latch directly by hand, with small rotations rather than all at once: fine adjustment is generally sufficient.
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Test the closure
Close the door to check the result. It should close with a smooth gesture and remain closed. If this is not yet the case, open it again and repeat step 4 with small rotations until the correct adjustment is achieved.
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If the latch resists: remove the plate
Door open, unscrew the two screws that hold the latch plate on the door edge. Keep them within reach: they will be needed for reassembly.
Tip: If hand tightening is too difficult, you can unscrew the latch plate to have better access. You simply need a screwdriver that fits the head of the two plate screws. Follow the steps below.
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Remove the plate and ball latch
Remove the plate and ball latch that is screwed onto it together. You now hold the assembly in your hand, away from the door, which makes adjustment much easier.
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Rotate the latch plate on the latch thread
Rotate the latch plate on the latch thread to adjust the position of the ball : in one direction, the latch will protrude less from the plate ; in the other, more. Adjust according to the symptom observed in step 1.
Replace the assembly in its housing on the edge of the door, then screw the two plate screws back in, without forcing into the wood. Close the door to verify the adjustment, and repeat steps 7 to 9 if necessary.
Unsure about your sauna door?
A door that rubs despite adjustment, a latch that no longer turns? Our after-sales service will guide you at +33 (0)4 85 80 04 03, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
FAQ
Why is my sauna door no longer closing?
The sauna wood shifts with the seasons and the door can move slightly. The ball latch then becomes misaligned: it no longer protrudes enough to catch. Unscrew it so that it protrudes more.
My sauna door is forced to close, what should I do?
The latch is probably sticking out too much. With the door open, screw it by hand with small rotations: it goes back into the door and closing becomes smooth again.
Do you need a tool to adjust the latch?
No, in most cases: the latch can be screwed and unscrewed by hand. If tightening is too difficult, an appropriate screwdriver allows you to remove the latch plate to facilitate adjustment.
Will this adjustment need to be redone?
It's possible. The sauna wood continues to move with the seasons: a slight readjustment of the latch may become necessary again, especially after a significant change in humidity or temperature.
Should you turn off the sauna before adjusting the latch?
Yes. Work on the sauna when it is off and cooled down: the latch and its plate are metal parts that can be very hot after a session.
Does Red Cedar in a sauna warp over time?
No, solid Red Cedar is renowned for its good dimensional stability. Like any natural wood, it does however work slightly with humidity and temperature. This normal movement does not harm the