Frequently asked questions and answers on our easy-to-use and durable Waterson Hinges
Most high-demand items ship from our Michigan and California-based warehouses, however, urgent orders and larger quantities are fulfilled from either the States or our headquarters in Taiwan. We use FedX and UPS, so your urgent order will generally arrive in 1–5 working days. Larger orders would ship by ocean freight and would be to you in 30-60 days.
At this time we only provide self-closing closer hinges for vertical doors.
It’s not leaking. Don’t worry, we simply added a bit of lubricant between the washers to improve initial performance. After a brief period of time the inner components will become smooth after the hinge breaks in. Self-closing performance will not be hindered in any way.
Simply wipe the lubricant with a soft cloth.
As of August 9, 2021, orders valued $3000 or less follow the return policy table below.
NOTE: Custom-made orders are non-refundable. Shipping costs and credit card handling fees are also non-refundable.
Return Conditions (apply to Tables 1 & 2)
We accept returns if 1) items are unused/same condition you received them; 2) in the original packaging; 3) include proof of purchase.
No return will be accepted without prior approval. After approval and subject to our inspection, we will refund according to the policy rates below. The customer is responsible for all related freight charges concerning the return.
Table 1: Under $3,000
Return Period | Fee |
Return Within 30 Days from Ship Date | Service Fee $60.00 per order |
Return Within 60 Days from Ship Date | 25% Restocking Fee |
Return Within 120 Days from Ship Date | 45% Restocking Fee |
Return After 120 Days from Ship Date | Non-refundable |
Custom Made Orders | Non-refundable |
Orders valued over $3,000 or more returned within 120 days are charged a 50% returned items value restocking fee.
Table 2: Over $3,000
Return Period | Fee |
Return Within 60 Days from Ship Date | 50% Restocking Fee |
Return After 60 Days from Ship Date | Non-refundable |
Waterson hinges can be both in-swing and out-swing, however, the fastening screws will always be facing on the in-swing side.
Waterson hinges are non-handed and can be inverted as needed. View this drawing to learn more.
This feature holds the door open at 90 degrees, and it only contains the door temporarily. With a light push of the door to below 80 degrees, the self-closing feature takes over and closes the door. Also, it doesn’t stop the door from opening too wide.
Unfortunately, the hold-open feature does not coexist with fire-rated doors.
Waterson Closer Hinges are all non-handed design.
Hydraulic hinges have a buffering feature that allows the door to close even slower when entering a certain angle, can only use on the door that opens ≤ 120° and at temperature > 32°F (0°C)
Mechanical hinges set (A3, A4) perform self-closing functions for frequently used doors, it is quiet but not as quiet as the hydraulic hinges (B3, B4). For further information please see this Solution page.
Due to the unpredictability of outdoor conditions, we do not suggest to use hydraulic hinges on exterior gates. Because our hydraulic closer hinges only work on a certain degree of the door opening (≤ 120°) and the limitation of temperature[> 32°F(0°C)]
No, that is just a precaution to prevent the hinges from being easily damaged in the future. It will not damage directly, but it does make the hinge more prone to damaging, which lessens the lifetime of the hinge.
Yes, we do, our installation kits include screws for wooden and metal doors, shims to adjust the gap between the door and the frame, and an allen wrench for tension adjustment.
Waterson hinges work as a system; each hinge provides a different closing and speed control function. In theory, you could combine Waterson hinges with other ANSI 156.7 compatible hinges, however, we cannot guarantee the function and longevity in such a circumstance. Therefore we would not be able to honor the warranty. We recommend only using a set of Waterson hinges on any particular door.
Yes. Waterson hinges are perfect for outdoors, We usually provide K51MP for exterior use.
Follow the ANSI standard, the door below 7″ needs 3 hinges and the door below 8″ needs 4 hinges. Please take a look at this Configuration Sheet.
Both of them hold the same weight. It is based on the size of the door, depending on your application it is possible to use 2-4 hinges on a door.
We do offer 316 marine grade stainless steel, but it requires longer lead time.
Yes, Waterson hinge meets the USA standard (ANSI/BHMA A156.7, Template Hinge Dimensions) Therefore, you can safely replace the existing hinges with Waterson hinge.
We do, but we only offer this option to the customer who purchases self-closing hinges from us. Please Contact Us if you need any further assurance.
Waterson hinges perform best in a swing zone from 0˚ to 120˚. Whereas our hydraulic hybrid hinge open limit is 120˚, the mechanical can be opened beyond 120˚up to 180˚. That said, we do not suggest keeping the mechanical over 120˚ for long periods of time; frequently extending beyond 120˚ will damage the mechanism and decrease its lifespan. Please note that excessive use over 120˚will not be covered by warranty.
You can purchase through our online store. Or search our brand Waterson on Amazon. Or just simply fill the form and we can send a quote within 12 hours.
Use the contact form at our website, so we can reply to you through email and you can order it with a credit card.
Yes. We charge 3% transaction fees for credit card purchases. Our purchasing platform is provided by a Canadian company, and we charge by USD which you do not need to worry about currency issues.
If you already receive our quote link, simply press the “checkout” button and you can pay online with a credit card.
We are currently an online retailer. You can shop from our website, call us, find us on Amazon or go to Request Quotation and our sales specialists will contact you within 12 hours.
We offer one hinge sample to architect/contractor/distributor, please leave us a message on our Request Samples page and our sales specialist will contact you shortly.
Please leave your message on our Request Quotation page and our sales specialist will contact you within 12 hours or give us a call if you need immediate service.
Our hinges are made for easy installation, but we still suggest read through our step by step installation instructions, you can also find our manual on our Installation page
Our easy to use numeric tension panel makes adjustment simpler. For a thorough adjustment manual please visit our Adjustment page.
After the payment is received, shipping usually takes 3-5 business days.
Our warehouse is in the States, and the shipping fee depends on domestic charges and the weight of the parcel.
If you have placed an order with us, we will send shipping information via email to you and you can use the tracking number to track your order.
The warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship. It does not cover issues caused by damage due to shipment, handling, storage, accident, impact, abuse or misuse. Specific product warranty information can be found on the Warranty page.
We suggest to spot weld our hinges under the condition that the hinges are well-adjust to exactly the user’s desire and making sure there are no further adjustments need to be made.