Better quality retractable screen doors usually have a very strong magnet that, in the case of Apollo Screen Doors, is covered under a limited lifetime warranty. There is a slight trick to make them easy to operate.
Apollo Screens is one of two companies that offer an internal magnet system on French door screens, the other being ClearView Retractable Screens.
The 2nd, and more common type of magnet system on a retractable screen door is much more common- where you have an exposed magnet or a magnet strip (these are weaker) on what we in the business call the pull bar.
The purpose of the magnet in a retractable screen system is to keep the screen door from popping open in a strong breeze, or accidentally being “bumped” open unintentionally. Since screen doors only work when deployed, this is very important.
Some homeowners may find the system a little hard to operate. It’s really not- there’s just a simple trick to it. Our impulse with 2 bars meeting together is to pull them apart. This, however, means you are fighting the pull of the magnet the entire time. This means you will expend increasing force, and then suddenly require no force at all, making it an akward experience that can bunch up the screen mesh.
Mirage has come up with a nifty handle that allows you to “pivot”. This door handle – usually sold at an additional cost- allows you to pivot and break the seal of the magnets. It’s a robust solution, albeit a little expensive.
If you have a lower end screen with a strip magnet running the entire length of your pull bar you aren’t likely looking at this article. Your doors probably are constantly popping open on their own, whether you want them to or not. If you have a higher quality retractable screen system with strong magnets (smaller in form, mightier in strength!) this will work for you.
You simply want to separate the magnets by breaking their connection front to back, rather than side to side. There is a small degree of flexibility in the pull bars, just enough to easily put the magnets on different planes, resulting in an easier release like in the video above.
If you have other issues with your retractable screen door- you may want to read this article about repairing your retractable screen door.
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