How To Fix A Door Handle That Sticks

Now precisely where on this part of the door frame does the sticking occur.

How to fix a door handle that sticks.

On the top middle or bottom. Most door hardware made today uses exposed screws accessible from the room side of the door to connect the two halves of the handle to each side of the door. The handle or knob must be jiggled to unstick the latch. To get that satisfying thunk when a door closes rather than rattles squeaks or scrapes there must be an even gap between the door and the jamb all around.

But some current brands and most older door hardware use hidden chassis screws photo 2 a setup that requires you to take the doorknob and rose cover plate apart to tighten. It takes only a moment for the door to work perfec. Screws magically work themselves loose over the years. If it is happening along the top edge of the door frame this fix may only make the situation worse.

If the door closer or operator stops functioning check the operation of the door. Simulating opening the door without the latch extending into and retracting out of the strike plate. A door closer or power operator is designed to function on doors that are in adjustment and able to smoothly open close and latch. Door stuck closed is the 3rd most common symptom for kitchenaid kcms2055sss1.

If your door rubs near the top or drags on the floor use a screwdriver not a drill to tighten the screws. When possible it s easiest to file the slot in the strike plate a little bit so that it will receive the latch. It takes less than 15 minutes to fix on average. Once the door is open try to actuate the door latch with the handle.

The door latch is not extended before rotating the knob. For less than a 1 8 inch misalignment of the latch bolt and strike plate file the inside edges of the plate to enlarge the opening. With a drill you re more likely to over tighten the screw and strip the screw holes or chew up the screwheads. Many parts also have a video showing step by step how to fix the door stuck closed problem for kitchenaid kcms2055sss1.

Determine where the sticking is happening. Sticking door latches. And the stop and the strike plate should be correctly aligned so the door s latch easily clicks into the hole in the strike plate when the door closes. The hinges should be flush with the jamb and move freely.

One significant problem is the door closer in addition to closing the door is used to act as the. If the sticking area is along the door frame where the hinges are located this fix will not work. The instructions below from diyers like you make the repair simple and easy. If door latch doesn t align adjust the position of the strike plate.

Watch joe as he shows you how to unstick a sticking door latch.