Why Is My Front Door Handle Sticking?
You want your front door to be functional, so what’s happening with your door handle? Why is it sticking? This kind of problem can be frustrating enough to pull your hair out. Read on to learn more about why your door handle might be sticking. We’ll also offer practical solutions to fix this problem quickly.
Most Common Reason For Sticking Door Handles
The most common cause for a sticking door handle is a malfunction within the tubular latch itself. What is a tubular latch? In plain terms the tubular latch is the mechanism inside your door handle which allows the door to be opened and closed by means of a Door Handle or Door Knob. This latch is one of the most important components of the door. The tubular latch works by means of a spindle or metal bar that passes through the follower or turning metal disc set into the body of the latch. This transmits energy to the spring inside the latch body, this in turn retracts the latch bolt tongue, so you can open the door. If your door is sticking it usually has to do with this.
Open the door and turn the handle to make sure there are no obvious obstructions preventing the latch from opening and shutting easily. This could be anything from loose screws to or parts of the latch sticking through. Any obstructions should be easy to see. You can also check the latch to see if it springs back easily. This will let you know if the spring inside the tubular latch is still working. If not, it may be time to get a new
door handle.
Problems With The Door Handle Itself
If you have a particularly old door handle, it could just be sticking because the inside mechanisms are getting old and wearing down. Door handles can seize over time due to excessive use. Sometimes, all your old doorknob needs is some WD40 which might help loosen up seized components. You can take your door handle out and apply this and see if it helps. However, if it is still seized after lubrication it is time to consider getting a new door handle. You want your door handles to be safe and secure. You don’t want to rely on fixes when you truly are in need of a new handle.
Additionally you can pry off the door handle cap and check to see if there’s any debris inside the door that may be causing the handle to stick. You can clean debris out and see if the handle works any better afterwards.
New Front Doors
If you are truly in need of a new door handle we would highly recommend also looking at a new front door while you’re at it–especially if the door handle came with the original door. New front doors have come such a long way in the past couple decades. Your current door could be way behind the times and could be costing you a lot of extra money on energy costs. In addition, old doors could compromise safety in a home. New front doors come with fully functioning door handles that can either be traditional keys or keypads. You get to design the door from the ground up and get just the right look for your home.
The doors we sell at Conservation Construction of Dallas come with lifetime warranties so every part of the door is covered. On top of this our doors are extremely energy efficient, safe and durable. You can’t really go wrong with this kind of solution especially when it can save you on your energy costs, and gives you everyday functionality.
Final Thoughts
Door handles are not that tricky to understand. We hope we’ve given you some simple solutions to fixing your door handles. Check your door latch and handle for obstructions, seizing, or debris. Clean out debris or use WD40 to help a seizing door. If your door handle is old, consider replacing it or getting a new door all together. You can get your free quote for a new door from Conservation Construction of Dallas by clicking here. Thank you so much for reading today’s article and we will see you next time for another exciting topic.