How To Fix Sticky Front Door Lock

Slide the doorknob off the spindle pull out the lock mechanism and remove the latchbolt from its hole in the edge of the door.

How to fix sticky front door lock.

Inspect the strike plate on the edge of the door frame. Next pull out the latchbolt assembly and clean and lubricate the lock as just described. Tighten the hinge screws and then try adjusting the strike plate by loosening its screws and shifting it slightly. Drive a screw near the middle of the area where the door is rubbing.

Tighten screws gradually and watch the trim to make sure you don t. Now precisely where on this part of the door frame does the sticking occur. You can lubricate deadbolts the same way. You may need to add a second screw.

Handle powdered graphite carefully. Open the door wide and put on a pair of safety glasses to protect your eyes. Spray the graphite or puff it into the lock. Remove the two screws that hold the lock faceplate on the edge of the door.

On the top middle or bottom. From there you can either widen the hole both of the wood and metal or you can unscrew the strike and re secure it in the proper position. Start by using a little bit of lubricant and apply more if the lock still sticks. Repairs range from making minor latch adjustments to repositioning the door.

If it s a matter of friction on the strike plate try. Otherwise the fine black dust can get everywhere staining surfaces and creating a. By shutting your door you can mark the point on the door frame that latch is coming in contact with. A latch bolt that sticks in the strike often leave tell tale marks or scrapes on the.

If the lock doesn t work smoothly loosen the screws realign the cylinder and latchbolt and try again. If the sticking area is along the door frame where the hinges are located. Equip a rotary tool with a carbide tip bit. You may need to add a second screw.

Lay the disassembled lock parts on layers of newspaper or paper towels. Drill through the jamb countersink the screwhead with a countersink bit. Remove the connecting screws the faceplate screws and then the knobs. The fix a short term fix is to move the strike plate to align better with the stuck door latch.