Whether it is a door knob or a handle, when it sticks during turning, it doesn't feel good. It is mainly because these are worn out or there is an issue in the fixing. However, solving this issue is not that hard, and you can do it on your own without hiring a person to do it for you.
Are you also tired of this problem and want to know how to fix a stiff door handle? This article is the best guide for you. It will not only list the common causes of knob or handle sticking but will also discuss the best ways to overcome this issue.
So let's buckle up and jump right into this article to explore the reasons for sticking handles and their easiest solutions.
Why Do Door Handles Even Stick?
There are many reasons why your door knob is not functioning the right way and sticks when you turn it halfway around. Following are some of the reasons for it:
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Wear And Tear
This is one of the major causes of door handle sticking. The door handles that are in high contact areas are prone to wear and tear, which damages the internal components like the spindle or the latch mechanism. These parts can then act as hindrances during their working and could affect their functionality.
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Misalignment
The door knob sticking when turned might also happen if it is misaligned during the installation process. Most of the time, it is the latch and the spindle that are not in line and create problems like sticking. It could also happen after the installation because of physical damage to the door knobs or handles.
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Not Enough Lubrication
Any kind of mechanical components that require a lot of movement need to be lubricated once in a while. It avoids the high friction between the parts and keeps them functional for a longer period. However, if the door knobs are not properly lubricated, they might get stuck when turned.
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Dust
This is a minor cause and could be solved with ease. When the door knobs are not cleaned for a longer period, dirt or debris gets into the working mechanism of it and forms a layer. This creates a problem in the smooth functioning of the door handle.
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Temperature Changes
It is a rare cause but still considerable in places with a lot of temperature variation. The materials that the door knobs or handles are made out of, they can expand with the change in temperature and could cause sticking.
Also read about, how to fix stuck door knob?
How To Fix A Stiff Door Handle? 4 Steps
A sticking door handle is not something that you would like anytime because it is not only hard to use but also very annoying. Thus, the following are some of the steps you can follow to permanently fix this issue:
Step 01: Remove The Knob
This is the first step in fixing the stiff door handles. You have to remove them from the door, which is pretty easy. Most of the time, the door knobs or handles are attached to the door with only a couple of screws which can be removed easily with the help of a screwdriver.
There are some kinds of door handles that have a grub screw which is at the neck of the handle, which holds the spindle with it. In this case, the screwdriver won't do the job, and you would need to loosen it up using a Hex or Allen key. Make sure not to completely remove it, as they could be lost in seconds.
Step 02: Detect The Cause
Since you have the door handle in your hands now, you can check it thoroughly on the rear of the plates for any kind of obstruction. The best way to check is to operate it multiple times and make sure it is moving freely or not.
On the rare cam of the door handle, there is a spring which, if broken, would cause the door knob to stick when turned. Thus, check if it is broken or not. In case, it is broken, you would need to install a new spring in the door handle to make it functional.
Step 03: Test The Latch
If the door handle is good in its condition and there is no prominent cause detected, then the issues would surely be with the tubular latch. Thus, in this step, remove the tubular latch from the front plate on the leading edge of the door. Its removal would only require you to unscrew 2 screws on the front plate.
Once the latch is removed, test it by pushing it inward and ensuring that it goes all the way inside the latch mechanism. If it doesn't go all the way in and sticks in the way, then the spring within the latch mechanism is broken. In this case, you would need to replace the latch mechanism, as repairing it would not be economical.
Step 04: Test The Rotating Lugs
Even if the latch is functional outside the door, the only remaining cause might be the rotating lugs on either side of the follower where the spindle passes through. There are chances that these lugs are stuck because of debris or a small borehole during the installation of a door handle.
Thus, make sure to clean the debris in the rotating lugs of a door handle. If it is broken then you would need to replace it. After the replacements or the final repair, fit the door handle (How to fit door handles) back into the door by gently screwing it into the door with the help of a screwdriver.
Conclusion
We hope you are now well up on how to fix a stiff door handle. From checking the rotating lugs to the tubular latch, the article lists the best steps you can follow to remove this issue from them. It also discusses some of the main reasons why the door knob sticks open when turning and how these issues can be resolved.
FAQs
Why is my door handle stiff?
Your door handle is probably stiff because you have not cleaned it in a while, and debris and dirt got caught on the rear plates of the door knob. It creates hindrance in their motion and causes sticking, which ultimately affects the functionality of these door handles or knobs.
How to fix a door handle that doesn't turn?
Clean the debris from it and spray some lubricant so the friction between the moving parts is reduced and the door handle doesn't stiffen when turning. If this is not the cause, then remove the door and inspect it for other causes, like rusting and wear and tear. The moving parts of the door handle might get worn over time and may require replacement, so you should also consider replacing them.
How to loosen a stiff door handle?
In some regions, the temperature change may cause the components of a door handle to expand and stiffen when turning. This issue could be solved by sanding these components, fitting them back to the door handle, and testing them over and over again to ensure that it is working smoothly.