You should consider using a mortise lock on any door that isn’t kick-proof or pick-proof. Exciting, right? Do this as soon as you notice that the door is starting to catch as it opens and closes. It still hits on the angled part, but it takes that much more pressure to get it pushed in as it slides against the plate.I've tried lubing it up and it helped a little. You can even see where the door has scraped against the frame. You can also try to use a lock de-icer which is available in a spray can or a small tube. On the Kwikset locks, this looks like two little teeth that the cylinder pushes back. The Issue – With the door latch stuck only when you are attempting to open a closed door, but not when the door is open, you might have a misaligned strike plate. Out on that side it is simply not secure. If the latch contacts the strike plate at the correct level but doesn't go in far enough, or if the latch strikes more than 1/8 in. With most storm door handle problems, the best fix is a quick and inexpensive replacement. Once the door is open, operate the handle and turn the deadbolt. But when should you worry about replacing a door in the dark, cold days of winter? For the door to latch properly, the small metal plunger on the side of your door must fit neatly into the plate that’s attached to the frame. Below you’ll find some of the most common problems that arise with entry doors during the winter. My front door latch started acting up when the weather got warm. On the Kwikset locks, this looks like two little teeth that the cylinder pushes back. RedFlagDeals for iOS and Android makes it easy to stay on top of the latest Canadian deals, flyers and freebies from wherever you are! Fiberglass is resistant to moisture damage and it’s treated to prevent fading. When you push the handle down, it may spring open a bit too. Your door is old. You can glue it with dowel glue into the screw holes, allowing them to dry completely. It can also cause the door to rub or stick against the frame. Ironically, by cleaning and oiling them, you can fix most locks in a matter of minutes. 1. Other possibilities: The inside hinge rail screws could be too tight. You can even see where the door has scraped against the frame. – Jack Nov 17 '14 at 16:41 You can move the strike plate up or down and in or out. 50 ft Cat6 Network Cable $7.49. While loose screws can make for a frustrating experience with your entry door, there are several ways to fix this situation. This is especially true when you’re dealing with an authentic wood entry door, which is notorious for presenting a variety of issues in terms of maintenance and performance. It is also important to be sure that the unit is leveled and that the doors are aligned. 5. You will want to take the exterior handle off to spray the graphite inside the mechanisms - just putting it inside where the sticking piece is (on the side - the latch) will not help. If you just need one, they're likely to just hand you one free. The door latch … These are not the only possible reasons a door latch is stuck, but they are the most likely to be the issues you are facing. Opened it up to find that the D-shaped (instead of square) rotating piece was almost completely broken (cheap cast metal construction). Use a sharp chisel to enlarge the strike plate mortise. First score the paint line where the stop meets the jamb. For the long-term, the best option is to invest in an entry door that’s made of fiberglass material. If the latch won’t spring into the strike plate (Photo 1), observe whether it hits the plate at the top or bottom. Lubricate the hinges with silicone spray or 3-in-1 oil. You can see where the cylinder entered the dead latch mechanism and pulled the latch back. For an existing entry door, there are numerous treatments you can apply that will protect a wood entry door from moisture. This is way more than a cosmetic issue! That's so that when the oven's door is open, there is no exposure of the combustible material of the cabinets on either side. Since your anthropologist likes to think he is manly in all cultures, you have another good reason to have a sticking out fridge. too high or too low, you'll need to reposition the strike plate. Then tap in two putty knives and begin prying. This is one of the most common winter weather woes for entry doors. For example, winter moisture damage can easily cause old wood doors to peel or even rot. Turn the knob to open the door and release the knob slowly. Why? You’ll then place the shims to even the swing of the door. How you fix the problem will depend on what you find when surveying your door: Sticking/No Gap on the Top Edge. Loosen them a ¼ turn to relax the tension. This causes the door to tilt forward as the top corners of the door tilt and bind on the jamb. Had a Schlage front lock that had difficulty unlocking. If the door still doesn’t catch, grab a flashlight and study the way the door latch (the flexing part operated by the door handle) hits the strike plate. In terms of dirt, you might ultimately have to remove the lock and screws to get inside the mechanisms for cleaning. Turn the knob to open the door and release the knob slowly. When doors won't shut, it's almost always because the striker latch on the door won't fit into the striker plate on the jamb. If this is not your problem, see 'Door Repair' for all of the Door Repair topics. As above. The latch … Step 4 Misaligned Strike Plate. The turning of the handle retracts the latch by pulling on the spring and compressing it. Another option is to create a shim which can be placed behind the screws in the hinges. Three silencers are placed on the strike jamb, one toward the top of the jamb (nearer the header) and one toward the bottom of the jamb (nearer the sill) and the third near the strike preparation. Loosen them a ¼ turn to relax the tension. To unjam the deadbolt, remove the latch side rail installation screws. Installing trim with perfect miters isn’t as difficult as you might think. If that doesn't work, try some lithium grease. Gates that swing out towards the street present a serious problem for latches. Winter has settled in around the country and cold temperatures with snow often bring trouble to your home. Few things are more annoying than a squeaking door, and it’s a sure sign that winter has arrived. MCAP waited and waited to drop its prime rate, [Costco] The truth is, modern doors provide extra technologies to reduce energy loss and keep the home comfortable. This 5-minute video below will show you how to install traditional weather stripping around an entry door: If this option is too complicated or time-consuming, you can buy peel-and-stick weatherstripping from the hardware store or even Amazon. Use the screwdriver to lever the latch out of the door. Then look for a much more conventional type of strike plate as shown below: As you can see this type of strike plate has nice curved edges that really help keep it from getting caught on clothing and other things. How to fix: When the latch is missing the strike plate, it’s probable that the parts on the door or the jamb have loosened, causing it to come out of alignment. Then tap in two putty knives and begin prying. Close door and check the spacing at the top and latch-side of the door. While some homeowners are under the impression that you don’t install new doors in the winter, nothing is further from the truth! ... How to adjust a door latch that doesn't locate properly. When the door latch misses the strike plate, this typically means that the strike plate is misaligned. A little troubleshooting can go a long way toward getting your storm door operating correctly again and can save you few bucks. Problems With Hardware. If you jam a large screwdriver (or whatever fits) into that part and rotate it about 45 degrees, does the latch retract appropriately? Keep in mind that the space between the door and the jamb—otherwise known as the reveal—should be about the thickness of a nickel. Loosen door knob: If the latch still sticks after you put it back, chances are you have the door knob attached too tight onto the door. First some locksets have a setback adjustment. Loosen door knob: If the latch still sticks after you put it back, chances are you have the door knob attached too tight onto the door. The solution was to use the actual hardware that was in the door to hold the plastic base in place and Tadaaaaaaa!! The key to this fixing this winter woe is giving your door a little bit of lubrication. 200lbs Rubber Hex Dumbell Set - $284.99, [Ford] Consider the following to fix the binding on your front door for smoother operation: During the wintertime, screws may come loose from your door. Remove appropriate hinge from door and jamb. But now it's as if the latch is protruding out just a little too far. (This may require you to chisel out a little bit of wood above or below the strike in order to move it.) This can cause sticking or even binding! Old doors show their true age the most during the winter months when air infiltration becomes most obvious---think in terms of drafts and overall discomfort in your living space. When mounted the door is close to the door stop in all areas except the top left (latch side), where it bows into the room about a 1/4". A good size for replacement screws is 3”. Join the conversation with thousands of savvy shoppers in Canada’s largest online forum. I had the exact problem with my Weiser. The storm door deadbolt and latch side rail are likely misaligned, which can prevent the deadbolt from retracting. Now that you know the 9 common winter weather woes for entry doors, there comes a time when trying to fix a tired old door just isn’t worth it. If the sticking area is along the door frame where the hinges are located, this fix will not work. Gaps along the latch side of a door may be reduced by shimming out the hinges in some cases. Supply and demand! If they don't line up the lock won't work properly. If it comes out further, it needs to be lubricated. 7> Remove old spring and install new spring in exterior door handle by pressing out bushing and pressing back in … For high security doors, consider replacing the cylindrical lock with a mortise lock. Display posts from previous: All postsLast dayLast 7 daysLast 2 weeksLast monthLast 3 months6 MonthsLast year, Sort by AuthorPost time The "sticky lock" problem arises when the "c" channel of the latch mechanism moves too far away from the trailing edge of the door (because the pivots have developed play over time), such that the tip of the cylinder lever overshoots the "c" channel and catches on the edge when trying to lock or unlock. Once the lock is removed, you can wash it out with mild dish detergent and water. But with the aluminum body came one big issue: freezing door latches. Tightening the top and bottom hinges can help solve this problem, but don’t strip the screws—this may loosen the door even more. This can be caused by … When it is out as far as it will apparently go, grasp it firmly and pull. It still hits on the angled part, but it takes that much more pressure to get it pushed in as it slides against the plate.I've tried lubing it up and it helped a little. If you’re worried about installing weather stripping, the good news is that it doesn’t require a lot of skill to get the job done. First, clean the keyhole with a penetrating lubricant like WD-40. That will throw it out more than it should be, but it truly is an extended lip strike. Sticky Latch? The strike plate receives the door latch and/or deadbolt for your door lock. If it is happening along the top edge of the door frame, this fix may only make the situation worse. You may need to adjust the amount of shim to get the door to swing correctly, and you may also need to add a small amount of shim to the center hinge as well. 3. When a door latch doesn’t click into position, it usually means the … File off enough metal to allow the latch to catch inside the plate and secure the door. Now, open the door and look at the alignment of your marks and the strike opening. Alerts based on keywords you specify to reserve more balance for the long-term, the hinges a misaligned plate. 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