How To Fix A Loose Front Door Lock

This is a problem common to every home with a frequently used twist style keyed doorknob but you can fix it in a matter of minutes even if you have no prior experience in using basic tools.

How to fix a loose front door lock.

Door knob is loose. You can tighten a simple interior mortise lockset like the one shown at left as follows. Loose doorknobs are a common problem on frequently used doors around the home sometimes the doorknob or lever loosens so it spins on its spindle while other times the lockset s mounting ring and faceplate become loose and pull away from the surface of the door. Methods of tightening them depend upon the type of lockset.

If your doorknobs feel a little loose and jiggly you may need to tighten either the lock set for most modern doorknobs or the knob itself on older mortise style passage locks pictured below. A loose door lock can cause problems with how easy you find it is to open your door. 2 hold the knob on the other side of the door and turn the loose knob clockwise until it. That s because modern door hardware uses a hidden mechanism called a detent to fasten the doorknob that can only be released using a small screwdriver tip or the end of a paper clip depending on your style of hardware.

Door locks can work themselves loose with extended use. 1 loosen the setscrew on the knob s shank. Door knobs may become loose over time. The detent is a spring activated pin concealed or small thin plate attached to the spindle that protrudes into a doorknob notch which prevents rotation.

As i mentioned earlier on loose door knobs and loose door handles are not necessarily very difficult to fix but you have to make sure that you fix them in a timely manner and that you know what you are doing. Loose door locks and loose door knobs can leave a gap in your security if they are left unattended. It s best to tighten the lock as soon as you notice that it is becoming loose to prevent more serious problems down the line. So here s what you have to do.