Door Thumb Latch Sticking

Turn the knob to open the door and release the knob slowly.

Door thumb latch sticking.

Another problem with many door knobs latches and even hinges is that the door itself will get stuck and close or open hard. You should first test the door latch to ensure the latch is sticking inside the door and not due to a misaligned strike plate. Ironically by cleaning and oiling them you can fix most locks in a matter of minutes. Many people put up with the aggravation of a sticking door lock for years.

For especially stubborn locks try squeezing a little graphite onto the door s latch as well. One of the problems that causes this is that the hinges are loose or the house has settled from the freezing and thawing of the ground. This is because the issue is not with the door and not even with the control the knob has over the stuck latch. A latch bolt that sticks in the strike often leave tell tale marks or scrapes on the strike plate.

First clean the keyhole with a penetrating lubricant like wd 40. A sticking door latch might require some lubrication or it might be jamming against the strike plate on the door jamb. The issue a door latch stuck due to a jamming latch will have no real variation between how the latch moves when it is pressed in or when the handle is turned both when the door is open and when it is shut. Many door knob and lockset problems can be corrected before they become so serious that the lockset does not work at all.

You can fix this problem relocating the hinges or using longer screws. Test the lock after each application. Sticking door latches. Once the graphite has distributed through the lock it will begin to clear away the gunk that s been hindering the lock s movement leaving you with a fully functioning hassle free door.

Expert advice on how to repair common problems with door knob locks and deadbolts such as stuck or frozen door locks latches that don t latch and keys broken off in door locks.