What should I do if my door latch wont Catch my strike plate?
If you have a door that isn’t latching properly, a simple modification to the strike plate will almost always solve the problem. With just a few tools, some cardboard, and a few minutes of time, you can fix this issue.
Is it possible to have a door latch stuck open?
There can be a door latch stuck open or a door latch stuck closed, but the reasons for each can vary quite a bit. The first step is to troubleshoot the issue and get a sense of what the symptoms are with the door latch stuck in its position. Try to open the door while it is shut. Take note of the type of resistance. For example:
What should I do if my door lock won’t work?
You can unscrew the door knob and remove both sides, then unscrew the latch and pull it out of the door. From there, try some lubricant (silicone spray and graphite powder are my preferred lubricants for locks, WD-40 will quickly dry and attract dirt). And if it still doesn’t work, it’s probably time to go to the store to pickup a new doorknob.
Why does my door latch not retract when I push or swing?
When this plunger is retracted (which happens when the door is closed), the spring loaded mechanism on the latch is disabled. This prevents someone from using the credit card trick to open the door from the outside, so the only way to open the door is by unlocking it and turning the knob. In other words, it’s for security.
If you have a door that isn’t latching properly, a simple modification to the strike plate will almost always solve the problem. With just a few tools, some cardboard, and a few minutes of time, you can fix this issue.
What happens when you turn the lock on a locked door?
The top latch will not retract and remains in the locked position. From the outside of the door you can clearly see this is remaining locked; while the lower latch retracts and you can turn the handle when unlocked.
There can be a door latch stuck open or a door latch stuck closed, but the reasons for each can vary quite a bit. The first step is to troubleshoot the issue and get a sense of what the symptoms are with the door latch stuck in its position. Try to open the door while it is shut. Take note of the type of resistance. For example:
Why does my door lock not retract into the door frame?
If I try to just close it, the latch won’t retract and just bangs against the door frame. If I try to push the latch closed with my hand, it (mostly) won’t budge. If I fiddle with it enough, I am able to push it in, but usually this doesn’t work.