Your door handle can come loose and keep falling off over time. Because you need the door knob in place to open or close the door, it can be pretty frustrating when the handle keeps falling off. But what can you do about it? We researched the issue, and this is how you can resolve the problem.
Frequent usage of your door handle may cause it to come loose. At other times, dirt may accumulate on the knob and alter its functioning. Follow these simple steps to troubleshoot the predicament if your door handle keeps falling off even after putting it back on:
- Determine how the handle is attached to the door - the knob may have either exterior or interior screws.
- Use a screw driver to remove the door handle.
- Remove the base to locate the base screws
- Tighten the screws.
- Work backward to replace all the parts.
To ensure that your door handle remains in position, you need to understand why it keeps coming loose. Continue reading to find out the reasons and the detailed steps in fixing a door knob that keeps falling off, as well as how to adjust the size of the hole of your door knob, and whether you can glue a handle back on.
Why Does My Door Handle Keep Coming Loose?
Your door handle may repeatedly become loose for various reasons such as the following:
- Repeated use of the door handle which may result in some of the door handle components becoming loose.
- Accumulation of dirt and other pollutants on the handle parts that may hamper the operation of the handle.
- The screws in the door plate may be loose or missing.
- The handle's mechanism may not be working as expected.
How Do You Fix A Door Knob That Keeps Falling Off?
Fixing a door knob that keeps falling off can easily pass for a DIY project. Because it is relatively straightforward, you do not need a carpenter to fix the door knob for you. You only need to prepare the tools and check out the procedure below.
Tools You Will Need
- Phillips head screw driver
- Flat screwdriver
- Allen wrench
Step-By-Step Guide
How you set up the door knob will depend on the direction the door opens and how the lock provision is anchored to the door. Although the screws in most lock systems are easily visible, some locks have hidden rivets that you can only access by disassembling the door knob and faceplate.
The steps to repair the door handle where the screws are revealed and where they are hidden are as follows:
1. Identify how the knob is attached to the door
Carefully inspect the door knob for external screws.
If there are no external screws, the latch may be held securely by a spring-activated pin commonly known as a detent. Alternatively, the knob may be secured to the lock system with a hexagonal-shaped setscrew.
2. Remove the door knob
For a door with exposed screws, use the Phillips head screwdriver to unfasten the screws which are ordinarily on the inside of the door.
If the screws are hidden, examine the knob to locate the detent access hole. Use the flathead screwdriver to press in the pin. The pressure applied should make the door knob pop loose.
If the knob is fastened with a hexagonal-shaped setscrew, use an Allen wrench to free the knob by turning the setscrew counterclockwise.
3. Remove the base
Use a flathead screwdriver and gently try to pry the ring loose while taking care not to damage the backing plate as this could destroy the whole lockset.
4. Locate the baseplate screws and tighten
Removing the base should expose the baseplate screws. Use the Phillips screwdriver to clasp each screw individually. Ensure that you hold the backing plate against the door to keep it from moving.
5. Reinstall the base and reaffix the knob
Work in reverse to attach all the parts.
- Firmly push the ring back on the backing plate.
- Secure the door knob over the spindle shaft.
- Rotate the knob until the detent slots align if your knob has hidden screws. Where the screws are visible, align the knob to the screw holes.
- Firmly push the knob into place or replace the exposed screws to hold the knob in place.
If the door knob keeps falling off after doing this, it would be best to talk to an expert to resolve the issue.
How Do You Fix A Door Handle If The Hole Is Too Big?
When shopping for a door handle, you may accidentally buy a size too small for your door hole or get one that is not the right fit even though the knob suits the style of your entry. Although this can be quite frustrating, you can resolve the concern by following these simple steps:
Supplies You Will Need
- A screwdriver
- Wood filler
- Level
- Hammer
- Drill with a Phillips-head bit
Step-By-Step Guide
- Use a locking mechanism to anchor the entry steadily in place.
- If the door handle is already fixed, unfasten it from the door to expose the hole.
- Use a wire brush attachement on a drill to sand down the hole. Sanding will smoothen and even out the surrounding area.
- Prepare the wood filler by mixing it with a putty knife until it is a uniform color and texture. Solvent based fillers are prefarable since they are less susceptible to extreme temperatures, humidity and rot.
- Use the putty knife to uniformly spread the filler in the hole.
- Leave the filler for about 30 minutes to an hour to allow it to harden.
- After the filler has dried, sand it down to even it out. Since the wood filler may be extremely hard when it dries, it is advisable to start sanding by using a medium grit sandpaper and then following with a fine grit sandpaper.
- Align the door hole to the door handle. You may trim the mounting bracket if needed.
- Fix the door handle.
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Can You Glue A Door Handle Back On?
Most door handles are made of metal which often resists household glues resulting in weak bonds. You may, however, use metal glue to fasten a door handle back on.
Compared to fastening your handle with glue in place of screws, metal glue is advantageous in that the adhesive is not prone to corrosion, does not loosen over time, and does not rust.
Furthermore, the glue eliminates the complexity of fastening the handle since you will not need to align the screws to the drilled holes.
Qualities Of A Good Adhesive For Your Door Handle
- Can withstand extreme temperatures
- Water resistant
- High impact resistance
- Does not shrink
- Can be sanded
- Takes a relatively short time to create a strong bond
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In Closing
You need the door handle in its proper position to guarantee your safety and safeguard against theft. So, if your door handle keeps falling off, ensure that you promptly correct the issue or outsource an expert to fix the knob for you.
If you opt to fix it yourself, we hope that the information provided in this article will guide you on how to go about it.
Regularly conduct simple maintenance of your handle as influenced by the type of its material. Your maintenance routine may include scouring, lubricating, and weather sealing the door handle.
It is advisable to lubricate the handle before winter to avoid freezing. This simple maintenance will keep the latch in proper working condition longer.
To find out more about handles, please read through these posts:
