Fixing a Loose Doorknob

Written by Doris Donnerman (last updated August 18, 2021)

1

If you have a loose doorknob, there is no need to call in the professionals. With the right tools you can easily fix a squeaky, loose doorknob. The first thing you need to do is get your hands on an Allen wrench or a regular screwdriver.

Before you can begin tightening the doorknob you must determine what type of lock your door has. Looking at the side of the door, with the doorknob perpendicular to the door, look at the shape surrounding the lock to determine what route you will take in tightening the doorknob. Most homes are equipped with cylindrical locks or tubular locks (characterized by the lock being encircled by an oval or circle) but doors found in warehouses often have a lockset. Locksets are rectangular in shape. If you have cylindrical locks or tubular locks all you need to do is secure the lock properly, and in turn the doorknob will tighten. If you do own a lockset then a few more steps are necessary.

First, remove the lock panel with the screwdriver in order to expose the inner workings of the lock. Unscrew one of the doorknobs to expose the end of the other and to view how it interacts with the lockset. Tighten the connection between the exposed knob spindle and the lockset. Hold the doorknob that is still attached closely against the paneling of the door as you screw the other doorknob back into the spindle and lock set. Screw in the doorknob until it is tight against the paneling of the door.

If you have correctly tightened the doorknob, it will move freely but it will not jiggle in the frame of the door. If you wish to alter the placement of the doorknob, you should follow this same process and then alter the placement by shifting placement during the tightening of the knob against the paneling of the door.

Author Bio

Doris Donnerman

Doris is a jack of all trades, writing on a variety of topics. Her articles have helped enlighten and entertain thousands over the years. ...

MORE FROM DORIS

Trick Your Dog into Losing Weight

It's true—sometimes dogs get a little chubby. As a pet owner you need to be aware of this possibility, and know ...

Discover More

Planting Roses

Without a doubt, roses are one of the all time favorite plants of gardeners everywhere. This is due to how beautiful the ...

Discover More

Troubleshooting Fire Alarms

Fire alarms are a necessary and essential element for a safe home. But what do you do when these vital safety devices ...

Discover More

Cordless, Compact, and Powerful! DeWalt's 20-volt drill-driver kit packs a big punch in a small package, with a powerful high-performance motor tucked away inside a compact design. A great addition to the tool chest of any professional or DIYer! Check out DeWalt 20-Volt Drill/Driver Kit today!

More Home Improvement Tips

Repairing Door Trim

Over time, it's quite common for just about every part of the house to need a little repair work done. Usually one of the ...

Discover More

Repairing a Door Latch

There is more to door latches than simply helping your door look better. In fact, if your door latch isn't in good ...

Discover More

Installing a Doggie Door

If you have a pet, then chances are pretty good you get a little tired of constantly taking your fuzzy friend outside all ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 6 - 4?

2013-02-23 13:04:34

David

Very difficult to follow without illustrations.