Blog>Expert Advice>How to repair a broken doorknob
Last updated: 19 June 2023
How to repair a broken doorknob
A broken doorknob can be a real pain, but it’s often a fairly straight problem to solve. Whether it’s a stiff handle or a broken door handle mechanism, we’ve put together our top tips to help you get your door working properly again.
In this guide, we look at various ways to deal with a broken doorknob. That includes how to open a door with a broken doorknob, what to do if you have a stiff door handle, and how to remove a door handle altogether.
How to open a door with a broken doorknob
The most frustrating time for a doorknob to break is when the door is closed, meaning you potentially can’t get in or out of the room in question. So, how do you open a door with a broken doorknob?
Typically, the easiest way to open the door if the doorknob won’t work is to remove the doorknob and lock mechanism altogether. In most cases, you’ll just need a screwdriver to unscrew the doorknob casing and then remove the handle/lock mechanism.
If you still can’t open the door once you’ve removed the handle mechanism, you may need to call upon the help of an experienced local locksmith to fix the issue – they should also be able to mend or replace the doorknob for you.
Dealing with a door handle with a multipoint lock? Find out how to adjust a multipoint door lock.
How to remove a broken door handle
The quickest way to find out what’s wrong with your broken doorknob is to remove the door handle and see what you’re dealing with.
Here’s a quick guide on how to remove a broken door handle:
Start by wedging the door open with a door stop, to make it easy for you to access the door handle without the door constantly swinging open and closed
Remove the screws from both sides of the housing of the door handle, and remove the cover plates and spindle. (Some cover plates don’t have screws and so you may be able to prise them open using a screwdriver
Remove the screws that hold the latch mechanism and inner plates in place and carefully remove the latch plate and mechanism from the hole in the edge of the door
You should now be left with holes in your door, with no pieces of the door handle, lock or latch mechanism left. From here you can either repair the broken door handle and reinstall it – or, alternatively, install a brand new door handle.
How to fix a broken door handle mechanism
In most cases of a broken doorknob, it’s the door handle mechanism that is causing the issue. It might be stuck or part of the mechanism may have snapped.
Here’s a quick summary of how to fix a broken door handle mechanism:
Start by checking that there’s nothing on the outside of the door that’s stopping the handle from working, e.g. furniture or other items that could be jamming the door handle
If there’s nothing on the outside causing the issue, start by wedging the door open with a door stop
Follow the steps above to remove the broken door handle and latch mechanism
Use a spray lubricant on the door handle mechanism and on the interior of the door handles themselves to make sure everything is moving properly
Reinsert the latch mechanism and spindle, then fix the door handles back onto the door and secure back into place with the screws
You should now find that your door handle mechanism is working properly. If the problem continues, call a local locksmith to come and repair or replace your door handle mechanism.
Wondering how much a locksmith will cost? Check out our guide to locksmith prices.
How to fix a stiff door handle mechanism
If your door handle is working but it’s just getting stuck every now and then, or it’s stiff, you could fix the problem with a little spray lubricant.
Without needing to remove the handles, spray lubricant on the latch mechanism whilst it’s in position. If that doesn’t work, then follow the steps above to remove the door handle and fix it that way.
Hire a professional to repair your broken doorknob
You will probably need the help of a skilled locksmith to fix your broken doorknob or door handle mechanism. Thankfully, there are plenty of experienced local locksmiths in your area who can help.
