Why You Should Never Force a Sticky Door Handle (And How to Fix It)

We see it every week, particularly in January. A customer calls us saying their door handle has “snapped off” or the key has broken clean inside the lock.

Nine times out of ten, the lock wasn’t actually the problem. The door alignment was.

 

The “Lift and Crunch” Routine

Do you have to lift your door handle with real force to turn the key? Do you hear a worrying “crunch” or a heavy “clunk” as the bolts slide into place?

If so, your door is out of alignment. And if you keep forcing it, you’re heading for a breakdown.

 

Why Does This Happen?

Thermal Movement: uPVC and composite doors swell and contract with temperature changes. The cold January weather we’re experiencing right now often causes doors to warp slightly. What worked fine in August suddenly fights you in the freezing mornings.

Worn Hinges: Heavy doors can “drop” over time, meaning the locking points no longer line up properly with the holes in the frame. The door might look fine, but it’s sitting a few millimetres lower than it should.

Settlement: If your house is relatively new or you’ve had building work done recently, the frame might have settled slightly. Even a tiny shift can throw a multipoint lock out of alignment.

 

The Danger of Ignoring It

If you keep forcing the handle up, you’re putting enormous stress on the delicate gearbox inside the door mechanism. These gearboxes are made of metal, yes, but they’re not designed to handle constant resistance.

Eventually, something inside will shatter. The internal gear teeth will strip, or the spindle cam will snap.

When that happens, the door often fails in the locked position. What could have been a simple adjustment job turns into an expensive emergency entry situation, with you stuck outside in the cold while we carefully pick our way in.

 

The Solution

If your door is fighting you, stop forcing it. Seriously. Put the kettle on and give us a call instead.

At Hogs Back Security, we can adjust the door using a technique called “toe and heeling” to realign the door so it locks smoothly with just one finger. No crunching, no forcing, no stress on the mechanism.

This adjustment usually takes about twenty minutes and costs a fraction of what a new gearbox and emergency callout would set you back.

We cover Farnham, Godalming, Aldershot, and all the surrounding villages. If your door is starting to complain when you lock it, get in touch before it gives up completely.

📞 Call us: 07570 252 223