Whether the door won’t stay closed or it won’t latch, door problems can be frustrating. Fortunately, a locksmith can help with everyday inconveniences like this and is often a better option than a handyman or general contractor. Let’s discuss why doors stop latching and what you can do about it.

Reasons Why Doors Stop Latching

Simply put, the reason a door won’t latch is because the latch isn’t aligned with the hole. Doors usually get out of alignment for two reasons: the foundation has shifted or the hinge on your door is sinking. Foundations shift due to weather-related incidents or the natural passage of time. Hinges sink when the door is too heavy or the door is pulling on the hinges for some reason. Either way, something needs to be fixed if you want your door to latch again.

Solutions for a Door That Won’t Latch

The best solution is to call a professional locksmith, but if you’re going to attempt a fix yourself, you have a few options. Here are some solutions for a door that won’t latch:

• Tighten the screws to make sure the hinge is tight.
• Remove one hinge screw and adjust the position until it’s correct. 
• Reposition or replace the strike plate.
• Replace the door or door frame entirely.

How a Locksmith Can Help

The most common solution for a door that won’t latch is to replace the strike plate. These can be complex and frustrating, however, so you might want to call a professional locksmith for help. Not only does a locksmith have experience replacing strike plates and repairing doors that won’t latch, but they can identify the cause of the problem quickly. If you attempt a DIY fix, it may take some time to diagnose the problem and you may make mistakes with strike plate placement or other elements of the repair. A locksmith can fix it right the first time, or point you in the right direction if locksmith services aren’t necessary.

If you have a door that suddenly stopped latching and are in need of assistance, give the A-1 Locksmith team a call today for a consultation.

Fortunately, by understanding why it is that your door may not be latching, and by providing this information to a reputable locksmith, you should be able to have the problem fixed in short order. Consider these basic issues that may be affecting your front door, and reach out to a locksmith for help.

Shifting Foundation

If the door isn’t latching correctly, it is ultimately due to the latch being misaligned with the matching hole. And one of the most common reasons for this happening is the shifting of the house’s foundation over time, or even due to weather-related events. If the foundation of the home shifts, which includes the frame of the door, eventually the latch will no longer be in line with the opposing door jam; this, in turn, may cause difficulties when shutting the door, or even prevent the lock from latching altogether.

Sinking Hinges

On the other hand, if the house is structurally sound and the foundation hasn’t shifted, then the faulty latch may be a result of the door pulling down the hinges. The door may, in fact, be too heavy for the specific hinges; or the hinges may have been installed incorrectly when the door was installed. Regardless of the reason, this will lead to the door pulling downwards at an angle, causing the latch to be misaligned with the door jam.

How a Locksmith Can Help You Fix These Issues

In general, a door that doesn’t latch is often a nagging issue, and one that won’t go away without direct action. So instead of letting this problem continue, contact a locksmith, who will be able to provide you with an immediate solution.

For example, your locksmith can assist you with replacing or relocating the latch itself or the opposing door jam, to ensure that the door latches correctly when properly closed. This is a relatively simple fix that won’t require any structural modifications to your home. And it will also ensure that your home is properly locked again so that you can leave with peace of mind.

Don’t let a faulty latch bother you any longer. Call the skilled locksmiths at A-1 Locksmith in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and let us help you today.