Nowadays, doorknobs are becoming more popular compared to door levers. A door knob is relatively easy to operate. Apart from that, it is opted more in modern furniture or dining chairs due to the fact that it is available now in a wide range of styles and gives a sleek and aesthetic finish.
The easy operation of the doorknob may sound like an advantage. However, it could also backfire on you as it brings in the possibility of kids and pets getting locked up in a room quickly. This could create a panic situation for the parents due to safety concerns and could be troublesome in times of danger or emergency.
Because of this, people often choose to replace the doorknob completely without considering reversing it. A reversed lock can help the parent control the door from the outside to provide help when necessary. Reversing the doorknob is a simple procedure and can help you save the expenditure of replacement. Read this guide to understand how to do it.
Steps to reverse a doorknob:
A reversed doorknob can give you all the advantages of the locking system that you will find with a new door handle. If you wish to get it done, simply understand and follow the given procedure on how to reverse a doorknob:
Remove the knob:
Wondering how do you reverse a lock? The first step you need to perform is removing the knob. To do so, start removing the screws on either side of the doorknob, holding it together. You will be able to locate these screws behind the plate of a doorknob. You simply need to twist this plate, and in doing so, it would come away from the door.
You can find a small notch in between the handle and the plate. You will require a flat head screwdriver, then insert it into the notch, which will release the handle. When the handle is loose, you can pull it off quickly and remove the plate to find the screws there.
Hold the doorknob on the opposite side, and using a screwdriver, remove the screws on either side of the doorknob to altogether remove it. Pull the doorknob and then slide the spindle off of the latch. After that, look for the end of the latch with parts protruding from the edge of the door and pull it to remove the entire lock.
Reversing the spindle:
Once you remove the knob, the next step would be to take the spindle and reverse it towards the backside of the door. To reverse it successfully, make sure that the spindle goes through the latch and the screw posts. Once done, it should work completely fine; however, you might need to make some adjustments if it doesn’t function properly.
Putting everything back together
Putting the knob back together is an easy step, but you must do it carefully. To assemble it back again, you need to start lining up the screw holes. These holes are present on both sides of the doorknob. Once you line it up properly, put the new screws through these holes in the knob and then tightly screw them into the post.
Secure both sides of the knob entirely by turning the screws in a clockwise direction. Then put the plate back in the door and, after that, push the handle into both respective sides.
Check if the knob is functioning correctly by testing the lock a couple of times. There could be chances where the knob isn’t fitted fine, in which case you might need to make some more adjustments. To adjust it again, remove the knobs and do the necessary. Also, make sure that when you close the door, it does not swing open.
When the safety of children comes into perspective, doorknobs can pose a considerable threat. Most often, people who buy ready to move in housing do not pay much attention to the door handles and do not inspect them properly. Hence they end up with faulty knobs unknowingly.
Door knobs are simple and can provide a beautiful edge to your door, but at the same time, they can create an issue if the person handling them isn’t well learned about the locking system. But you can always avert any kind of problem by simply reversing the doorknob.
Takeaway
With the simple steps highlighted in this guide, you should be able to reverse a doorknob successfully in a short amount of time. It is quite advantageous compared to replacing the knob with a new door handle altogether. Just make sure that you fit everything perfectly and that the screws are intact.
Now that you’re aware of the procedure, you can quickly reverse the doorknob at home without any external help. It will help you get control over the locks, ensure the safety of your children and pets, and save you the extra replacement cost.
Author Bio:
Tom Smith is a passionate writer, who loves to write on different niches and explore new things. He uses Elite Locksmiths services for his protection.
