A doorknob that is stuck can be frustrating and challenging to remove. There are two ways this can happen: either someone put too much force on it when trying to open or close it, or there is some obstruction behind the doorknob.
However, there are some ways to do it. The first thing you should do is to try and loosen the knob from the doorframe. If this does not work, try using a hammer or a screwdriver and tap gently on the end of the knob until it comes off.
Make sure the stuck doorknob is lubricated with WD-40 or something similar. Work it into the components by turning the handle. The problem could be rust on both sides of the mechanism, so check both sides for signs of rust.
If the knob has completely broken off from its base, you can use a drill to make a hole in the doorframe just below where the knob was attached.
Then insert some fasteners, such as screws or nails, depending on what your frame is made of. If none of these methods work, you will have to call a locksmith or get help from someone stronger.
How To Remove a Stuck Doorknob – Step by Step
The existing one must be disassembled and removed first. Only a few tools are required for this easy task, which takes less than an hour.
Look at this guide and learn how to remove a door knob. You will also learn to remove a door knob with hidden screws.
Step 1. Assess The Door Knob On Your Door
The first thing you need to do is identify what type of door knob you have. Your door knob choice will depend on the exterior or interior of your house.
- A home uses four types of door knobs:
- Keyed entry knobs for entry doors
- Dummy door knobs for shallow closet doors
- Privacy door knobs for bedroom and bathroom doors
- Passage door knobs for closet doors
- The next step is to purchase a replacement door knob once you’ve identified your old one.
Step 2. Find The Screws That Hold The Door Knobs
Once you’ve identified where the screws are, you can remove the doorknob. Some knob mounts conceal the screws to give them a smoother appearance, so you may have to look closely.
If there is an opening near the top, base, or sides, inspect them. Your knob has a hidden lever, also known as a decent, if you see a tiny pinhole or slot instead of conventional screw holes.
Step 3. Remove The Doorknob By Unscrewing It
Ensure that the door knob is securely in place before proceeding. Screws with hex heads can be unscrewed using a Philips-head screwdriver.
Flathead screwdrivers can be used to push knobs that have pinholes or small slot openings inward. If a screwdriver is too large, a paper clip or small pin can be used instead.
Step 4. Take Off Your Door Knob
Tugging on the doorknob after removing or loosening the latch will cause the knob to pop out of place or disengage from the rose base.
How to Remove a Door Knob Without Screws or a Latch?
- The doorknob shaft has a hole underneath it. Locate it. There should be a small hole or slot visible.
- Make sure the tip of the screwdriver is positioned in the hole.
- It will slide right off if you tug on the knob.
Step 5. Remove The Rose
There is a possibility that the rose will not come off with the knob, so you will have to remove it separately.
The small opening between the rose and the surface of the door can be wedged with a pin or flat-head screwdriver tip. It can be gently pried off or twisted away from the door by pulling and twisting it.
The Removal Of A Handle With A Cover Plate
Step 1:
You will need to pry off the cover plate if it has a notch. Ensure that the plate has a small cut-out or notch where it meets the door. Then gently pry away the plate with a flat-head screwdriver if you find one.
There are two types of cover plates behind door knobs or levers: round and rectangular. The screws that hold the inner mechanism together can be seen after prying off the cover plate.
Step 2:
If you have a round cover plate, try turning it counterclockwise. You can turn the cover plate counterclockwise by hand or with a wrench if you don’t see a notch and the cover plate is circular.
For access to mounting screws behind the door handle, slide the cover plate down the neck of the handle.
Step 3:
If the plate hides any recessed fasteners, check them out. It might be challenging to fit a screwdriver between the cover plate and mounting screws if the doorknob is still in place.
Examine the cover plate to see any slots with recessed fasteners. You can remove the handle by inserting a paperclip or loosening a small screw.
Depending on the design, there may be a slot to release the outer handle and screws that secure the inner mechanism behind the cover plate. Generally, you can remove the cover plate from a lever door by sliding it down the shaft.
Step 4:
You will need to loosen the screws hidden behind the cover plate. Make sure you pull the mounting screws out of the door mechanism by turning them counterclockwise.
If the handles are still attached, you should be able to pull them out along with the spindle.
Step 5:
In case a latch bolt or plate needs to be removed, remove it. The screws over the plate on the side of the door must be loosened if you are planning to remove the entire door mechanism.
Once you have removed the latch plate, you must pull the latch mechanism out carefully.
How To Loosen Recessed Fasteners
Step 1:
The shaft of the handle should have a recessed slot. The knob or lever of your door should have a small hole if there are no visible screws.
You can release the handle by pressing a button or loosening a small screw inside the hole if one is present. Use a flashlight to make sure there is a flat-head, Phillips-head, or hex-head screw inside the hole.
Step 2:
If there’s no screw, you can press the button with a paper clip or thin tool. A paperclip or a thin, pointed tool, such as an awl, can be used if you cannot see a screw head inside the slot.
Next, pull the knob away from the door while inserting the paperclip or tool into the slot. Paper clips or tools will spring the door mechanism, allowing the handles to be withdrawn.
Step 3:
Use a narrow screwdriver to remove recessed screws. Make sure the screwdriver you are using is small enough to reach any Phillips or flat-head screws you see inside the hole.
By loosening the screw counterclockwise, the handle will be released. Once the recessed screw is removed, you should be able to remove the handles.
For mounting screws, you might have to pry off or unscrew the cover plate behind the handle if the spindle that connects the handles won’t come out.
Step 4:
A hex-head screw can be loosened with an Allen wrench. The Allen wrench you need to access screws with hexagonal heads is small enough to fit in your pocket.
To relax and remove the screw, insert the wrench into the slot and turn it counterclockwise. At a hardware store or home improvement store, you can purchase a pocket set of Allen wrenches in various sizes if you don’t own one.
Why Is Your Doorknob So Difficult?
Doorknob types can make removing them difficult, particularly if you have difficulty removing them. In addition, there is a possibility that your doorknob is mounted on a screw.
Due to their placement, mounting screws on the other side of your door, opposite the knob, often cause confusion or frustration. However, there are numerous reasons for this.
To begin with, you can make the screws less noticeable by hiding them inside your door, enhancing your doorknob’s aesthetic appeal.
In addition, the screws could be easily removed if they were attached to the outside of your door alongside the doorknob.
For these reasons, it is undoubtedly great to have a screw-mounted door knob, but removing it is more difficult.
How Do You Remove Door Knobs With No Visible Screws?
The set screws will either be covered by a rose or caught by a spindle hole between the knob and rose-on knobs without visible screws.
Before prying off your rose, locate the spindle hole. You can turn the knob by inserting a small screwdriver into the hole and pressing it in.
Final Words
You may not be able to remove a stuck door handle as easily as you might think. However, it should take at most 10 or 15 minutes to take out even the trickiest design.
The knob or lever may have a slot in the neck, even though most handles are mounted with exposed screws.
Check behind the handle to see if you can loosen or pry off the cover plate if there are no visible screws or slots. The handle can be removed by loosening the mounting screws behind it.
