Why is my door handle is not springing back? – How to fix a door handle that is drooping

Sometimes after door handles are fitted they operate fine, and then one day they start sticking and the handle doesn’t spring back properly.??It seems that the door lever is drooping slightly.

Droopy door handle is a fairly common problem and can usually be rectified quite easily.??There are many factors that could be the issue.?Follow these simple steps to figure out what could be causing your door handle to droop.

• The fixings may have been overtightened when fitting causing the lever bearings to bind against the door face, or causing the door to compress the latch mechanism inside the mortice and stop it from operating correctly.

We suggest:?Loosen the screws slightly and operate the handles.?They should now return to a horizontal position.

• The door handle spring mechanism is not properly lubricated, preventing the handle from springing back to the correct position.

We suggest:?Remove the levers from the door.?Hold the backplate in one hand and operate the handle.?If it is grinding or seizing apply a little grease and operate again to work the grease into the mechanism.??

• The levers are not aligned with each other correctly, causing the spindle to go through the door at an angle and therefore not operating correctly

We suggest:?Visually check and measure the alignment of the handles and refit if not true to horizontal or vertical.

• The door latch is not springing back.?The latch or lock has not been morticed into the door at a straight angle again putting the levers under stress and not letting the door handles spring back fully.

We suggest:?Remove the levers and check the operation of the latch.?Check the alignment of the latch and refit if it is not true to horizontal or vertical.

• The latch or lock mechanism is of inferior quality with a light sping action that is not sufficient to return the lever to horizontal, this can be the case with particularly good quality solid heavy levers.

We suggest:?In general, a good place to start is to remove the handles and hold them in your hands to check if they operate correctly.?If they are springing back fine, then the issue must involve the fitting or the latch mechanism.

If there is still an issue with your door handle not springing back properly, please give one of our experts a call and we will be pleased to help.