How to Remove and Replace a Door Knob

The most important part of the doors on your home is the door knob. You should remove and replace a door knob when they become extremely loose or to upgrade the security of the door. When you replace a door knob, shop for knobs that not only accentuate the look of your home but also provide the security you desire for peace of mind. Removing and replacing door knobs is a task most homeowners can tackle themselves.

Remove The Old Door Knob

Open up the door halfway so you can access both sides of it at one time. The door knob attaches to the door with two screws which insert through the inner door handle plate and into threaded sleeves of the outer door handle. Look for the screw head on the inside door handle cover plate. Remove the screws with a Phillips-head screwdriver. Pull the inside and outside door knobs away from the door.

Some door knobs hide the retaining screws behind the cover plate for security. There is a small hole or slot on the inside door knob stem. Straighten the end of a large paper clip and insert it into the slot or hole. Once you feel some resistance, press the paper clip into the hole further and pull the inside door knob off the stem. The resistance you feel in the hole is a retaining spring securing the door knob to the stem. Find the small notch on the cover plate and insert a small flat-head screwdriver into the notch. Pry the cover plate away from the door to expose the retaining screws. The screws go through a flat mounting plate and into the outer door knob threaded sleeves. Remove the screws and pull the outer door knob and the inside mounting plate away from the door.

Remove Door Latch and Door Strike Plate

The door latch is the piece of the door knob assembly inside the door. Remove the two screws securing the latch plate to the door edge with the Phillips-head screwdriver. Pry the latch plate away from the door with a flat-head screwdriver and pull the entire assembly out of the door. When replacing a door knob, do not reuse the latch assembly or the strike plate. The strike plate is the plate on the door jamb where the door latch enters when closing the door. Remove the two screws securing the strike plate to the door jamb and pull the strike plate away from the jamb.

Clean the latch and strike plate mounting areas on the door with a fine grit sandpaper. This removes the old paint and any splinters caused by the screws. Your new plates should fit flush to the surface of the door and jamb for proper operation.

Install New Door Knob Assembly

Hold the new latch assembly so that the curve of the bolt is pointing toward the outside of the door. Insert the latch assembly into the edge of the door and secure it with the supplied screws. Insert the outer door knob through the front of the door, lining up the sleeves with the holes on the latch assembly. The center stem of the outer door knob fits through the large hole in the latch assembly.

Position the inner door knob over the door, while holding the outer door knob, until the cover plate is flush against the door. Insert the the two screws with full length threads into the holes on the inner door knob cover plate. Tighten the screws with a Phillips-head screwdriver.

Attach the strike plate to the door jamb with the curve of the plate pointing toward the inside of the door opening. Open and close the door to test the operation. It might be necessary to file the hole in the door jamb slightly to accommodate the new latch.