Loose door locks door knobs and door handles.
Front door deadbolt not lining up.
Luckily fixing the alignment of your door doesn t have to be a chore.
To line up the lock and the strike plate so that the lock goes into the hole easily try filing around the edge of the actual lock and the strike plate.
Lift the door up to relieve the pressure on the hinges and tighten the screws.
File only the sides that are needed in order to have a proper fit for the lock.
Poor alignment can occur because your house has settled or shifted over time the door frame is old or warped or the door is sagging on its hinges.
In most cases it means that the latch or locking bolt are not lining up with the door locks strike plate.
In that case take the hinges from the frame.
If the screws have been stripped they will not tighten in the holes and you ll need new ones.
Unscrew the strike plate from the door jamb clamp it in a vise then file it down to the chalk mark above right.
Reinstall the plate and test the dead bolt.
If it s still not locking file away a little more of the strike plate until the bolt locks properly.
A strike plate is usually affixed to the door jamb and facilitates the extension of the bolt or latch.
If the door is sagging and will not line up with the latch check the door hinges.
Open the door and look for a telltale kiss on the strike plate.