It's a good idea to change the locks when you move into a new home. Here's how. - Remove the screws holding the doorknob in place (figure A) on the interior side of the door. On some doorknobs the screws will be beneath the escutcheon plate, in which case you'll need to press a clip in the shaft of the knob to remove it.
- Pull apart the doorknob (figure B).
- Remove the striker by unscrewing it (figure C) and pulling it out.
- Reverse the removal procedure to install a new doorknob. Be sure to orient the new striker in the correct direction or the door won't close properly. In most cases, the holes for the new doorknob will match the existing holes.
- Depending on the door, you may need to adjust the backset--the distance between the edge of the door and the center of the doorknob. Most doorknobs can accommodate different backsets.
If you encounter resistance when you try to slide the new knob together, try turning the lock back and forth so that the shaft fits properly.
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