Nightlatches – Common Problems

A nighlatch is typically found on the inside surface of a wooden door and it has a retractable latch that is operated by a handle/lever or a knob. From the outside, it is operated via a key and people often refer to these nightlatches as ‘Yale locks’.

There are many different types and styles of nightlatches from a wide number of manufacturers. There are varying sizes, standards and costs, but they all do the same job in terms of securing the door closed by having a latch that engages into a strike plate that is fixed to the door frame.

Lock Guy is a locksmith in Essex and this article has been written based on his direct experience to highlight the main issues and problems found with nightlatches, along with some tips and advice.

Lever/Handle breaking Off

If the door is continually pulled open from the inside using the handle/lever on the nightlatch, then over time this will weaken the mechanism and may break off potentially leaving the occupant trapped inside.

The nightlatch handle is simply not designed to take strong repeated pulling forces. Especially in situations where there is a heavy or stiff door or a door with an automatic closer (e.g. fire doors), then these excessive forces are more likely to cause a failure on the nightlatch handle.

Once it has sheared off it cannot be repaired and will need a complete replacement.

If you are using the nightlatch to pull open the door, then you should consider fixing a simple fixed handle to the inside of the door and then use that to pull the door open.

Latch Does Not Engage in Strike Plate

If the latch does not engage properly into the strike plate, then it may not be securing the door properly. The most common reason for this is that the door has become misaligned and/or it was not fitted well initially. Particularly with wooden doors over time and with fluctuations in weather, things can move.

This is normally resolved by checking/tightening the door hinges and/or moving the strike plate in the door frame to align it.

It could also be the the latch does engage in the strike plate, but it is too loose so the door can rattle and allow in a draught. Again it is resolved by repositioning the strike plate.

Not Strong/Secure Enough

As mentioned at the start of the article, not all nightlatches are the same and they do not all have the same level of security. Things to look out for:

Physical size. The basic rule here is that the bigger it is, the stronger it is and the more resistant it is to forced entry. A bigger latch will offer more mechanical strength. Check also the fixings, it is best to have longer screws fastening the nightlatch not only on the surface of the door, but also on the edge of the door.
Deadlocking functionality. If the nightlatch cannot be deadlocked, then it is not as secure as it could be as someone could try to force the latch back with an appropriate implement. Or if there is a glazed panel, they could break that, reach in and open the door. If it does have a deadlocking functionality, then the latch cannot be forced back and it also locks the handle in place even from the inside.

Try to select a nightlatch with a British Standard kite mark as this gives assurances that that product has been through rigorous security testing.

It is advisable to get an auto-deadlocking nightlatch. This means that when the door is closed, the latch is automatically locked in place and cannot be forced back (no additional action required from user to engage deadlocking feature).

Faulty Snib

The ‘Snib’ is a small button on the nightlatch that is normally slid up or down to lock the latch in place (either in the engaged position or the retracted position).

It is a convenient feature if someone is, for example, unloading shopping and they do not want to get their key out every time they re-enter the property.

However, with use over time the button can become loose. In this situation, when the door is closed hard, the snib button may drop locking the latch in place. This would leave the person locked out as the key would not work.

Or the snib button may develop a fault where it does not work therefore losing a convenient feature of the nightlatch.

Difficulties Operating Key

The first point to make here is that the part where the key goes into is called the rim cylinder and it is a completely seperate part to the nightlatch. The rim cylinder and the nightlatch are completely independent and interchangeable.

So, if you have a problem with the key (e.g. it does not turn, it does not insert fully or it breaks in the cylinder), it is likely to be an issue with the rim cylinder, not the nightlatch.

However, it could also be an issue with how it was fitted. The rim cylinder has a tailpiece that inserts into the nightlatch and if it was not cut to the correct length, then it can cause issues. Also it may be that the strike plate has been fitted too tightly for the latch to pass freely and the pressure against the strike plate could make the key hard to turn.

Testing the key with the door open should help to diagnose the issue.

There are different types of nightlatches

One needs also to understand the difference between a deadlocking nightlatch and a non-deadlocking nightlatch and identify what they have. It is not that uncommon for people to unknowingly engage the dead-locking feature and then are not aware why the nighlatch does not work.

Whatever the issue with the nightlatch, it is always advisable to contact a professional reputable local locksmith to get the best advice to secure your home and to make sure future problems are avoided.

Homeowners should also fit a British Standard 5-lever mortice lock to the door in addition to a nightlatch for additional security.

I hope this article on nightlatches has been useful.

For any advice or if you want any lock change or for any locksmith requirements in Essex. contact Lock Guy.

Lock Guy is an independent locksmith operating in Witham, Maldon and all the towns between Colchester and Chelmsford.

Got a question about a lock issue you may have? Why not have a look at the FAQ page or one of the helpful advice videos on the Media page.