Lever sets are one of the most utilized parts on any door, exposing them to more wear and tear than average. Understandably, they’re going to break from time to time. However, we were asked:
“How do I keep my lever from breaking?”
Lever Breaks: The Causes
Abuse
There are various things that can cause your lever to break with the main culprit being abuse. Sometimes when you’re in a hurry it’s easy to pull your door shut with your key or while rushing, a shopping cart may accidentally bang against the door. It’s important to note that by reducing simple issues like this, you can reduce lever breakage.
Poor Installation
Poor installation is another reason behind levers breaking throughout facilities. If a lever is poorly installed it’s going to cause a chain reaction by affecting other components of the door. Eventually, that shoddy installation is going to result in you shelling out more cash from your pocket for a replacement.
Mechanical Failure/Component Wear
Over time, inevitably, your lever is going to eventually give out. This can be from every day wear and tear, especially if the lever is located in a heavy traffic area.
Lever Breaks: The Solutions
Hardware Grade
We preach it a lot around here, but installing the appropriate Hardware Grade is absolutely paramount to extending the life of your hardware. Grade 3 hardware is strictly for residential use, but we’ve seen it used in commercial buildings more often than we’d like to admit. This can happen for a couple of reasons. You can possibly have someone who’s inexperienced somewhere along the chain of command who isn’t well-versed in the world of hardware grades. It’s also possible that if it’s a re-install, the hardware wasn’t substituted like-for-like. Regardless, it’s going to cause a problem. However, simply paying attention and installing the correct hardware grade is going to save you money in the long run.
Qualified and Experienced Installer
Knowing the qualifications of the party responsible for your installations is also going to help extend the life of your hardware. Employing an inexperienced installer can only result in a headache, and while they may mean well and think they’re saving you money by offering up that Grade 3 hardware (There’s the mention of those hardware grades again!,) they’re really only adding to your problem. You want someone who knows Manufacturer Issuesexactly how and WHAT type of lever to install. Trust us; a little research goes a long way.
If a particular lever is breaking repeatedly and is becoming a recurring problem, you may need to take a look at the manufacturer of your lever. Some levers are manufactured specifically for certain applications, and you may be fitted with the wrong one. They also may be aware of product issues and could be working on a solution.
Check out some of the other options out there. Call a local General Contractor or hardware store and get some opinions from others out there working in the industry. This outside knowledge may be the key in keeping your lever installed and working correctly.