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Deadbolts turning and doors unlatching: physical force vs. doorframe settling
#1 · October 23, 2026, 11:04 AM
It’s easy for drafts or foundation settling to push an unlatched door open, especially in older houses where doorframes are no longer plumb. But hearing the distinct, heavy mechanical click of a brass deadbolt turning or a thumb-latch depressing right in front of your eyes is a completely different experience.
When a mechanical lock disengages on its own with enough physical torque to move the bolt, gravity and air pressure cannot explain it. Have you ever watched a locked door unlatch or heard a deadbolt turn by itself when nobody was near the handle?