A door lever is simply a door locking device with an elongated, horizontal handle. The door lever maintains a door shut until it’s turned slightly, at which time it releases a latch pin and lets the door open. Door levers are often recommended over doorknobs for those with poor manual mobility, or other non-functional motor impairments, both of which increase the risk of failure. But door levers in SA can also be dangerous, especially when they’re used irresponsibly. Here are some tips for avoiding common failures.
First, pay attention to how you pull the door levers back. If you look down, or as if you’re looking down, you may be putting yourself at risk for injury from mis-pulling. Pulling the door levers back can cause a loss of pressure in the door springs, which can cause the door to spring open with force, and you could even break a leg or finger. When you pull the door levers back, you run the risk of accidentally striking or impeding someone from stepping through an opening.- The next thing to do is pay attention to the quality of the door levers in SA and door lever handles. Many cheaply made products feature cast iron lever handles that can rust easily. This creates a weak point for anyone trying to pull the door open — if your door’s mechanism becomes weak because you’ve replaced a lever handle, you run the risk of the door coming down on your foot or even crushing your toe or finger. On the other hand, well made, durable materials such as high-carbon stainless steel make it far more difficult to rust away good door levers.
- There are also several different types of handles and lever frames for doors. These include traditional lever handles and modern, five-way lever handles. Some of the more common finishes include brass, bronze, chrome, brushed nickel, and oil rubbed bronze. The finish chosen style will depend on the look you’re going for – classic doors may benefit from polished lever handles, while contemporary and modern styles may be best suited for brushed nickel or polished finishes.
- Finally, don’t forget the doorknobs. The main thing that you need to consider is the function of each knob. Today’s knobs come in a wide variety of styles and finishes, which can make choosing the right ones a little bit more difficult. However, if you need only one function, try to find one with a simple design, such as a standard cross used for opening a door. However, if you want a door lever with more functions and designs, you’ll want to go for some more fancy doorknobs.
These are the most valuable parts of your door levers in SA and lever sets. Keep in mind that most hardware stores have a section with information about the different types of door levers available, so you’ll easily be able to find what you’re looking for. Also, when it comes to buying door levers, always remember that they should match the hardware of your door handles and lever sets.