A door that used to close smoothly and now drags or sticks is most often wood swelling with humidity, hinges that have worked loose, or a house that has settled slightly over time — shifting the frame just enough to throw off the fit. All three are fixable without replacing the door.
Common causes
| Cause | How likely | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Humidity causing wood to swell | Very common | Sticks worse in humid weather, better in dry conditions |
| Loose hinge screws | Very common | Door sags slightly, hinges visibly move when the door is operated |
| House settling shifting the frame | Common | Older home, sticking has developed gradually over years |
| Paint buildup on the door edge | Common | Multiple layers of paint visible along the edge that contacts the frame |
| Hinge mortise (recess) not cut deep enough | Occasional | Door has stuck since installation, not a recent development |
Finding exactly where it sticks
Close the door slowly and note precisely where it catches — top, bottom, latch side, or hinge side. This single observation points directly at the fix: a top or latch-side stick usually means loose hinges or settling; swelling tends to show along the whole edge rather than one specific spot.
How to fix it
- Tighten all hinge screws first
This is the fastest, cheapest fix and solves a surprising number of sticking doors on its own. If screws spin without tightening, the holes have stripped — see the next step.
- Fix stripped hinge screw holes
Fill the hole with wooden toothpicks or golf tees dipped in wood glue, snap them off flush once dry, and re-drive the screw into the new, solid wood.
- Identify the sticking point precisely
Close the door slowly and mark exactly where it catches with a pencil, or slide a piece of paper along the frame to find the tight spot.
- Sand the sticking edge
Remove the door if needed, and sand the marked area lightly. Work gradually — a little sanding goes a long way, and it is easy to remove more than necessary.
- Reseal any bare wood
After sanding through paint or finish, reseal the exposed wood to prevent it absorbing moisture unevenly in the future.
If the door catches specifically near the latch, the strike plate on the frame may need to move slightly rather than the door itself needing sanding — loosen its screws, shift it a millimetre or two, and retest before sanding anything.
When to call a professional
If a door has started sticking suddenly and severely, especially alongside cracks appearing in nearby walls or a floor that seems uneven, this can indicate structural settling worth having assessed rather than simply sanding around.
Stop and call a qualified appliance technician or electrician if you find scorched or melted wiring, smell burning, see water that has reached electrical components, or if the fault returns immediately after a repair. Never bypass a safety device — thermal fuses, door interlocks and flood switches fail for a reason, and defeating one converts a broken appliance into a fire or flood risk.
