Common Door Lock Problems You Might Encounter

Over time, even high-quality door locks can begin to develop issues that affect their operation. Different types of door locks have their own issues to which they are most susceptible, but here are a few examples of some of the most common ones:

• Locks that stick: You shouldn’t have to jiggle your keys in the lock a few times before they finally catch. If you’ve noticed this issue, it’s a sign that you’ll need a locksmith to come out and repair or replace the lock, as it could be getting close to failure.
• Misaligned locks: Perhaps you’ve noticed your door lock will not latch into position. You might need to have a professional come out and adjust the lock to make sure it’s properly aligned. To prevent this from becoming an issue, you can have your locks regularly inspected (every year or two). Performing these preventative checks can help you avoid expensive repairs and potentially dangerous situations if you have locks that aren’t functioning properly.
• Keys breaking off in a lock: Occasionally, you might have to wrench your key so hard to turn the lock that it actually breaks off inside the lock. This can be a difficult problem to resolve without the assistance of a professional to extract the key. Always be careful when locking and unlocking the door; if it feels like you’re having to put more effort than necessary into turning the key, make sure you stop what you’re doing and assess the condition of the lock.
• Frozen locks: Sometimes moisture will get inside a lock and freeze as the temperatures dip below the freezing point. This is a common issue in places that see a lot of cold temperatures in the winter months. If you attempt to force the key into a frozen lock, you could end up breaking a key inside the lock. There are a variety of strategies you can use to unfreeze a lock and get it opened back up, but if you’re at all uncomfortable with working with the mechanics of your lock, you should contact a professional locksmith to handle it for you, especially if the cold temperatures aren’t going away any time soon.
• Broken locks: The mechanics of the lock might simply be broken, in which case you’re going to need to replace the lock entirely. Have a professional locksmith come to your property to inspect the lock and determine if it is truly broken before you decide to move on from it.
• Door not closing: If the door doesn’t shut all the way or latch properly, this could result in the door not locking the way it’s supposed to. Make sure that the bolt for the lock aligns with the hole on the strike plate and that the door is properly fitting within the frame.

These are just a few examples of common door lock problems. If you need to learn how to remove a broken key from a door lock or are having any of these other problems with doors at your home, contact us today at Toledo Lock & Key LLC.

Categorised in: Lock and Key

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