Whether you’ve just moved into your home or have lived there for years, chances are at some point your door lock has begun to stick and become difficult to open. This happens as dust, dirt and grime build up over time on the mechanisms that control the movement of the Lock Repair. The good news is that most of the time, this is an easy fix with one or two inexpensive products and a few minutes of your time.
If your lock is sticky and the key won’t turn inside the cylinder, the first step is to clean out the entire mechanism. Use canned air or a compressed air tool to blow the lock and key hole clear of any dust or debris that might be trapped. After cleaning the lock, use a dry lubricant such as powdered graphite or a silicone-based lubricant to loosen up the stuck parts. Apply the lubricant directly into the keyhole and insert and twist the key a few times to work it in and loosen the stuck part.
You may also want to lubricate the moving components of your lock with penetrating oil, linseed oil or sewing machine oil to keep the locking mechanism in good working condition. If you’re not sure what kind of lubricant your door lock uses, consult the manual that came with your hardware for specific instructions. If you’re not comfortable using oil to lubricate your lock, you can also try applying the lubricant with a pencil or other similar object.
Another reason your door handle or lock won’t engage might be due to a broken piece inside the locking mechanism itself. This could be from a failed break-in attempt or from regular wear and tear. If the broken piece is large enough, it can be removed with a flathead screwdriver or needle-nose pliers, but you’ll need to be careful not to break it into smaller pieces. If you’re not comfortable removing the broken piece or if you can’t figure out how to remove it, your best option is to contact a locksmith.
A final possibility is that the locking mechanism isn’t aligned with the strike plate on your door frame. This can occur over time as the house settles and shifts or the door frame expands and contracts with changes in temperature and weather. This is usually a simple matter of tightening the screws that hold the strike plate to the door frame with a wrench, but you might need a slender tool such as a shim or spacer to accomplish this.
