Whether you’re a homeowner or a commercial property owner, door lock problems can occur from time to time and when they do headaches typically follow.
When you encounter an issue, it’s best to deal with it right away because the longer you let problem locks linger, the worse they will become, and the pricier it becomes to fix.
Most people don’t call their residential locksmith until it’s too late. If you run into a problem lock and are not the handiest of people, calling a professional can potentially save you significant dollars in the long run.
Fortunately, Rapid Locksmith Ottawa has tons of experience dealing with all sorts of lock repair in all sorts of situations. If the following troubleshooting guide doesn’t solve your problem, they’re just a click or phone call away.
1. Door won’t latch
If your door is not latching the odds are you’ve got misaligned door locks. In most cases, the latch or locking bolt is not lining up with the door lock’s strike plate.
Misaligned deadbolts and latches are very common and generally occur because of improper installation or if the door and door frame is warped because of weathering.
Close the door slowly and try to watch to see how the latch meets the strike plate. You can also try adjusting the strike place – loosen the screws and slightly shift the plate.
2. Doorknob is loose
Most people have probably experienced a loose doorknob or two in their day, and typically, it’s a rather easy fix.
Doorknobs loosen over time and more often than not a few simple screws turns and things are good as new.
Hold the knob on the other side of the door and begin tightening the screws, and vice versa.
If this doesn’t solve your problem you might be dealing with a spindle issue, which would have to be replaced.
3. Frozen locks
If you live in a colder climate then you’ve probably encountered a frozen lock or two.
This happens when moisture gets into the lock and the temperature then drops. Lock de-icer is a good thing to carry during the winter months.
Trying to fix a frozen lock isn’t recommended, nor is forcing your key into the lock – this is a good way to break your key.
Lock de-icers have alcohol and other lubricants that help with moisture and dirt.
Graphite into the keyhole is also another trick to use when in a pinch and dealing with frozen/dirty locks. But if this is all sounding a little too taxing just get in touch with your local locksmith.
4. Door won’t close properly
It is not easy to lock your door when it isn’t closing properly.
This issue relates to the first one we discussed surrounding latching.
You will need to ensure that your bolt is aligned properly with the lock’s strike plate. If the door doesn’t fit with the frame properly the lock will not function as intended.
5. Door lock broken
If this is a situation you find yourself in and your door lock is broken, there isn’t much left to do aside from calling a locksmith.
As a last-ditch effort, you can try disassembling the lock to see if there is a jam or a specific broken part to replace.
But when dealing with the mechanics of a lock it is often best to consult a professional.
6. Broken key in the lock
I call this one the double-whammy.
Not only do you have a lock with a broken key stuck inside, but you now also must go through the trouble of replacing the key.
Get a pair of needle-nose pliers and carefully try to remove the broken key piece.
You can also try to remove the cylinder, and by inserting a wire into the cam slot in the rear of the cylinder, push the key outward. You might also want to consider taking the cylinder to a locksmith.
A professional will generally have a broken key extraction kit to use in this situation.
When dealing with a broken key in a lock situation, it is vital that you do not attempt operating the lock while there are broken key fragments inside the keyway.
This could push the pieces deeper into the lock and further complicate the situation.
Once you’ve managed to remove all pieces of the key from the lock, test the device with the spare key to ensure that it continues to function as expected.
If the lock is damaged, you will have to pay for repairs or replacement.
Another good thing to remember is that if you have two halves of a broken key, your locksmith may be able to assist you in cutting a new one.
7. Entire cylinder lock turning
When inserting your key into the door lock cylinder and turning, you generally have the option to lock or unlock the door.
But if the entire cylinder turns when inserting the key, it’s a telltale sign that you’ve got a bigger issue on your hands. Is the entire cylinder turning?
This may be a loose or broken screw.
Make sure the set screw is adequately tightened.
Sounds easy enough, but with the number of door locks that exist, this isn’t the case.
Some of the most effective exterior door locks are a combination of mortise lock and deadbolt.
This is also true with most types of common commercial door locks.
To effectively deal with this lock issue, you’ll have to locate and access the screws that hold the cylinder in place within the lock.
For some, this means merely removing the faceplate, but for some specific devices, you might need to remove part of the lock from the actual door.
Not all locks have these screws positioned in the same place, which can make things tricky.
Mortise locks generally have several set screws that can only be accessed once removing the faceplate.
If you manage to locate the screws, tighten them up the best you can and pop the faceplate back on.
If these screws are rusted or broken, replace them prior to reinstalling the faceplate. Once reinstalled test your lock to ensure the cylinder is functioning properly again.
8. Jammed door latch
Locks can jam for various reasons but a common one is debris and dirt buildup. Whether it’s the lock or the latch sometimes WD40 is a quick fix to the issue.
Lock problems are never fun – and calling a pro to help you out is never a bad idea. Fortunately, for home and businesses owners dealing with problem locks in and around the Ottawa area, Rapid Locksmith Ottawa is always happy to help.
