How To Fix A Broken Lock

Locksmith in Leyton

How To Fix A Broken Lock

Can You Fix A Broken Lock?

It happens to all of us at some point in our lives, a jammed lock. We ask ourselves the question, should we try to fix the lock ourselves or call in a professional locksmith to sort the problem out. After all, they’re the experts, right? Of course they are but if we can save a little bit of money by doing it ourselves then that would be ideal. Here, we will give you some pointers about different lock issues that may arise and how you can fix them.

Broken Or Frozen Door Lock Mechanism

If your entire door lock mechanism is sticking there can be a number of factors that could be responsible. Firstly, the door could be old and it may be time to invest in a new one? It might be that the cold weather has set in and ‘frozen door lock’ is the issue. Or maybe the latch is not accessing the strike plate as it should? Of course, without an experienced locksmith, you may not know which of these, if any, is the real issue.

What Is A Strike Plate?

A strike plate is the part of a lock that you see on the door frame. It is the entrance that the latch catches onto in order for the lock to work effectively. It is imperative that the strike plate is fixed correctly and securely to the door frame in order for the lock to work as well as it should. It is possible to reposition your strike plate on the door jamb by unscrewing it and placing it into the correct position. You can replace a static strike plate with an adjustable one if you have regular issues.

Do I Have A Faulty Door Latch?

It will usually be pretty obvious if your door latch is faulty. You will be unable to close the door properly and it will continue to open if you try to close it. You may find that you need to slam it shut which can make the issue worse. Once you do get the door to close, you may find that the door will not reopen when you try it again. So, what do you do if the strike plate is in position and the latch still doesn’t work???

My Door Lock Is Broken, How Do I Get In?

There are lots of common door lock problems which may have caused a broken lock, including:-

  • Faulty Locking Mechanism
  • Broken Latch Bolt
  • Loose Mortise Lockset
  • Frozen Lock
  • Broken Lock Cylinder
  • Broken Key In Key Slot

There are many other door lock issues you might have and the only real fix is to speak with a professional locksmith that knows what they are looking for and will have the correct way to go about your lock repair.

What To Do If Your Key Is Snapped In The Lock

If Locks Are Faulty, Get Them Fixed

A sluggish lock signals potential indicators of weakness. The misalignment of deadbolts and latches is among the most significant causes of this issue, while there may be other contributing aspects as well. Typically, it occurs after you install locks on your own. The door is hence challenging to open. Even simple locks must be correctly adjusted to ensure that the deadbolts and latches are in the right positions.

Even if you learn to live with this annoying issue, difficulties can arise soon. Temperature changes can occasionally cause misalignments since door frames tend to expand or contract in response to heat and cold. Your home is prone to break-ins if you can’t shut the door securely. The fact that the door is still functional should not be a reason to not get it fixed. A sluggish lock increases the risk of break-ins and could cost more in the long run.

Broken Lock Process

You should have a process of what to do if your lock is not working properly, such as…

Find Out What Happened

Only specific kinds of lock damage are repairable. For instance, you should never attempt to straighten out a bent lock because doing so will make it weaker. Instead, you’ll probably need to completely replace the lock.

Contact your neighbourhood locksmith and ask them to take a look if you’re having problems evaluating the damage. Even if you’re attempting to cut costs, it’s always preferable to get professional guidance.

Change Broken Parts

You might be able to replace just the damaged portions of your lock rather than having to replace the complete thing. Examine the damage to see if you can identify which components require replacement. Do not replace any components that are not broken

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Lubricate The Keyhole

Proper lubrication is a quick and easy fix for many locksmithing problems. You can experiment with both dry and oil-based lubricants. It should be noted that oil-based lubricants can contribute to the accumulation of dirt and dust.

A typical problem with locks is rust. Before adding lubrication, clean and polish the lock if you see any rust.

Re-install The Lock

Over time, loose locks may begin to sag. While this sagging might indicate the need for a complete lock replacement, it also might just require a new installation. Due to repeated use, your lock’s connections may become looser over time, which occasionally results in sagging.

If so, you would only need to go through the installation process to re-tighten those connections. You would need to disassemble your lock, then put it back together and put it back in place to replace it.

Reinstallation is only effective if the lock isn’t entirely destroyed. You will need to replace the lock if it is damaged.

Contact A Professional Locksmith Service

If all else fails, call the professionals at London Locks. We have many years of experience in door lock issues, replacement locks, exterior broken locks, key services, lock fitting, key fobs, and everything in between. To find out more about how we can repair your locks at a very competitive price, simply get in touch with our team today and we will be happy to help in any way we can.

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