Locking Plier
7 common problems with locks and how to fix them
Frozen Lock - If a lock is frozen you can pray deicing spray into it or use a hairdryer to warm it up. Some people say that you can heat a key up with a lighter but this will tarnish the key and possibly make it more susceptible to breaking later on. You could also burn your fingers.
Broken key - If you break your key off in the lock you should spray a lubricant into the keyhole first to make the key stub easier to pull out. Once you have lubricated it you can us a couple paper clips or anything small enough and strong enough to fit into the lock and pinch the top and bottom of the key stub. Once you get it out a bit you can pinch on with pliers to get it the rest of the way.
Stubborn key - Sometimes a key won't go in and out of the lock smoothly. This is usually because your key is worn out and you need a new one. When the biting on the key wears the pins inside the lock don't align properly so it can turn. It's also likely that it could be dirty or in need of lubrication. Clean the lock and put some new lubrication into it. Please see the article before this one for more on this subject.
Action is stiff when you turn the key - If a lock is difficult to turn and the key works properly then you probably need to clean, lubricate and adjust the lock. You can also find this information in a previous article.
Moving lock - If the cylinder moves when you turn the key then you have to tighten the screws so it pinches the door harder. Don't over tighten.
Deadbolt won't go in or the door won't stay closed - If the bolt doesn't extend, check the alignment of the strike plate where it enters the door jam. This also goes for doors that won't stay closed. The reason for this is that the plunger isn't going into the hole properly and the door is swinging back open. Look at the strike plates and adjust them accordingly. You may need a small chisel for this to align the strike plate on the door jam.
The door is getting stuck when closed or when closing - First make sure that the screws in the hinges, door handle, and deadbolt are tightened and aligned properly. if this isn't the reason then you need to look at the strike plate. Please refer to the tip above this one. When the weather gets warmer or colder the house can shift a bit causing the door to go out of alignment. You can usually fix this by making the hole in the door strike bigger but first make sure that the latch and strike are the problem and that it's not the door rubbing on the jam.
Thanks for reading and if you get a chance visit us at http://www.shopkeylesslocks.com.
About the Author
Sean Martin is a security professional who has been in the business for a number of years. He currently owns interests in Time Lock Inc. and www.shopkeylesslocks.com.
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