Locking and unlocking a door is something all of us do daily. No matter if we are talking about the door of your home, your building, or your office, you do this without thinking about it and you expect to have no issues with the process. The reality is, thousands of people face lock problems daily, and the first thing we do when we are in a situation like that is panic. If you happen to have an issue with your keys, the door, or the chamber itself, you should not get stressed, because we are here to tell you how to fix most of the common issues.
In this article, we are going to talk about some of the most common lock problems, we will try to let you know why these things may happen to you, and we will also give you some advice on how to try and fix them. Know that no matter what happens, or how big the problem is, it can be solved. You can try the things we are going to list here, and if nothing works, or if you don’t have the right tools to get things done on your own, you can always contact a professional locksmith service that will help you fix your door issues. For more help click here.
1. Broken key
This is something that can happen to everyone, and sometimes it can occur even if the lock and the keys are both new. It can usually happen because you’ve tried to turn the key when something seems jammed, but in some cases, no matter how gentle you are, the key can just break and get stuck in the lock.
The first thing you need to do is not panic. This is an easily solvable thing and you will be able to fix it on your own. Users say that you should never try to press it even further or to try and get it out with your fingers because you can do the exact opposite of what you are trying to do. Instead, you can try to use tweezers or pliers and see if you can get the key out. One thing that is said to be extremely helpful is to get a hot glue gun stick, heat and melt it a little bit on one end, and press it onto the broken key. Wait for a minute until the melted part cools down and you should be able to easily remove the key.
If you manage to get the broken key out on your own, you should check to see if the lock has been damaged previously, and try to find the root of the issue. If needed, you will need to change the chamber.
2. The key won’t insert
This is another thing that can easily happen to anyone, and we tend to panic if the key won’t insert into the chamber. Note that the easiest solution to this is that you are just trying to use the wrong key. We tend to do this without thinking about them, and sometimes we can try to open our home door with our office keys. So, check to see if you are using the right key and if you didn’t somehow miss the floor, and you are trying to open your neighbor’s door.
If you just got new keys made, then they might have been poorly cut. If there is just one thing wrong, no matter how small it is, the key will not open your door. So, check to see if everything is correctly made, and if you have a spare key, then you should try using it to see if the issue is with the item on its own, or the chamber.
In case none of these things solve the issue, then LocksmithAndSecurity suggests that contacting a locksmith, Newport can help you get the chamber cleaned. No matter what kind of chamber problems you may have with your door, the lock, or the keys, a locksmith can easily help you get things fixed, unstuck, or cleaned.
3. The chamber is stiff and the key cannot be turned
The last common problem we are going to talk about is a stiff chamber that won’t let the key turn. Once again, the first thing you need to do is check if you are using the right key. If you don’t use the correct unit, and if it was badly cut, it will not turn the bolt, and you only risk breaking the unit inside of the chamber. Experts suggest that you should never use force and that if you do this, you only risk damaging both the key and the chamber.
Instead, try to get it out, check if it is the correct item, and try to insert it again. Wiggle it gently, and see if it can be turned now. The number one reason why a lock won’t turn is dirt and dust particles. If you are inside your home, then there are a few things that you can do. The first thing is putting some graphite on your key, and see if that will lubricate the chamber enough so it gets unstuck. You can do this with a common pencil, but you should never put too much graphite on it.
The next thing you can do is try to clean it with some silicone-based lubricant and spray directly into the chamber. Make sure you don’t use too much of it, and if needed, spray a little bit, check to see if the problem is fixed and if it is not, try again. Experts say that you should never reach for the oil lubricants like the WD-40 we all have in our homes because even though it may fix the issue now, it may cause damage and additional clogging later on.
Always make sure that the keyholes are clean and there is nothing stuck in them. If you live with small children, try to use covers so that they don’t put anything in the hole. If you notice that a problem persists, and if it starts happening too often, maybe it is time to replace the chamber altogether. No matter what kind of issue you are dealing with, everything can be fixed by a professional locksmith, and they can even help you with the process of changing and replacing the bolts.
