When it comes to protecting our homes and businesses having locks in good working order is essential. When you start to have lock problems then it should be a priority to get it sorted right away. Some more serious issues need the tools, knowledge, and skills of a professional locksmith however there are some issues that you can resolve yourself if you follow the simple guidance in this post below. Here are some common lock problems and what you should do if you experience them.
Broken Key In Lock – This is a very frustrating situation as it often leaves you locked out or lock in your property. When this happens, you should never try to unlock the door with the broken key as this can push the broken key further into the locks mechanism and make it harder to extract and can even cause damage to the lock itself. If enough of the key is showing, then you can try and use a pair of needle nosed pliers to try and pull the key out. If the key doesn’t come easy, then you should never try and force it as this could cause more problems. If you can’t see enough of the key or are having problems trying to retrieve the key then you should call out a local locksmith, they will have the relevant tools and experience to retrieve the key without causing any damage to the existing lock.
Lock Is Stiff and Difficult to Open – Dirt and dust can find it’s way into a lock and build up over time. This can clog up the locking mechanism making it difficult to turn. You can apply some graphite spay or silicone-based lubricant in the lock, put the key back in and turn it a few times. Never use oil-based lubricants such as WD-40 to lubricate locks because they will cause problems with clogging later on.
UPVC Door Difficult to Lock or Open – If the door can be locked /unlocked easily while in the open position, but not when the door is closed, this indicates the door has become misaligned. UPVC doors are designed to be adjustable but can sometimes slip or drop out of alignment. This is something that most people will find tricky to correct but is usually a quick fix by a reputable local locksmith. Unfortunately, if you discover that the locking mechanism has problems when the door is open this may indicate that the lock is faulty in which case new parts might be required. Again, a quick call to your local locksmith will have this resolved in no time.
Key Won’t Turn In Lock – This problem can be caused by many things. Firstly, it is important that you never try and force the key to turn in the lock as this could cause the key to break. You can try lubricating the lock with graphite spray or silicone-based lubricant as mentioned above. If this doesn’t help it could be that there is a misalignment of the lock and door (similar to UPVC problem above) or there could be a problem with the lock cylinder. Unfortunately, both problems will usually require the skills and expertise of a locksmith to diagnose and correct.
If you’re having problems with he locks at your property then contact 1st Express Locksmiths today – 01623 422555
