How to Do Your Own Lock Repair
You can either fix your locks yourself or engage a professional locksmith when they become faulty. Lock repair can be tricky, and the wrong approach could result in further damage.
You must first determine if the issue is due to dust or dirt. Graphite spray or silicone-based lubricant are a good choice to eliminate this issue.
1. Locked Door Knob or Handle
As time passes door knobs and handles could become loose. This can result in the knob or handle becoming jiggly that is difficult to open. Loose door knobs are not only annoying but they can also compromise your building's security, making it essential to identify and resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Fortunately, a loose doorknob or handle is fairly simple to repair. There are a few different ways to do this, depending on what kind of lock your door comes with. Certain lock systems have easily accessible mounting screws, while others use backplates to hide the screws. If RepairMyWindowsAndDoors uses the one that is hidden, the process may be more complicated.
The majority of doorknobs for interior use are designed to slide over a cylindrical spindle, that is inserted into the door as part of the latch assembly. If yours feels jiggly, it could be because of a small screw, called a setscrew, that is located on the inside of the doorknob, which is keeping it from sliding over the spindle. Make use of flashlights to locate the set screw and use an Allen wrench to tighten it. After it's tightened, test the knob and see if it no longer feels like it's jiggly.
If the knob is jiggly it could be because the screw that sets it hasn't been positioned correctly. To make sure the screw is properly positioned Look for a small, corresponding button on the spindle. Slide the knob over the spindle after pressing the button with the screwdriver that has a flat head. As you do so the knob should begin to click, indicating that it is rightly positioned on the spindle.
After ensuring the set screw is in the correct position and tighten it once more to ensure that the knob or handle is in the correct position. This should fix the problem however, if it doesn't then you might need to remove the knob and check the backplate for loose or missing screws. It is necessary to replace the screws in this case before you can reinstall the knob or handle. If you aren't comfortable with this kind repair, you must contact an expert locksmith who can offer repairs for damaged locks.
2. The key won't spin in the lock.
There are a variety of reasons why your key could cease to turn in the lock. One of the most frequent reasons is that the pins within the cylinder have worn down. This means that they no longer have a proper shape that allows the sliders or wafers to be moved by the key. In this case the best solution would be to spray the lock with graphite spray or lubricant made of silicone to coat the pins and help them move again.
If the issue is more serious, and the key is bent or twisted, you may need to have it straightened by a professional. A professional locksmith can use an instrument specifically designed to straighten the key, that is designed with an angled end that fits into the groove in the key's tip. This kind of tool isn't readily sold at hardware stores, but you can purchase an entire kit of the correct tools online or at an establishment that sells locksmith tools.
A soiled or dirty lock is also a possibility. Over time, dust may accumulate in the lock the cylinder, which may cause the pins and springs to seize up. In this situation, spray the lock with graphite or WD-40 spray to clean out the pins and restore them to their original places.
If the key itself has become damaged, it could also be a problem. In time, repeated use can cause wear and tear on the grooves on a keys. This could result in the key not fitting properly into the cylinder, which is why it's crucial to pay attention and make sure whether your key fits properly.
Locks can freeze up during the winter months. This will prevent the pins and springs from moving when keys are placed. This can be a frustrating issue however it is usually solved by warming the lock by using hot water and then changing the lubricant. However, if the lock is damaged or frozen beyond repair, it will likely require replacement by an expert.
3. The Lock isn't Turning
It can be frustrating to have a lock that won't turn or open. If this happens frequently you might want to think about having a locksmith come and inspect the lock to see if they are able help. This isn't always needed however, as some issues can be resolved by yourself.
The key may not rotate in a lock if it's damaged. This could happen if you've lost your key or it's broken in the lock. Instead of trying to fish keys out of the lock which could result in it being further pushed into the mechanism, and make it worse you can use needle-nosedpliers to take the key from the lock. Be careful not to cut off the broken piece with the pliers or you could end up damaging the lock.
It's possible that your lock isn't aligned correctly which could cause the door to not latch correctly. If you have an extra lock key, you can test it to ensure that the lock functions properly. If you find that the lock isn't aligned properly, tightening the screws around the strike plate could fix the problem and allow the lock to function normally.
A lock might not rotate due to dust or dirt. This issue can be fixed by using a graphite or silicone-based lubricant to cover the pins of the lock. This allows them to move up & down as normal. It's crucial not to use oils-based products such as WD-40 for this though since they could cause more blockages later on.
It's important to know that some keys don't fit into all locks. If yours is one of them then it's time to purchase a replacement key from a local hardware store to ensure that it can be used inside the lock.
4. The Cylinder is Rotating
When a cylinder rotates in a confinement gap, it could result in hairpin vortices to form which can cause significant forces on the cylinder. These forces are proportional the the dimensionless curvature radius x and the confinement factor. The cylinder's tube, head and main body are made of aluminum alloy.
If you can insert your key and turn it but the lock is still rotating, the cylinder may be faulty. Rekeying the lock could fix the issue. You can purchase kits for this purpose online or in many big box stores.