Common Lock Problems and How to Fix Them
Can’t turn the key — have you been locked out? Is the lock broken? What should you do?
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Only a professional locksmith in College Park can get you back in your house. We understand that small locksmith companies charge much more for this service. At QuickPro Locksmith, our team of highly trained and skilled fast, qualified and professional technicians will help you gain access to your property quickly.
Broken Key
One of the most common lock problems is a broken key. You may be able to fix this yourself, or you may need to call a professional. If you can remove the broken key from the lock, you can use a pair of pliers or tweezers to grip it and pull it out. If you’re successful, ensure that everything is intact in the lock before inserting another key.
If the broken piece is too small for pliers or tweezers to grip, try using needle-nose pliers instead. If that doesn’t work, take your lock to a locksmith or hardware store and ask them if they have any tools to help extract the broken piece. You’ll have to replace your lock completely if there’s no way around removing the broken piece.
The Key Won’t Insert
If you need help inserting the key into the lock, there is likely something stuck in between the lock and the keyhole. Use a small wire or a toothpick to remove whatever is stuck inside. A small piece of paper or even a piece of lint can cause this problem. If nothing is obstructing the lock, you may simply need to clean it out with a rag and some WD-40.
The Key Will Not Turn
You may not be able to turn your key if it has been severely bent or damaged in some way. You should straighten out the key by carefully bending it back into shape. If this does not work, you will have to replace your lock entirely because it cannot be salvaged.
The Lock Is Stuck Open Or Closed
A common problem with locks is that they get stuck open or closed, making opening or closing them impossible until they are fixed properly. If this happens, you should ensure that there aren’t any obstructions preventing your door from locking properly (such as loose screws on the door frame). If everything seems fine but
The Chamber is Too Stiff To Turn
Many common lock problems can occur. The most common is a key that doesn’t turn smoothly, or a lock that won’t open. These problems can be fixed by taking time and effort to repair the lock yourself.
If you have trouble turning a key in your lock, it may be due to a problem with the chamber of the lock. The chamber is where your key goes into the door and interacts with the pins inside. When something needs to be fixed with this area, it is difficult to turn a key.
If this happens to you, you need to remove your door handle from inside the door and take off whatever cover or plate is there so that you can see what’s going on with your chamber. You’ll need an Allen wrench to remove your latch bolt from inside the door once it’s off its hinges (you’ll need two people for this part). Once everything is removed, grab a flashlight and look carefully at your chamber from both sides (it will be easy to see once all those parts are out of there). If any obstructions are blocking its movement (like rust), try cleaning them out first with steel wool or sandpaper before.
QuickPro Locksmith
After trying to insert the key and turn it, only to have the lock sit there, you may think of yourself in a tug-of-war match with your door’s lock. If you cannot get your key into the lock even when the key is inserted all the way, then the problem lies with the chamber of the lock. What can be done about a stiff chamber? It’s quite easy. All that needs to be done is spray lubricant into the chamber or stream directly onto parts where metal meets metal and wait for a few moments. Then, try inserting your key again, and you should see some results.
Situations like these are why you may need a locksmith in Lawrenceville, and we are happy to help!
