Unless your lock is severely broken, there really is no need to jump to immediately replacing it. In fact, if you do a little research and take a little time, you may find that there is an easier way to fix the lock without the need for a complete replacement. Door handle or deadbolt lock, with a little ingenuity, you may be able to fix rather than replace your broken lock.
1. Check The Bolt
If your deadbolt or latch bolt sustains too much damage, it can weaken and therefore cause your lock to break. Too much unnecessary force can cause these locks to bend or jam. Deadbolts are strong locks, but that doesn’t mean that they are invincible. Make sure that you don’t try to bend your lock back if it was bent, this will only cause it to get worse. Replacing the lock is a necessary step and it will also assure your safety.
Key Takeaways:
Don’t try to bend your bolt back after it has been bent, you will only ruin it.
Having broken locks are not good for your security; fix them ASAP.
2. Insure Alignment is good nad Fix it
The thing is, sometimes we tend to create a big problem out of a problem that really isn’t so big at all. For instance, sometimes what might seem like a broken lock is simply a misaligned one! Fixing this may be a bit of work, but it will certainly save you a whole lot of money. If you do not want to or trust yourself to fix this issue, feel free to contact a locksmith to fix the lock. If you feel, however, that you can handle it, then by all means, please do!
So, what is causing your lock to be misaligned? More often than not, it’s the door jam or the strike plate. If it is the door jam, this is usually due to weather change. As moisture comes and goes, your door jam tightens or extends. Weatherproofing it will help you to have to deal with this issue again. If it is the strike plate that is causing the issue, then you simply need to move it slightly or even consider slightly widening the hole for the bolt.
Key Takeaways:
It may seem like you have a broken lock, but it is possible that it is just misaligned.
Either move the strike plate to a different area or make the strike hole bigger to better fit the bolt.
Don’t just allow your door to be messed up, figure out how to fix it!
3. Fixing Connections
When you look at your door lock, does it look to be firmly in place or does it seem to be broken or even hanging around? Don’t immediately assume that this means that your lock is completely broken and everything has gone wrong! It could simply be that the connectors are loose! This can happen simply because of regular use. Wear and tear has had a hold on your lock and now it is time to fix it. As long as the lock is not completely broken, you should be able to simply uninstall and reinstall it.
Key Takeaways:
If you are noticing that your lock is sagging or that it is loose, it could be because something is wrong with the connections.
Your connection can become loose without you having broken the lock.
If your connections are broken, they need to be replaced before you decide to reinstall your lock.
4. Look into the Keyway
A keyway is a pretty complex situation and so if you have a broken lock that has an issue with the keyway, it can be pretty difficult to figure out what is going on with it. Why is it difficult? Well, it could be for the fact that keyholes are small and dark and it is pretty tough to see what is going on inside of them. It can also be because it is one of the most complicated parts of a broken lock.
It is important to figure out if something is blocking your keyway, so you should insert your key and try to move it to the shoulder of your key. If you find that something is blocking the keyway, you can try to get it out but it might just be that the lock needs to be replaced. If nothing is blocking the keyway but it still doesn’t work, chances are the lock or the key is worn out and you need to replace it.
Key Takeaways:
Keyways are complicated. The darkness and the complexity of the lock can cause you to have a hard figuring out just what is wrong with it.
Find out if your lock is clear or blocked by trying to insert your key to the shoulder.
If you find that something is blocking the keyway, you will know and you can do your best to try and clear it out.
If you find that there is nothing blocking the lock but it still does not work as it should, it is possible the key or the lock is worn out and it needs to be replaced.
5. Lubricate
Perhaps your lock is simply stuck and it needs a bit of lubrication to get it running smoothly again. As time passes, your lock begins to collect all types of dust, debris, and rust which can cause it to wear down and get stuck. A few drops of a good oil based or dry lubricant can get your lock to work again like it never has.
Key Takeaways:
If you are worried about your stuck lock, be sure to try lubrication before you decide that you need a whole new one.
Make your decision between an oil based lubricant or a dry one. Whichever one works best for you simply depends on how the lubricant takes to your locks.
Conclusion
Before you decide that you need to get a whole new lock, make sure that the lock you have now isn’t just suffering from a few easy to fix issues. If you find that your lock isn’t responding to these DIY methods, call a locksmith to come and help you out!
