How to Do Your Own Lock Repair If your locks start to fail You can attempt to repair them yourself or hire an expert locksmith. Repairing locks can be difficult and if you take the wrong route, it may cause more damage. It is important to first determine if the issue is due to dust or dirt. Graphite spray or silicone-based oil can be used to clear this problem. 1. Door Handle or Knob Lock As time passes, door knobs and handles could become loose. This could result in an unbalanced knob or handle that is difficult to open. It is important to fix loose door knobs since they're not just annoying, but can compromise the security of your home. Fortunately, a broken doorknob or handle is relatively simple to repair. Depending on the type of lock system that is installed on your door, there are many options to fix this. Certain lock systems come with easily accessible mounting screws, whereas others use backplates to hide the screws. If your door has the latter type, this method may be more complicated. Most doorknobs with interiors have a tiny screw referred to as a setscrew that is located on the inside of the knob to prevent it from sliding across the spindle. This is part of the latch assembly. If yours is jiggly, it could be due to a tiny screw, known as a setscrew, located on the inside of the knob that blocks it from sliding over the spindle. You can make use of an flashlight to locate the set screw, then tighten it with an Allen wrench. Once it's tightened, test the knob and test if it no more feels like it's jiggly. If your knob still feels jiggly, it's possible that the set screw isn't placed properly. To ensure that the screw is in the correct position you should 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 this, the knob should click into place, indicating that it is positioned properly on the spindle. After ensuring the set screw is in the correct position then tighten it once more to secure the knob or handle in place. If this does not resolve the problem, you may need to remove the knob from the backplate and check for loose or missing screws. If this is the case, you will require replacing these screws before re-securing the knob or handle. If you're not happy with this kind of repair, contact a professional locksmith who offers repairs for damaged locks. 2. Key Won't Turn 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 inside the cylinder are worn down. This means that they no longer have a proper shape that allows for the sliders or wafers to be moved by the key. In this case spraying the lock with lubricant based on silicone or graphite spray can help coat the pins and allow them to move again. However, if the problem is more serious and the key is been bent out of shape you may need to have it straightened professionally. A professional locksmith can use a special tool to straighten the key which has an angled tip that fits into the groove in the key's tip. This kind of tool is not sold at hardware stores, however you can find an entire kit of the correct tools online or at the locksmith shop. Another possibility is that the lock is dirty or contaminated. Dust can accumulate over time in the lock's cylinder and cause the springs or pins to become stuck. In this situation spray the lock with graphite or WD-40 spray to remove the pins and return them to their original places. It could also be an issue if the key has been damaged. Keys are worn down over time by repeated use, which can result in the groves wearing down or even become smoother. This can cause the key to not fit in the cylinder. It is crucial to regularly check to make sure that the key is fitted correctly. In the winter months locks can freeze which prevents the springs and pins from moving when the key is put in. This is a problem that can be frustrating however it is usually resolved by warming the lock by using hot water and then re-lubricating it. If the lock is damaged beyond repair or has frozen it must be replaced. 3. The lock isn't turning If you've ever encountered an unresponsive lock and isn't opened, it can be very frustrating. If this happens frequently you might want to think about hiring a locksmith to take a look at the lock to determine if they are able help. Fortunately, this isn't necessary as there are some things that can be easily fixed without the need for professional assistance. The key won't turn in the lock if it is damaged. It could happen in the event that you've lost your key, or it's damaged inside the lock. Instead of trying to fish the key from the lock, which could result in it being pushed deeper into the mechanism, and increase the risk, use needle-nosedpliers to remove the key from the lock. Be careful not to scratch the lock by cutting off any part of the broken key with the pliers. There could be an incorrectly aligned lock, which could cause the door not to latch properly. If you have an extra lock key, you may test it to make sure that the lock is operating properly. If you do discover that the lock isn't aligned properly by tightening the screws around the strike plate can solve the issue and allow the lock to perform normally. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/manchester-window-lock-repairs-near-me/ why your key may not be turning is that there is dirt or dust in the lock that is preventing it from turning. Using graphite sprays or a silicone-based lubricant can solve this problem by coating the pins inside the lock to allow them to move up and down in a normal manner. Avoid using products that contain oil, like WD-40 for instance, as they can cause more obstructions in the future. Lastly, it's worth noting that there are certain kinds of keys that don't fit into all locks. If this is the case, you'll require a new key manufactured by a local hardware shop. 4. The Cylinder is Rotating Hairpin vortices can develop when a cylinder is rotated within a confinement. These vortices can impose significant forces on the cylinder rotating. These forces are proportional the the dimensionless curvature radius x and the confinement factor. The cylinder's tube, head and main body are all composed of aluminum alloy. If you're able to get your key in and turn it but the lock is still rotating it could be due to an issue with the cylinder. Rekeying the lock can solve the issue. You can purchase kits to do this online or in many big box stores.