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Door Lock Repairs You Can Do Yourself If a door lock begins to appear worn, it's important to have it repaired promptly. Otherwise, you could be leaving your property vulnerable to burglaries. Most of the common problems in door locks can be fixed without calling a professional. Find out more about the most common issues with door locks and how to fix them yourself. Damaged Lock Cylinder Although they are not as common on newer vehicles, as power door locks become the standard, car owners should be aware of and watch for any damage to their door lock cylinders. This is the mechanical tumbler your keys slide into, and it can wear out or break which causes keys to stick when you insert them or turned hard. If you notice this happening to your vehicle, it's crucial to act quickly to stop the problem from worsening. Spray compressed air into the cylinder to remove any debris that could be blocking it. You can also lubricate it using a graphite or silicone spray. Be cautious not to overdo it as this could cause the pins to wear out faster. If your key doesn't turn after trying these different methods it may be necessary to replace the cylinder. It could also be repaired by an experienced locksmith. After you've sprayed the cylinder and tried using the same key, it might be necessary to loosen the screws that hold the cylinder in place and then manually move it so that it is properly aligned with the keyhole on the door. Close mobile car central locking repairs but not too tight since this could cause internal components to wear out or get damaged. Depending on the type of lock you may have to take off the faceplate as well to gain access to the screw heads that hold it. If so, you can find them hidden behind seams or indentations at the faceplate's edge or by inserting screwscrewdrivers or putty knives into these areas. After you have removed the faceplate of the lock, employ a screwdriver to remove its internal components. Replace any worn or damaged parts. Install the lock and attach the faceplate securely. Secure the screws. Test the cylinder by inserting and turning it. If you're having issues you should consult an expert because the lock cylinder may need to be changed. Loose Door Handles Over time, the handle of a door may become loose and begin to spin or even fall off completely. This can be a problem since it makes it difficult to open the door, and also puts people at risk. It is crucial to know why the handle is loose, and how it can easily be repaired. This is often caused by loose screws in the doorplate. Modern doors might have difficult-to-reach screws for the chassis, whereas older styles are easily accessible. It is easy to tighten these screws however it is recommended to use threadlocker, which will secure the screws in the correct position. If the screw is visible, you can take it off it and tighten the screws. It is possible to loosen the ring around the base of handle before you can pry the knob off by pressing the metal detent pin. Then, you can remove the rose and expose the screws for the mounting plate which you then tighten. Also, you should check the strike plate screws, which secure the plate to the edge of the doorway which the latch clicks into when it closes. Sometimes, the issue is the spring cassette in the handle. This can break down over time, but most of the time it's due to wear and tear and requires a simple replacement. You can install it yourself or let your local locksmith do it for you. There are many cassettes, so be sure to choose the right one for your specific handle. It can also be down to a damaged faceplate or mounting ring but this is not common with the newer handles. You can usually find a similar replacement at a hardware store or online. Once you've put in the new piece it is time to tighten all the fixings, and then reattach the handle. It is also recommended to align the holes on the handle with the holes on the plate. If you're worried that this is too much of a DIY task, a locksmith will give you a quote. Keys That Don't Turn There are many different reasons why keys don't turn inside of locks. Most often this is due to the lack of lubrication. This can be fixed by applying a lubricant, such as WD-40, silicone-based spray or graphite lubricant. The pins will move upwards and downwards when you insert the key and apply the grease. Sometimes it could be the key itself that can be the cause. Utilizing a key for a box cutter, can opener, or for something other than accessing your home can cause the tip of the key to become blunt over time. This could prevent the key from fitting into the lock cylinder in a proper way and can result in it getting stuck or jammed inside of the lock. Re-tipping the lock key using a bastard tool can aid in fitting it better. A key that is not turning in a lock could also be damaged or bent. The edge of a key may be bent if used to open or cut cans. This could also hinder the key from fitting into the lock cylinder in a proper way. In this instance, re-tipping with a bastard file or replacing the entire key could be necessary to fix the problem. It is important to know that gluing the two pieces of metal will not work if a key has broken inside a lock. This could cause further damage to the mechanism of the lock and it is advised to call a locksmith who provides replacement keys to fix the problem. If the key isn't broken, it could be that the cylinder of the lock is clogged with dust or other debris. In this situation it could be beneficial to warm the cylinder up by placing the key into hot water for a couple of minutes. Once the cylinder is been warmed up, you will be in a position to insert the key into the cylinder and unlock the door. You can also make use of a hair dryer and blow air directly into the lock mechanism, allowing it to warm up and then thaw it out. Sticky Locks Locks are a crucial element of your home security. Locks are often overlooked until they fail to function properly. The problem of sticky locks is a common issue, but they're difficult to fix by yourself and can prevent larger issues from developing. A malfunctioning mechanism is among the most common causes for stuck locks. This can be easily cured with a little bit of cleaning and lubrication. Dry lubricant, such as sprays of WD-40 or GT85 spray is a popular solution. The key is put into lock and rotated back and forward to spread the oil on the internal mechanisms. The key is then removed, and the lock should turn smoothly again. Another option is to choose the lubricant based on graphite. Graphite is a fantastic oil to use on small metal parts. It doesn't wash off or attract dirt like oil-based solutions. Powdered graphite is sold at a wide range of hardware stores and can be applied to the keyhole directly. You can also use pencils, which are made from the same material. Make sure to clean up any excess lubricant applied after having used it. This will stop it from accumulating and causing future problems. If you've tried the above suggestions and your lock isn't moving, it might be time to contact an expert locksmith to evaluate the situation and determine the most effective option. If you ignore sticky locks, they can become a major problem and cause keys to break inside the lock. Ignoring a sticking lock can be extremely frustrating and it's better to act earlier rather than later. Regularly lubricating your locks can help prevent these problems from occurring in the first place. You can have peace of mind knowing that your locks will work properly and secure your home by adding this to your regular maintenance routine.