The Most Common Lock Problems

The golden rule to avoid lock problems is lock replacement. New locks installed in stable and solid doors and windows will provide the expected security. Old locks will eventually betray your trust and will be easier to be vandalized, picked and violated by perpetrators. For this reason, locks must be checked often by Locksmith Crosby. You will need a good professional locksmith to examine their condition and consult you about imminent problems and how to avoid them. The good news is that today there are many solutions, a plethora of excellent security door locks and it is actually up to you to reinforce or weaken the security level of your property.

When the door locks don't lock

The best solution to most problems is lock repair. When locks are relatively new but they have slight problems due to extreme temperatures or attempted forced entry, they might be fixed. We usually take the durability of locks for granted but they are actually affected by many factors and their problems range from trivial to serious ones. After all, lock mechanisms consist of several parts and the smallest problem might compromise your security. Of course, many things play a great role to their condition starting from the quality of lock installation to the right choice of bolts.

We proceed with deadbolt installation to ensure the security of our properties. When the locks don't fulfill their purpose, we are suddenly faced with serious security problems. Do you think this is highly unlikely? Well, locks might be strong but do wear down.

*The most common problem with locks is when the latch bolt is not properly aligned with the strike plate. It is supposed to reach the right position and click in there in order to secure the door. When you try to lock the door, you will feel resistance. You can see where the latch meets the strike plate if you slowly close the door, pretending that you're locking it,or observe the scars on the plate. Problems like that arise either by problematic latches or when the door is shrunk or sags to one side slightly.

* When the setscrews are loose, the cylinder will turn and you won't be able to lock or open the door.

* If keys don't fit well in the door locks, it might be due to frozen or dirty locks. In this case, you will need to put some graphite in the lock.

* The strike plate might get damaged or get loose. If the screws holding it against the doorjamb are short, they may get loose over the years. If the material of the strike plate is not solid and durable, it might bend at the corners and the door won't close properly. Therefore, it won't lock well.

* Keys may break in locks either due to old age or if you put force to open the door. You must be gentle with the keys and remember that key replacement is required to avoid problems and extracting the keys.