When your door lock jams it can be easy to panic, especially when you are in a rush to get inside your house. However, panicking is never a good idea, as it can wind up in you accidentally damaging the door lock even more than it already is. Here’s some quick solutions for jammed door locks that anybody can implement, prepared by us, the expert door repair and lock installation team at Sonic Lock and Key.

Weather Problems

Wet or cold weather can jam your door’s lock mechanism. However, before deciding that the weather is the cause, ensure you are using the proper key - which is a surprisingly common mistake. If it’s an extremely cold day and the key won’t enter or turn inside the lock, blow on it before using it again, to try to heat it up. If the lock is truly frozen, blow a hairdrier on it to thaw it out.

Key Burrs

If warming up the key doesn’t work, or if you still can’t turn the key in warm weather, the key may be suffering ‘burrs’. This is a common issue with brand new keys. Place soot on the key, place it in the lock, and then remove it. Any parts of the key that no longer have soot on it are rubbing against the lock mechanism. Try grinding those areas down using a file, and attempt use of the key again.

Lock Lubrication

Grease can fix a stuck deadbolt lock. Spray thread lubricant into the keyhole if the deadbolt won’t turn when the door is open in order to loosen up deposits on the metallic pieces that are blocking the key. You can also squeeze in a small amount of graphite in the lock hole, or dust some graphite onto the key - then insert the key and turn it a few times in order to allow the graphite to settle into the lock mechanism.

Deadbolt Misalignment

If the deadbolt doesn’t line up correctly it will not work properly. Ensure that the deadbolt is properly aligned against the strike or jamb. Consider utilizing a file to widen the strike’s hole, or taking the strike off with a screwdriver and repositioning it onto the jamb. It’s possible that the wooden mortise under the strike needs to be widened with a chisel. Take the cover plate off and tighten up the set-screws holding the lockset in place if the whole thing moves when you turn the key. If any of the screws are broken, you need to replace it. Take off the entire lockset if this still doesn’t allow the key to turn. Consider spraying the mechanism with lubricant and waiting some time before reinstalling it.