Most Common Door Lock and Handle Problems
The interior and exterior door fittings are often subjected to serious “stress” throughout their entire service life. Despite the fact that it is made of metal, the risk of furniture breakage happens very often. Such malfunctions do not always require a complete replacement of door elements. In many cases, the issue can be eliminated without any additional costs. Making a repair is easy to do if you know the correct algorithm of actions.
When the Door Latch Is Misaligned
A misaligned door results in uneven gaps along the edges, which often causes closing issues and latching. In some cases, tightening the door hinges is enough. Other times, the misaligned door requires a more challenging repair like shimming the hinges or even replacing the door frame.
When the Key Doesn’t Lock the Door
In case you can turn the key in the lock with no effect, it means that some parts in the lock construction are not working properly, are damaged, and should be replaced. To fix the issue, you need to disassemble the lock and check that the cam or tang is properly engaged with the bolt. Lubricate the moving components with graphite and replace any broken parts and reassemble the lock. Afterward, work it back and forth in the cylinder several times.
When The Key Is Stuck
The problem with the key being stuck is associated with the displacement of individual parts of the locking device. It is necessary to disassemble the lock, clean all the elements of the mechanism well, lubricate the parts, and install the device in its original place. You do not necessarily need to buy and install a new device. Lubricating moving components can be enough to have the problem fixed.
When The Door Is Distorted
If the door is distorted and is difficult to open, the main cause of the problem is the skewed door leaf. It is necessary to adjust it not only to the position of the door frame but also to the locking device itself. To do that, you need to pull the bottom hinge pin and bend the hinge with a crescent wrench to move the bottom of the door. Once done, reinstall the hinge pin.
When The Door Mechanism Is Faulty
If the core of the lock is out of order, you will need to replace it. Before purchasing a new one, you need to determine its type. The core can be cylindrical or leveled. First of all, it is necessary to dismantle the armor plate – the protective plate of the locking mechanism. Then you need to open the locking element.
Repair of the door lock cylinder must be performed as carefully as possible since there is a possibility of damage to the locking mechanism. After removing the retaining screw, the old cylinder must be replaced with a new one. Installing a new core is quite simple. The same manipulations as the above are performed.
