How to Fix Common Door and Lock Problems as a Miami Homeowner

• Broken Key in a Lock

Having a key break off in a lock is pure frustration, especially if it leaves you locked out of your home. Removing the broken key can be tricky and will require the right tools. Also, a piece of the broken key should be sticking out of the lock to make this possible. Thin pliers or the right tweezers could help you get the key out. The pins should be able to fit on either side of the key for this to work.

If nothing is sticking out of the lock, you will need to contact a professional locksmith to assist you. Even if this problem occurs at an odd time of the night, most reputable locksmiths are available 24/7, including Quickly Locksmith.

• Loose Door Handles and Locks

Over time, the internal components of a lock, or the door handle, can become loose. Each of these components ensures your door works the way it should, which is why one loose part can be a bigger issue. If your door handle feels loose, you can hear loose parts in your lock, or your key doesn’t always work, it’s important to get it fixed.

Some loose parts are easy to tighten at home with the right tools. However, the internal workings of a lock require more knowledge and experience, which is why it’s best to get the help of a professional. If a locksmith cannot repair the lock, they can replace it for you, saving you time, money, and a lot of hassle.

• Misaligned Door Lock

Misaligned door locks and strike plates generally go hand in hand. The good news is that this issue is relatively easy to spot, and in some instances, you can fix it yourself with the tools you have at home. When the parts of a locking mechanism don’t align, it can be difficult to close the door and lock it. It can also damage the lock over time if it’s not corrected.

You can tighten the screws and hinges of the mechanism yourself. But, if this doesn’t correct the problem, additional steps are required, such as filing off sections of the strike plate. These tasks are best left to a locksmith to avoid further damage.

• Jammed Locks and Latches

A jammed lock or latch is always an urgent concern – it can leave you locked out or locked in your home. Trying to force the door open every time it jams will only further damage your locks too. A build-up of debris is just one of the reasons why a lock or latch tends to jam. By failing to clear this debris, your key can also end up breaking off in your lock, which is just an additional problem to deal with. A jammed lock could also be a sign that someone attempted to break into your home.

To ensure you don’t need to worry about changing or rekeying your locks, it’s important to get a locksmith to evaluate the jammed lock. If a break-in didn’t occur, they can help you unjam the lock and/or latch, ensuring it works as it did once again. You can also try using a lubricant first before you contact a locksmith.

• Spinning Lock Cylinder

If you can insert a key in a lock but all it does is spin the cylinder, this is a problem. This is an easy enough problem to spot, but not that easy to fix – not on your own anyway. A spinning lock cylinder could be an indicator of a damaged or loose set screw, which could leave you locked out of your home.

To fix this issue, the lock needs to be removed so that the set screws can be examined, which is a job for a locksmith. Doing so yourself could result in further lock damage, which requires a replacement lock – generally a pricier option.