Broken keys, stiff locks and jammed doors in Watford and South West Herts

What sort of problems does this cover?

Locks wear out slowly, and the warning signs are easy to ignore until the day the door will not open or will not lock. Typical problems include:

• a key that has snapped, with part of it left in the lock
• a key that turns only with effort, or only after jiggling
• a uPVC or composite door handle that will not lift to lock
• a handle that has gone floppy and no longer moves the latch
• a door that will not close properly, or locks only if you push or lift it
• a mortice lock whose key turns but whose bolt does not move

A key has snapped in the lock. What now?

Try not to push the broken piece further in, and avoid trying other keys in the same lock. If part of the key is sticking out, you might be able to grip it gently with fine pliers and pull it straight out. Do not try superglue on a stick or anything similar, because if it fails it can leave the cylinder unusable. If it does not come out easily, leave it for a locksmith, who will have tools for the job.

Keep the other half of the key. It can help a locksmith see what kind of key and lock you have.

Why do locks get stiff?

Common causes are dirt and grit in the cylinder, worn keys, cheap copies cut from a copy, and doors that have shifted out of line so the bolts rub on the frame. A small amount of a lubricant sold for locks can help a stiff cylinder. Avoid thick household oils, which can trap dust.

If a key has only become hard to turn recently, try your spare. If the spare works smoothly, the problem may be the worn key rather than the lock.

Why will my uPVC door not lock?

On a multipoint lock, lifting the handle drives hooks, rollers or bolts into the frame. If the door has dropped on its hinges, or the frame has moved, those parts no longer line up with their keeps and the handle meets resistance. Doors can also swell or shrink a little through the year, so a handle that is stiff in winter may be fine in summer.

Please do not force the handle up. The mechanism inside the door, often called the gearbox, can break under strain, and then the door may be stuck locked or unable to lock at all. A locksmith can usually adjust hinges and keeps, and replace a failed gearbox or the full mechanism if needed.

What if the door is stuck shut?

If a door is jammed locked and it is your only way in or out, treat it as urgent. If anyone is trapped inside in danger, call 999. Otherwise send an enquiry and say clearly that the door is stuck, which side you are on, and whether there is another way in.

Can a door lock itself shut by accident?

It happens. A night latch with its snib left down, a multipoint door locked from inside by someone else in the house, or a thumbturn cylinder turned by a child can all leave you on the wrong side of a closed door. If a lock keeps catching people out, a locksmith can suggest a different type of lock or cylinder that suits the way your household uses the door.

Repair or replace?

Sometimes a clean, an adjustment or a new cylinder is enough. A worn mortice lock or a broken multipoint mechanism may need replacing. Ask the locksmith to explain what has failed and why they recommend a particular fix. If your insurer sets standards for your locks, mention it, so any replacement meets them.

What details help the locksmith?

• what the door is made of and roughly how old it is
• what you have noticed and when it started
• a photo of the lock and handle, and of the edge of the door if you can open it
• whether a key is broken in the lock
• your postcode

Where a local locksmith works in your postcode and you have given consent, only that locksmith receives your enquiry. If no locksmith works in your area, you hear that from us and nobody else sees your details.