Why Your Lock Is Sticking — and When It Is Really the Door

A lock that sticks rarely fails all at once. It gets a bit worse every week until one day the key will not turn. If you catch it early, the fix is usually smaller.

The door may be the problem

Many "lock" problems are really door problems. Timber doors swell and shrink with the weather. Hinges drop over time. Once the bolt no longer lines up with the strike plate on the frame, you have to push, pull or lift the door to lock it.

A quick check: open the door and turn the key. If it turns smoothly while the door is open but sticks when the door is closed, the door and strike plate are probably out of line.

When the lock itself is worn

If the key sticks even with the door open, the problem is probably inside the lock. Springs, pins and moving parts wear out over years of use. Worn or copied keys can make it worse.

Things to avoid

• Heavy oil. It attracts dirt and grit, which can make the lock seize.
• Forcing the key. A key that snaps inside the lock is a much bigger job.
• Filing the strike plate yourself. It may help for a week and then make proper alignment harder.

Signs it is time to call

• The key turns but the bolt does not move.
• The latch only catches when you push the door.
• You have to pull the key out a little before it will turn.
• The handle springs back slowly or stays down.

We start by finding the actual cause, not by swapping parts. See our lock repair page or call 03 4150 3418.