The latch on the front door is broken

Types of locks

By type of key:

cylinder - with a small key with protrusions and notches;
level key – a long key with “wings” on the edges;
Phillips - with a key similar to a Phillips screwdriver;
disk - the key is small and semicircular with notches.

By type of insert:

the overhead lock is installed on the door leaf, closed with a key from the outside, and a latch from the inside;
mortise is built inside the door, the handle controls the tongue;
A padlock is installed separately from the locking element and is used for garage doors or gates.

The most popular are mortise lever locks.

Causes of problems

The most common difficulties:

Major lock failures

The main requirements for a door lock are reliability, long service life and burglary resistance. The locking devices used in high-quality entrance doors fully comply with each of the listed conditions. However, even the most reliable and durable mechanisms can periodically fail. The most common malfunctions are the following:

difficulties with inserting or turning the key in the well on one side or both;
the key cannot be pulled out of the lock;
the bolts of the locking device do not respond to turning the key, as a result of which the door does not close - on both sides, from the inside or outside;
the lock is jammed, while the key is inserted into the hole;
when the locking device is activated, creaking or other extraneous sounds are heard;
the key has broken in the keyhole, and its fragment cannot be removed and prevents further use of the mechanism.

The situations described arise for various reasons. Their identification is a key and often the most important stage in repairing a locking device, as it allows you to choose the optimal way to fix the problem. In most cases, lock failure occurs due to:

1. Problems with the key. In this case, we are talking not only about a banal breakdown, but also about severe wear or production of a low-quality duplicate, as well as the use of a non-original key;

2. Lack of regular maintenance of the mechanism. It is recommended that each locking device be inspected and lubricated at least once a year. For external doors that are used in more difficult conditions, maintenance is required every six months, more often in the cold calendar period;

3. Foreign objects, debris and dirt getting inside the well or secret mechanism. This problem can also be eliminated by periodic maintenance of the locking device;

IMPORTANT. A significant part of problems with door locks are successfully solved at the initial stage of their occurrence. There is no need to wait for the mechanism to completely fail. It is much more correct to quickly eliminate the problem when its first signs are identified - difficulties with turning the key, extraneous sounds when closing the door, etc. This approach will save money and avoid expensive repairs or even replacement of the mechanism.

4. Incorrect position of the leaf in the door frame or the frame itself in the opening. Misalignment of the entrance structure can be caused by installation errors, deformations, as well as operation of the door in unsuitable conditions. The result is problems that are not directly related to the mechanism, but interfere with its normal operation;

5. Wear or failure of individual parts of the locking device. This is a consequence of long-term use of the product. As in most similar situations, it is extremely important to identify the problem earlier, which will avoid the unpleasant need to open or break into the lock product, and in case of unfavorable developments, the entire entrance structure;

IMPORTANT. The most difficult solutions to the problem relate to entrance doors. Interior structures are equipped with simpler locking devices, which are much easier to repair, replace and break into.

6. Attempts of unauthorized entry into the premises. In such a situation, we are talking not only about the actions of attackers, but also about the use of another key or an auxiliary tool not intended for this purpose to open the locking product. Such actions often damage the device, and repair of the mechanism is not always possible.

How to open a door if the lock is jammed

The main rule: if you can’t open the door, you don’t need to apply even more force. There will be no sense from this, and the situation could get even worse.

You can try to open the door yourself using available tools: a hairpin, wire, screwdriver, pliers, grinder, crowbar, drill. If you can’t do this yourself, you should call a locksmith, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, or an employee of a company specializing in opening locks.

When the tongue is jammed, a knife, an aluminum ruler or an old plastic card will come to the rescue. Insert a thin, hard object between the box and the canvas where the tongue is located. Press down slowly until it goes in far enough to catch the far side of the tongue. Then you need to force it out of the hole, this will require a little force.

If the lock is cylinder type

When the cylinder is jammed or the key is stuck, you need to clean the hole with a wire brush. There may be too much dust or paint peeling off the door. After this, the lock is lubricated with machine oil or kerosene. If this does not help, you need to drill out the lock cylinder and install a new one.

If the door leaf is warped, you need a lever: a chisel, a screwdriver or a wedge. It is driven into the problem area and the door is installed in its place. At the same time, the handle is pulled to open it.

If the lock breaks, it is necessary to remove the cylinder when the mechanism is drilled out. You can place some suitable hard object against the cylinder and knock it out with a hammer. Then, when using a metal hook, you must try to move the opening mechanism.

Cross variety

You need to chew the gum well and place it inside the castle. After this, insert a screwdriver and turn it. The chewing gum will take the shape of a key and help open the door.

If the type of lock is level

If the key jams after 3 turns and it is not possible to make the 4th, it is necessary to grind off the longitudinal protrusions. They prevent the key from positioning correctly. After this, you need to insert the key with the back side and try to open the door. When there is nothing at hand to grind, the hole in the lock is pressed out and the key is inserted with the other side.

After this, if you manage to open the door, you need to remove the lock, disassemble it and clean every part. Lubricate them separately with a silicone-based product and assemble the lock.

How to solve a problem

The method for eliminating the problem depends on what caused it. Each situation requires an individual approach and choice of further actions.

Deformation of the entrance structure

First you need to check if the door frame is warped. You can understand this by using a building level. If this is the reason, to correct the situation you need to:

remove the door from its hinges;
disassemble the platbands and remove all excess underneath them for direct access to the box;
level the structure using wooden wedges;
if necessary, foam the voids;
After the foam has dried, reassemble the system.

In addition, you can adjust the box by loosening and tightening the anchor bolts that hold it in the opening.

If the lock mechanism does not close because the door is swollen, you need to act differently. It is better to replace a severely damaged blade. If the deformation is not so significant, you can take the following actions:

– remove the door from its hinges;

– use a plane to remove the resulting irregularities;

– treat the resulting surface with varnish;

– install the structure in place.

IMPORTANT! This method can only be used if the canvas is made of natural wood. In this case, products made from chipboard and MDF will be damaged.

What to do if the key gets stuck

First of all, you need to treat the mechanism with silicone spray and carefully, slowly, remove the key. If this method does not help, the key needs to be clamped with pliers and loosened a little. After this, spray some liquid inside again and carefully turn the key again.

Advice:

After spraying the liquid, you should move the wrench a little to maximize the distribution of the lubricant, wait about 20 minutes and only then take out the wrench.

If this is successful, it is necessary to change the cylinder or lock, otherwise the situation may repeat. If there are no problems when the door is open, but when the door is closed the key gets stuck, the door frame must be bored. A grinder, drill or file is suitable for this.

The key is broken in the lock

What to do if the key inside the lock breaks:

Try to pull it out with pliers if a small piece sticks out.
Use a jigsaw if the key is far inside. Send the jigsaw blade into the keyhole from below and twist it to engage the key. Try to carefully pull it out along with the rest of the key.
When you cannot get the key, unscrew the lock and remove it.

Preventative measures - how to protect the lock from jamming

What to do when purchasing:

before purchasing a door, check what type of lock it will be and whether there is a guarantee;
ask about the country of production - high-quality locks are made in Austria and Germany, you can also take Polish, Turkish or Ukrainian;
In the store, check the ease of movement of the tongue;
There should be no rust, scuffs or scratches on the lock.

How to care for the mechanism:

Reasons for poor closing of a steel door

Of course, a situation where the entrance metal door does not close well requires surgical intervention. This is quite logical and has an extremely simple explanation. If the problem further worsens, the structure will simply not be able to be closed one day, leaving the housing unprotected. Obviously, to correct the problem, you must first find out the reasons for its occurrence. It is often possible to install them even without inviting specialists. The most common situations in practice are:

Installation of low-quality locking devices or lack of maintenance. As a result, there is a gradual deterioration in the operation of the lock, for example, instead of 4 turns of the key, only 2 can be made, or serious effort is required to close, etc.
Wear of seals or, on the contrary, installation of new, thicker ones. Often when repairing a steel door, various parts are replaced. Often this involves installing new profile seals. This leads to the fact that the process of closing the door is seriously complicated. This situation is one of the few that can be corrected even without intervention, just after some time;
Warping of the door leaf. This often happens when the sash is hung on two hinges or insufficiently strong fittings are used. In most cases, if prompt measures are not taken to correct the situation, after some time the door will stop closing altogether;
Deformation of the entrance structure. There can be many reasons for this development of events. These are insufficient strength and load-bearing capacity of the opening, errors in the design or manufacture of the product, as well as the use of low-quality fittings. As a result, the lock of the entrance metal door does not close properly due to the fact that the bolts do not fit into the grooves of the locking device post.

Of course, there are other factors that can cause a door to close poorly, such as slamming the door tightly for a long time. In this case, due to severe shock loads, deformation of the structure or destruction of any parts may occur. In any case, for effective further use of the product, it is almost always necessary to take action to repair or adjust it.