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Writer's pictureMichael Kent

Three problems with door locks you shouldn't ignore

Doors do a lot for us. They give us access to the outside world, keep our buildings safe, and give us a place to put up signs and decorations that people can see. Yet despite frequent use, door lock repair Leeds is often taken for granted. Understandably, other things might be more important than door locks. But when a door lock starts to wear out, ignoring the problem can lead to bigger problems, like getting locked out. Here are some tips on how to avoid three of the most common lock problems we see.



Open Locks and Loose Handles

Over time, door hinges handle, and locks get worn down and lose their tightness. Loose locks are both easy to fix and easy to ignore. Some people think that a jiggling door handle or a hard-to-use lock adds to the rustic charm of a home. But over time, that loose lock gets more likely to break in a way that is very bad. The longer you wait to fix it, the more likely it is that the lock will stop working and you'll be stuck outside.


How to Fix a Lock That Won't Work

If a loose door handle or lock is slowing you down and you have to fiddle with it over and over, don't wait for the problem to get worse. Most of the time that will work. But if it doesn't or if you're not good with your hands, call a locksmith. After all, it's better to spend a little now on a locksmith than to spend a lot later on a new lock or door lock repair leeds.


Misaligned Locks

The deadbolt of a door lock works best when it fits into the strike plate next to the door jam. If these parts are even a little bit out of place, the lock is likely to be hard to use, and sometimes it won't work at all. People often knock locks out of place by yanking and pulling on the door handles or swinging the doors open and shutting too hard. This knocks the hinges out of place, which makes the door stand on its side. But some doors aren't the same on both sides from the start. When a door lock is out of place, you have to push, pull, and lift harder to open and close it. This extra force can also cause keys to breaking and inner lock parts to get messed up.


How to get your lock to line up

A lock that doesn't fit right is more than just an annoyance. It's also a security risk because it makes it easier for someone who wants to break in to get around the door. To fix a lock that isn't lined up right, you need to unscrew the mechanism until it's loose enough to move. Move it so that the deadbolt and strike plate are in the same place, and then tighten the screws again. If those steps don't work, you'll need to call a locksmith Lock Repairs Leeds, who will fix or maybe even replace the mechanism. You should never forget to fix a lock that is out of place.


Key Breakage in a Lock

As keys get older, they often become brittle, and older locks tend to rust in humid places. This mix can lead to bad things happening. The rusty lock is stuck in place. This means that you'll have to press the key harder to move the mechanism. In this case, there is a high chance that a weak key will break. The door is jammed because the key is stuck in the lock. If you're not at home at the time, this puts you in a tough spot.


How to Get a Key Out If It's Broken

When a broken key causes a lock to get stuck, you should first try to get the piece of the key that's stuck in the lockout. If part of the key is sticking out of the lock, you can pull it out with pliers. Make sure to pull straight, because pulling the key at an angle could break it again, leaving a smaller, harder-to-get-out piece inside. If the broken piece is inside the lock, you will need to call a locksmith.


An expert locksmith will help you with all your issues related to Door Lock Repair Leeds. Call the Leeds locksmith and leave all your worries behind as you’ll get effective and efficient service for all your door lock issues.

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