How To Get A Door Lock Unstuck

Step 1 examine the door with your eyes.

How to get a door lock unstuck.

If not just hold it flush to the lock. The handle or knob must be jiggled to unstick the latch. If you canâ t open one door try another door to see if it opens. Use a file to widen the hole on the strike or remove the strike with a screwdriver and reposition it on the jamb.

Close the door and run your eyes along the gap between the door and the frame noting places where the gap is very thin. The up and down motion of jiggling may free the teeth that are stuck in the lock pins so you can pull out the key. How to free a stuck lock. It is best to inspect an exterior door in a sunny or well lit area step 2 run a piece of heavy stock paper around the closed door.

Avoid pulling hard which merely binds the key against the lock pins. This is very useful if you can t. Jiggle the key while pulling outward gently. Once the door is open try to actuate the door latch with the handle.

More force is needed to turn the knob and unstick the latch. Also check for grime or any sticky buildup that may just need to be cleaned. Check the alignment of the deadbolt against the strike on the jamb if the lock is difficult to turn when the door is closed or the door doesn t lock at all. Consider the following tips to help you unstick that aggravating door lock.

Spray lubricants are one of the most commonly recommended solutions for unsticking a stubborn lock and while they may temporarily get the job done many times they can do more harm than good. Place the end of the nozzle up to the opening of the lock. I show you how to recover and restore a frozen or rusty padlock or door lock. Key won t turn in lock i couldn t get my mail so i tried something whilst the camera was rolling and it was almost a miracle result.

Hold the tip of the bottle up to the lock. Depending on the size of the bottle you may be able to actually fit the nozzle part of the way inside the opening. Place the first cardboard shim between the lower hinge and the door jamb then reinstall the hinge. Look for scratches in the paint or any other noticeable damages to the door and frame.

This will push the bottom edge of the door out and may unstick the top corner. Steer clear of spray lubricants.