The door lock is broken. How to open the front door if the lock is broken or jammed

Troubles happen often, the most annoying being problems with the lock. Fatigue weakens your legs, but the called master is in no hurry? How to open a door if the lock is jammed or jammed - the answers will be found below. You can solve the problem on your own, focusing on the tips, advice, and recommendations from the article.

It is necessary to determine further actions based on the nature of the breakdown. It can be determined by excluding available versions. If the key is missing, you can open the door with improvised means - a hairpin, a needle.

Step-by-step instruction

A sequence of actions that helps to open the sash in half the cases of jamming:

• clean the keyhole with a stiff brush to prevent the entry of foreign objects - shavings, peeling paint, trim;
• use magnetic attraction to remove metal shavings;
• lubricate the mechanism with oil and try to carefully, slowly turn the key;
• If you can't scroll, try to get it out with pliers.

Attention! Excessive physical impact will significantly complicate the situation - all movements must be careful.

• if the door lock does not open after working with pliers, the mask is pulled out and replaced;
• To avoid damage to the hinges, a thorough inspection should be carried out.

The lock on the door is jammed - what to do if the device is in English:

1. Drill out the mechanism with a screwdriver, pull out the cylinder with a small piece of metal wire, hook up the drive mechanism, and push in the bolts.
2. Knock out the cylinder with a stop by tapping it with a hammer.

To prevent distortion, you will need a wedge. Not finding the required item, you can use a flat screwdriver or chisel. A wedge-shaped object is inserted into the hole between the leaf and the door frame. With a slight pressure, you can return the warped canvas to its original position, while at the same time trying to open it.

If interior door is not locked with a key, and when the handle is pressed, the door does not open, which means the tongue is jammed.

1. Insert a flat object (knife, ruler) into the gap between the entrance flap and the frame in the area where the tongue is located.
2. Tilt the knife so that it slides along the steel cut.
3. When the ruler reaches the end, push away from you to push the tab into place.
4. If there is no cut on this side of the sash, then you need to get it out by inserting a ruler diagonally from above.

Attention! If the key breaks off when opening, you can get it out by carefully prying it up with a pin. You must first treat the keyhole with silicone spray.

If you don’t have a hairpin, you need to ask your neighbors for any thin, long object. Then you should replace the lock, because there is no point in repairing it.

Some simple tips that will help you cope if the door is jammed:

1. If a wooden door is deformed from moisture, a hairdryer will help correct the situation. In the absence of the latter, you can use a heating device.
2. If the fault is in the iron frame of the door, then the opening must be carried out based on the belonging of the locking mechanism to a certain group.
3. If the door lock is jammed and the security system is cylinder-type, only a master can save you. Among the breakdowns: the key cannot be pulled out, it turns poorly, creaks, the cylinder gets jammed when opening, or the key gets stuck.
4. If the lock on the door is broken and the security system is of the lever type, then in order for the key to be inserted correctly, you can grind off the longitudinal protrusions or press the hole a little.

A careful inspection of the door leaf can help identify the problem. Visually you can notice cracks in the hinges, shrinkage and other damage.

What could be the reasons for the problem?

There are no perfect locks, but before they break, they always “signal” that there are problems.

Signs of imminent failure of the locking mechanism:

• jams when opening and closing;
• when turning, the key gets stuck;
• does not always close;
• key slipping;
• suspicious clicks.

There are many reasons why the door lock does not close:

• ingress of various objects into the structure;
• incorrect manipulations when trying to open and close;
• metal shavings, dust, plastic fragments got inside the rubbing parts of the mechanism (cylindrical locks are susceptible to breakage);
• Regular preventive maintenance is not carried out - lubrication, washing with special means;
• increased humidity, which causes deformation of the wooden door leaf;
• constant closing of the sash with a large physical strength(clapping);
• the key is not used for its intended purpose - opening bottles, etc.;
• skewed door leaf;
• replacing the original key with a low-quality duplicate;
• manufacturing defects.

The reason for the lock jamming is also incorrect installation performed by a person without the proper skills:

• insufficient number of hinges, which caused the door leaf to sag;
• loop mechanisms are installed incorrectly, unevenly;
• independent replacement of a high-quality rubber seal with a self-adhesive one;
• if there is no gap between the frame/sash, the hinges will put pressure on the canvas.

You can break into a jammed locking mechanism using as a last resort. After a break-in, you should go to the store, buy a new one, and install it so that the entrance does not remain open for a long time. Mortise models must be replaced with new ones. For example, electromagnetic locks of the new generation - they come in mortise and padlock types. More information on protective mechanisms can be found on the forum.

A little advice! You need to carry a hairpin, a small screwdriver, and spare keys to solve difficult situations didn't last long.

Lock jamming is a serious problem, the solution to which must be sought in the keyhole. The protective mechanism can break if operating conditions are not met, prevention is not carried out, and also due to physical impact. To open the lock, you should use the tips described above.

Sections of the article:

The most common problems with entrance door blocks are malfunctions of the locking mechanisms. The lock often jams. Such problems appear suddenly and for the simplest reasons, usually due to damage to the original key. There may also be problems in the locking block of the front door due to worn parts.

The most common problem with locks is malfunction of the cylinder mechanism. Therefore, replacing it in most cases is the main way to solve problems. Replacing the entire lock is rarely required.

Disassembling and replacing the lock

In order to correct the problems that have arisen, you need to know how to disassemble a lock installed on the front door leaf or embedded in it. The principles for disassembling locking mechanisms are somewhat different from each other and primarily depend on the placement of the device.

Regardless of the standard used to manufacture the cylinder lock, the common feature of their design is the ability to replace the cylinder mechanism. To disassemble the lock you will need a screwdriver.

Initially, the fastening screw of the locking mechanism is unscrewed. Most frequent place location of fasteners - on the end part of the lock plate. To remove the cylinder, unscrew the screw counterclockwise. Quite often, in order to remove the lock cylinder mechanism, you need to press it slightly with inside. Often special fastening clamps do not allow removing the mechanism. In order to remove the larva, if present, the key is slightly turned in the keyhole. This will allow you to easily remove the cylinder.

Despite the almost complete external identity of the cylinder cylinders, when purchasing a replacement device, it is imperative to compare their sizes. If the holes and dimensions of the mechanism do not match, its installation will be impossible.

When installing a new part, the cylinder is placed in the existing hole and secured with a screw. To accurately fit into the grooves, it is recommended to slightly move the secret in the lock block. However, this procedure must be performed with the key inserted into the hole and turned to the “closed” position.

Mortise

In mechanisms of this type, in case of malfunctions, it is not always possible to replace individual elements. Most often, a new lock is required to install on the front door. The reasons for this are the design of the device. Not all locks of this type contain removable elements.

To disassemble the device, you must have a socket wrench and a set of various screwdrivers on hand. The removal process consists of the following steps:

• First of all, you need to remove the door handle. To do this, in most designs it is simply pulled out after removing the fasteners;
• The decorative trim is removed;
• When disassembling models with a missing insert, the fasteners on the end of the door leaf are unscrewed.

When choosing a replacement locking mechanism, it is much more convenient to purchase a device with similar dimensions. This will allow installation to be carried out immediately without the need for additional procedures for adjusting the hole.

Overhead

To dismantle the rim lock, the fixing elements located in the end part of the door leaf are initially removed. After this, the decorative trim is removed and the remaining fastening screws are unscrewed.

The installation process is carried out strictly in reverse order.

Mounted

Dismantling and disassembly process locking device mounted type is the simplest. To do this, use a suitable screwdriver to remove the fastening elements. Next is removed protective housing and the supporting mechanisms are removed. Some models of padlocks require the removal of a number of additional fasteners.

Thus, understanding the principle of dismantling and disassembling the mechanism, you can easily understand how to proceed in order to reassemble the padlock of the front door after replacing the failed parts.

To facilitate the process and control the correct location of parts, we recommend photographing each of the disassembly stages.

Common lock problems

Since no mechanism is perfect, it is possible for any of them to develop problems over time. The main reasons are not proper operation The locking mechanism is:

• Mechanical damage;
• Failure to comply with operating conditions;
• Warping or sagging of the door leaf;
• Failure to comply with door installation technology.

The main measures to prevent jamming of the locking mechanism are regular lubrication of structural elements and cleaning them from accumulated dust. Also, for durable and high-quality operation of the device, it is necessary to follow a number of rules:

• The use of protective pads is recommended. Their presence will provide protection against the ingress of various foreign objects and dust accumulation;
• The use of non-original keys, as well as duplicates of poor quality, entails jamming of the unlocking mechanism;
• Mechanical damage to keys resulting from improper use also causes breakdowns;
• Forceful manipulation of the lock, as well as sudden slamming of the door leaf, also negatively affects the operation of the mechanism.

Incomplete occurrence of the key

The main reasons for this phenomenon are:

• Dust accumulated in the mechanism;
• The presence of foreign objects in the well, including key fragments;
• Mechanical damage.

The first measure to remove contamination and restore proper operation of the device is to disassemble the lock and lubricate its elements. The best remedy A specialized WD-40 spray can be used to properly lubricate the front door lock. If it is not available, you can use machine oil or kerosene. Lubricants are poured into the keyhole hole using a pipette, medical syringe or oil can.

After the lubrication procedure, the key is gradually inserted into the keyhole in several passes and also carefully removed. After several approaches, you can try to open the lock. In some cases, the removal of the decorative trim is required to fully insert the key.

If there are foreign objects, they are removed by scraping them out using a small hook or tweezers. You can also use a brush. However, you should use a product with stiff bristles so that during manipulation, hairs do not remain inside the mechanism.

The key won't come out

Problems of this kind most often arise as a result of breakdown of internal mechanisms. You can remove the key using WD-40 spray, which is used to treat the keyhole. After such manipulations, the key, slightly swaying in different directions, must be slowly pulled out. In cases where the key breaks right in the keyhole, it should be pulled out using pliers or another tool. To do this, you can first remove the lock mechanism cylinder.

To avoid recurrence of the problem, the lock cylinder must be replaced.

The mechanism jams when the key turns

In such a situation, several options are possible. If the device operates normally when the door leaf is open and problems occur when closed, it is necessary to bore the frame. Manipulations are performed at the point where the lock bolt enters the groove.

If the locking mechanism jams in both positions of the door leaf, it is necessary to clean the device from accumulated debris and lubricate the component elements. In extreme cases, the mechanism may need to be replaced.

The tongue is jammed

To initially eliminate the problem, use any available item that has sufficient flexibility and rigidity. A metal ruler, unnecessary, is perfect for such purposes. a plastic card or a knife.

The selected item is carefully and smoothly inserted in the area between the door and the frame at the location of the tongue. It must be pushed to a depth sufficient to touch the far end of the tongue. After which attempts are made to push through the jammed part.

Subsequently, in order to avoid recurrence of the problem, it is necessary to disassemble the device and clean and lubricate the parts. In some cases, it may be necessary to replace the motor elements of the structure.

If the front door lock is jammed, to fix the problem you must first remove the mechanism, disassemble it, replace the broken parts, and then put the mechanism back in place. Before starting repairs, you should study the design of the lock in order to understand what will have to be repaired and where.

Do-it-yourself ways to fix a breakdown

If the lock is stuck, what should you do if you can’t ask for help or call specialists? Even with basic skills this problem you can fix it yourself.

• Cross-shaped. The key resembles a Phillips screwdriver.
• Suvaldny. A long key with large “wings” located on the sides.
• Cylinder. It has a small key with notches.
• Disk. A small semicircular key with notches.

Replacing the larva

If the lock cylinder is jammed, it may require removal and subsequent replacement. For this purpose you need to have a screwdriver. You need to open the door, find the bolt securing the bar and unscrew it counterclockwise. The bolt must be completely pulled out of the hole. After removing the larva, you can replace it with a similar one that is suitable in shape and size.

The tongue is jammed

Problems with the front door leaf can arise for several reasons. You need to carefully understand what the problem is. The most common reasons are:

1. Incorrect operation.
2. Initial factory defect.
3. Mechanical damage.
4. Skewed or sagging part of the door leaf.
5. Incorrect installation of the unit.

Preventative care

If the front door lock jams, it is necessary to follow the operating rules and also eliminate factors that contribute to the occurrence of problems. Without maintenance, the structure can quickly fail after use.

How to lubricate correctly

When the key is tight, it is necessary to lubricate the structure. For this purpose, you can use compositions used for lubrication door hinges. They can be divided into two categories: folk and special. Popular ones include sunflower oil, melted fat, grease, graphite and machine oil. Special lubricants include compounds produced exclusively for lubricating mechanisms: WD-40, silicone, lithol, carbon lubricant.

It is necessary to lubricate the door mechanisms of entrance doors at least once a year, and interior doors - every 6-8 months.

What to do if a lever or cylinder lock is stuck

If the lock is jammed and the key is stuck in it, it must be removed. First you need to clean the door and lock slots from dirt and dust. Then lubricate the well with machine oil or another compound so that the key can be removed using pliers.

How to open a door if the lock is jammed

When a problem arises, how to open a jammed lock, you can use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the structure and get into the apartment. This will solve the issue if you open it from the outside door lock not with a key, but use other devices.

You can fix the design yourself, but a specialist can tell you how to repair the mechanism without any difficulty.

Contents 11/24/2015 The door always has a high probability of failure, since it is used regularly.

The key is broken

If the key breaks in the lock, then you need to pull out the piece. When it sticks out of the mouth, just take pliers and pull it out, but if it is stuck in the mechanism, then the task becomes more difficult. You can try to remove the fragment with a jigsaw blade - insert it into the keyhole from the bottom side with the teeth facing up. Then turn to pick up the key and carefully remove the blade along with the fragment.

If there is a second key, then there will be no further problems. If you don’t have a key, you can use a hairpin or a screwdriver. When it was not possible to get the fragment, you need to unscrew the lock and remove the broken key. If you can’t pull out the piece, you can open the door by removing it from its hinges.

Key in the door

Sometimes the key stays with reverse side doors - for example, a child locked himself in a room and kept closing it, but couldn’t open it on his own. You can remove the key as follows:

• a newspaper or sheet of paper is inserted into the gap directly under the keyhole;
• Use a pin or thin knitting needle or a nail to push the key out;
• when the key falls on the newspaper, it is pulled back into the room and the room is opened with the key already in hand.

Of course, “doing magic” on the door using a crowbar, turning the lock and other mechanisms always risks ruining the structure. Therefore, after a couple of unsuccessful attempts, it is better to call a specialist who will do everything carefully and without damage.

Problems with plastic balcony doors

If a plastic door is jammed - most often, trouble happens with the entrance to the balcony, then you need to remember about its fragility. You need to remember this if you want to “break through” a metal-plastic door. Here all the “body” elements are made of not the most strong materials and such doors are not designed for “military operations”. In principle, you can use force and simply break them out, but this will be followed by repairs, which will not be cheap.

Don’t start actively dealing with the lock right away - plastic door may get scratched if you start picking at its casing or lock with sharp objects.

Most often, it begins to “wedge” when there is a sharp change in the position of the handle from the “closed” to “ventilating” state. In such a situation, the handle is blocked, and the structure hangs, resting on the lower corner - it can neither be closed nor opened. What to do?

First, decide what kind of fittings you have. Products from the GU, Roto, Winkhaus brands have a metal tongue at the end, just below the handle. Return this tongue to its original position - vertically. With your other hand, turn the handle horizontally to the “open” position and press the door. Then lower the handle down and carefully close it.

At the end there may not be a tongue, but a metal plate with a spring - then align the door vertically, press the plate against the seal and close it by lowering the handle down.

Balcony door It can also jam because the handle is broken or because the handle needs to be lubricated. The locking mechanism can quickly break down, and then it needs to be replaced. To do this, remove old pen:

• set to the “open” position (as far as possible);
• unfold the decorative plate at the base of the handle from a vertical to a horizontal position;
• Under it there will be screws that secure the handle - you need to unscrew them with a screwdriver, pull them towards you and remove the handle. Insert the new one in the same way, fastening it with screws.

A plastic door often warps due to high operating load. If you often hear creaking, the seal is slightly deformed, and the handle often jams, this is a sign that the design may be failing. To adjust the skew, evaluate the door visually. When closed, you need to outline it with a pencil, then open it slightly and follow the contour to see where it has moved.

First remove the protective caps. Then, when you reach the hinges, tighten the hinge screw and use the hex key to turn the screw to adjust door leaf. If it is skewed vertically, then tighten the screw from the bottom of the upper and lower hinges. To raise the door, turn counterclockwise; to lower it, vice versa.

If all the methods described above do not work, then most likely the system has become deformed. This happens if a low-quality Chinese door is installed or in case of improper installation in combination with high temperatures, loads. Only . can correct the situation here.

Tricky handy tools

Hairpin

If the door to your apartment slams shut and you are without a key or you simply have lost the key, then you can open the lock with a simple hairpin or paperclip. To do this, the “tool” needs to be broken into two parts - one end inside the lock, and the other in order to move the pins. The first thing you need to do is turn the lock. Wire will do the same.

Against the stuck one interior latch A regular paperclip will work fine. If you have a lever lock, then the door is pulled back, a wire is threaded into the lock and the levers are pulled back. The main thing is that no debris gets into the mechanism.

For a cylinder lock, there is a different sequence of working with a master key (pin):

• a small hole is carefully drilled above the key hole;
• The stopper is raised with a pin and the bolt hook is moved back.

For a cylinder pin mechanism, you can simply make a hole in the cylinder, insert a wire into it and turn the cylinder with a pick.

Screwdriver

You can use a screwdriver to open almost any lock (especially important for a cross-shaped lock). The upper part of the lock is removed, a screwdriver is inserted into the keyhole, and the mechanism is turned. You can also do this if it breaks door knob. If there is a need to move the latch, you need to remove the front panel and feel it with a screwdriver.

Most often, in locks with a bolt installed, when opening, part of the turn is not tightened; the latch remains in a half-open state. Then you just need to press the door a couple of millimeters with a crowbar.

There are different critical situations. No one is immune from them and they can happen to absolutely anyone. Of course, anyone may have the following questions:

• How to open a jammed door lock?
• What if the lock jammed?
• The key is broken, what should I do?

This article describes possible reasons the occurrence of such problems. Possible ways to solve them are also suggested here. We hope we can help you.

Eg:

The man returns home. Another hard day of work has ended. His imagination paints pictures of how he will rest and relax: a soft sofa, an armchair, a delicious dinner, a bed and a TV. Approaching the door, he discovers that the door does not open.

What to do if the door lock is jammed? Where to run? Should I contact specialists? It's not obligatory. Moreover, you should not panic. You can also open on our own without breaking the mechanism or damaging the door leaf. To decide on an action plan, you must correctly recognize the cause and nature of the breakdown.

Possible causes of lock failure

With regret, we have to admit that humanity has not yet invented ideal locking mechanisms. And he’s unlikely to invent it. A very common problem when front door lock stuck.

Locking mechanisms rarely break “suddenly.” Almost any locking mechanism gives signals that a breakdown is about to occur. For example, it jams a little, the key stops turning freely - it is quite possible that soon it will not open at all.

Below we will list you the main causes of failure, which can occur regardless of how high-quality the mechanism is, how expensive it is and what design features It has.

Main causes of failures:

• attempts to open using certain manipulations;
• foreign objects inside the keyhole;
• well contamination (large amounts of dust or metal shavings; a reason very typical for cylindrical mechanisms);
• absence regular care behind the mechanism (lubrication, washing);
• high level humidity, which causes swelling of the wooden door leaf;
• strong and frequent slamming of the door;
• there is a high risk of early breakdown if excessive force is often used on the door;
• the unlocking device is not used for its intended purpose (it can be used to open bottles or open various packages);
• skewed door leaf;
• a low-quality duplicate is often used;
• Pins could fall out of the mechanism, the tip could be blocked;
• manufacturing defects.

In general, to damage a lock or door, you can choose from large quantity options. And if the locking mechanism does not receive proper preventative care, then the fact that it does not “stick” is simply a miracle.

What to do if the lock is jammed?

How to open a jammed lock? The most important thing is that you should not make strong physical efforts, this can only worsen the situation. If standard effort is not enough, then “non-standard” efforts will only make the situation worse.

By the way, if the cause of the malfunction is a high level of moisture, then a basic hair dryer can help you out - great option For wooden doors. You can also use a heater.

If the constipation breaks down in iron door, then you should start from the type of lock itself.

Maybe the best option will call a technician, he will know exactly how to open the door if the lock is stuck.

• First of all, you can clean the door and lock slots with a stiff bristle brush (this way you can eliminate dust contamination or peeling paint);
• Then lubricate the mechanism with machine oil (WD-40, kerosene). The key may turn.
• If it doesn't turn over, we move on. We are trying to pull out the key using pliers.
• If the pliers do not help, the cylinder should be drilled out and replaced.

The above scenario for the development of events is quite radical. You also need to investigate options for shrinkage, skewed position of the canvas or damage to the hinges.

Let's take: wedge/flat screwdriver/chisel.

We do: We drive the tool into the place where the door leaf overlaps the frame. If the wedge is even slightly clogged in the slot hole, then we try to put the structure in place, using the wedge as a lever. At the same time, pull the handle to open the iron door.

Cylinder lock failure

It is also called larval.

What could happen (scenarios):

• the key cannot be pulled out;
• it takes quite a lot of effort to turn the key;
• A squeak is noticeable during revolutions.

Only a technician can remove a stuck key with minimal risk to the condition of the locking mechanism.

Damage to the suvalny lock

• To prevent the key from being inserted incorrectly, grind off the longitudinal protrusions (if the situation does not allow grinding, you can slightly press the well).
• Try inserting the key from the opposite side and try to open the door again.

How to remove a stuck key

The mechanism should be treated using silicone spray. Then, with careful movements, you can pull out the stuck key.

Important: if this is successful, the mechanism or its masque should be replaced so that such an awkward situation does not happen again. If the key is stuck, this is another reason to replace it.

There is another situation: complete serviceability is demonstrated when the door is open. But as soon as you start closing the door, the key immediately gets stuck after the first turn.

What to do: Try boring door frame file, drill or grinder.

For the more experienced: you can also use pins to open it. But this work requires a lot of time and careful preparation. In addition, there is a high risk that the studs will break and further aggravate the situation. And then you cannot do without radical measures.

What if the lock tongue is jammed?

When the door is not closed, but you cannot open it with the usual turn of the handle, it means that the tongue is jammed. You can use a flat and flexible object (for example, a card, a knife or a metal ruler) Place the object in the gap between the leaf and the lock box (where the tab is located), then you need to tilt the object towards the door handle and press it, then press the object away yourself (at the same time you need to press the door and pull it towards you).

The reasons why a key gets stuck in a hole or a lock is jammed are often common. No matter how high-quality a mechanism is, if it is used for a long time, it begins to lose its initial “sales appearance” not only externally, but also internally, qualitatively. Therefore, any mechanism requires attention, care and repair, and sometimes complete replacement.