How to open the door yourself if the lock is jammed: causes of failure, options for action

When using the front door, problems may arise with the functioning of the locking mechanism. This may be due to either irreversible damage to the element or disruption of its operation due to the lack of proper prevention. If the front door lock jams, not in all cases you need to turn to professionals, since most problems can be solved at home.

Entrance door lock

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:

• periodically clean from dust and dirt, lubricate;
• turn the key only after it is fully inserted;
• do not use keys of poor quality or damaged;
• You can use machine oil for lubrication;
• the best lubricant is silicone, it has a long-lasting effect and also repels water, preventing the mechanism from rusting;
• correct the distortion of the door leaf or frame, even if the lock is still functioning normally;
• open the door by the handle, no need to pull the key, which is still inside;
• Do not slam the door sharply or forcefully.

Important: do not lubricate the lock with edible vegetable oil. It absorbs all the dirt and dust and can ruin the mechanism.

When the oil thickens, you can open the door with almost any key - this is the method used by thieves.

In order not to waste time and money (on repairing the lock or a new one, on calling a locksmith), you need to handle the lock carefully. If you open it with careful smooth movements and do not apply force, it will last a long time

Do you have any questions?

We are always happy to welcome new customers and are ready to advise you on any questions regarding our wide range of steel doors and other additional products.

Practical recommendations

1. In order not to periodically waste time and not rack your brains over what to do if the front door lock is jammed, you need to do regular maintenance of the mechanism. What may indicate the need for lubrication?

• Characteristic sounds (grinding, rustling) when turning the key.
• It gets stuck in the cylinder when trying to insert/pull it out.
• Difficulty turning.

1. Special pads help prevent contamination of the keyhole. This is primarily relevant for street doors installed at the entrance to a building.

1. Often the locking mechanism has a complex design, to which an original key is attached. Practice confirms that if such a lock breaks, it is much easier to replace its cylinder (for a cylinder model) or the core of a lever lock (with subsequent recoding). Even an experienced master will not be able to make a one-to-one duplicate of such a key, having only a sample of it. The result is increased wear of the material and clogging of the mechanism with metal dust. After some time, you are faced with the fact that the key in the lock does not turn.

Do not forget that any method of solving the problem of stubborn constipation requires care. Excessive efforts are unlikely to eliminate it, but they may well aggravate it. If the lock does not budge, it is better to turn to professionals.

Related article: Door lock cylinder jammed, how to open it

What to do if the lock is jammed

If such a nuisance does occur, then you can try to find a way out of this situation. A large number of different methods, simple and quite complex, have been invented for this. You can use improvised means, for example, wires or pins, or special tools, such as a screwdriver, grinder, pliers, drill, crowbar, etc. Some even use special mechanical master keys.

If you cannot cope with the current situation on your own, then it is better to use the services of a mechanic from a utility service or call the Ministry of Emergency Situations. There are also special companies that provide urgent door opening services.

How to open a door if the cylinder lock is broken

The following problems arise if the door with the cylinder mechanism is jammed:

• the key cannot be pulled out in any way;
• difficult to turn the mechanism;
• The mechanism creaks during revolutions.

Very often, when opening the front door, the lock cylinder jams or the key gets stuck. What can be done in these cases?

First, using a wire brush, you need to clean the door and lock slots, because the cause of damage may be dust or peeling paint. Then the door lock should be lubricated with kerosene or machine oil, and then turn the key. If the mechanism still jams, you can try to pull out the key with pliers. If this does not help, then you will have to drill out the lock cylinder and replace it with a new one.

Also, one of the reasons for jamming may be the skew of the door leaf. In this case, you will need a wedge, screwdriver or chisel. The tool needs to be driven into the place where the door overlaps the frame, after which it is necessary to put the structure in place, using the wedge as a lever. At the same time, pull the handle to open the iron door.

How to open an entrance door with a lever lock

If a problem arises with the lever lock, when the key is jammed after three turns, and it is completely impossible to make a fourth, then you should grind off the longitudinal protrusions that prevent the key from positioning incorrectly. After this, you need to insert the key on the other side and try to open the door. However, if there is nothing to grind off such protrusions, then you should press the keyhole a little and insert the key upside down.

Useful tips

• If the “secret” of the disk mechanism breaks down, it is pointless to decide how to repair a door lock of this type. It changes completely, since the larva for it is not sold at retail, and repairing it independently is a long and unpromising task.
• To avoid problems with constipation, it, like any other technical device, must be regularly maintained. In relation to the door lock, maintenance consists of periodically cleaning the well and lubricating the components. Oil is injected into the larva (for example, with a syringe); To prevent or repair a rim lock, it is enough to remove the cover from it, and free access to the mechanism is ensured. A few minutes of attention - and you won’t have to systematically fix the locking device.

• If there is a problem with the crossbars, then you will have to dismantle the sash and deal in detail with the cause of the failure or jamming. Faults of this kind cannot be eliminated by chance.
• To clean the well, it is advisable to use WD-40, commonly referred to as “liquid key”. It quickly softens solid fractions, and 10 minutes after its injection they are easily removed.
• If the case is deformed, there is no need to rush to get rid of the sample. If it is made of steel, then you can try to straighten it. Perhaps it won't work. But before disposal, the condition of the “insides” of the mechanism should be assessed. As a rule, the owner purchases locks of the same model for interior (and other) doors. To avoid wasting time searching for a spare part in the event of force majeure, a faulty lock should be left in reserve; Surely, some of the parts will come in handy, and it will be possible to repair the failed mechanism.

Practice shows that in most situations it is not difficult to repair a door lock using available tools. Having correctly determined its type and understood the device, you can restore the sample’s functionality yourself. This means you won’t have to spend money on buying a new one or time waiting for a mechanic from the housing department.

The key is stuck in the keyhole or it is broken

If the key is stuck in the keyhole, you need to try to pull it out. To do this, lubricate the mechanism using machine oil, WD-40 spray or kerosene. After processing, try to remove the key by swinging it from side to side. This must be done carefully, without applying unnecessary effort.

If the key is broken, pliers will help you get it out.

In a situation where the lock does not open due to a key inserted into the hole from the back, you can try to push it out. But this can only be done if it has not been rotated.

If these attempts are unsuccessful, you will have to drill out the cylinder and install a new lock. If you managed to pull out the key, then you need to remember that it is no longer safe to use such a mechanism - it may jam again.

First, let's look at why this can happen.

Every lock can jam, regardless of price category; expensive or cheap doesn’t change anything. No one has come up with a fail-safe system.

Any mechanism sooner or later begins to give signs to its owner about its imminent “death”. As soon as it starts to act up, you should think about replacing it as soon as possible to avoid further consequences.

The most common reasons for a jammed lock:

• An attempt to open the lock with master keys (burglary).
• Foreign objects getting into the keyhole.
• The keyhole is clogged with shavings or dust.
• Lack of regular lubrication.
• Changing the geometry of the doorway.
• Damage to the key.
• Strong mechanical stress on the door.
• Factory defect.

To avoid jamming of the lock, you just need to follow a few rules and your lock will last much longer.

Reasons for a jammed lock or door

Even the most expensive and high-quality locking mechanism can fail. Rarely does it happen overnight. Usually the door gives alarm signals long before a global accident. You just need to hear and see them. And having recognized it, do not put off solving a small problem. Otherwise it will turn into a serious one. Signs that the lock will soon fail:

• When opening or closing, it jams slightly;
• Sometimes when turning, the key gets stuck;
• Doesn't close on the first try;
• The key slips into idle;
• There are extraneous sounds (crackling, clicking).

The reasons why the door is jammed may not only be technical. In most cases, the human factor is to blame. Basically this is negligence in using the lock and door. But nature can also make its own corrections. Circumstances that cause a door to jam:

• Debris getting into the keyhole;
• The key is deformed due to improper use. For example, they opened beer bottles;
• Frequent use of great physical force when closing the door (slamming);
• Due to increased humidity, the door leaf has swollen;
• If the door structure is massive, then it may become skewed;
• Instead of the original, a low-quality duplicate key is used;
• Lack of regular preventive maintenance in the form of lubrication and cleaning of the locking mechanism;
• Incorrect or inept actions when opening and closing the lock;
• Manufacturing defects.

The reasons for a jammed lock can go back a long way. If a person without the proper skills was involved in installing the door, then mistakes may have been made that eventually led to jamming. It could be the loops. They may be screwed unevenly. Or there are few of them and due to the large mass of the door leaf, it sagged. The hinges can put pressure on the sash when there is no gap between it and the frame.

In such cases, until the distortion is corrected, the door will not open. You can find a pry bar and use it as a lever. Slide it under the door leaf and try to lift the door a little while opening the lock. It should work. But once you get into the house, you must immediately call a professional to eliminate the distortion. Otherwise the problem cannot be solved.

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 compounds used to lubricate 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.

The door lock is jammed: how to open it yourself?

Quite often, wanting to save on calling professionals or not being able to contact the emergency service, owners of apartments and private houses try to open a lock or door on their own. As a rule, this leads to aggravation of the problem, which our specialists then have to fix. Therefore, we have developed a small guide on how to open a door or lock with the least damage.

If the key does not turn in the cylinder or is difficult to insert into it, try treating the key hole with universal WD-40 liquid. Then wait a few minutes and try again

If the door faces the street and the lock is frozen due to condensation accumulated in it, special defrosting agents, which can be purchased at any hardware store, will help. If a key is stuck or broken in the mechanism, it must be carefully pulled out with pliers. When this fails, you will have to drill it out along with the core

Then only the secret part will have to be changed, and not the entire mechanism. A skewed door that has blocked the locking device can be lifted with a wooden wedge or pry bar by inserting it between the bottom of the leaf and the threshold. After opening, the door structure will need to be leveled.

When starting to open it yourself, remember that unprofessional actions usually lead to complete breakdown of the locking mechanism, damage to the coating or deformation of the door leaf, followed by repair or replacement.

Causes of problems

The most common difficulties:

• The tongue cannot close. The source of the problem is the small size of the response hole. It needs to be enlarged or the plate moved a little. Another reason could be a door that is warped due to frequent use. The mechanism wears out and needs to be adjusted.
• Difficulty opening the door when it is blocked due to a misaligned lock or door frame. In this case, the problematic part is adjusted.
• The key gets stuck, is difficult to turn, or cannot be inserted. This is more common on metal doors. This happens due to debris getting into the lock or some of its parts shifting. To get rid of the problem, it is disassembled, cleaned and lubricated.
• The lock is jammed - there is a problem with the condition of the cylinder. The seal needs to be repaired or replaced. In some cases, it is better to install a new lock if the old one is worn out and ancient.

Other reasons for problems with the lock:

• factory defects in the mechanism;
• rare washing and lubrication;
• using the key for other purposes (opening a bottle, packaging);
• frequent opening of the door with force;
• worn parts in the lock;
• duplicate key of poor quality;
• incorrect initial installation of the lock;
• a wooden door can become damp and swell.

What to do if the key gets stuck?

The work should be performed in the same way as when the lock is jammed. It will take a lot of patience when vandals insert matches or other objects into the larva

To correct the situation, use pliers, carefully turning, to pull the key out of the hole. Using thin wires with curved edges, we pull out foreign objects from the larva

If the cylinder is dirty or the lubricant has frozen, the keyhole is filled with VD, after a pause, we try to pull out the stuck key, gradually loosening it

It is important here not to break the key in the well. If this happens, you need to disassemble the lock or remove the cylinder and try to remove the fragment

Lever locks are simple in this regard. Having removed the cover, we release the plates and take out the fragment. If the key remains in the cylinder and does not come out after treatment with liquid, this will require replacing the cylinder.

More complex situations and if there are no skills in working with plumbing tools will require calling specialists.

Types of locks

• 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.

Lock and key jammed in it

You should equip yourself with WD-40 liquid, which is sold at auto parts stores or hardware stores. You need to process the lock, carefully turning the key from side to side, and try to open it. Is there a larva blockage? The lock is treated with liquid, and the key is inserted into the lock cylinder several times and pulled out until the dirt is completely removed.

The key is broken and stuck - this situation is more complicated. There are several options:

• A piece of the key sticks out. You should take pliers and use them to turn the key rod to the desired position. Then carefully remove.
• The wreck is inside. Here you can try with a sharp object (knitting needle, paper clip, etc.) to push out or pull the stuck end out. And then pick it up and pull it out with tweezers.

If these methods do not help, contact specialized services. They will help you get out of the situation with the least damage.

What to do with a broken cylinder lock?

Locking devices of this design are subject to repair, and this can be done independently. Breakdowns that could not be repaired are not typical for such locks and are incredibly rare. In a cylinder mechanism, the weakest part is the cylinder; it is the one that breaks first in the device. It will no longer be possible to repair this element, but even a not particularly trained person can replace it.

If the lock is stuck on a metal door, you must:

1. Insert the key into the keyhole.
2. Unscrew the side strip at the end of the door panel.
3. Find a small screw near the crossbar; it holds the cylinder in place. It needs to be unscrewed.
4. Turn the key slightly in the hole, after which you can remove the larva with it.
5. Having grabbed the element, go to the construction supermarket to choose a similar one for replacement.
6. At home, repeat the steps described above, but in reverse order.

If the methods described above did not help, you will have to remove the door. Since it is metal and has special protection against burglary, you will need to cut off the bolt hinges using a grinder. But this is the most extreme option.

If the lock in your apartment or office is jammed, there is no need to despair. It is quite possible to repair it yourself or call specialists who will help you open the locking device and replace damaged parts of the mechanism.

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 great physical force (slamming);
• 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.

Breaking into a jammed locking mechanism is only 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 should carry a hairpin, a small screwdriver, and spare keys so that solving difficult situations does not take too 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.

What to do in such a situation?

Causes of problems

There are different ways to open the front door when the lock or the door itself is blocked. This depends on the complexity of the locking mechanism, the reason for the blocking and the nature of the door: knocking down an iron door at the entrance to a home is much more difficult than an ordinary wooden one.

Breakdowns are possible in both expensive and cheap devices. The most common include the following:

• mechanical damage - for example, breakage and jamming of a key, jamming of moving parts in the absence of lubrication, etc. Some of them can be eliminated yourself and still open the front door. Repairing others will require the participation of specialists;
• manufacturing defects - it is necessary to call not just specialists, but representatives of the company that produces locking devices;
• incorrect operating mode - lack of cleaning, lubrication, sudden slamming, lead to partial wear of some elements of the mechanism, which causes the key to jam. As a rule, such problems can be resolved on their own;
• sagging or misalignment of the sash is a problem that can only be solved by specialists. It is unrealistic to reinstall an iron entrance door with your own hands;

Door distortion

Incorrect installation of the block - again, cannot be corrected independently.

It is worth noting that if a really complex lock that requires several degrees of protection is jammed on the front door, you will not be able to open the door yourself even if you want to. In order not to aggravate the situation, it is necessary to call the company’s specialists.

Call the master

Incorrect operation

The key is difficult to insert, does not turn, or is not even inserted all the way. You shouldn’t “insist” and try to turn it: removing the debris is more difficult than trying to get into your home.

First of all, you need to lubricate the jammed lock. For this purpose, universal spray WD-40 is used, which can be found at your local hardware store. You can also use any machine oil or kerosene as a lubricant.

WD-40 spray

Inject it with a syringe into the keyhole. The photo shows the lubrication of the locking device.

lubrication of the locking device

After processing, the key is inserted into the hole and tried to be turned several times without completing the movement.

You can tap the key lightly, but gently; as a rule, after several attempts, when the lubricant spreads, the mechanism opens.

• Debris stuck in the lock - fragments of matches, small rubbish - can be detected with a flashlight or mobile phone. If foreign objects are detected, they are removed with ordinary tweezers. Instead of tweezers, you can use wire or a stiff metal brush.
• A key left on the other side that prevents you from getting into the apartment can be pushed out with a nail file, a pin, or a hairpin.

Locking the locking mechanism

What to do if the lock jams in the door while turning the key? This option is possible when dirt accumulates in the cylinder or the tongue gets stuck. In the latter case, the handle turns, but the tongue remains motionless, as it is jammed. Accordingly, the sash cannot be opened.

A universal solution to this problem is squeezing out the tongue. Use a metal ruler, a knife blade, or a plastic card. The object is inserted into the gap between the door leaf and the frame as deeply as possible in order to hook the far edge of the tongue. If this is successful, use a ruler to push the tongue out of the groove, applying some force. The video shows the front door opening when the lock jams.

Locking mechanism failure

In this case, you can get into the apartment only with special skills. The only available method is drilling out the mechanism. If you can get the necessary tool and if you have the appropriate skills, you need to remove the decorative strip and drill out the cylinder.

In this case, the door suffers little, but the locking mechanism will need to be changed.

In some cases, you can knock out the cylinder with a hammer and then use a metal hook to move the bolts. However, this is only possible with some models. If a lever lock is jammed, for example, it is better not to try to open it yourself.

Misalignment due to the fault of the door leaf

Doors made of wood are sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature - swelling of wood fibers can result in changes in the size of the door leaf (the doors do not close because they swelled when open, or, on the contrary, the doors jammed due to swelling when closed).

In such a situation, first of all, you need to eliminate the cause - bring the microclimate parameters back to normal: proper operation of ventilation and maintaining a sufficient temperature level are important.

If the integrity of the door leaf is preserved and the door is simply swollen a little, it may be possible to solve the situation by restoring the normal microclimate - the doors will return to normal without outside help.

In a more complex situation, one can observe an increase in the size of the panels and, as a result, destruction of the connection of the door leaf elements. In this case, it is advisable to contact a carpentry workshop - without special equipment it will be difficult to restore the integrity.

What to do if the door lock is jammed?

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.

• 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. If you can’t find the item you need, you can use a flat-head 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 the interior door is not locked with a key, and the door does not open when you press the handle, it means the tongue is jammed.

To solve the problem, it is recommended to perform a few simple steps:

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.

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.

Recommendations

A few simple tips to help you cope if your 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.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_-E7TgNTwnk

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

Other opening options

If the handle is equipped on the inside with a latch in the form of a button on a decorative plate, then when the button is pressed, the door closes so that it is impossible to open it from the outside by turning the handle. But for such cases, there is a small hole on the outside of the door under the handle into which you need to insert a knitting needle and press to return the key to the released position.

If the slammed door has glazing (see Interior doors with stained glass: about beauty and individuality), you can try to remove the glass by removing the frames holding it. In extreme cases, the glass can be broken - inserting a new one will cost less than completely replacing a damaged door.

Having access to both sides of the lock will make it easier for you to open or remove it.

What to do

Once the main causes of breakdowns have been identified, it’s time to move on to ways to eliminate them. Each breakdown has individual recommendations for repair, but there are a number of general tips that are suitable for almost any similar situation.

General recommendations

Experienced citizens who have repeatedly encountered similar problems recommend the following actions:

1. If the mechanism jams while turning, clean or replace the cylinder. This will cost less than completely replacing the lock and will require less time for manipulation.
2. If the key is stuck in the entrance lock and does not want to come out, treat the cylinder with lubricant. Kerosene or machine oil is suitable for these purposes.
3. At the first sign of an impending breakdown, do not be lazy to disassemble the mechanism and check its condition.

Cylinder lock failure

The following problems may occur in the operation of the cylinder lock:

1. Due to contamination, the mechanism will begin to turn worse, requiring more effort from the owner.
2. The key gets stuck in the keyhole and it is impossible to pull it back out.
3. During interaction with the mechanism, extraneous sounds appear.

Level type

If complications arise during insertion of the key into the mechanism cylinder, it is recommended:

1. Insert the key on the back of the door.
2. Grind off longitudinal protrusions that interfere with comfortable penetration. In situations where you cannot grind off the tabs, try applying light pressure on the keyhole.

How to remove a stuck or broken key

If your key is stuck in the lock and causing it to not turn, try one of the following methods:

1. Treat the keyhole with oil or special lubricant.
2. If the door is not closed, disassemble the lock and carefully remove the key.
3. Using pliers or tweezers will help you remove the broken key.

Force methods

In cases where careful methods of influence do not help, they move on to forceful techniques. They are more effective, but can cause irreparable damage to the door or locking device. Forceful methods include:

• breaking out;
• knocking out;
• drilling;
• call the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Breaking out

If the need arises to quickly open a stuck door, breaking it out will help. Algorithm of actions:

• take the gas key;
• use it to clamp the secret;
• we turn sharply.

The cylinder and the fasteners holding it are destroyed, thereby allowing the door to be opened.

Advantages of the method:

• speed;
• simplicity;
• the door remains intact.

Minuses:

After such an impact, the lock will finally break. It cannot be restored.

Drilling

To drill, you need to insert a drill of a suitable size into the keyhole, and then drill out the pin mount. It holds the bolt and prevents the lock from turning. If everything is done correctly, the lock should turn smoothly inside the lock.

Knockout

When knocked out, the lock is completely destroyed, and it will not be possible to restore it, as is the case with drilling. To knock out the lock, you will need:

• prepare a hammer and chisel;
• place the chisel on the lock;
• knock out the lock cylinder with strong blows to the chisel.

Try to use a heavier hammer, otherwise you will have to fiddle with the jammed mechanism for a long time.

Contacting the Ministry of Emergency Situations or specialists

Opening doors yourself is not always a good solution. The owner of the apartment may incorrectly determine the essence of the problem and cause more damage to his property than necessary. To prevent this from happening, contact the Ministry of Emergency Situations or companies specializing in hacking. They will minimize damage and get the job done much faster.

Typical constipation problems and solutions

The key is inserted with difficulty and not completely

Defect of the cylinder or lever mechanism. Here you can’t do without a specialist and the appropriate tool. Most likely, you will have to remove the lock (secret).

Well contamination

It needs to be washed. It is better to use a “liquid key” (WD-40), which is injected into the lock. Options include machine or vegetable oil, kerosene. This is done several times, and after each filling of the lock with liquid, a key is inserted into it and attempts are made to push it deeper. At the same time, it turns as far as possible until it stops. As a rule, two or three “series” of such operations are enough to clean the canal. In some cases, a needle or wire helps, which can be used to pull out individual fragments.

Stuck debris

This happens when trying to hack. If an attacker is scared off by someone, he will try to hide traces of his presence. And so he breaks the master key and leaves. If this is the reason the lock is jammed, then a piece of metal can easily be pushed out from the back side. But only if someone is at home and can open the front door from the inside. It is better not to try to fix this problem yourself from the outside.

The key won't come out

As a rule, this indicates that the lock on the door is broken. You should try to remove the key from the well using the recommended lubricants. To prevent this from happening again, you should immediately replace either the entire mechanism or its cylinder.

Difficulty turning the key

It is necessary to determine in what cases this is observed.

• If the mechanism jams in any position of the sash, it should be cleaned; This is the result of dirt.
• When jamming occurs only when the door is closed, there is deformation of the block or leaf. The problem can be solved by sampling material in the area of ​​the castle, but only if the structure is wooden. As a rule, distortions in the metal frame cannot be eliminated; they will have to be replaced.

Latch stuck

This is often an obstacle to opening the door, even if the key is turned all the way. The problem can be solved with the help of any thin and hard object - a knife blade, a metal ruler. Alternatively, for lack of a better option, a plastic card.

The door leaf needs to be pulled a little away from the jamb by inserting a chisel, large screwdriver or ax into the gap - whatever you can fit. This will make it easier to access the tongue that the selected “tool” clings to. After several attempts, you can press it into the lock, and the sash will swing open. But even in this case, you will have to disassemble the locking device and determine the defect. The most likely cause is a weakened or broken spring mechanism.

Lock malfunction

If all of the above methods do not produce results, and the inspection does not reveal any defects in the door and frame itself, then there is only one diagnosis - the locking device is broken.

What to do if the door in your apartment is jammed

For a person who finds himself in a difficult situation when the lock on the door is jammed, there are three options for seeking help:

1. To the housing office or management company. When calling a regular locksmith, you need to remember that he is not a specialist in opening locks on doors. Therefore, the maximum that the master can do is cut off the hinges with a grinder, drill out the lock cylinder with a drill, or press the door with a pry bar. In any case, you will need to prepare for expensive repairs or complete replacement of the door.

2. To the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Rescuers promptly arrive at the scene only when there is a real threat to human life or the danger of an emergency. For example, there is only one small child or a person in need of help behind a locked door, the gas is turned on, or the water tap is not turned off.

In other cases, you will have to wait 2-3 hours for the arrival of the Ministry of Emergency Situations officers. However, they also do not choose ways to open the door without damage, using tools such as an angle grinder and a pry bar. In the best case, the door and frame will simply be pulled out of the opening; in the worst case, they will saw it in half.

3. Call a specialized service for opening doors and locks. Experienced emergency service technicians deal with various models of locks and doors every day, so when opening them they choose the most reliable and gentle method. In all cases, they manage to open the lock (if it is jammed) or the door without damage.

How to solve a problem

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, you can fix this problem 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.

Cylinder

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.

Who should I contact for help?

In cases where the problem cannot be solved on your own, you need to call a specialist.
In most cases, this will be cheaper than trying to open the door yourself by breaking the lock. Do-it-yourself actions often lead to the key breaking in the keyhole, and this in any case leads to calling a technician and completely replacing the lock. Our staff will open the lock with special tools. Prices for their services vary in different cities and companies, and depend on the source of the problem. The craftsmen will try to preserve the integrity of the lock if possible, but if this is not possible, they will offer an additional service to replace the mechanism on site. The average time for emergency opening of locks is 15-20 minutes.

If the lock breaks, there is no need to panic. Some problems with the door can be solved independently. The main condition is that if you can’t fix it, you need to contact a specialist.

Universal method

The easiest and fastest way, if we are not talking about locking mechanisms that can be opened with wire, is to call a locksmith, a housing and communal services representative or a specialist from the relevant service by phone. If we are talking about an electromagnetic or electronic door device, the latter option is, in principle, the only possible one.

However, this solution is not always available - in small towns, for example, you have to rely on your own strength.

How to open a door if the lock is jammed

Available methods for troubleshooting with your own hands:

1. To open the door if the lock is jammed, you can try to clear the lock slot of debris and dust.
2. Lubricate the device and try to open it again.
3. If the mechanism is jammed due to the door being warped, you need to find a wedge and insert it into the gap between the door frame and the leaf itself. This will allow you to return the structure to its original position. Once aligned, the door should open.
4. The cross-shaped lock can be easily opened without a key using chewing gum and a screwdriver. Chewing gum is placed in the well. After this, you need to insert and carefully twist the screwdriver. A few turns will allow the gum to mold to the shape of the key and the locking mechanism will open.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jKNkoSCa9QE

The key is difficult and does not move completely into the keyhole

This means that the lock cylinder or lever mechanism has broken. In such a situation, you will need a special tool and the help of professionals, because you will have to completely dismantle the device.

Problems with the lock may occur due to the key inserted from the inside. If it is not turned, you can try to push the key with a pin or nail through the lock slot.

The locking mechanism, which is subject to intensive use for a long time, must be lubricated. After processing, carefully insert and remove the key. You can lightly tap on it, while gradually pushing the key inward. Do this slowly so as not to completely break the device.

A decorative strip may interfere with the key's movement. After removing it, the key enters the keyhole all the way.

Blockages in the keyhole are detected by highlighting it. This can be done with a flashlight or mobile phone. Broken matches or small debris are removed with a metal hook or tweezers.

The key won't come out

If you cannot remove the key from the keyhole, you should not make sudden movements to avoid breaking it. Try pouring kerosene or special machine oil into the gap using a syringe. After 10 minutes, shake the key, but do not force it. If you managed to open the front door of your apartment, remove the lock and check its core.

Sometimes the mechanism works when the door is open, but when closed it jams. In this case, you need to bore the doors.

The tongue is jammed

It happens that the door does not open, even if you turn the key all the way. This problem can be easily resolved by using any narrow metal object, such as a utility knife, to open the lock. Any plastic card will do.

Pull the door leaf away from the jamb and insert an ax or crowbar into the resulting gap. This will give you access to the tongue. Try pressing it into the lock with a knife, the door should swing open. After this, you need to disassemble the mechanism and find the cause of the breakdown. Most often this is a weakening of the spring.

The lock is broken

In cylinder models, you can remove the broken cylinder using a drill or pliers. The outer part is bitten off or drilled out, and the remains are knocked out with a thick screwdriver and hammer. After this, the crossbars located on the drive mechanism are moved with a metal hook.

The main problem with lever locks is plate jamming. It is not easy to open such a mechanism, therefore, without the necessary skills, it is better to entrust the solution to the problem to specialists.

If a door lock is jammed, it is much easier to open it from the inside because almost every home has the necessary tools. In addition, from the inside you can easily remove the mechanism, especially the overhead type.

We'll open it and fix it!

If the door does not open, the most reliable solution is to call specialists. The master arrives with a set of master keys, which can easily be used to open any locking mechanism. This will allow you to quickly solve the problem without cutting off the hinges and damaging the door leaf, which will save the owner from large additional costs.

We also offer professional lock replacement: call a specialist to immediately solve the problem with opening the door and install a new mechanism. We can install a structure of any type and complexity; the experience of our craftsmen allows us to cope with any task.