How to fix a door that won't unlock?

SallyT

Hi Group,

Seeking advice on how to unlock a door. I have photos below of lock in question. This is an internal garage door that uses the same key as the front door. I rarely lock this door, but did before a holiday and now that I'm back I find I can not unlock it. The key turns both ways but it doesn't unlock. I'm not sure, but I think the section that the key goes in may be sticking out more than usual. Could be me looking for a fault and not related. Any advice? I have tried from both sides of the door and have asked two other people to try. No luck.

JacobZ

Hi @SallyT,

Thank you for your question and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

There are a few possible reasons that the lock is not functioning correctly, and I'll happily offer some advice for troubleshooting the issue.

The first step I would take is to apply some 3-In-One 150g Lock Lubricant to the keyhole. Once applied, try the key again while gently jiggling and moving the door. 

A possibility is that the door has sagged, causing the locking tongue to hit the bottom of the rebate that the locking tongue sits in. If you have access to the other side of the door, inspect the gap on the lock side of the door. If it is inconsistent, this might be an indicator that it has sagged.

If this is the case, I'd suggest you start by trying to lift and jiggle the door while turning the key. You can do this by grabbing a block and either a chisel or a screwdriver. Place the block around 10cm from the door and rest the butt of the chisel or screwdriver on the block with the shaft of the tool under the door. This will allow you to put your foot on the butt of the tool and press down to lever the door up slightly. This will leave your hands free to turn and jiggle the key.

If this is the reason for the lock not working, you may need to adjust the door slightly to account for the sagging. If this is the case, let me know, I'd be happy to advise further.

Another possibility is the locks internal mechanism has worn down over time and is now failing. To determine this, I would suggest you remove the lock by removing the cover plate to reveal the screws and then removing the screws. You can then test the lock outside of the door to see if it operates or not. If it does, it's possible that something has come out of alignment and simply reinstalling the lock will fix the issue. If it does not work outside of the door, you may need to replace the lock.

Let me know what you think and if you require any further advice, please don't hesitate to ask, I would be happy to assist further and offer any guidance you require.

Jacob