You have successfully inserted your key into your lock, but you have noticed that it is stuck or spinning in the lock. It appears that the source of the problem is the lock’s cylinder. In all likelihood, it is broken or defective. If you are unable to enter or exit your home, you are experiencing a common and crippling problem. The most effective solution is to replace the lock. Learn about the step-by-step procedure in this article.
The key is spinning. The lock is stuck
When your key no longer allows you to operate your lock and therefore open your door, it is because it is stuck. When inserting your key, it spins in a vacuum. The lock is defective has been forced or vandalized. Be that as it may, the cylinder or barrel is in question in one case as in the other.
- The natural wear of the cylinder: the cylinder is the central part of the lock. It is he who receives your key each time you want to open or close the door. On the other hand, it is pretty fragile and wears out quickly. Its excellent solicitation means that it can get stuck or break. This natural wear gradually disrupts the operation of the lock and forces you to force more and more on the key to open, causing it to jam or break.
- A break-in attempt: If your lock has been forced open as part of a burglary attempt, it may have been damaged. In this kind of context, a repair is useless. A stuck or broken lock costs more to repair than to replace. It is first necessary to alert the Police to note the facts and its Insurance to declare the disaster. Therefore, it is advisable to call a professional locksmith in tampa or act on your own to remove the faulty lock and put in a new model.
How to change your lock yourself?
When you want to change your lock yourself, you must first remove the cylinder from the door and the handle to extract the mechanism.
How to remove the cylinder from the door?
Several solutions are available to you to remove the cylinder from the lock.
- If your cylinder protrudes from the door, you can remove it with large pliers by forcing it from right to left. It would be best if you still had a good grip and strength.
- If the cylinder does not protrude, it is strongly recommended to use a drill. The pins must be deactivated one by one to extract the cylinder.
- On the other hand, professional locksmiths have cylinder pullers. It is the fastest and most effective solution in this kind of situation.
It is only after this step that you can change your lock.
Fit a new lock
The type of lock you are installing must be determined before proceeding. Mortise betandyou locks are the most common type, but there are other types as well. You’ll have to take things one step at a time:
- You have to expose the door and remove the cylinder, the handle, and the mechanism
- Then you have to install a lock in line with its door and frame.
- Above all, it will be necessary to have the required tools to do a good job.
Is it necessary to call in a professional?
Replacing a defective lock can be done on your own now to obtain a quality result often requires the intervention of a professional locksmith. On the other hand, if you do not have the appropriate equipment, you risk compromising the proper functioning of the new lock and damaging your door.
It often happens that someone tries to change their lock themselves. But after a few hours of hard work, they call on a professional locksmith Tampa who adjusts the lock perfectly as well as the finish. Doing it yourself or asking a handyman friend can waste time and especially money.
