Having a doorknob that turns but won’t open can be frustrating, inconvenient, and dangerous. Plus, calling in a locksmith can be expensive. Fortunately, it’s often possible to quickly and safely fix a faulty door lock yourself without any specialized training. All you need is a little patience and a few standard tools. In a matter of minutes, you can have to problem solved and enjoy that great feeling of accomplishment.
The Problem:
Your Door Knob Turns, But It Won’t Open.
The Diagnosis:
The Lock Is Jammed Or Stuck.
The Solution:
The key to repairing a jammed or stuck lock is identifying the problem that led to it becoming stuck. Then you can decide if the problem can be fixed or if the lock needs to be replaced. Often you can save yourself some money by keeping the doorknob and simply replacing the locking mechanism. In this article, we will look at several reasons your doorknob and lock may have become stuck or jammed and provide solutions for each problem. Some common problems you may be having a problem with your doorknob and lock are:
- The Door Knob Turns But The Lock Won’t Open
- The Deadbolt Lock Is Stuck In The Open Position
- The Deadbolt Lock Is Stuck In The Locked Position
- The Lock Button On The Door Knob Is Stuck
- The Bolt Moves Slightly, But The Door Won’t Open
Steps To Solving The Problem If…
The Door Knob Turns But The Lock Won’t Open
Most doorknobs work with a spring-loaded latch. When the knob and latch are in their resting state, the spring is extended. When the doorknob is turned, the latch retracts because a spindle pulls on and compresses the spring. If you turn the doorknob but the latch won’t retract, the doorknob and the spring or the spring and the latch are not properly connected. Fixing the problem requires figuring out which part is no longer connected to the spring and reconnected them or replacing the lock.
Step One
Unscrew the doorknob from the door.
Remove the spindle.
Slide a flathead screwdriver into the hole in the latch and twist it.
If the latch won’t retract, the problem is with the spring or the latch housing.
If the latch retracts then the problem is the connection between the doorknob and the spindle.
Step Two
Inspect the spindle and the interior of the door knob for signs of wear or damage. If either part is damaged it needs to be replaced before the lock will work.
If neither part is damaged, make sure the door knob was properly secured to the door.
Make sure the door knob is exerting enough pressure to turn the spindle.
Step Three
If the doorknob, spindle and latch are fine, carefully reattach and tighten them.
This should solve the problem.
If the spring or a latch housing component is damaged, replace the entire latch housing and the lock should work properly.
Steps To Solving The Problem If…
The Deadbolt Lock Is Stuck In The Open Position
If the lock is old, the bolt or the intervals may be gummed up or rusted and seized up in the open position. The key may be damaged or worn and no longer fits properly in the cylinder.
If there’s a thumb turn, try actuating the bolt with it. If it won’t move, the problem could also be a broken cylinder.
Sometimes a misaligned door can prevent a deadbolt lock from being able to move into the ‘locked’ position.
The Solution
Step One
Take a close look at the key to make sure it is not damaged or worn.
Check the door to make sure it is properly aligned when closed and is not blocking the bolt from sliding into the slot.
Remove the deadbolt lock from the door.
Carefully examine it to see if it is gummed up or rusted in the open position.
As long as the door is not misaligned and the key is not worn, bent or otherwise damaged, the problem is most likely rust or something gumming up the internal parts of the deadbolt lock.
The simplest solution is to purchase and install a new deadbolt lock on your door.
Steps To Solving The Problem If…
The Deadbolt Lock Is Stuck In The Locked Position
If the deadbolt lock on one of your doors is in the locked position and has become stuck, you have to follow the same basic steps outlined above for deadbolt locks that are frozen in the open position. First, you check the key to make sure it is in good condition and not too damaged to work. In older locks, you have to determine if it is rust or something else gumming up the deadbolt lock’s internal working and preventing it from moving. Plus, a misaligned door can make it near impossible to open a locked deadbolt lock.
The Solution
Step One
Begin by carefully examining the key to see if it is twisted, bent, worn or otherwise damaged and unable to properly manipulate the parts within the cylinder.
Check to see if the door is properly aligned. Sometimes pushing or pulling the door while turning the key or thumb turn can improve the alignment and free the bolt from the locked position.
Step Two
If the key isn’t damaged and it is not the alignment of the door that is preventing the deadbolt from being unlocked, the only choice you have is to remove the deadbolt lock from the door to see if the bolt can be manually moved into the ‘unlocked’ position, the problem can be fixed or you have to replace the lock.
Steps To Solving The Problem If…
The Lock Button On The Door Knob Is Stuck
The doorknobs on many kinds of interior doors often have a lock button built into them. When one of these types of locks gets stuck, it is often very easy to solve the problem. In fact, there are a number of quick fixes people can use to get a stuck lock button on a doorknob loose and working again.
The Solution
Step One
Attempt to free the lock button by pushing on it.
Push on the lock button and hold it in.
Try releasing the lock button quickly by maintaining solid pressure on it until the exact moment you release it.
If the lock button is still stuck, rapidly depress the lock button several times in succession like people do with the button on a video game.
Step Two
If simply pressing the lock button on the door knob doesn’t free it, turn the door knob while pressing the lock button several different ways.
Jiggle the door knob quickly and vigorously without applying too much force.
Step Three
If the reason the lock button is stuck is because the latch bolt frozen, you may be able to stick a flathead screwdriver into the gap between the frame and the door and activate the spring-loaded release latch.
Step Four
If all else fails, you can simply take off the screws, remove the doorknob and clean any parts of the lock that are rusted or gummed up.
Finally, test the doorknob lock to see if it works. If it does, reinstall it.
If the doorknob lock doesn’t work after it is cleaned, then it has to be replaced.
Steps To Solving The Problem If…
The Bolt Moves Slightly, But The Door Won’t Open
On many doors the doorknob connects to the lock by means of a rod which activates a spring-loaded mechanism attached to the barrel of the lock. If the bolt doesn’t fully retract when the door knob is turned, it could be a problem with the set screw which connects the door knob to the rod or the spring-loaded mechanism needs to be lubricated.
The Solution
Step One
Locate the set screw on the door knob’s neck between the door and the door knob. It is often on the door knob’s underside.
Check to see if it’s loose. This is a fairly common issue.
If the set screw is loose, tighten it with a hex wrench or flathead screwdriver. That should do the trick.
If the set screw is stuck or stripped, apply firm pressure and remove and replace it.
Step Two
If tightening or replacing the set screw doesn’t solve the problem, take off the doorknob and spray lubricant on the spring mechanism.
Turn the doorknob and make sure the bolt retracts.
Put the doorknob back on and tighten the set screw properly.
Video Demonstration
You May Need A Locksmith
Many minor problems can prevent your lock from functioning correctly. If you are unable to fix it properly yourself, call a professional licensed locksmith. A lock that’s not functioning properly can leave you in danger and at the mercy of thieves and burglars.