How To Remove A Jammed Door Lock

Open the door towards you and find the lock.

How to remove a jammed door lock.

Wet lubricant tends to gum up the locks. You should start by spraying the lubricant simply on the door key. Avoid pulling hard which merely binds the key against the lock pins. It should loosen the jam quite easily from this angle.

The straw will increase the accuracy of the spray and enable you to get deep inside the lock. It is time to remove the sliding bolt mechanism. Pull the knob off the spindle. Remove the screws holding the escutcheon plate to the door if they are exposed or look along the outer edge of the escutcheon plate for a small slit.

Then wiggle the key in the lock a few times. Letting the components sit fully submerged in a vinegar of about 5 acidity will do the job of separating the gunk from your metal. Start by connecting the red applicator straw over the spray can nozzle. Spray the entire mechanism with spray lubricant and wait for at least 10 minutes before you reinstall it.

Soak your door lock in kerosene for 24 hours if it isn t attached to a door and has been rusted shut. In some cases you will have to use a de icer on your locks to resolve the problem. Jiggle the key while pulling outward gently. Sharply tug the extractor away from the lock to remove the key.

Place a flathead screwdriver into the shaft and try turning it by hand. Disassemble and remove the entire lockset if the key is still hard to turn. Spray the lock a few times and allow it a few minutes to work its magic. The up and down motion of jiggling may free the teeth that are stuck in the lock pins so you can pull out the key.

You can heat your key or use a blow dryer to thaw the door lock. You can slide the key into the lock lightly so that the lubricant can get inside the lock properly. Remove the cover or faceplate. If the door lock gets jammed first you should use graphite based lubricant rather than using wet lubricant.

If the gap between the door and jamb is angled then the door isn t square.