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How to Do Your Own Lock Repair You can repair your locks yourself or employ a professional locksmith if they begin to fail. However, repair of locks isn't easy and the wrong approach could cause further damage. You must first see if the problem is caused by dust or dirt. A Graphite-based spray or a silicone-based oil can be used to solve this issue. 1. Door Handle or Knob Loose Door knobs and handles could get loose over time, which can result in a jiggly door handle, or a knob that is difficult to open. Loose door knobs are not only annoying but they can also compromise your building's security, making it essential to identify and solve the issue quickly. Fortunately, a doorknob that is loose or handle is relatively easy to fix. Depending on the lock system installed in your door, there are several options to fix this. Some lock systems have easily accessible mounting screws, while others use backplates that hide the screws. This is a more complicated method if your door uses an underlay that hides the screws. Most interior doorknobs have a tiny screw referred to as an setscrew located on the inside of the knob that prevents it from sliding over the spindle. This is a part of the latch assembly. If yours is jiggly it could be due to a tiny screw called a setscrew on the inside of the knob that prevents it from sliding over spindle. You can utilize a flashlight to locate the set screw, then tighten it using an Allen wrench. After the screw has been tightened by turning the knob, check if it feels solid. If your knob still feels like it's jiggly, then the set screw isn't positioned correctly. Find a small button that matches the spindle to make sure the screw is in the correct position. Press the button using a flathead screwdriver, and then slide the knob over the spindle. When you do this, the knob should click, indicating that it is rightly positioned on the spindle. Once you've verified that the set screw is properly placed, tighten it once more to secure the knob. This should solve the issue If not then you might need to remove the knob and examine the backplate for loose or missing screws. You will need to replace the screws if this is the situation before you can install the knob or handle. If you're not happy with this kind repair, you must seek out an experienced locksmith who can provide repairs for damaged locks. 2. Key Won't Turn in Lock There are a number of reasons that your key may stop turning inside the lock. One of the most frequent causes is that the pins in the cylinder are worn out. This means that they do not have the proper shape to allow the wafers or sliders to move with the key. In this case spraying the lock with lubricant made of silicone or graphite spray will coat the pins in order to allow them to move again. However, if the problem is more serious and the key is been bent out of shape, you might need to have it straightened professionally. A professional locksmith can employ an instrument specifically designed to straighten the keys, which is designed with an angled tip that fits into the recessed groove of the tip of the key. This type of tool is not available in hardware stores, however you can purchase a kit with the right tools online or in the locksmith shop. A dirty or contaminated lock is a different possibility. Dust can build up over time within the lock's cylinder, and cause the pins or springs to become stuck. In this case you'll have to spray the lock with WD-40, graphite spray or a silicone-based lubricant to get rid of it and return the pins to their original position. If the key itself is damaged, it could also be a problem. window lock replacements are worn down with time due to repeated use, which will cause the groves to wear down or even become smoother. This could lead to the key not fitting into the cylinder, so it's crucial to pay attention and check regularly that your key is fitted correctly. Locks can freeze during the winter months. This can stop the springs and pins from moving when a key is placed. This can be a frustrating problem however, it's usually relatively simple to fix by warming the lock using hot water and using the lubricant again to re-lubricate. However, if the lock is damaged or frozen beyond repair, it will likely require replacement by a professional. 3. The Lock Isn't Turning It can be frustrating to find locks that aren't turning or open. If this happens often you might want to consider having a locksmith come and examine the lock to determine whether they can assist. Fortunately, this isn't always necessary since there are issues that can be easily fixed without the need for professional assistance. The key may not turn in a lock due to it's damaged. This could happen if you have lost your keys, or it has been broken inside the lock. Instead of trying to pull it out of the lock which could cause the broken piece of the key to be pushed further inside the mechanism and cause the issue to get worse Try using pliers with needles to remove it from the lock. You should be cautious not to break any broken pieces with the pliers or you could damage the lock. It's possible that your lock isn't aligned properly which could cause the door to not latch correctly. If you have an additional lock key, you may test it to verify that the lock functions correctly. If you find that the lock is not aligned correctly tightening the screws on the strike plate will fix the issue and allow the lock to function normally. Another reason your key may not be turning is that there is dust or dirt inside the lock that is hindering it from moving. Using a graphite spray or a silicone-based lubricant could solve this problem by coating the pins in the lock so that they are able to move up and down as normal. It is recommended to avoid oils-based products, such as WD-40, because they can cause more clogging in the future. It's also worth noting that there are some types of keys that aren't able to be used in all locks. If this is the case, you might require a new key made by a local hardware shop. 4. The Cylinder is Rotating When a cylinder is rotated in a confinement gap, it can result in the formation of hairpin vortices which can cause significant forces on the cylinder. The force is proportional to dimensions of the curvature radius and the confinement factor. The cylinder's tube, head and main body are all composed of aluminum alloy. If you're able insert your key inside and turn it, but the lock isn't turning, there may be an issue with the cylinder itself. Rekeying your lock can fix this issue. There are kits made for this purpose that can be purchased online or in most big box stores.