How to open the door yourself if the lock is jammed: causes of breakage, options for action

Preventive measures - how to keep the lock from jamming

What to do when buying:

• before buying a door, clarify what type of lock will be and whether there is a guarantee;
• ask about the country of production - high-quality Austrian and German-made locks, you can also take Polish, Turkish or Ukrainian;
• in the store, check the ease of movement of the tongue;
• there should be no rust, abrasions or scratches on the lock.

How to care for the mechanism:

• periodically clean from dust and dirt, lubricate;
• scroll the key only after it is fully inserted;
• do not use keys of poor quality or damaged;
• machine oil can be used for lubrication;
• the best lubricant is silicone, it has a long-lasting effect, and also repels water, preventing the mechanism from rusting;
• fix the skew of the door leaf or frame, even if the lock is still functioning normally;
• open the door by the handle, no need to pull the key that is still inside;
• do not slam the door abruptly and forcefully.

Important: do not lubricate the lock with edible vegetable oil. It absorbs all dirt and dust, it can ruin the mechanism

When the oil thickens, you can open the door with almost any key - this is the way thieves use it.

In order not to waste time and money (repairing the lock or a new one, calling the master), you need to be careful with the lock. If you open it with gentle, smooth movements and do not apply force, it will last a long time.

Do you have any questions?

We are always glad to new clients and are ready to advise you on any questions regarding our wide range of steel doors and other additional products.

What to do if the lock is jammed

If, nevertheless, such a nuisance happened, then you can try to find a way out of this situation. For this, a large number of the most diverse methods, simple and rather complicated, have been invented. You can use improvised tools, such as wires or pins, or special tools such as a screwdriver, grinder, pliers, drill, crowbar, etc. Some even use special mechanical lock picks.

If you cannot cope with the situation on your own, then it is better to use the services of a locksmith from the communal service or call the employees of the Ministry of Emergencies. There are also special companies providing emergency door opening services.

How to open the door when a cylinder lock breaks

The following problems arise if the cylinder door is jammed:

• the key is not pulled out in any way;
• difficult to turn the mechanism;
• the mechanism squeaks during revolutions.

Very often, when opening the front door, the lock cylinder jams or the key gets stuck. What can be done in these cases?

First, using an iron brush, you need to clean the door and key slots, because dust or peeling paint can be the cause of the breakdown. Then the door lock should be lubricated with kerosene or machine oil, and then turn the key. If the mechanism still wedges, you can try to pull the key out with pliers. If this does not help, then you will have to drill out the lock cylinder and replace it with a new one.

Also, one of the reasons for jamming may be a skewed door leaf. In this case, you will need a wedge, screwdriver or chisel. The tool must be driven into the place where the door is superimposed on the frame, after which it is necessary to put the structure in place using a wedge as a lever. At the same time, pull the handle to open the iron door.

How to open an entrance door with a lever lock

If there is a problem with the lever lock, when the key is jammed after three turns, and the fourth is completely impossible to do, then you should grind off the longitudinal protrusions that prevent the key from getting up incorrectly. After that, you need to insert the key with the other side and try to open the door. However, if there is nothing to grind off such protrusions, then you should squeeze the keyhole a little, and insert the key upside down.

The key is jammed in the keyhole or it is broken

If the key is stuck in the keyhole, then you need to try to pull it out. To do this, lubricate the mechanism using machine oil, WD-40 spray or kerosene. After processing, try to remove the key by swinging it from side to side. This must be done carefully, without unnecessary effort.

In the event that the key is broken, pliers will help to get it.

In a situation where the lock does not open due to the key inserted into the well from the back side, you can try to push it out. But this can only be done if it has not been rotated.

In the event that these attempts were unsuccessful, you will have to drill out the larva and put a new lock. If the key was pulled out, then you need to remember that using such a mechanism is no longer safe - it can jam again.

Reasons for a jammed lock or door

Even the most expensive and high-quality locking mechanism can fail. Rarely does it happen overnight. Usually, the door gives alarm signals long before a global emergency. You just need to hear and see them. And having recognized, do not postpone the solution of a small problem. Otherwise it will become serious.
Signs that the lock is about to fail:

• When opening or closing, it wedges slightly;
• Sometimes the key gets stuck when turning.
• Doesn't close on the first try;
• The key slips into idle;
• There are extraneous sounds (crackling, clicks).

The reasons that the door is jammed may not only be technical. In most cases, the human factor is to blame. Basically, this is negligence in using the lock and door. But nature can also make its own corrections.
Circumstances due to which the door is jammed:

• Debris falling into the keyhole;
• The key is deformed due to its misuse. For example, he opened beer bottles;
• Frequent use of great physical force when closing the door (slamming);
• Due to high humidity, the door leaf is swollen;
• If the door structure is massive, then it may be skewed;
• A low-quality duplicate key is used instead of the original;
• Lack of regular prevention in the form of lubrication and cleaning of the locking mechanism;
• Incorrect or inept actions when opening and closing the lock;
• Manufacturing defects.

The reasons that the lock has stuck can go back far into the past. If a person without proper skills participated in the installation of the door, then mistakes may have been made that eventually led to jamming. It could be the hinges. They may be screwed on unevenly. Or there are few of them, and due to the large mass of the door leaf, it sagged. The hinges can press on the sash when there is no gap between it and the frame.

In such cases, the door will not open until the skew is removed. You can find a pry bar and use it as a lever. Having slipped it under the door leaf, try to slightly raise the sash, while opening the lock. It should work out. But once you get into the house, you must immediately call the master to eliminate the skew. Otherwise, the problem cannot be solved.

Jammed door lock: how to open it yourself?

Quite often, wanting to save money on calling professionals or not being able to contact the emergency service, the owners of apartments and private houses try to open the lock or door on their own.As a rule, this leads to an aggravation of the problem, which then has to be corrected by our masters. Therefore, we have developed a small guide on how to open a door or lock with the least damage.

If the key does not turn in the cylinder or is difficult to insert into it, try treating the keyhole with WD-40 universal fluid. Then wait a few minutes and try again

If the door faces the street and the lock is icy due to condensation that has accumulated in it, special defrosting products will help, which can be purchased at any hardware store.
If a key is stuck or broken in the mechanism, it must be carefully pulled out with pliers. When this fails, you will have to drill it along with the core.

Then only the secret part will have to be changed, and not the whole mechanism.
A skewed door that has blocked the locking device can be lifted with a wooden wedge or pry bar, inserting it between the bottom of the door leaf and the threshold. After opening, the door structure will need to be leveled.

When starting to open yourself, remember that unprofessional actions usually lead to a complete breakdown of the locking mechanism, damage to the coating or deformation of the door leaf and subsequent repair or replacement.

What to do if a key gets stuck?

The work should be carried out in the same way as when the lock is jammed. It will take a lot of patience to stick matches or other items into the maggot with vandals.

To correct the situation, using pliers, carefully turning, pull the key out of the well. With thin wires with curved edges, we take out foreign objects from the larva

If the larva is dirty or the lubricant has frozen, the keyhole is filled with VDshka, after a pause, we try to pull out the stuck key, gradually loosening it

It is important here not to break the key in the well. If this happens, you need to disassemble the lock or get the maggot and try to get the piece

Lever locks are simple in this regard. After removing the cover, we release the plates and take out the piece. If the key remains in the larva and does not come out after treatment with liquid, this will require replacing the larva.

More complex situations and if there are no skills in working with locksmith tools will require a call of specialists.

Jams the lock and the key in it

Arm yourself with WD-40 fluid, which is sold in auto parts stores or utility departments. You need to handle the lock by gently turning the key from side to side and try to open it. Is there a blockage of the larva? The lock is treated with liquid, and the key is inserted several times into the lock cylinder and pulled out until the dirt is completely removed.

The key is broken and stuck - this situation is more complicated. There are several options:

• A piece of the key is sticking out. You should take pliers and use them to turn the key shaft to the desired position. Then remove carefully.
• Chip inside. Here you can try with a sharp object (knitting needle, paper clip, etc.) to push out or pull the stuck end out of the way. And then pick it up and pull it out with tweezers.

If these methods do not help either, contact specialized services. They will help you get out of the situation with the least damage.

What about a broken cylinder lock?

Locking devices of this design are subject to repair, and this can be done independently. Breakdowns that could not be repaired are not typical for such locks and are incredibly rare. In the cylinder mechanism, the weakest part is the larva, it is she who breaks down in the first place in the device. It will no longer be possible to fix this element, but even a not particularly trained person can replace it.

If a lock is stuck in an iron door, it is necessary:

1. Insert the key into the keyhole.
2. Unscrew the side strip at the end of the door leaf.
3. Find a small screw near the crossbar, it holds the larva.It must be unscrewed.
4. Turn the key in the well slightly, after which it will be possible to get the larva with it.
5. After grabbing an item, go to a construction supermarket to choose a similar one for replacement.
6. At home, repeat the steps described above, but in reverse order.

In the event that the above methods did not help in any way, you will have to remove the door. Since it is metal and has special protection against burglaries, it will be necessary to cut the crossbar loops with the help of a grinder. But this is the most extreme option.

If a lock is jammed in an apartment or office, there is no need to despair. It is quite possible to repair it with your own efforts or call specialists who will help open the locking device and replace the damaged parts of the mechanism.

What to do in such a situation?

Causes of malfunctions

There are different ways to open the front door when the lock or the sash itself is blocked, depending on the complexity of the locking mechanism, the reason for the blocking and the nature of the sash: knocking out an iron door at the entrance to a dwelling is much more difficult than an ordinary wooden one.

Breakdowns are possible both in expensive devices and in cheap ones. The most common are the following:

• mechanical damage - for example, breakage and jamming of the key, seizure of moving parts in the absence of lubrication, etc. Some of them can be fixed by yourself and still open the front door. Repairing others will require the participation of specialists;
• factory defect - it is necessary to call not just specialists, but representatives of the company that produces locking devices;
• incorrect operating mode - lack of cleaning, lubrication, sharp slamming, lead to partial wear of some elements of the mechanism, which is why the key is jammed. As a rule, such problems are corrected on their own;
• sagging or skewing of the sash is a problem that can only be solved by specialists. Reinstalling the iron front door with your own hands is unrealistic;

Door skew

incorrect installation of the unit - again, unrecoverable by yourself.

It is worth noting that if a really complex lock is jammed on the front door, which implies several degrees of protection, it will not be possible to open the door yourself, with all the desire. In order not to aggravate the situation, it is necessary to call the company's specialists.

Master call

Improper operation

At the same time, the key is difficult to insert, does not turn, or even does not fully insert. You should not "insist" and try to turn it: removing the debris is more difficult than trying to get into the house.

spray WD-40

It is injected with a syringe into the keyhole. The photo shows the lubrication of the locking device.

locking device lubrication

After processing, the key is inserted into the borehole and several times they try to turn it without performing the movement to the end.

The key can be tapped lightly, but gently, as a rule, after several attempts, when the grease spreads, the mechanism opens.

• Trash stuck in the castle - matchstick fragments, small rubbish, can be detected using a flashlight or mobile phone. When foreign objects are found, they are removed with ordinary tweezers. Instead of tweezers, you can use a wire or a stiff metal brush.
• A key left on the other side that prevents you from entering the apartment can be pushed out with a file, a pin, a hairpin.

Locking the locking mechanism

What to do if the lock is jammed in the door during a key turn? This option is possible when dirt accumulates in the larva or the tongue gets stuck. In the latter case, the handle rotates, and the tongue remains stationary, as it is jammed. Accordingly, the sash cannot be opened.

A universal solution to this problem is to squeeze out the tongue. Use a metal ruler, knife blade, plastic card. The object is inserted into the gap between the door leaf and the frame as deep as possible in order to engage the far edge of the tongue. If this succeeds, the tongue is pushed out of the groove with a ruler, applying some effort. The video shows the opening of the front door when the lock is jammed.

Locking mechanism breakage

In this case, you can get into the apartment only if you have special skills. The only method available is to drill out the mechanism. If you can get the right tool and if you have the appropriate skills, you need to remove the decorative strip and drill out the larva.

At the same time, the door suffers a little, but the locking mechanism will need to be changed.

In some cases, you can knock out the cylinder with a hammer, and then use a metal hook to move the crossbars. However, this is only possible with some models. If the lever lock is jammed, for example, it is better not to try to open it yourself.

What to do if the door lock is jammed?

It is necessary to determine further actions, focusing on the nature of the breakdown. It can be determined by excluding available versions. If the key is absent, you can open the sash using the available means - a hairpin, a needle.

Step-by-step instruction

The sequence of actions that helps to open the sash in half the cases of jamming:

• clean the keyhole with a stiff brush to exclude the ingress of foreign objects - shavings, peeling paint, finishing;
• use magnetic attraction to remove metal shavings;
• lubricate the mechanism with oil and try to gently, unhurriedly turn the key;
• if you can't scroll, try to get it out with pliers.

• if the door lock has not opened after working with pliers, the mask is pulled out, changed;
• to exclude damage to the hinges, they should be carefully examined.

The lock is jammed in the door - what to do if there is an English device:

1. Drill out the mechanism with a screwdriver, pull out the mask with a small piece of metal wire, pick up the drive mechanism, push in the crossbars.
2. Knock out the cylinder with a stop by knocking on it with a hammer.

To eliminate skewing, you need a wedge. Not finding the item you need, you can use a flat screwdriver, chisel. The wedge-shaped object is inserted into the hole between the door leaf and the door frame. With a slight press, you can return the skewed blade to its original position, while simultaneously trying to open it.

If the interior door is not locked with a key, and when the handle is pressed, the sash does not open, then the tongue is jammed.

To solve the problem, it is recommended to follow a few simple steps:

1. Insert a flat object (knife, ruler) into the gap between the entrance leaf and the box in the region of the tongue.
2. Tilt the knife so it slides over the steel cut.
3. When the ruler reaches the end, push backward to slide the tab into place.
4. If there is no cut on this side of the sash, then it must be obtained by inserting a ruler obliquely from above.

If there is no hairpin, you need to ask the neighbors for any thin long object. Then the lock should be replaced, because there is no point in repairing it.

Recommendations

A few simple tips to help you deal with a jammed door:

1. If the wooden door is deformed by moisture, then a hair dryer will help to correct the situation. In the absence of the latter, you can use a heating device.
2. If there is a malfunction in the iron box of the door, then the opening must be carried out, starting from the belonging of the locking mechanism to a certain group.
3. If the lock is jammed in the door, and the protective system is of the cylinder type, then only the master will save. Among the breakdowns: the key cannot be pulled out, it turns poorly, squeaks, the mask is jammed when opening, or the key is stuck.
4. If the lock in the door is broken, and the safety system is of the lever type, then in order for the key to be inserted correctly, you can grind off the longitudinal protrusions or squeeze the well a little.

A close inspection of the door leaf can help detect the problem. Visually, you can see cracks in the hinges, shrinkage and other damage.

What to do

After the main causes of breakdowns have been identified, it is time to move on to ways to eliminate them. Each breakdown has individual recommendations for repair, but there are a number of general tips that are suitable for almost any such situation.

General recommendations

Experienced citizens who have faced similar problems more than once recommend the following actions:

1. If the mechanism is stuck while scrolling, clean or replace the cylinder. It will cost less than a complete replacement of the lock and require less time to manipulate.
2. If the key is stuck in the entrance lock and does not want to come out, treat the larva with grease. For these purposes, kerosene or engine oil is suitable.
3. At the first signs of an impending breakdown, do not be too lazy to disassemble the mechanism and check its condition.

Cylinder lock failure

The following malfunctions may occur in the operation of the cylinder lock:

1. Due to contamination, the mechanism will begin to turn worse, requiring more effort from the owner.
2. The key is jammed in the keyhole and cannot be pulled back.
3. During interaction with the mechanism, extraneous sounds appear.

Suvald type

In case of complications during the introduction of the key into the larva of the mechanism, it is recommended:

1. Insert the key from the back of the door.
2. Cut off longitudinal protrusions that prevent comfortable penetration. In situations where you cannot grind off the protrusions, try applying slight pressure to the keyhole.

How to remove a stuck or broken key

If the key gets stuck in the lock and won't turn, try one of the following methods:

1. Treat the keyhole with oil or special grease.
2. If the door is not closed, disassemble the lock and carefully remove the key.
3. You can use pliers or tweezers to remove the broken key.

Forceful methods

In the case when accurate methods of influence do not help, they switch to power techniques. They are more effective, but capable of causing irreparable damage to the door or locking device. Power methods include:

• breaking out;
• knocking out;
• drilling;
• call of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Breaking out

If the need arises to quickly open the stuck door, breaking out will help. Algorithm of actions:

• we take a gas key;
• we clamp the secret with it;
• turn sharply.

The larva and the fastenings that hold it collapse, thereby allowing the door to open.

Advantages of the method:

• speed;
• simplicity;
• the door remains intact.

Minuses:

the lock after such an impact will finally break. It cannot be restored.

Drilling

For drilling it is necessary to insert a suitable drill into the keyhole, and then drill out the fastening of the pin. It holds the bolt and prevents the lock from turning. If everything is done correctly, the lock should turn quietly inside the lock.

Knocking out

When knocking out, the lock is completely destroyed, and it will not work to restore it, as in the case of drilling. To knock out the lock, you will need:

• prepare a hammer and chisel;
• attach a chisel to the lock;
• knock out the lock cylinder with strong blows on the chisel.

Try to take a heavier hammer, otherwise you will have to fiddle with a jammed mechanism for a long time.

Contacting the Ministry of Emergency Situations or specialists

Opening doors by yourself is not always a good solution. The owner of the apartment may misidentify the essence of the problem and cause more damage to his property. To prevent this from happening - contact the Ministry of Emergency Situations or companies specializing in hacking. They minimize damage and get the job done much faster.

What to do if the door is jammed in the apartment

For a person who is in a difficult position when the lock is jammed in the door, there are three options for seeking help:

1. In a housing office or a management company. When calling a full-time locksmith, you need to remember that he is not a specialist in opening locks on doors. Therefore, the maximum that the master can - cut off the hinges with a grinder, drill the lock cylinder with a drill or squeeze the door with a crowbar. In any case, you will need to prepare for an expensive repair or complete replacement of the door.

2. In the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Rescuers promptly arrive at the scene only when there is a real threat to human life or the danger of an emergency. For example, behind a locked door, there is one small child or a person in need of help, the gas is turned on or the water tap is not turned off.

In other cases, the arrival of the Ministry of Emergency Situations will have to wait for 2-3 hours. However, they also do not choose ways to open the door without damage, using tools such as a grinder and a pry bar. At best, the door will simply be pulled out of the opening together with the box, at worst - it will be sawn in half.

3. Call a specialized service for opening doors and locks. Experienced emergency service technicians deal with different models of locks and doors every day, therefore, when opening, they choose the most reliable and gentle method. In all cases, the lock (if it is jammed) or the door can be opened without damage.

Who should you go to for help?

In cases where the problem cannot be solved on your own, you need to resort to calling a specialist. In most cases, this will be cheaper than trying to open the door yourself by breaking the lock. Self-activity often leads to the breakage of the key in the keyhole, and this in any case leads to a call to the master and a complete replacement of the lock.

The in-house craftsmen will open the lock with special tools. The prices for their services vary in different cities and companies, and depend on the source of the problem. The craftsmen will try, if possible, to preserve the integrity of the lock, but if this is not possible, they will offer an additional service to replace the mechanism on the spot. The average time for emergency opening of locks is 15-20 minutes.

If the lock breaks, you do not need to panic. Some of the problems with the door are solved independently. The main condition is that if it was not possible to fix it, you need to contact a specialist.

How to open the door if the lock is jammed

Available ways to fix the breakage with your own hands:

1. To open the door if the lock is jammed, you can try cleaning the lock slot of debris and dust.
2. Lubricate the device and try to open it again.
3. If the mechanism is jammed due to the fact that the door is skewed, you need to find a wedge and insert it into the gap between the door frame and the door leaf itself. This will allow you to return the structure to its original position. After alignment, the door should open.
4. The cross-shaped lock is easy to open without a key using gum and a screwdriver. The chewing gum is placed in the well. After that, you need to insert and carefully rotate the screwdriver. A few turns will allow the gum to assume the shape of a key and the lock will open.

The key is difficult and not fully advanced in the keyhole.

This means that the lock cylinder or the lever mechanism has broken. In such a situation, you will need a special tool and professional help, because you will have to completely dismantle the device.

Lock problems can occur due to the key inserted from the inside. If it is not turned, you can try to push the key with a pin or nail through the key slot.

The locking mechanism, which has been in intensive use for a long time, must be lubricated. After processing, carefully insert and remove the key. You can tap it lightly while gradually pushing the key inward. Do this slowly to avoid breaking the device completely.

A decorative strip may interfere with key advancement. After removing it, the key enters the keyhole to the end.

Blockages in the keyhole are detected by highlighting it. This can be done with a flashlight or mobile phone. Fragments of matches or small debris are removed with a metal hook or tweezers.

The key cannot be pulled out

If you cannot remove the key from the keyhole, do not make sudden movements so as not to break it. Try using a syringe to fill the gap with kerosene or special machine oil. After 10 minutes, shake the key, but no effort is needed. If you managed to open the front door of the apartment, remove the lock and check its core.

Sometimes, when the door is open, the mechanism works, and when it is closed, a wedge occurs. In this case, you need to perform the boring of the doors.

Jammed tongue

It so happens that the door does not open even if you have turned the key all the way. This problem can be easily remedied by using any narrow metal object, such as a utility knife, to open the lock. Any plastic card will do.

Pull the door leaf away from the jamb and insert an ax or crowbar into the gap. This will open up access to the tongue. Try to push it into the lock with a knife, the door should swing open. After that, you need to disassemble the mechanism and find the cause of the breakdown. Most often this is a weakening of the spring.

The lock broke

In cylinder models, you can remove the broken larva using a drill or pliers. The outer part is bitten off or drilled out, and the remains are knocked out with a thick screwdriver and a hammer. After that, the crossbars located on the drive mechanism are shifted with a metal hook.

The main problem with lever locks is plate jamming. Opening such a mechanism is not easy, therefore, without the necessary skills, it is better to entrust the solution to the problem to specialists.

If a door lock is jammed, it is much easier to open it from the inside because almost every home has the necessary tools. In addition, from the inside, you can easily remove the mechanism, especially the overhead type.