How to Troubleshoot a Dead Bolt

Dead bolts locks add security to a home or residence and give the home or property owner peace of mind. These simple locks feature a horizontally sliding mechanism that braces the door into the wall; there are, however, times when things may go awry with this process. Such instances can lead to frustration and perhaps hiring a locksmith, but there may also be times when some do-it-yourself troubleshooting can help alleviate the problem, eliminating the need for professional assistance.

Things You'll Need

• Spare key
• Screwdriver
• Spray lubricant

Instructions

1. Insert the spare key into the key lock and turn. Discard the damaged key and have copies made of the spare if this remedies the situation (see Tips).

2. Grab the front face of the lock and wiggle it forcefully; there should be no movement between the lock base and the surface of the door. Repeat for the other side of the door; any looseness can prevent the lock from lining up properly so the bolt won't slide into position. Use a screwdriver to tighten all screws on the mechanism, which should fix the problem.

3. Remove the entire locking mechanism from the door using the screwdriver if the previous step did not provide the solution. Disassemble the mechanism. Unscrew the holding screws and slide them out. Clean the mechanism with a commercially available spray cleaner/lubricant to remove dirt, then reassemble.

Tips & Warnings

• The teeth on the primary key may become bent out of alignment, which results in the key failing to internally match the lock.

References

• "The Complete Book of Locks & Locksmithing"; Bill Phillips; 2005