Front Door Lock Jammed Shut

Troubleshooting a stuck door latch try to open the door while it is shut.

Front door lock jammed shut. Take the handles knobs off of the door. Wet lubricant tends to gum up the locks. Make sure that the lock is not frozen shut. You can do this by using the phillips head screw driver to unscrew both screws on the door handle.

Remove the handles including the thru spindle. Tighten the hinge screws and then try adjusting the strike plate by loosening its screws and shifting it slightly. The latch will not retract even when the knob is turned. The mechanics of the lock have broken leaving the top section of the door completely.

Thread the screwdriver through the large spindle. See if this retracts the handle. The latch will not retract even when the knob is turned. In this video i attempt to open a patio door that has got stuck locked.

Door lock doesn t latch properly when a door latch doesn t click into position it usually means the latch and the strike plate are out of alignment. Repairs range from making minor latch adjustments to repositioning the door. Take note of the type of resistance. Soak your door lock in kerosene for 24 hours if it isn t attached to a door and has been rusted shut.

If it is you will have to remove the doorknob assembly remove the hinges and wiggle the entire door out of its frame. Check the alignment of the deadbolt against the strike on the jamb if the lock is difficult to turn when the door is closed or the door doesn t lock at all. Use the screwdriver to push the opposite side of the doorknob from the door and latch. If the door lock gets jammed first you should use graphite based lubricant rather than using wet lubricant.

First off you re going to have to take the door handle off. Remove the cover or faceplate of your mortise lock or surface mounted rim lock to repair it. The knob will not turn to retract the stuck. Use a file to widen the hole on the strike or remove the strike with a screwdriver and reposition it on the jamb.

If the latch assembly is working just fine but the door is still stuck try squirting a little bit of all purpose lubricant between the door and the frame. You should start by spraying the lubricant simply on the door key. Use a tool a flathead screwdriver will work to twist within the gap the thru spindle inserts into. Make sure the lock is unlocked before you do this.