Why has your lock failed even though your keys are still turning?
A Worn Bolt Mechanism
The bolt wears down as it is used, becoming too short to be able to lock into the strike plate, yet still allowing the lock to be opened with a key.
A Misaligned Strike Plate
As a door frame will move with the seasons (often as a result of damp and cold affecting your home), it will swell in the summer and drop in the winter. When a strike plate has been set up for the frame in its summer swollen state, it will no longer be aligned with the bolt when the frame has dropped in the winter. As a result, the door will not have latched.
Internal Corrosion on the Levers
- Corrosion to levers caused by lock body containing moisture which gradually rots internal lock components. The key will still turn but not enough to lift the levers to necessary height to operate the bolt.
A Broken Anti-Snap Cylinder
There are, however, other reasons for failure. Internal corrosion of the levers may mean that the lock requires constant cleaning to prevent lock failure. On occasions a lock fails after a forced entry attempt when the cylinder appears to have been broken but in fact it is only cracked internally. This type of lock can be rekeyed and it will continue to function in the same way as before. In many cases such locks are best replaced as there is a high risk of total failure at some future date. If you are looking for Locksmith Newton Aycliffe, see https://lockwork24-7.co.uk/locksmith/newton-aycliffe/.
Even though your key turns, your lock may have already failed before the key was lost or damaged.
