Six Signs a Door Lock Should Be Replaced

Locks are surprisingly mechanical. Small parts move against each other every time you turn a key. Over years, wear, weather, and small accidents add up. Some issues can be fixed by cleaning or rekeying, others mean it's time for a new lock.

1. The key sticks or turns rough

A little stiffness in cold weather is common. But if you're consistently wiggling, jiggling, or fighting the key to open your door, the internal pins are probably worn. Sometimes this can be cleaned and adjusted. Often, the lock is on borrowed time.

2. The deadbolt doesn't extend all the way

A deadbolt that only extends part way is usually a sign of misalignment or a lock body that's starting to fail. Either way, don't ignore it, a partially-extended deadbolt gives most of the security of no deadbolt at all.

3. The lock is loose in the door

Wiggle the exterior of the lock. If it moves, the mounting is loose. Sometimes it's just screws working out over time; sometimes the interior parts are worn. Either way, a locksmith can tell you in seconds whether it's a fix or a replacement.

4. Visible damage or forced-entry marks

Pry marks, scratches concentrated around the keyway, or a lock that's been drilled or hit, replace it. Even if it still works, the internals are compromised.

5. It's a knob lock on an entry door with no deadbolt

This isn't a wear-and-tear issue; it's a security one. Knob-only locks are much easier to force than deadbolts. If your entry door doesn't have a deadbolt, that's an upgrade worth making.

6. The lock is very old and hardware-store keys have been copied many times

You can't recall how many copies exist. Rekeying solves the copy problem, but if the lock itself is decades old, replacement, ideally with a restricted keyway, is a much better long-term solution.

Not sure?

Call us. Often a two-minute look tells us whether a lock has one more year in it or is ready to be swapped out.