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How to open the door if the lock is jammed, the key is stuck - effective tips

Installing a lock on an interior door allows not only to securely fix the sash in the closed position, but also to organize a protected personal space for family members with different daily routines, habits or interests, as well as prevent pets from entering unwanted areas. The presence of constipation on the doors is especially important for young families who do not have their own housing and are forced to live with their parents. In offices and other public areas, they are installed mainly to protect against the penetration of unauthorized persons.

An unexpected breakdown of the lock at , can lead to blocking of people inside the room. Often, time does not allow waiting for the arrival of the master, even worse if the owner of the apartment is inside the room and does not have the opportunity to open it - in these cases, the problem has to be solved on its own, as soon as possible and with the help of improvised tools. Solutions largely depend on the type of lock, its internal structure and the cause of the breakdown.

The main causes of failure

In order for an interior door, you should first identify the cause of the breakdown. Typical reasons include:

  1. Jamming due to the gradual accumulation of dirt and dust or foreign objects entering the mechanism.
  2. Worn or damaged door lock mechanism.
  3. The key is stuck in the door (usually this happens when using a poor-quality duplicate or a damaged key).
  4. The door was deformed due to moisture or warped as a result of improper installation.
  5. Lost the key to the closed door.
  6. The key is broken in the lock.
  7. The door handle broke off.
  8. Children accidentally locked themselves inside the room.
  9. The door was slammed shut by a gust of wind, and the key remained inside the room.

Depending on the reason, the design of the lock and door hinges, the availability of improvised means and tools, in each specific situation, a different opening method is used:

  1. Opening with an improvised master key.
  2. or pens.
  3. The use of physical force.

The best solution is to completely dismantle the lock. At the same time, the door leaf remains intact, and the lock itself can be safely inspected, the cause of the malfunction identified and eliminated, cleaned, lubricated and reinstalled.

Ways to open locks in various situations

Most models of interior doors do not differ in structural strength; it will not be difficult for an adult to knock out a canvas or break a lock with force in case of blocking. However, in this case, the canvas can be seriously damaged, which will require expensive repairs or replacement of the entire structure.

If the lock on the door is broken do not immediately apply physical force - excessive load can only exacerbate the problem, permanently disable the lock or damage the door leaf. All actions should be carried out carefully and without haste.

Having calmly studied the situation and identified the cause of the problems, you can try to apply one of the following methods:

  • One of the most versatile ways to open the door if the lock is jammed is to remove the canvas from the hinges. This method is used for all types of breakdowns, and the possibility of application depends solely on the design of the loops.

Standard ones are easy, it is enough to pick up a strong cylindrical rod with a length of at least 10-15 cm (in extreme cases, even a wooden pencil is used) and a hammer (or any other heavy object) from improvised materials. With the help of a rod, a steel finger is knocked out of the fist connecting the loops - the loops are separated, and the canvas is easily removed.

In order to separate the screw-in structures, you need a gap above the upper end - by prying and lifting the canvas, the door is removed from the canopies.

It is almost impossible to remove the canvas from hidden loops.

  • In the event that the key is stuck in the lock or the lock is jammed, clean all accessible parts with a stiff brush or brush (one of the reasons for such a breakdown may be clogging or the presence of foreign objects). After mechanical cleaning, the mechanism is lubricated with machine oil or cleaned with a WD-40 spray.
  • You can pull the broken key out of the lock with pliers (if it is possible to grab the break point) or get it out using a bent paper clip, prying the stuck chip by the grooves.
  • A common cause of tongue jamming is a broken or weakened spring. If the tongue is jammed and turning the handle or key does not move it, a ruler, plastic card, knife or other object is used. By inserting a flat object into the gap between the sash and the jamb, and gently pressing on the tongue, you can open the lock. In a similar way, and with the help of the same improvised means, an accidentally fallen latch is raised.
  • When slamming a lock with a rotary key in the form of a key, you should carefully examine its surface - in most designs a miniature, almost imperceptible hole will be found. By inserting a needle, nail or other thin metal object into the hole and pressing lightly, you can unlock the lock.
  • If the padlock is broken, unscrew the fixing bolts with a screwdriver or improvised means (coins, knife) and remove it.
  • If, during a sharp cut, the latch moved a few millimeters and part of it entered the counterpart, it is enough to gently squeeze the canvas with a chisel, screwdriver or other tool.
  • In case of loss with a bent wire or paper clip, insert it into the hole and carefully turn it at different depths. The mechanisms are not particularly complex, this method may well lead to the desired result.
  • If the cylinder lock breaks (the lock is stuck, the key cannot be removed from the well, the cylinder does not turn even with the key), you need to remove the decorative trim and remove (knock out or drill out) the lock cylinder. After that, the mechanism that controls the crossbars is hooked with a metal wire.
  • If the key remains in the lock on the reverse side, and the door suddenly slams shut, you can try to put a thick sheet of paper or cardboard in the gap under the sash and try to push it out with any thin object. The dropped key is carefully pulled out along with the enclosed sheet of paper.