Common Lock Problems Found at Home
It’s best to get a locksmith to take a look at your lock/door issue as soon as it arises, rather than ignoring it until you have a critical security risk to your home.
The price of the most basic locksmith services for door repair start at £70 but may go up to around £250 for technical opening and repair procedures with replacement of the complete locking system and ancillary components.
Common Lock & Key Problems
Here are some of the most common lock and key problems our professional locksmiths get called out to fix…
Click the image or scroll down to read our advice and why this happens.
My key won't turn in the lock!
I'm locked out with the key left in the other side of the door lock!
I broke my key!
My key is stuck in the lock!
My door/window handle doesn't move properly!
My door won't close!
See Our Frequently Asked Questions
"My key won't turn in the lock!"
Alternatively, it could be nothing to do with your lock or your key. Locksmiths frequently deal with faults, wear, or even seasonal changes that can make your door stuck within its frame and unopenable – or uncloseable! This can stop your key from rotating, and leave you, once again, in danger of breaking your key and being left with a stressful security emergency.
A new barrel can be installed in your UPVC door from around £97 depending on the security level you require, this will eliminate many of your wear and tear problems and make the door feel like new!
CraftLock locksmiths will help you find the best solution to keep you safe and worry-free. We take pride in an honest and fair service, and as an Approved Company Member of The Master Locksmiths Association, you can trust us to offer you the right answer without adding on unneccessary extras.
"I'm locked out with the key left in the other side of the door lock!"
When a key is left inside the lock on the other side, our skilled locksmiths will use specialist tools to carefully pick the lock and open the door. There is absolutely no need to drill the lock in most cases — a good locksmith, especially an MLA-approved one, will always try the least invasive method first.
At CraftLock, we’re experienced in unlocking all types of doors and locks, even when the key is still in place. Our locksmiths come equipped with multiple techniques and tools to ensure we get you back into your home safely, securely, and without causing damage.
Sometimes, a second entry point like a back door may offer another access option — rest assured, we’ll always assess all available routes before taking any action.
"I broke my key!"
Broken keys stuck in locks are one of the most common reasons people call a locksmith. Whether it’s in a Yale-style nightlatch or a euro cylinder lock, our experienced locksmiths use specialist key extraction tools to remove the broken piece without damaging the lock.
Important: Trying to remove a broken key yourself can actually make things worse. Forcing it out may damage the delicate components inside your lock, or push the broken piece deeper in — making extraction harder, more time-consuming, and more expensive.
Our team is just one call away, with a rapid response available in East Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield.
At CraftLock, we’ve dealt with hundreds of snapped keys and know how to safely remove them without compromising your security.
Whether you need key extraction or a replacement lock — we’ll get it sorted quickly and professionally. Our team is just one call away, with a rapid response available in East Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield.
"My key is stuck in the lock!"
Keys can get stuck in locks for a variety of reasons – ranging from simple wear and internal lock failure, a worn or poorly cut key, misalignment or incorrect operation of the lock, or even accidentally using the wrong key.
Whether the door is currently locked or unlocked, we recommend following these steps:
- DO NOT force the key — this could snap it off inside the lock, making the situation worse.
- DO NOT try to dismantle the lock yourself — this could cause permanent damage or render the lock unusable.
- CALL CraftLock — our experienced locksmith will assess the problem and extract the key safely, and repair or replace the lock if needed.
"My door/window handle doesn't move properly!"
In this situation you can often be up and running with a fix to the door’s various adjustment points. Equally, handle problems can also be an indicator of a more serious mechanical breakdown. Most of the time, this is not a problem with your handle and replacing this will not help. A new set of handles is often available to match your originals however and can be really great to freshen up the look of your door.
"My door won't close!"
You’ll likely be desperate to force it shut to keep the heat in and potential intruders out, however, this could cause you far more problems than you started with!
Don’t cause any further damage – call us as soon as possible to arrange for the professional solution.
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