Most locks do not fail all at once. The key gets stiff, the handle droops, the latch stops catching or the door must be lifted to lock. A door lock repair at that stage is usually quicker and cheaper than waiting until the lock jams shut or the key snaps. Some faults are a loose screw or a keep that has moved; others mean a worn part or a new lock. Describe the fault and the door, and locksmiths near you will send free quotes, with no obligation.
Common door lock faults
- Latch will not catch: the door has dropped or the keep has moved, so the latch misses the hole
- Stiff key: dust, worn pins or a worn key
- Drooping or loose handle: a broken return spring or loose fixing screws
- Bolt hard to throw: the bolt rubs on the keep because the door has moved
- Key stuck or snapped in the lock
Door lock repair or replacement?
Adjusting the keep, tightening a handle or replacing a spring is repair work. A worn cylinder can often be replaced on its own, keeping the lock case. A lock case with a broken latch or worn levers, or an old 2 lever lock on an outside door, is usually better replaced; see lock replacement. On aluminium doors a narrow lock case is needed, see aluminium door locks.
What you can check yourself
Tighten loose handle and keep screws. Close the door slowly and watch where the latch meets the keep. Use dry graphite or a dry PTFE lock lubricant in the keyway, never oil, which collects dust and gums up the pins, especially on the Highveld and on gates. Do not force a stiff key, because that is how keys snap. If the latch or bolt still binds, or the lock has worn loose inside, call a locksmith before it jams with the door locked.
What affects the price
A quick adjustment costs less than a new part, and a part costs less than a new lock. Several small faults on one visit save on call-out fees, so list every sticking lock in the house. Ask each locksmith:
- whether the call-out fee is included
- what part they expect to fit, and its price
- whether they carry the lock in stock if repair fails
- the guarantee on the repair
A photo of the lock and keep helps them quote more accurately.
What to include in your request
- What the fault is and when it started
- The door: timber, aluminium or steel gate
- The lock and handle type
- Whether the door still locks
- A photo of the lock and keep
Door Lock Repairs for different clients
- Homeowners: a stiff front door lock, a drooping handle or a latch that misses the keep
- Complexes, estates and body corporates: unit door locks and pedestrian gate locks that stick or fail to latch
- Offices, shops and practices: shopfront and office locks that bind after the door drops on its hinges
- Landlords and letting agents: worn locks and handles fixed between tenants before the next move-in
- Factories, warehouses and workshops: gate and roller door locks clogged by dust and grit in the yard
- Farms and smallholdings: dusty store and gate locks freed and serviced before they seize
- Schools, clinics, churches and hostels: heavily used classroom and toilet door locks repaired before they jam
- Builders, shopfitters and contractors: snagging lists on new builds where latches and keeps need adjusting
Frequently asked questions
How much does a door lock repair cost?
How do I fix a door handle that droops?
Why won't my door latch catch anymore?
Can a jammed lock be repaired without breaking the door?
Door Lock Repairs by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg