Jammed lock

A jammed lock is not the same as a key that will not turn. Here it is the mechanism that fails: a broken spring, a latch that has slipped out of place, a snapped internal part or a door that has dropped and presses the latch against the frame.

What to do now

• If you are inside and cannot get out, stay calm. If anyone is at risk (smoke, someone unwell, a child on their own), call 112 first. If not, send us a message: we will sort it out.
• Check whether the jam is in the lock or the door. Gently push or pull while you work the handle or the key. If it gives, the door has dropped on its hinges.
• Check whether there are other locks on the same door: a bolt that has been thrown can look like a jam.
• If it is a security door with several locking points, tell us: it is a different job.

What not to do

• Do not force the handle up or down with all your weight. You will snap the spindle and the problem gets bigger.
• Do not take the lock apart yourself with the door shut: without seeing the mechanism it is easy to make it worse.
• Do not hit the latch with a hammer.
• Do not pour large amounts of any product into the cylinder.

How we sort it out

We work 24 hours a day, every day, in Torrevieja and the Vega Baja. With your description and a photo we give you a fixed quote.

If you are outside, we check that you have the right to enter. We open the door with the method that causes the least damage and, with the door open, we take the lock apart to see what has failed. It can often be fixed by replacing one part or adjusting the door. If the lock is badly worn or broken inside, we suggest replacing it and tell you before we do.

You will find all the information under lock repair. If it is a security door that will not open, see also security door that will not open.

Why they jam so often on the coast

In Torrevieja and the Vega Baja the salty air rusts springs and internal parts. And in homes that stay shut for months, the lock seizes up from lack of use. If your home is a second residence, locking and unlocking it now and then, or asking for a check before the season, prevents a lot of jams.

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