Deadbolt Lock Stopped Working

Tight Fit

• A deadbolt’s latch mechanism fits tightly with the keeper plate on the door jamb. The latch mechanism slides in and out of the door as you turn the key in the lock. As the latch slides out, it should insert snugly into the keeper plate, preventing anyone from opening the door without a key. Since the latch mechanism and the keeper plate fit together so snugly, a slight change in any part of the lock results in the deadbolt not working properly.

Door Movement

• Door movement affects the height of the deadbolt lock’s latch mechanism in relation to the height of the keeper plate. Examine the height of the latch in relation to the keeper plate by fully extending the latch, then closing the door until the latch contacts the door trim. The door’s height may change if the screws that hold the hinge pieces in place loosen, so you may restore the deadbolt lock to its operating order by tightening all of the hinges’ screws. Tightly driving the hinge pins into the hinges also may affect the height of the door. In the end, you may need to make the opening in the keeper plate larger using a grinder.

Wood Warping

• If you live in an area that becomes hot and humid during the summer months, the lock may not work as your wood door expands from the increased temperature and moisture. You may apply a seal to the front and back of the door, as well as the sides, keeping moisture out of the wood so it does not warp. If you or whoever else sealed the wood door missed either the top or bottom of the door, or both, then moisture may enter the wood door.

Sticking Mechanism

• The lock mechanism may begin sticking from age or during cold weather. When lock manufacturers originally make deadbolt locks, they leave lubricant inside the mechanism so the different metal pieces easily slide. Spraying a penetrating lubricant into the mechanism through the seams around the latch, then opening and closing the latch works to lubricate the lock mechanism. Lubricating the lock during cold temperatures also keeps the contracting metal pieces in the lock freely moving.