Sticky, Loose or Broken Lock in Jacksonville? We Repair It Before We Replace It

Lock problems we fix

• The key is hard to turn, or only turns if you jiggle it
• The deadbolt won't lock unless you push, pull or lift the door
• The door won't latch or springs back open
• The knob or lever is loose, droops or spins without opening the door
• The key goes in but won't turn, or turns all the way around
• A key broke off in the lock. See broken key extraction.
• A home keypad lock beeps, blinks or won't accept the code
• Gate, garage door and file cabinet locks that stick or won't lock

One customer put it simply in a review: the lock broke, he didn't know who to call, and he wanted it fixed the same day. That's the kind of call we're set up for. We carry common parts and locks from several trusted makers in the van, so most repairs are done in one visit.

Is it the lock or the door? Our "Florida Swell" check

Many Jacksonville homeowners are told they need a new lock when the lock is fine. High summer humidity makes wood doors and frames absorb moisture and expand. We call it the Florida Swell. The latch and the strike plate drift out of line, so the door sticks and the bolt drags. It gets worse in the afternoon heat and after rain, then eases in the drier winter months.

New hardware won't fix a door that has moved. Before we sell you anything, we check:

• Does the key turn smoothly with the door open? If yes, the lock is fine and the problem is alignment.
• Is the door sagging? Loose top hinge screws let a door drop at the latch side.
• Where is the bolt rubbing? Scuff marks on the strike plate show which way to adjust.

Then we fix the cause. We move or file the strike, tighten or replace the hinge screws with long ones that reach the framing, and adjust the door so it closes cleanly in every season. It's common in the older wood-framed bungalows of San Marco and Riverside, but we see it in newer homes too.

Repair or replace? How we decide

We look at the lock the way a good mechanic looks at a car:

• The cause. Alignment, dirt and a worn spring are all repairs. A cracked housing or a bent bolt usually means replacement.
• The age and grade. A quality lock is worth rebuilding. A light-duty builder lock with a worn cylinder rarely is.
• Signs of forced entry. A lock that was attacked should be replaced, and the frame checked. See door reinforcement.
• Corrosion. Near the ocean, salt air can seize a lock from the inside. We clean what we can save and tell you honestly when a lock is past saving.

When a part needs replacing, we use quality cylinders, bolts and springs, not the lowest-cost part that fits. If a lock change is the better value, we'll say so and quote both.

Historic mortise lock restoration

Owners of older homes in Riverside, Avondale, Springfield and San Marco often worry that better security means drilling new holes in an original door. It doesn't have to. Many of these houses still have their early 1900s mortise locks: a lock body set inside the door edge, with a brass or bronze knob and a skeleton-key or cylinder keyhole.

We restore them instead of replacing them:

1. Remove the lock body carefully from the door.
2. Clean and inspect it, keeping the original patina on the visible brass or bronze.
3. Replace worn springs and parts so the latch and bolt work smoothly again.
4. Fit a new cylinder where the lock takes one, so you get modern, working keys.
5. Reinstall and align the lock and strike with the door.

You keep the character of the house and get a lock that works every day.

Keep your locks working

A few minutes a year prevents most lock repairs:

• Use a dry lock lubricant, such as graphite or a PTFE spray, once or twice a year. Skip oily sprays that attract grit.
• Tighten loose screws on knobs, levers and strike plates before they strip.
• Watch for early signs: a key that needs jiggling, a door you have to push, or rust on exterior hardware.
• Rinse coastal hardware with fresh water now and then if you live near the ocean.

Our door lock repair guide covers this in more detail.

For businesses

Commercial locks take heavy use, and a lock that won't secure the front door can't wait. We repair commercial levers, mortise locks and storefront deadbolts, and we service door closers and panic bars on our exit devices and door closers page.

How a repair visit works

1. Call or text and describe the problem. A short video of the lock often helps us bring the right parts.
2. We diagnose it on site and tell you whether it's the lock or the door.
3. We quote before we fix. You decide.
4. We repair, test and show you the lock working, and give you an itemized invoice.

Our lock installations are backed by a 5-year money-back guarantee.

What it costs

A repair depends on:

• The cause. Alignment and cleaning are quick. Rebuilding a lock takes longer.
• Parts. Springs and strike plates cost little. A new cylinder or lock body costs more.
• The lock. Mortise, high-security and keypad locks take more time.

You get the full price on the phone before we drive out, and we confirm it before any work starts. See our pricing guide.

Where we repair locks

We fix door locks across Jacksonville, including San Marco, Mandarin, Southside and Jacksonville Beach.

Lock giving you trouble? Call (904) 509-0907 or text us a video of the lock. We're available Mon & Fri 7 AM–2 PM and Tue & Thu 7 AM–6 PM.