What the symptom is telling you

Common lock symptoms and their usual causes
What happens	Usual suspects	Guide
Key goes in but is hard to turn	Grit or wear inside the lock, a worn-down key, or the bolt catching the strike plate	What's on your door
Security gate lock seized or key won't turn	Weather, dust and rust in an exposed gate lock, or a gate that has sagged out of line	Stuck gate locks
Sliding door won't latch or lock	Worn rollers letting the door drop, a misaligned keep, or a worn hook bolt	Sliding door won't lock
Locks fine with the door open, not once it's shut	The bolt no longer lines up with the strike plate because the door or frame has moved	—
Handle hangs down or doesn't spring back	A spring that has snapped in the handle or lock case	—
Key snapped off inside	A worn key forced through a stiff lock	Getting a broken key out

These are patterns, not a diagnosis. Two locks can behave identically for quite different reasons, so the technician checks yours in person.

What a repair can involve

Moving or adjusting the strike plate so bolt and latch go home cleanly.
Cleaning out a lock clogged with dust or rust, then lubricating it the way its maker recommends, where the maker gives guidance.
Replacing a spring, cam, handle or other part, where parts are available.
Freeing a jammed bolt, then finding out why it jammed so it doesn't happen again.
Adjusting a sliding door or a gate so the lock and keep meet properly.

Gates and outside locks

Security-gate locks and padlocks live outside and take the worst of the weather: dust, rain and sun. They often seize from the outside in, and a gate that drops slightly on its hinges can stop the lock lining up. Repairing the lock without fixing the gate's alignment usually means you'll be calling again before long, so the technician checks both.

When we'll suggest replacing instead

Repair doesn't always make sense. If the lock case is cracked, took a beating in a break-in, is worn to the point where another failure is likely, or needs a part that's no longer made, a new lock is usually better value. The same applies if you can't account for all the keys. In those cases we'll quote for lock replacement and tell you why.

Please don't…

Don't flood a sticky lock with cooking oil, household spray oil or grease. Some products gum up the mechanism and hold on to dust, and some lock makers say exactly what to use. And never lean on a stiff key: most snapped keys start that way. If the lock feels worse each day, leave it and phone us.

Cost

R250 call-out fee. The technician assesses the job on site and gives you the price before any work starts. Nothing is done until you agree. What you pay comes down to the fault, any parts and the time on the job. See what a locksmith visit costs in Roodepoort for the factors.

Lock brands we work on

These are the lock and security-gate brands you'll find on most Roodepoort doors and gates, sold by Builders, Cashbuild, Leroy Merlin and locksmith suppliers across Gauteng. If yours isn't listed, send us a photo.

UnionMortice locksets, cylinders, gate locks
YaleLocksets, padlocks, smart locks
TrellidorSecurity-gate locks
CISACylinders, gate and door locks
Mul-T-LockHigh-security cylinders, padlocks
dormakabaCommercial locks and key systems
ABUSPadlocks
Master LockPadlocks

Brand names belong to their owners and are used only to describe what we work on. We're not an agent of, or endorsed by, these manufacturers.

Where this service is available

We provide lock repairs as part of our mobile locksmith service across Roodepoort. Areas we're often asked about include:

All Roodepoort areas we cover

Questions customers ask

Is fixing a lock cheaper than replacing it?

Usually, if it's an adjustment or a small part. A major repair on an old, basic lock can cost close to a new, better one. The technician gives you both prices so you can choose.

Can you repair any make of lock?

Most common makes, as long as parts are available. Send a photo showing the brand name on the lock or faceplate and we'll tell you in advance.

Lock Repair in Roodepoort