Why does my key go in but not turn?

Usually the cylinder is dirty, worn or corroded, or the door has moved and the bolt is catching on the frame. A locksmith can tell which one it is by testing the lock apart from the door.

Is it worth trying a spray from the hardware store?

It is better to leave it. Oil and general-purpose spray can gum the cylinder up and make the problem worse. A locksmith will use the right product after checking the cause.

Does Alafaya's weather make this more likely?

Yes. Constant humidity swells wood doors and frames so deadbolts bind, and rust and grit build up in cylinders. Storm season from June through November adds wind-driven water and debris.

Do locksmiths in Florida need a state license?

Florida has no statewide locksmith license. The trade is regulated at the county or city level, and the rules differ from place to place. Check current requirements with the county or city licensing or consumer protection office where the work is done.

Who does the work, and what does it cost?

One Call Locksmiths is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with an independent locksmith, who does the work. Every job has a free estimate, and the locksmith gives you the price before starting and waits for your approval.

Lock stiff or will not turn in Alafaya, FL

Most homes in Alafaya went up between the 1980s and the 2000s, during the build-out around UCF. That means many front doors and deadbolts here now have 20 to 40 years of use on them. If the key goes in but the lock will not turn, one of two things has almost certainly happened. Either grit or corrosion has built up inside the cylinder, or the door has shifted and the bolt is binding against the frame.

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Both are common in Alafaya. Humidity stays high nearly all year, and Florida's heat and moisture can swell a wood door and its frame until the deadbolt rubs against the strike plate. Rust and fine grit work into the cylinder, especially after storms. This is a repair job. It is not a sign that someone has tampered with your lock.

While you wait — please don't

Don't force the key. Forcing a stiff key is how it snaps, and then you have a broken key in the lock as well as a lock that will not turn.
Don't spray oil or a general-purpose lubricant into it. Oil and general-purpose spray gum a cylinder up worse than it was, and it can turn grit into paste.
Don't use pliers or a hammer on the key or the lock. That bends the key or damages the cylinder, and a repair that could have been simple turns into a replacement.
Don't keep leaning on the door while you turn. If the door has moved, extra pressure only jams the bolt harder against the frame.

What the technician does

You get the price firstThe locksmith gives you the price before any work starts, and nothing begins until you approve it. The estimate is free.
Identification is checkedThe locksmith will ask for identification and proof that you are entitled to the property or vehicle before opening anything. That keeps you and your home protected.
Finding the causeThe locksmith works out whether the problem is the lock itself or the way the door and frame line up. These need different fixes, so this step comes first.
Cylinder cleaned, re-pinned or replacedIf the cylinder is the problem, it is cleaned and lubricated with the right product. Where it is worn or corroded, it is re-pinned or replaced.
Strike plate and hinges adjustedIf the door has moved, the strike plate and hinges are adjusted so the bolt meets the frame cleanly again.
Tested several timesThe latch and deadbolt are tested open and closed several times before the job is finished.

Why this happens in Alafaya, FL

Alafaya sits inland in east Orange County, so salt-air corrosion is minimal compared with the Atlantic beaches about 45 miles east. Moisture is still the problem. Humidity is high almost every month, and the near-daily summer thunderstorms add wind, hail and heavy rain. Hurricane season runs from June through November. Exterior locks take a beating in those months, and hardware that stays damp rusts.

Housing here is mostly concrete block and stucco on slab foundations, in platted HOA subdivisions, some of them gated. Large condo and apartment communities serve students around UCF. If your lock is in a rental or a shared building, tell your landlord or property manager, since management may control some of the access. Lightning is also heavy in Central Florida, and surge damage to smart locks and gate operators is a routine service call in Alafaya. If a smart lock acts up after a storm, mention that when you call.

Questions people ask

Why does my key go in but not turn?: Usually the cylinder is dirty, worn or corroded, or the door has moved and the bolt is catching on the frame. A locksmith can tell which one it is by testing the lock apart from the door.
Is it worth trying a spray from the hardware store?: It is better to leave it. Oil and general-purpose spray can gum the cylinder up and make the problem worse. A locksmith will use the right product after checking the cause.
Does Alafaya's weather make this more likely?: Yes. Constant humidity swells wood doors and frames so deadbolts bind, and rust and grit build up in cylinders. Storm season from June through November adds wind-driven water and debris.
Do locksmiths in Florida need a state license?: Florida has no statewide locksmith license. The trade is regulated at the county or city level, and the rules differ from place to place. Check current requirements with the county or city licensing or consumer protection office where the work is done.
Who does the work, and what does it cost?: One Call Locksmiths is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with an independent locksmith, who does the work. Every job has a free estimate, and the locksmith gives you the price before starting and waits for your approval.

One call

Call (866) 690-5848 and One Call Locksmiths will arrange an independent locksmith for your stiff lock in Alafaya. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 690-5848

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