Why does my lock stick more in summer in Plantation?

Heat and humidity swell wood doors and frames, which makes the deadbolt bind against the strike plate. Plantation's May to October thunderstorm pattern keeps moisture high for months, and that also speeds up corrosion in exterior lock cylinders.

Is it the lock or the door?

It is usually one of the two. A door that has moved needs the strike plate or hinges adjusted. A cylinder with grit or corrosion needs cleaning, re-pinning or replacing. The locksmith checks the lock apart from the door and frame to tell which.

Does Florida license locksmiths?

Florida has no statewide locksmith license. The trade is regulated at the county or city level, and Broward County has historically required local registration. Rules change, so check with the county or city licensing office.

My gate lock or padlock outside is stiff too. Is that the same problem?

Often, yes. Moisture seizes padlocks and gate locks left outdoors in Florida. Plantation Acres has many gated driveways, and irrigation overspray adds to it. Mention it when you call so it can be looked at with the rest.

Are you the locksmith?

No. One Call Locksmiths is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent locksmiths, and the locksmith performs it.

Lock stiff or will not turn in Plantation, FL

Many homes in Plantation were built between the 1960s and 1990s, and their doors and locks have had decades of Florida humidity. If the key goes in but the lock will not turn, one of two things has almost certainly happened. Either the door or frame has moved, or the cylinder has grit or corrosion inside it. Both can be fixed.

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Florida heat and moisture swell wood doors and frames, so the deadbolt binds against the strike plate. The same moisture corrodes cylinders and pits brass and steel hardware. In Plantation, summer heat indexes near 100°F and a daily thunderstorm pattern from May to October keep that going for months. Fine grit after storms can also work into exterior locks.

While you wait — please don't

Do not force the key. Forcing a stiff key is how it snaps, and a snapped key turns a small repair into a bigger one.
Do not spray oil into the lock. Oil or a general-purpose spray gums up the cylinder and can leave it worse than it was.
Do not ignore a lock that is getting stiffer. A lock that is hard to turn today can stop turning altogether, so get it looked at while the key still goes in.

What the technician does

Find the real causeThe locksmith checks the lock separately from the door and the frame. That shows whether the lock itself is failing or the door has shifted.
Clean, lubricate and re-pin, or replaceIf the cylinder is the problem, it is cleaned, lubricated and re-pinned. If it is too worn or corroded, it is replaced.
Adjust the strike plate and hingesWhere the door has moved, the strike plate and hinges are adjusted so the bolt meets the frame cleanly.
Test it several timesThe latch and deadbolt are tested open and closed several times before the job is called done.
Price first, then your approvalYou get a free estimate. The locksmith gives you the price before any work starts, and you approve it first.
Identification is checkedThe locksmith will ask for identification and proof that you are entitled to enter the property before opening anything. It protects you as well.

Why this happens in Plantation, FL

In the older block homes east of Plantation Acres, the original doors and hardware are well past their best. A deadbolt that binds in the wet season and eases in the dry months usually points to a swollen door or frame. A lock that is rough all year more often points to corrosion or grit in the cylinder. Plantation sits several miles inland, so salt exposure is real but milder than at the beach. Humidity does most of the damage.

Plantation is also full of townhomes, villas, condos and gated communities, including the golf-course and 55+ developments. Shared entries and management-controlled access are part of life here. When winter residents return and open up a home that has sat closed through the humid months, a stiff lock is a common thing to find. If you are in a managed building, check whether the property manager needs to be told before work begins.

Questions people ask

Why does my lock stick more in summer in Plantation?: Heat and humidity swell wood doors and frames, which makes the deadbolt bind against the strike plate. Plantation's May to October thunderstorm pattern keeps moisture high for months, and that also speeds up corrosion in exterior lock cylinders.
Is it the lock or the door?: It is usually one of the two. A door that has moved needs the strike plate or hinges adjusted. A cylinder with grit or corrosion needs cleaning, re-pinning or replacing. The locksmith checks the lock apart from the door and frame to tell which.
Does Florida license locksmiths?: Florida has no statewide locksmith license. The trade is regulated at the county or city level, and Broward County has historically required local registration. Rules change, so check with the county or city licensing office.
My gate lock or padlock outside is stiff too. Is that the same problem?: Often, yes. Moisture seizes padlocks and gate locks left outdoors in Florida. Plantation Acres has many gated driveways, and irrigation overspray adds to it. Mention it when you call so it can be looked at with the rest.
Are you the locksmith?: No. One Call Locksmiths is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent locksmiths, and the locksmith performs it.

One call

Call (866) 690-5848 for lock repair in Plantation. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 690-5848

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