A Lock Mishap in Romsey - and a Quiet Fix (Even Though a Dog Was Barking!)

Lock mishap - The other afternoon, I was called out to a house in Romsey, near Cupernham.  One of those "not urgent but really urgent" situations.
The homeowner said on the phone that the lock on the back door "felt a bit crunchy" and then stopped turning completely.

For a week, they had been getting by by going through the front door. Then the dog decided that the back garden was the only place to go.
Cue a little panic. We've all been there: the dog is in charge of the house!

First glance

The door was locked tight when I got there, and the key wouldn't move.
There was nothing dramatic, like broken keys or hanging handles. The Euro cylinder just wouldn't budge.

Sometimes locks don't just "break" right away; they complain for a while.
In this case, a mix of wear, dirt, and a door that was slightly dropped had slowly worn out the lock mechanism.

The fix I:

• Moved the door back into place (you'd be surprised how much 2mm makes a difference)
• Took out the cylinder because it looked like it needed a medal.
• Installed a new high-security lock that can't be snapped off

Tested it out with the homeowner and, of course, the dog was there to watch.

The door now opens the way it should have from the start.
No problems, no fuss, no drama.

The homeowner's response

They laughed and said,  "I didn't know how bad it had gotten until it worked again."

That's not unusual;  people just deal with it when locks and doors slowly get out of alignment.

If you're reading this in Romsey, here's a quick tip...

Don't ignore it if your key needs a "wiggle" or you have to lift the handle harder than usual.
It's usually not the lock itself that's the problem; it's the alignment. Fixing it early saves money.

If you're in Romsey and your door or lock is:

• Hard
• Grinding
• Needs to be slammed or lifted
• Or it just doesn't feel right

If youre having a lock mishap, call me at 01794 743033.
I live nearby, am friendly, and will show up when I say I will.
(And yes, dogs always get a hello.)

UPVC Door Lock Repairs in Romsey

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