Key Keeps Turning In a Door Lock? 4 Reasons Why, And How to Fix This

It’s an experience that no one wants to have. You keep turning your key in the lock and it just keeps turning without unlocking or locking your door. This presents a situation that makes it easier for burglars and is something you’ll want to prevent at all costs.

But what are the reasons for your key turning in your lock and how can you fix this?

We cover the answers to these questions and more in this post.

How dangerous is it if your key turns but won’t unlock your house door?

If you find yourself in a situation where your key keeps spinning but won’t lock, you’ll want to know how dangerous this is. The fact that your door key doesn’t work can be very problematic and can cause serious security concerns for you and your loved ones. Ultimately, this makes it easier for unwanted visitors to enter your home, as your home’s main safety feature – your door – won’t lock.

This problem can occur on a wide variety of doors: your UPVC patio door, UPVC back door, UPVC front door, domestic and commercial doors, bathroom and bedroom doors with thumb-turn locks and deadbolts. 

Reasons why the key keeps spinning in the lock

It’s time to look at how to fix the key from spinning in lock. However, before you take any drastic measures, make sure that you are using the right key as a preliminary check. 

#1. Failing cam/tailpiece lever 

Cause: The most common fault is that the cam or tailpiece lever is broken, the incorrect one has been installed or the cam is stuck out of position. 

Solution: Depending on the cause, you will either need to repair the cam, or get a new one installed. 

#2. Security curtain is worn out

Cause: Your security curtain might be worn out due to excessive wear and tear.

Solution: You can solve this problem by replacing it with a new one. 

#3. Faulty Euro cylinder or barrel 

Cause: A faulty Euro cylinder or barrel could be another reason why your key keeps turning in the door lock.

Solution: Rely on a trusted professional to help you replace your Euro cylinder or barrel.

#4. Unreliable door lock installation

Cause: The final reason for your key turning in your lock without locking/unlocking the door is that the door installation was faulty to begin with. This could result in misalignments between the different lock mechanisms.

Solution: Consider realigning your doors. This could mean checking that the hinges are screwed in place properly, loose door handles are tightened or the entire door needs to be realigned. 

Why your key turns but the deadbolt won’t unlock?

Your key turns but the deadbolt won’t unlock? There are three main reasons for this:

1. Older type of Schlage lock – The first is that you may have an older type Schlage lock, which was originally manufactured to consist of two parts. Gradually, over time, this situation was rectified as the original two-piece solution was found to be a faulty design of the tailpiece.
2. Deadbolt manufacturer – The second reason may relate to the manufacturer of the deadbolt. According to sources, there is a piece in the centre of the deadbolt bolt, which is round with a cross-shaped hole. This is the part of the lock that the tailpiece goes through. This is what actuates the bolt. While some manufacturers use steel, others use cast metal, the latter option being the cheaper version. However, there are some problems with cast metal as this can break much easier than steel. That’s why if your deadbolt lock is not functioning, this could be the reason.
3. Misalignment between the deadbolt and the strike plate – The final reason is the misalignment between the deadbolt on your door and the strike plate that the extended bolt fits through on your frame. By exerting a lot of force to get the door unlocked or locked, then this causes stress on these parts. The tailpiece is usually the victim here and it can become indented to such an extent that eventually, the metal wears away. 

Take proactive lock testing to prevent a door lock spinning

Of course, there are some tests you can take to prevent your door lock from spinning and avoiding this situation in the future. 

Overlooked signs leading to key suddenly not working in a lock

There are some telltale signs prior to having the problem of having a key turning but not locking. When your lock won’t engage, this will lead to your key suddenly not working in your lock. However, there are other signs of this problem that you’ll want to look out for. Doing this will help you prevent a sticky situation from occurring, or enable you to address the problem more swiftly.

Here are some of the most common signs leading to this problem: 

Need help to fix the key spinning in lock?

To avoid being locked out of your home, you will need to assess and address the situation. This could mean fixing the lock or having a new lock fitted. While this may be a quick fix, bear in mind that the work needs to be executed correctly, otherwise, the problem could be made worse or reappear in the future.

The usual time frame for addressing this problem will depend on the work that needs to be done and its level of complexity. However, this usually takes place between 30 minutes and one hour. The costs for lock changes start from £59 while lock repairs start from £71.

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Did you manage to fix your lock? What was the cause with your door lock? Share your experience in the comment section below.

Image source: Shutterstock / Polsinaut