This morning, I locked my front door without any issues, but when I came back, the key wouldn't work. It just slides around in the lock without any resistance, like there's nothing there. If my sister hadn't been home, we would have been stuck outside for who knows how long! I need some quick advice because I'm heading to school soon, and my parents and sister both need to leave for work too. We can't just leave the door unlocked. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
It’s a good sign that you can still lock and unlock it from the inside. That might mean the tailpiece has come loose. This part connects the key mechanism to the bolt that locks the door. Try taking the lock cover off the inside (usually held by two screws and sometimes an allen key for the knob). Check if anything’s fallen inside. If that's the issue, you can just put it back if it's there. If it's lost, a locksmith can help you get replacement parts or fix it on the spot.
Do you know what type of lock it is? Sometimes posting a picture or video can really help people give you better advice. If your parents are busy fixing it, maybe wait until they’re free to get a better idea of the problem.
It sounds like your lock mechanism might have failed, possibly due to age or even a botched break-in attempt. I’d suggest checking out a $40 deadbolt from your local hardware store. Installation is pretty straightforward and should take about 10 to 60 minutes with just a screwdriver. In the meantime, if you have another way in, like a back door, that might be worth using until it's fixed.