Why Does My Key Stick or Get Hard to Turn?
Sticky lock? Don't keep forcing the key. Here's what's actually wrong and how a locksmith fixes it.
Why is my key hard to turn in the lock?
Three usual culprits:
1. The key is worn. Years of duplicating-from-a-duplicate produces a key that's a little off the original cuts. A locksmith cuts a fresh key from the lock's actual bitting, not from your worn copy.
2. The lock is dirty or dry. Dust, sand, and old WD-40 residue gum up the pins. The fix is a small puff of graphite or PTFE-based dry lock lubricant — not WD-40, which attracts more grit over time.
3. The door has shifted. Houses settle, weather strips compress, hinges sag. If you lift the door slightly and the key turns easily, the deadbolt is binding on the strike. A locksmith adjusts the strike plate so the bolt extends freely.
Forcing a sticky key is the #1 way people break a key off inside the lock — which is a much bigger repair.