Why Is My House Key Hard to Turn?

Six common causes, and what to try first

A key that sticks, grinds or only turns if you jiggle it is easy to ignore until the day it won't turn at all. That day usually comes at the worst time. The good news is that most sticky locks have a simple cause, and many are easy to fix.

Here are six common reasons a house key gets hard to turn, and what you can do about each one.

1. The key is a worn copy

Keys wear down over time. A copy made from a copy wears even faster, because small mistakes add up each time.

Try this: use your original key, or the newest key you have. If the original turns smoothly and the copy doesn't, the copy is the problem. Make a fresh copy from the original, not from the worn one.

2. The lock is dirty or dry

Dust, grit and old grease build up inside the lock. Over time the small parts inside don't move as freely.

Try this: use a lubricant made for locks, such as dry graphite or a lock spray. Put a little in the keyhole, then put the key in and turn it back and forth a few times. Skip cooking oil and thick grease. They attract dirt and can make it worse.

3. The door and frame don't line up

Sometimes the lock is fine, but the door has shifted. When that happens, the bolt rubs against the strike plate on the frame, and it feels like the key is the problem.

Try this: open the door and turn the key. If it turns easily with the door open but sticks when the door is shut, the door is out of line. Pushing or pulling on the door while you turn the key often helps for now. The fix is adjusting the strike plate or the door so the bolt slides in freely.

4. Cold weather

In winter, moisture inside the lock can freeze. The key goes in but won't turn, or won't go in at all.

Try this: warm the key with your hand or a hair dryer and try again. A de-icer made for locks also works. Don't pour hot water into the lock. It can freeze again and make things worse.

5. Worn parts inside the lock

Locks have small pins and springs inside. After years of use, they wear down or get damaged. A key that used to turn smoothly starts to catch or grind.

Try this: if a fresh key and lubricant don't help, the lock may be worn out. At that point, rekeying or replacing the lock is the real fix.

6. A bent or damaged key

A key that has been bent, even a little, can catch inside the lock. Look down the length of the key. If it isn't straight, stop using it.

Try this: switch to another key. Never bend a key back and keep using it. A bent key is much more likely to snap off inside the lock.

What not to do

• Don't force it. Turning harder is the most common way a key breaks off in the lock.
• Don't use pliers on the key. Extra force can damage the lock and the key.
• Don't wait too long. A lock that's hard to turn today may not turn at all next week.

When to call a locksmith

Call us if:

• the key still sticks after the fixes above
• the key turns but the door won't open
• the key has broken off inside the lock
• you just moved in and don't know how old the locks are
• you're locked out right now

We can repair the lock, rekey it so your old keys stop working, or put in a new lock. See Rekey & Lock Change for your options. If part of the key is stuck in the lock, see Broken Key Removal. If you can't get inside, see Home Lockouts.

Key hard to turn? Call Authority Locksmith Inc at (443) 527-1442. Free estimates, any hour.