Repairing a Frozen or Sticking Deadbolt

My husband went to open the back door last week.  The deadbolt turned a little bit, then completely froze up.  We couldn't turn it either way without feeling like we were going to break the key off in the lock.  Yours might not be that stuck, maybe its just sticking or not too easy to turn.  Don't call the repair man, grab a philips screwdriver, the one with the X on the top, and a can of WD-40 spray lubricant.

Most deadbolts have two screws on the inside of the deadbolt, the side facing the inside of the door.  Loosen those screws and put them in a safe place close by so you don't loose them.  Righty-Tighty, Lefty-Loosey is how you can remember which way to turn.  As you open up the lock, pay attention to how all the parts fit together and where they are located to help you know where they need to go back in just a minute.  There will likely be two parts, the decorative cover and the round part the key fits into, if you have that type.  Or if you have the kind that has a knob that turns, it might be all one piece.  There will be a long stick part coming off of this piece that fits into a squarish opening in the part that stays in the door.  Set those pieces to the side.

Grab your can of WD-40 and spray all inside the lock mechanism over any part that looks like it will move.  Point the can inside the opening at a few different angles, to make sure you get everything.  Using your screwdriver, place the tip into the squarish opening that the stick like part had fit into.  Turn to the right and to the left to see if you can get the lock parts to move again.  They should start to move now.  You should be able to open the door now.  Spray a little more lubricant into the lock and add some more on the deadbolt on the side of the door.  Continue to turn the deadbolt locked and unlocked with your screwdriver until the mechanisms move freely.  Now it's time to reassemble.

On my particular model lock, the squarish stick part has one slightly rounded side.  The opening in the door will have the same.  You will need to line up the sides of the square so they fit properly, but don't forget the decorative cover, if your model has the two pieces.  Now reinsert the piece.  This might be a little easier if the lock is either in the completely locked position, or completely unlocked position, instead of somewhere in between.  You might not get it lined up exactly the first time, but be patient, you can do it.  Fit the pieces back in place.  Reinsert the screws and tighten them up.


You did it!  The lock likely just needed a little lubricant or there was dirt and dust in the moving parts making it stick.  Congratulations! You just saved yourself some money and a call to the repair man.  Now that was easy, wasn't it?!