Can't get the new lock to open — maybe you're just not used to the mechanism yet
Let's call the client Anna. The locks in the apartment had recently been replaced. A few days later, her elderly mother stood in front of the door and…
The client's name has been changed.
Let's call the client Anna. The locks in the apartment had recently been replaced. A few days later, her elderly mother stood in front of the door and decided:
"The lock is broken."
But once the locksmith arrived, it turned out the mechanism was fine — the new system just worked a little differently.
Why this happens after a replacement
A person repeats the same familiar motion for years:
- insert the key;
- turn it;
- push the door a certain way.
After a different system is installed, the habit stays.
What the locksmith should do after installing
Not just hand over the keys, but also show:
- how to lock it;
- how to unlock it;
- how many turns it takes;
- any quirks of the handle.
Especially if elderly people use the apartment.
Why you shouldn't immediately use force
If the new mechanism doesn't behave as expected, first:
- stop;
- check you have the right key;
- recall the instructions;
- call whoever installed it.
Do you need to call an emergency locksmith right away
Not always. Sometimes the problem is solved over the phone or with a short video.