The key works on one side of the door, but does not work on the other.
Let's call the client Dmitry. From inside the apartment the lock worked fine. The key was inserted, turned and opened the door. But outside, the same key…
The client's name and circumstances have been changed.
Let's call the client Dmitry. From inside the apartment the lock worked fine. The key was inserted, turned and opened the door. But outside, the same key began to work worse.
After a few days, it became almost impossible to open the door from the outside.
“If the key is correct and everything works from the inside, why doesn’t it open from the outside?”
This behavior is possible if the cylinder or other elements of the mechanism are faulty.
Why parties may work differently
In a cylinder lock, the inner and outer sides of the mechanism interact with the overall system, but their operation is not necessarily completely identical. The problem may be related to:
- wear on one side of the cylinder;
- damage to individual elements;
- pollution;
- key deformation;
- feature of a specific design;
- incorrect installation of the cylinder.
If one side is working reliably and the other is not, this is an important diagnostic sign.
Should I continue to use the lock?
You may accidentally find yourself in a situation where the door still opens from the inside, but no longer opens from the outside. Therefore, it is better not to wait for complete failure.
What to check
If you have a spare key, try it. It is also useful to compare:
- how deep the key goes on each side;
- does it turn the same way;
- does resistance appear;
- is there a difference in the position of the key?
There is no need to try to compensate for the problem with excessive force.
Do I need to replace the entire lock?
Not necessarily. If only the cylinder is faulty, it is often enough to replace it. The lock body may remain the same.