Common Electronic Lock Problems
While you won’t have problems like broken keys or locks that won’t turn when inserting your key, electronic locks still have their own set of problems that you will encounter. Having the luxury of a keyless lock can be very beneficial, but like with any electronic, every now and then things just won`t work as they should. It could be as simple as the batteries in the lock being dead or your electronic lock being jammed or the deadbolt function being faulty. Either way, problems will arise and in this article, we will go over some of the more common problems you will face when owning an electronic lock.
Before you go ahead and try to diagnose your electronic lock, be sure that the batteries within the device have been recently changed as that is the simplest fix.
Jammed Electronic Lock
At times when an electronic lock isn`t working as it should is because it is jammed. When it is jammed the deadbolt will only be able to be engaged in one direction, either locking or unlocking the door. When a lock is jammed you may hear a clicking or grinding coming from the lock as it tries to move the deadbolt. To assess if your lock is jammed, follow the steps below.- First, test the lock a few times to see which direction the lock is struggling with. Does it lock, but not unlock? Can the deadbolt be disengaged but not reengage?
- From here, apply some light pressure on the lock to counteract any motor friction so it will move the deadbolt in either the locked or unlocked position.
- If after applying the pressure the lock works as it should, you should then call a locksmith service to have a look at your jammed lock as it is a problem with the internals of the lock.