Real Locksmiths. Real People. Real Jobs.
A homeowner in Borehamwood WD6 contacted ASJ Locksmiths after experiencing intermittent problems with the front door lock. The customer explained that the lock did not always operate correctly and that lifting the handle to lock the door had become increasingly difficult.
As Alex approached the property, one issue immediately caught his attention. The existing euro cylinder was protruding significantly from the handle, creating an obvious security concern. However, rather than assuming this was the cause of the customer's complaint, he carried out a full diagnosis before recommending any replacement parts.
Based on the symptoms described by the homeowner, Alex's first suspicion was that the door may have dropped out of alignment, as this is a common cause of increasing resistance when lifting the handle. After inspecting the door and testing the multipoint locking mechanism, both were found to be operating correctly, ruling out alignment as the cause of the fault.
Alex then removed the cylinder and tested it independently from the door. The results immediately confirmed the diagnosis. The cylinder operated smoothly from the inside but was extremely stiff when operated from the outside, proving the fault was internal to the cylinder rather than the door or locking mechanism.
With the diagnosis confirmed, the faulty cylinder was replaced with a correctly sized VERSA British Standard 1★ anti-snap cylinder. The replacement not only restored smooth and reliable operation but also eliminated the excessive protrusion, significantly improving the security of the door.
As with every ASJ Locksmiths job, the completed work was thoroughly tested before the homeowner was invited to operate the lock themselves to confirm they were completely satisfied before the job was concluded.
Why wasn't the door adjusted?
The customer's description initially suggested the possibility of a door alignment issue. However, careful inspection and testing confirmed that both the door alignment and multipoint locking mechanism were functioning correctly. Removing and testing the cylinder independently allowed Alex to isolate the fault to the cylinder itself, ensuring only the failed component was replaced.
Why was the cylinder size changed?
Although the protruding cylinder was not the cause of the fault, it presented an additional security concern. The correctly sized replacement sat much closer to the handle furniture, reducing the amount of cylinder exposed while restoring reliable operation and improving the overall security of the door.
Practical Advice
If your lock begins working intermittently or becomes increasingly difficult to operate, don't assume the problem is always the door alignment. Similar symptoms can be caused by several different faults. A careful diagnosis before replacing parts helps ensure the real cause is identified and avoids unnecessary repairs.
If your euro cylinder protrudes noticeably beyond the handles, it's also worth having it checked. A correctly sized cylinder provides a neater installation and can improve the security of the door.
By carefully diagnosing the customer's original complaint before addressing the additional security concern, Alex restored reliable operation, improved the property's security and replaced only the component that had genuinely failed.
If you're experiencing problems with a lock or need a trusted locksmith in Borehamwood, ASJ Locksmiths provide honest advice, accurate diagnosis and professional locksmith services throughout Borehamwood and the surrounding areas.