Replacing or repairing a garage door lock
Garage door lock not working? Repair or replace it
A garage door that will not lock is a security gap, and one that will not unlock is a nuisance at best. The good news is that lock faults are often mechanical and repairable, and when a lock does need replacing it is usually a smaller job than people expect.
What is involved depends almost entirely on the kind of door you have, so start by finding yours below.
Up and over: handle lock and locking bars
An up and over door is locked by a central handle that drives rods or bars out to the frame. The classic failure is a central handle lock worn to the point a key barely turns. Bent rods, seized bars and a frame that has moved out of line cause the rest. A replacement handle and cylinder, with the bars adjusted to catch properly, fixes most of these.
Side-hinged: shoot bolts and cylinder
A hinged pair is held by centre shoot bolts top and bottom on one leaf, with a cylinder lock on the other. When leaves drop on their hinges, the bolts stop lining up with their keeps and the lock feels stiff or refuses to throw. Adjusting the hinges often cures it; a worn cylinder is replaced.
Roller and sectional doors
Manual roller and sectional doors carry their own locks, often at the bottom or on the handle. On automated doors, the closed operator holds the door shut and there may be no key lock at all, which makes the manual release the part to think about. A damaged release or a door that can be lifted when closed needs attention.
Common lock faults and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Key goes in but won't turn | Worn cylinder, or the bars are under load |
| Handle spins freely | Broken spindle or linkage behind the handle |
| Door locks but can be pulled open | Bars or bolts not reaching their keeps |
| Key snapped in the lock | Seized cylinder; do not force the remainder |
| Lock stiff in cold, wet weather | Corrosion or water in the mechanism |
Repair or replace the lock?
- Adjust when bars or bolts have simply moved out of line.
- Replace the cylinder when the key is worn, lost or the cylinder is seized.
- Replace the handle assembly when the spindle or internal linkage is broken.
- Look at the frame and door when the lock keeps failing, because a moving frame will defeat any lock.
Think about security while you are at it
A new lock on a weak door does not buy much. If the door is old, thin or poorly fixed, our security upgrades guide explains what actually makes a garage harder to get into. For commercial premises, we specify shutter curtains, guides and locking to the level your insurer names.
Looking after a garage door lock
Most locks fail slowly, so a little care goes a long way. Work the key and handle every few weeks even if you rarely lock the door, because a mechanism that never moves is the one that seizes. Keep grit out of the keyhole, wipe water off exposed handles after driving rain, and pay attention when the key starts needing a jiggle, since that is the early warning before a snapped key. On up and over doors, a door that has to be lifted or pushed before the handle turns is telling you the bars are out of line, and that is the cheapest point to put it right.
Locked out or locked in
If the door will not open and a car is stuck, or the door cannot be secured overnight, it is a repair call rather than a wait-and-see. Our 24/7 repairs cover lock and handle faults alongside springs, cables and motors.
Questions we get asked
- Can you replace just the lock on an old up and over door?
- Usually, yes. Replacement handles and cylinders are available for most common doors, and we adjust the bars so they catch properly.
- I've lost my garage door key. Do I need a new door?
- No. The cylinder can be replaced so the door locks with a new key.
- Should I oil a stiff garage door lock?
- A light lubricant suitable for locks helps with stiffness. If the key still will not turn, stop before it snaps.
Lock stuck, spinning or not catching?
Tell us the door type and what the lock is doing and we will arrange a repair visit.
Based at 31 Mount Street, Dromore (BT25) · covering Northern Ireland · 24/7 emergency repairs