Signs your deadbolt needs repair.
A deadbolt is your front door's main line of defense. When it starts acting up, you need it fixed quickly. Here are the problems we see most often.
Key Won't Turn
You insert the key and it will not rotate. The cylinder may be dirty, the pins worn, or the bolt is jammed against the strike plate.
Bolt Won't Extend Fully
The deadbolt only goes partway out. Something is blocking the bolt from fully extending into the strike plate.
Bolt Misses Strike Plate
The door has shifted and the bolt no longer lines up with the hole in the strike plate. The door won't lock.
Cylinder Spinning
The key turns but nothing happens. The set screws connecting the cylinder to the bolt mechanism have come loose or broken.
Hard to Lock From Inside
The thumb turn is stiff, grinding, or won't rotate a full turn. The internal mechanism is worn or misaligned.
Deadbolt Frozen or Seized
The bolt is stuck in the extended or retracted position and won't move at all. Could be internal corrosion or a broken component.
Why deadbolts stop working
The number one reason deadbolts fail is misalignment. Your house settles, the door frame shifts with humidity changes, or the hinges sag just enough that the bolt no longer hits the strike plate. This is extremely common in Florida homes. The second most common cause is wear inside the cylinder. After thousands of key insertions, the pins and springs wear down. Copies of copies of keys lose precision and accelerate the wear. The third issue is corrosion. Salt air near the coast eats at the internal components, especially on cheaper deadbolts. We see all of these problems daily and fix them all.
How we repair deadbolts.
We diagnose the real cause, not just the symptom. Here is what a typical deadbolt repair visit looks like.
Diagnose the Problem
We test the key, the thumb turn, the bolt extension, and the strike plate alignment. We check the door and hinges too, because a sagging door causes most deadbolt issues.
Fix the Alignment
If the strike plate is off, we realign it, enlarge the opening, or move it to match the bolt. If the door is sagging, we fix the hinges first so the alignment holds.
Repair or Replace
We lubricate the cylinder, replace worn pins, tighten set screws, or swap the entire deadbolt if the mechanism is beyond repair. We carry common models on the truck.
Test From Both Sides
We test the deadbolt with the key from outside and the thumb turn from inside. We verify the bolt fully extends into the strike plate and retracts smoothly.
Rekeying vs. replacing your deadbolt
If your deadbolt works fine mechanically but you need to change who has access, rekeying is the way to go. We change the pins inside the cylinder so that new keys work and old ones don't. It costs less than a full replacement and takes about 15 minutes. Rekeying is great when you move into a new home, lose a key, or need to cut off access for a former roommate or service provider. If the deadbolt is worn out, a cheap model that keeps failing, or you just want an upgrade, full replacement makes more sense. We carry Schlage, Kwikset, and other quality brands on the truck and can install a new deadbolt the same visit.
Upgrading to a high-security deadbolt
Standard deadbolts from the hardware store are fine for most homes, but if you want extra security, we install high-security options from Medeco and Mul-T-Lock. These deadbolts have pick-resistant, bump-resistant, and drill-resistant cylinders. The key blanks are restricted, meaning they can not be duplicated at a regular hardware store. If you want to upgrade your front door security, or if you want to pair a traditional high-security deadbolt with a smart lock, call (772) 207-4146 and we will walk you through your options.
Deadbolt Repair Pricing
* Estimated labor costs. Parts and materials may be additional. We quote the exact price before starting.
Strike plate realignment and lubrication starts at $69. Rekeying runs $79 to $129 depending on the number of locks. Full deadbolt replacement runs $99 to $199 depending on the brand and grade. High-security deadbolts cost more due to the hardware. Price includes parts and labor. We confirm the exact cost before starting.
Deadbolt repair for every major brand.
We work on deadbolts from every manufacturer you will find on residential doors. From basic builder-grade hardware to premium high-security locks.
Serving the entire Treasure Coast.
Treasure Coast Sliding Door Repair fixes deadbolts across Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Palm City, Hutchinson Island, Hobe Sound, Port Salerno, and Indiantown. That covers Martin County, St. Lucie County, and Indian River County. Most appointments are same-day or next-day.