Electronic locks are extremely convenient and great at stopping unwanted visitors from getting inside your home or business. However, as with other types of locks, you hope they never accidentally lock you out! On occasion, you may find yourself stuck outside of your building unable to gain entry. Fortunately, there are ways to troubleshoot your digital lock to unlock it and get back inside. First Lock & Security Technologies outlines what to do when your electronic door lock is not working.
Why is My Electronic Door Lock Not Working? How Do You Troubleshoot?
If your electronic door lock is not working, you need to diagnose the exact issue and determine the source of the problem. Is your lock making odd noises or not operating smoothly? If so, it is probably a physical problem. Does your lock appear to be misaligned with the door? This indicates it is a door problem. Is your lock not working at all? This could be an electrical problem.
How to Troubleshoot a Digital Lock
1. Change the Batteries – Locks often give “low battery” alerts when your battery is about to run out, but sometimes it happens without warning. Lock batteries usually last around 6 to 9 months, but they can run out faster. Even if you are sure you are not out of battery yet, you may still benefit from taking the old batteries out and installing new fresh ones. You may also find debris on the batteries and terminals that needs to be removed. Be sure to always use fresh new alkaline batteries.
2. Try a Physical Key – If your electronic lock came with a keyhole and override keys, now is a great time to try a backup key to unlock the door. If you don’t know where your back up key is, a skilled locksmith can help you open your lock and even provide you with a new back up key.
3. Reset the Code – You may be typing in the wrong code and even if you are sure you aren’t, the code to your keypad lock could have been reset accidentally or without your knowledge. Either way, you might want to attempt a code reset. You can find the exact steps you need to take to reset your lock code in the lock manual. If you are unable to reset the code on your own, you can always call a locksmith to assist.
4. Re-calibrate Lock – A non-smart electronic lock should be straight forward but a smart lock has a few more steps to troubleshoot. If rebooting the smart lock does not work, you can try turning your smartphone off and on again. If it’s still not working, you may need to update the app or even delete and then reinstall it. If the lock’s WiFi signal is not working, you may need to turn your WiFi router off and on again. If WiFi is working, then your Bluetooth may be turned off. You might even need to “reset” your lock. Be aware this may delete all the old data. This should only be done if you are sure you are out of options and haven’t found other reasons your electronic door lock is not working!
5. Fix a Lock Jam – It is possible that your lock will not open because it is jammed. If you hear a lot of clicking or grinding as the lock tries to open, or the door handle is stuck, this is likely what is happening. The jam could come from many causes such as a loose mechanism or a foreign object stuck in the lock, so it may be difficult to determine how to unjam the lock. Try applying light pressure to the lock while it tries to open. You may need to call a locksmith to dismantle the lock and reassemble it.
6. Fix the Door – The lock may have become stuck due to a broken door or misaligned strike plate. The electronic lock may have been installed incorrectly initially or it may have deteriorated due to damage or wear. Check that the lock is aligned with the door. If the door is slightly open when it should be fully closed, the strike plate may need adjustment.
7. Take the Lock Apart – If all else fails, the lock may need to be dismantled. As the lock dismantling process is highly technical and varies from lock to lock, you will want to call a locksmith to do this for you.
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Figuring out why your electronic door lock is not working can be difficult but it is completely solvable; even if it means complete lock replacement. Call First Lock & Security Technologies to figure it out and fix whatever has gone wrong today!
