Gunky lock

When DIY Goes Wrong: A Locksmith Call-Out with an Electrifying Twist

The other night, I received an urgent call from a customer living in a basement flat. He'd lost all power after a DIY attempt led to him drilling through a live wire, tripping the electrics for his entire flat. The real problem? All the other flat residents above him were away for the weekend, and the crucial consumer units were located in the main entrance hall, which was locked.

Access was critical, but the front door lock proved incredibly stubborn. Despite my best efforts to pick it – not due to complex security, but because it was a cheap, unbranded euro cylinder completely seized with gunky grease – the pins simply wouldn't budge. Given the emergency, and the need to restore power, I had no option but to resort to a destructive entry, drilling out the lock and replacing it on the spot.

Once inside, the customer was bewildered by his electrical cupboard. As a fully qualified, though now retired, electrician, I quickly identified the tripped breaker for him. However, the issues ran deeper: not only had he tripped his electrics, but he'd also blown the main cartridge fuse. This meant calling out SeeBoard for mains repair, followed by an electrician to fix the damage he'd caused. A very expensive night, all for a simple picture-hanging task.

The Crucial Takeaways for Homeowners and Tenants:

• Lock Maintenance Matters: Never allow landlords or handymen to spray grease into your locks. Grease attracts dirt and causes seizing. Always use a proper graphite powder lubricant (or silicone-based for UPVC mechanisms) to keep your locks smooth and functioning.

• Electrical Safety & Certification: Ensure any property you rent has up-to-date electrical certification. This protects you from unforeseen hazards and highlights that wiring is safe and correctly installed. A simple DIY task can quickly escalate into a costly and dangerous situation if underlying issues, like unlabelled or exposed wiring, exist.