Lock Repair in Myrtle Beach, SC

Sand, salt and stiff keys

On a sandy coast, grit is the first suspect when a key turns stiffly. Sand that works into a cylinder makes the key hard to turn, and salt can speed corrosion on exposed metal. A back door used after a day at the beach is an easy place for both to get in. Simple upkeep: wipe grit from the lock face and the key, rinse beach-house locks after a season, and use a dry lubricant made for locks, since oily sprays can hold sand in place.

If a key still sticks after that, or the bolt drags, ask for a lock repair before the problem becomes a broken key or a lockout.

Locks that sit unused

In Horry County, which includes Myrtle Beach, 18.1 percent of housing units are held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use, against 3.0 percent nationally (Census ACS 2024 1-year). A lock that goes weeks between uses can bind when it is finally turned. Owners arriving at a second home, whether in Arcadian Shores, Grande Dunes or elsewhere, could turn every key in every lock on the first day, so a stiff lock shows itself before it is needed.

After a storm

NOAA counts 19 hurricanes making landfall on the South Carolina coast between 1901 and 2020, among them Category 4 Hugo in 1989. After floodwater reaches a door, have the lock checked for corrosion or repaired before you rely on it. A door that swelled or shifted may also throw its bolt out of line with the strike plate, which can be an adjustment rather than a new lock. A lock corroded through is better replaced.

Describing the problem

• Which lock: front deadbolt, patio door, garage entry
• The symptom: key sticks, cylinder spins, bolt will not extend or retract, handle is loose
• Whether the lock has been near sand, salt water or floodwater, and whether an oily spray was used
• Your neighborhood or avenue number in Myrtle Beach, and whether you rent