Doors and Windows - Can't lock door

I can't lock my front door using the entrance lock. I have to use the dead bolt lock. The entrance lock appears to be in good working order. I do have weather stripping around the door but it never interfered with locking the door before using the entrance lock. We have had weeks of rain and the door may be swollen. I have tried adjusting the plate (I can't think of the name of the thing that the lock goes into) to no avail. What can I do? Do I need to remove the weather stripping?

Removing the weatherstripping probably isn't necessary. If you adjust the strike plate the proper amount, in the right direction, that should do it. The problem will be trying to get the strike plate moved the 1/16" or so it needs to move and keep it there. The screws will just go back into the same holes they are in now. Replace the strike plate with one that has it's screws in an entirely different location. Use an oversized strike plate if need be.

Hi, Lefty is correct. The fist thig you have to to is figure out wich way to move the srike plate.When you find out which way to move it will only require a little movement to cure your problem. I take a cold chisle
( a piece of steel would work too) and put one end in the hole I hold the other end and hit the chisle in the middle with a hammer (don't tap with the hammer) and drive the strike plate in the direction I want to move it. This works almost every time. Good Luck Woodbutcher