5 Ways to Keep Your Locks in Good Working Order (Essential Tips)

• Keep an Eye on Your Doors

Extreme weather can cause the wood of a door to expand, especially solid wood doors. As your door changes shape, it can misalign your locks and eventually cause problems. Instead of it getting to a point where you need to repair or replace the locks of your wooden doors, know when you need to adjust your doors.

You can test your doors by checking where they are catching. This will show you how much of the door needs to be shaved down and where. If you are good with tools and confident you can remove and shave the door correctly, you could do this yourself. Otherwise, it is best to get assistance from a professional.

• Watch Out for Rust

Rust can affect any type of door but outside doors are particularly prone to rust. Ideally, you don’t want rust to become a problem in the first place – preventing rust is first prize. However, whether you’re already dealing with rust or not, the amount of rust will determine how you should maintain your locks.

Little to no rust will only require you to apply an oil-based lubricant to the affected areas. This should allow you to gently wipe the rust away. Just make sure you clear up as much of the oil as possible before dust and dirt settle on it. If you have the know-how, you could also take the lock apart and clean and lubricate it that way.

If your lock already has an excessive amount of rust, your best bet is probably to replace it completely and a local locksmith in Doral such as Quickly Locksmith can help you do this.

• Unclog the Lock

If your lock seems to be getting stuck because of dirt and debris, it’s important to clear this away before the stress begins to damage the lock. Dirt can build up in the keyway or even much deeper within the locking mechanism. Once the build-up gets too much, your key won’t turn very easily if you are able to insert it at all.

You can use a lubricant to clear away the dirt, but you may find that you also need to pull some of the debris out once you’re able to loosen it. And if lubrication doesn’t do the trick, chances are you will need to get a professional to disassemble the lock to get rid of the problem.

• Realign Your Locks

To prevent your locks from malfunctioning completely, it also helps to consider the alignment. If you find that your lock is not opening and closing smoothly, it could mean the latch bolt and strike plate are no longer aligned. You could keep forcing the lock to turn but this will only wear it down further, resulting in the need for complete replacement.

To fix this, you need to realign the door by raising the strike plate. You may even find that the strike hold needs to be adjusted too. Not sure what any of this means? It’s best to get a locksmith to assist you to avoid any damage. This is especially true if you need to drill new screw holes. If you place the new holes too close to the old ones, your door will no longer be as secure as it could be.

• Replace the Key

Sometimes, maintaining a lock means replacing a key. A key that’s old or bent can end up damaging your lock over time. If you ever need to wiggle a key to get it to work, it might mean it’s time to replace the key or even rekey your lock.

You can also tell whether the key is a problem by feeling the teeth. Are they still quite pointed or have they become rather smooth? If the edges of the key have become smooth, it’s a clear sign of key wear. And if you have a spare key lying around, try that in the door to see if there is a difference. If it can be inserted and turned more easily, your key is definitely the issue, and you should stop using it.

If you don’t have a spare key and you know that the key is worn, you will need a locksmith to decode the lock to create a new key. There is also the option of rekeying the lock completely.