A lock is a must for your safety and the prevention of heinous crimes. All you need to do is follow a proper lock maintenance schedule for a better and more reliable lock. Keep reading the article to learn the 6 simple steps for better lock maintenance. It will help you increase your door lock’s durability and working.
6 simple steps for better lock maintenance
- Realign Lock
You may encounter an alignment issue between the strike plate and latch bolt, despite your lock locking smoothly or not opening. Realignment is the solution to this problem. Technically, this is the lock maintenance, but you will notice the improvement in the front door’s security.
You must exert more force to unlock or lock the device if the lock is misaligned. Ultimately, the excessive force will lower the lock hardware’s life expectancy. Lock alignment leads to two issues simultaneously, damaging the lock and reducing the security because the door fails the reliable locking.
Ensure that the strike holes widen and the strike plates raise in its door frame. Refrain from putting the new screw holes near the old ones because the door becomes weaker and less resistant to external forces.
Cut the metal by the expansion of the hole of the strike plate to avoid re-drilling. Look for continuous lock alignment in routine lock maintenance.
- Yearly Lubrication for Locks Interior
Do you encounter an unclean lock? If yes, the door lock’s internal components clog due to debris and dust in the latch/bolt’s crevices, deep inside the lock, or accumulation in the keyway. It leads to improper working of the lock.
You may experience your key being stuck inside the lock. It signals the beginning of overfilling of the keyway. The actuator or bolt blocks similarly, and you need to clear the space near these components.
The lubrication of the door is the most neglected part of lock maintenance, yet it is hard to deny its importance. Despite the good exterior look of the door, it badly needs proper oiling inside.
Remember not to go for petroleum-based lubricants; graphite lubricants are effective. Also, the dry lubricants and Teflon are good choices for lubrication because of their easy application and are the best of all.
Spray a little quantity of lubricant in the keyway. Once you spray the lubricant, keep moving the key inside and out from the lock. Before you put the key in the door lock, don’t forget to remove the debris once you take out the key. Once at least, lubricate the locks annually. This method remains equally good for anything jammed in the keyways.
- Strike Plates and Door screws
You must safely and properly secure the door’s wall frame with at least one long screw. Homeowners must look for three inches long screws in every hinge to enhance break-in resistance and avoid door sagging. Look for proper installation of the hinge screws but focus on the long screws near the wall’s centre.
Don’t forget to look at the strike plates when checking the door frame. Like the hinges, use long screws to secure a deadbolt’s plate.
- Rust Removal
Rust removal is the major issue people think of when planning lock maintenance. It can be helpful to deal with rust removal. But the quantity of the rust will let you determine the effectiveness of the used method.
The oil-based lubricants like WD-40 are effective for a small quantity of rust. Spray to apply the lubricant to the affected area and remove the rust. Don’t forget that dust and dirt attracted to the oil-based lube can trigger the issue of locked blocks later on.
If you use excessive lubricant, clean the lock and polish it to remove excessive lube and avoid returning rust. If lubricant is ineffective, soak it in the water and vinegar mixture with the acidity of 5% or apply electrolysis. Change locks if it has excessive rust build up.
- Prevent Freezing
Certainly, frozen locks are a regional issue. However, your locks may freeze if freezing temperatures persist in your community. Frozen car locks appear to be a common problem instead of ice. Still, all these issues exist, and you need to be wise enough to deal with them.
Pouring hot water on it can worsen the freezing with more moisture. You can use hand sanitizers or rub alcohol to resolve your problem with isopropyl alcohol. However, it can attract more dirt and make it blocked with time.
Continuous melting and freezing can create rust, and the issue may get out of control if the rust develops in the internal parts.
- Key Replacement
Worn-out keys may cause issues with the keys like jiggling and over-torque. It creates stress on the key and the lock that may ultimately break down. Notice the teeth of your key. The metal shows less wear if it has pointed and sharp teeth. Key wear begins with round or smooth edges.
Therefore, a locksmith is a good solution to it. Prepare some extra duplicate keys and use them. Keep the original key safe for bad times. Also, you can look for keypad locks but once installed by the locksmith; you need to change the battery for regular usage.
Conclusion
Ensure to reduce your lock’s stress to increase its security for you and your lifespan. Refrain the accumulation of dirt and ice. Locks are difficult to unlock, and lock alarms about the upcoming trouble ahead of a damaged lock. You may look for a reliable locksmith to accompany and assist you in your maintenance journey. After all, it helps in the security and crime-free life.
