Many individuals don’t give much thought to their door locks. You likely lock your door automatically when leaving or at night, and perhaps occasionally during the day when at home, but don’t focus much beyond that. However, your door locks serve as the final line of defense against intruders entering your home, and like any mechanical system, they need regular maintenance. Here are some tips to ensure they continue functioning as intended.
Clean and Lubricate the Locks
Many people do not realize that door locks need to be cleaned and lubricated regularly. Wipe them down with a wet rag as part of your regular cleaning routine, and add a bit of gentle soap if needed to remove gunk. Once a year, or if the lock is starting to stick, spray a graphite lubricant or dry lubricant inside the lock, then move the key around inside the lock several times to remove any debris.
Specialty locks such as keyless locks, electronic locks, biometric locks, and high-security locks have their special cleaning procedures. Be sure to check the owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer to ensure you follow the proper steps.
Make Fresh Key Copies
When installing a new lock, set aside one of the original keys for copying. Keys tend to wear out before locks do, making it necessary to get new copies made now and then. However, as a key wears, its structure can be compromised. If you make a copy of an older key, the new copy may not work as well. Always make fresh copies from the original key you set aside for this purpose.
Properly Align Doors
If your door is out of alignment, you may have trouble with the lock. In extreme cases, the lock might not work, but even slight misalignments that are difficult to see can cause lock problems. Within the lock, each misalignment becomes magnified as warping, pressure, and eventual mechanical distortion. Over time, the lock may cease to operate even if the door misalignment is small.
Most people think little about their door locks until a problem arises. Staying proactive, though, can help prevent a situation in which you are locked out or are unable to lock your door. Should this situation arise, though, it is vital to have a trustworthy locksmith Myrtle Beach on standby to assess the situation and make repairs.
