Short answer: Locks are mechanical devices exposed to weather every day, and the change of seasons is when small problems turn into stuck bolts and snapped keys. A little routine care through the year keeps your hardware working smoothly and helps you avoid the classic winter-morning lockout on the coldest day of the year.
Locks are mechanical devices exposed to weather every day, and the change of seasons is when small problems turn into stuck bolts and snapped keys. A little routine care through the year keeps your hardware working smoothly and helps you avoid the classic winter-morning lockout on the coldest day of the year.
Cold weather is hard on locks. Moisture inside a cylinder can freeze and stop the key from turning, and a metal deadbolt naturally contracts and stiffens in the cold. If a lock is frozen, do not force the key, because a hard twist is how keys break off inside the cylinder. Instead, gently warm the key itself or use a commercial de-icer or a small amount of a graphite or dry PTFE lubricant, and avoid pouring hot water into the lock since it can refreeze and cause more trouble. Before winter sets in, wipe down exterior hardware and apply a dry lubricant so water is less likely to sit and freeze inside the mechanism. If a deadbolt already feels gritty in autumn, address it then rather than waiting for the first hard freeze to expose it.
Warm, humid months bring a different problem. Wooden doors and frames absorb moisture and swell, which can push a door out of alignment so the deadbolt no longer slides cleanly into the strike plate. If you find yourself lifting or shoving the door to get the bolt to catch, the lock is not usually the culprit; the door and strike alignment are. Humidity can also encourage dust and grime to cling inside a cylinder. In summer, check that doors still close without resistance, look for a shiny worn spot on the bolt or strike that shows where it is rubbing, and keep exterior locks clean and dry. Catching a swelling-door issue early is far easier than dealing with a bolt that will not throw at all by late August.
Good lock maintenance is mostly about using the correct lubricant and using it sparingly. For pin-tumbler locks, a dry lubricant such as a PTFE-based or graphite product is generally preferred because it does not stay tacky. Many locksmiths advise against oil-based sprays like typical WD-40 as a long-term lock lubricant, because oily residue attracts dust and can gum up the pins over time. To service a lock, apply a small amount into the keyway, insert and withdraw the key several times to distribute it, then wipe away any excess. Doing this once or twice a year, and any time a lock starts to feel gritty or slow, keeps the internal pins moving freely and extends the life of both the lock and your keys.
Cold weather is hard on locks. Moisture inside a cylinder can freeze and stop the key from turning, and a metal deadbolt naturally contracts and stiffens in the cold. If a lock is frozen, do not force the key, because a hard twist is how keys break off inside the cylinder. Instead, gently warm the key itself or use a commercial de-icer or a small amount of a graphite or dry PTFE lubricant, and avoid pouring hot water into the lock since it can refreeze and cause more trouble. Before winter sets in, wipe down exterior hardware and apply a dry lubricant so water is less likely to sit and freeze inside the mechanism. If a deadbolt already feels gritty in autumn, address it then rather than waiting for the first hard freeze to expose it.
Warm, humid months bring a different problem. Wooden doors and frames absorb moisture and swell, which can push a door out of alignment so the deadbolt no longer slides cleanly into the strike plate. If you find yourself lifting or shoving the door to get the bolt to catch, the lock is not usually the culprit; the door and strike alignment are. Humidity can also encourage dust and grime to cling inside a cylinder. In summer, check that doors still close without resistance, look for a shiny worn spot on the bolt or strike that shows where it is rubbing, and keep exterior locks clean and dry. Catching a swelling-door issue early is far easier than dealing with a bolt that will not throw at all by late August.
Good lock maintenance is mostly about using the correct lubricant and using it sparingly. For pin-tumbler locks, a dry lubricant such as a PTFE-based or graphite product is generally preferred because it does not stay tacky. Many locksmiths advise against oil-based sprays like typical WD-40 as a long-term lock lubricant, because oily residue attracts dust and can gum up the pins over time. To service a lock, apply a small amount into the keyway, insert and withdraw the key several times to distribute it, then wipe away any excess. Doing this once or twice a year, and any time a lock starts to feel gritty or slow, keeps the internal pins moving freely and extends the life of both the lock and your keys.
Send a request through the site with your location and what you need, and you will get a straight answer and an honest estimate before any work begins.
Request service — tell us what you need and we will reply with a straight answer and an honest estimate.
