Why Should You Consider Changing Your Locks Before Winter

There are a lot of good reasons to have your locks changed. Keys have been lost or were unaccounted for over a period of time, you’ve recently taken possession of a new place, or the locks just aren’t working the way they should. What many don’t realize is that the cold temperatures that come with winter can also cause problems with locks and doors. While home locks can completely freeze, that is an issue more common with automotive locks. The locks throughout the exterior of your household typically offer other issues due to the cold temperatures. If your locks were installed by experienced experts like those at Advanced Lock and Security, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about for a long time. However, if your locks are old, or installed by the self-proclaimed handy man that had the building before, you may consider having the exterior locks professionally replaced.

You may recall that, when things get cold, they contract, and this is especially true for wooden doors. If the lock has not been properly installed to accommodate changing temperatures, you usually find out in the winter because it becomes far more difficult to lock or unlock a door with the key. Even the smallest fraction of an inch change in the alignment of a lock can make it more difficult to operate, and the lock can become worn out far more quickly. Having locks, doors, and door frames properly aligned is really a job best left to the experts since there tolerances for both hot and cold temperatures must be precisely set. What’s more, when experienced professionals like us do this job, you won’t find yourself back in the same boat next winter, or any time in the foreseeable future.

While misaligned locks are one of the more common issues that come with the arrival of winter temperatures, old and worn out locks can also become problematic in the cold. On particularly cold winter days or nights, moisture within the lock can freeze and render the lock inoperable. One way you can help prevent this is by lubricating the lock. While taking the lock apart is the best way to properly lubricate it, you may want to call the experts for this if you’re not comfortable taking a lock apart and putting it back together again. You can also get a spray lubricant and direct it in to the keyhole for a few seconds before inserting the key and cycling it back and forth a few times to better distribute the lubricant. There are a lot of options for such lubricants, but your local hardware store should have some specifically for locks.

Advanced lock and Security has been faithfully and professionally serving our customers for over 20 years. If you have any questions about making sure your locks are ready for winter, or anything else related to locks and security, give us a call or stop by our convenient location.