Whether you want to keep the door of your home operating smoothly, or you manage a number of buildings with doors that need to get locked up every night, routine maintenance is crucial. Making sure that the door is aligned and the locks are regularly lubricated can make the lock last longer. Replacing locks is an expensive hassle, so you’ll want to make your locks last as long as possible while still working well.
Usually, all you need to keep your lock working well is some WD-40 or graphite. Just spray the WD-40 directly into the keyhole, insert the key, and turn it in the lock a few times. Pencil lead contains graphite, and you can run a pencil over the key surface before inserting it into the lock for a similar affect. Other lubricant options include liquid graphite, motor oil, and silicone. If your locks are new, you can keep them in good condition for longer with this simple maintenance.
Lubricant also serves to prevent freezing and as an insulator. For best results, you should plan to lubricate your locks, door handles, and hinges just before a season change for cold weather.
If the lock is old, it may need to be disassembled. To do this, remove the screws and take the deadbolt or door handle off the door. Remove the latch screws and faceplates from along the inside edge of the door, too. Lubricate each moving part, moving them as you lightly coat them with the lubricant. Then reinstall the lock or door handle, and it should work smoothly.
If the latch won’t close properly or stay closed, it could mean the latch is too big for the striker plate. To solve this problem, simply remove the plate and enlarge the opening with a metal file. You should be able to see what part of the door the latch has repeatedly hit. The striker plate may also be misaligned around a hole that is the right size, so you may need to move it. It’s also possible that the striker plate is set in too deep.
It’s a good idea to check the entire door for problems when you perform maintenance on the locks. The hinges, door frame, and alignment may also be out of place. These can lead to warped locks and can make it difficult to lock and unlock doors, even if the lock itself is well lubricated and cleaned. Door misalignment usually occurs with wood doors,
So how often should you perform maintenance on your locks? It depends on how often you use the lock. If it’s a front door that gets locked and unlocked when you leave in the morning and evening, experts recommend that you lubricate it once or twice a year. If it’s a double door to a large office building that gets opened and closed hundreds of times a day, you’ll want to lubricate the hinges and perform hardware maintenance more often. It’s also worth noting that doors to the outside are more likely to collect dirt, and to get wet from rain and weather, so they’re more subjective to clogging and rust.
