How often do you think about your door locks? You don’t do it much at all, if truth be told! We just know that our locks are there to keep our homes, cars and businesses safe from intruders, burglars and in general, those that don’t belong there. In real life, we tend to think about our door locks most when they don’t work as they should. It’s a little known fact that one of the main causes of door lock problems is the weather.
Summer weather
Here in Cary, NC we can have very warm summers with temperatures that can top 100 degrees. While this is great for recreation and for gardening, it can hamper our door locks at times. This is because door frames can expand slightly during the warmer weather and this can cause the locks to become stuck in one position. This is especially true with deadbolt locks as the bolt part of the lock can become stuck when the wood door frame “swells” around it. Obviously this happens most when wood doors and wooden door frames are involved as the warmer temperatures cause expansion of the material.
Winter weather
Most weather related lock problems in Cary, NC occur during winter months. In fact, Cary Locksmith notices quite an increase in these calls especially when the temperature drops below freezing. Instead of expanding, door frames tend to contract which results in a poor fit between the lock and the door proper. This can lead to frustration for residential and commercial residents as their keys are so hard to turn that often breakage occurs or the lock becomes practically useless. A short term solution is to pull the handle of the door knob a little harder so that it re-centers the lock with the door frame. This tends to work for a while, but over time, the problem gets worse and eventually the lock stops working completely or becomes too loose to use effectively.
Car locks
In case you are wondering, car locks can also be affected by the weather. Our very cold NC weather often drops below the freezing point and our car door locks can really take the “heat” over it (sorry for the pun!). Our auto door locks can actually freeze shut when moisture inside the lock gets cold enough. This prevents the key from entering or being effective and even stops the remote opener from working right. If you experience temperature drops below freezing try heating the ignition key first and then inserting it into the door lock. If your car has a remote start function try using it to start the car and the resulting warmth from this should unfreeze the door locks for you.
Some preventive tips
You can’t prevent cold weather from coming but you CAN take some preventative measures so that your home, auto and business door locks work in all kinds of weather situations. For starters, if you are installing new locks or replacing older ones, be sure to use an established locksmith shop like Cary Locksmith to do the work for you. Not only will an experienced lock professional save you time and money but he or she will be able to accurately fit your new locks so that they work in any weather condition regardless of how hot or cold it happens to get.
Secondly, it you are tired of the always expanding or contracting door frames you might consider replacing your wood frame with a fiberglass, aluminum or steel one. Again, your local, full service locksmith shop of choice will be able to help you do this at the best rates and totally on your time frame.
Thirdly, there’s the option of lubricating your locks. Here’s the tricky part; you can’t just squirt oil or lubricant on the outside of your locks. You’ll have to take them apart in order to do the job right. Disassemble them and spray the lock insides with lubricant once a year around winter time. If you have the experience and know-how then by all means try this option. Lubricated locks react better to all forms of weather extremes. Your best choice is to simply call your favorite locksmith and have one of their mobile technicians do the work for you. Be sure to ask him if what he recommends for periodic lock lubrication maintenance in the future. You might be able to save money on multiple visits if arranged properly.
Lock replacement
Older locks that are worn or previously damaged may not fit properly when temperatures rise of drop drastically. Sometimes replacing these locks may be the best thing. Many local locksmith shops offer free consultations along with their expert services. Cary Locksmith sure does. Be sure to inquire with our staff or call your lock and key shop of choice to see what’s involved in a lock replacement for your home, business location or auto.
When in doubt; call a locksmith!
Locksmith service in Cary, NC can be both affordable and convenient. When you find a shop that you work well with they can add tremendous peace of mind to your daily life. Even something as simple as heating your car door key can be done by a locksmith. Using a professional for tasks like these insures that the job is done to high standards by experts that work with frozen or high temperature lock mechanisms. Why take risks with your auto, home or business locks when experienced and skilled professionals are only a phone call away?
Be prepared for ANY weather type!
If you are reading this post because you are already experiencing stuck locks or difficult to use keys then you know to depend on a quality, local lock professional. If you are reading this for information, be sure that you take the proactive approach and add Cary Locksmith or your favorite local shop to your smart phone’s address book. With winter and summer weather extremes happening every year, you can’t be too ready for them!
Aricle source here: Weather Changes Affect Door Locks
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